Classic reward multi city - removing first leg after booking possible?

[jamo96]

*edit - updated threat title and related question posted*

Hi all.

I can see that a leg is available on the multi city page when a different destination is used but not when the actual destination is used. For eg.

Wanting to book Kathmandu to Hong Kong. This comes up as a leg on a search for Kathmandu to Singapore. However, when I called to book the KTM to HKG the operator said there is no availability.

Is it possible to book these?

Thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all.

I can see that a leg is available on the multi city page when a different destination is used but not when the actual destination is used. For eg.

Wanting to book Kathmandu to Hong Kong. This comes up as a leg on a search for Kathmandu to Singapore. However, when I called to book the KTM to HKG the operator said there is no availability.

Is it possible to book these?

Thanks

Sounds like married segments. The airline is willing to sell an award seat from KTM to SIN via HKG, but not sell KTM-HKG non-stop as that’s where they want to make their money from a $$ paying passenger.

An operator shouldn’t be able to beak married segments, with the system preventing them from doing it.

 

[offshore171]

You could skiplag it

Airlines are cracking down on this travel hack and one website is in the crosshairs

It's the sneaky travel hack that's been used by savvy consumers for years. Here's what we know about skiplagging.

www.abc.net.au

 

[jamo96]

Sorry updated the thread title for a related question. Can you remove the first leg of a multi city ticket once it's booked without trouble?

I found a 2 leg multi city itinerary that is available on multi city. But only when I use a dummy leg at the beginning. You cannot put KTM in as the first origin.

Eg.
Dummy leg
KTM-HKG-ICN
ICN-HKG-HAN

I only want the last 2 legs. I've tried calling but they say there aren't any reward seats on it. It doesn't seem right because I've used dummy legs to search in the past and happily booked the other leg over the phone. The dummy leg is with another carrier than the others so can't be a married thing. Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry updated the thread title for a related question. Can you remove the first leg of a multi city ticket once it's booked without trouble?

I found a 2 leg multi city itinerary that is available on multi city. But only when I use a dummy leg at the beginning. You cannot put KTM in as the first origin.

Eg.
Dummy leg
KTM-HKG-ICN
ICN-HKG-HAN

I only want the last 2 legs. I've tried calling but they say there aren't any reward seats on it. It doesn't seem right because I've used dummy legs to search in the past and happily booked the other leg over the phone. The dummy leg is with another carrier than the others so can't be a married thing. Any ideas?
Thanks

Still not 100% clear… the dummy leg comes before the KTM-ICN and ICN-HAN?

And you want to keep the KTM-ICN and ICN-HAN? (when you say the ‘last two legs’, you could also be referring to just ICN-HKG-HAN, which is confusing).

Who is the dummy leg on?

If the sectors aren’t available in and of themselves, you could try asking the phone agent to book the entire itinerary, and then delete the first sector (the dummy) and see what the system says. It may be that you can’t, if QFF has put in place some form of inventory control.

 

[offshore171]

Still not 100% clea

Agree, hard to follow. Need to be super clear on these things if they want useful answers. If it’s hard for us to follow a written explanation here, what chance do the phone operators have?

 

[jase05]

Sounds like that because QF’s poor search engine won’t allow you to select KTM as the origin the OP is putting something like ADL-MEL in first as a dummy booking to check for availability.

 

[justinbrett]

Sounds like that because QF’s poor search engine won’t allow you to select KTM as the origin the OP is putting something like ADL-MEL in first as a dummy booking to check for availability.

Still better than VAs!

QF does have the flights loaded they just need to be sold manually due to the departure country not being set up for online sales.

Meanwhile I can’t even search for HNL-LAS on VA. Bad enough HA isn’t loaded, but it won’t even let me search for UA options.

 

[jase05]

Still better than VAs!

QF does have the flights loaded they just need to be sold manually due to the departure country not being set up for online sales.

Meanwhile I can’t even search for HNL-LAS on VA. Bad enough HA isn’t loaded, but it won’t even let me search for UA options.

Everyone knows how poor VA’s is but not sure what it’s got to do with this issue.
I’m sure there is plenty of angst over on the VA thread

 

[justinbrett]

Everyone knows how poor VA’s is but not sure what it’s got to do with this issue.
I’m sure there is plenty of angst over on the VA thread

Putting it in context with issues many airlines have with rewards.

The QF issue is minor as you can at least see the availability and call to book.

 

[jase05]

Putting it in context with issues many airlines have with rewards.

The QF issue is minor as you can at least see the availability and call to book.

Agree but I’d prefer not to call the airline at all if possible

 

[justinbrett]

Agree but I’d prefer not to call the airline at all if possible

Better than not seeing availability, having to go on hold only to be told no seats available!

 

[jamo96]

Still not 100% clear… the dummy leg comes before the KTM-ICN and ICN-HAN?

And you want to keep the KTM-ICN and ICN-HAN? (when you say the ‘last two legs’, you could also be referring to just ICN-HKG-HAN, which is confusing).

Who is the dummy leg on?

If the sectors aren’t available in and of themselves, you could try asking the phone agent to book the entire itinerary, and then delete the first sector (the dummy) and see what the system says. It may be that you can’t, if QFF has put in place some form of inventory control.

Like in this screenshot.

 

[DAC1]

Like in this screenshot.

You need to call.

Do not tell the agent that you are flying KTM-HKG-ICN. If they search the flights separately, they will not get the availability you can see. Instead tell them that you are flying KTM-ICN and you can find availability online on CX.

In any case, those flights do not appear to be available through QF anymore. Did you manage to book them?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good suggestion by DAC.

A final options might be to ring and ask the agent to create the whole booking, including the initial flight. Then I'd say 'oh, I got the dates wrong, I don't need the Colombo sector, can you please remove it?'

Not exactly elegant, but it would show that the awards are available

 

[jamo96]

You need to call.

Do not tell the agent that you are flying KTM-HKG-ICN. If they search the flights separately, they will not get the availability you can see. Instead tell them that you are flying KTM-ICN and you can find availability online on CX.

In any case, those flights do not appear to be available through QF anymore. Did you manage to book them?

Yes, I ended up calling them again. The agent booked it fine this time. The first call I never mentioned Hong Kong so not sure why they couldn't see the available classic reward seats. Some Qantas staff are much more helpful than others I have found in the past.

Thanks for the help.