I've been QF'd and QR'd again and again. <whinge/rant>

[Guvner]

So, short story long... I have a terminal illness and not long left on this planet. My plan was to burn over 1M FF points and see my family dotted around said planet before the inevitable happens. I wanted to do all long haul flights in J or F where possible.

My first attempt was a simple OWA: MEL>SYD>JNB>DUR>CPT>DOH>MEL. I have family in DUR and CPT. All booked on points and ticketed. Then QF changed the SYD>JNB flight to the next day, which then had a flow on effect. I asked them to move the CPT>DOH one day forward. Bad mistake, QR didn't re-ticket, no notification, no reward flights available, no options provided, so I cancelled the whole trip. 4 weeks later I get the points and cash back.

Second attempt at OWA: MEL>SYD>DOH>LHR>HEL>TYO>MEL. This time to see family in the UK and fly QR F for the first time. The TYO transfer from HND to NRT prevented that part of the booking becoming a reality. Cancelled the trip as no other options available to get back to MEL or SYD. Waited 2 weeks for all taxes etc. to refund.

Third attempt, keep it simple I thought. Multi leg award ticket MEL>DOH>ATH>DOH>MEL. The new CBR>MEL>DOH flights made this a viable option. Found space and the DOH connections lined up nicely.. great, all booked and e-ticketed. Travel insurance organised (with pre-existing illness caveats). Organised a house sitter to mind the hounds for me.

My plan was then book a nested revenue ticket ATH > LHR > ATH. All good.
ATH transfer booked. Hotels booked in Athens, Paros, Naxos, Santorini. "Finally, something has gone right" I thought. Next steps , internal Greece flights and ferries.

Today I checked my booking so I could align the nested bookings dates/times.. and the ATH>DOH>MEL has dropped off the reward booking. I'm sure the neighbors heard some choice words.. After a few minutes of anger, and ultimately deflation, I actually just laughed and shook my head. I'm pretty stoic, but enough is enough.
No explanation, no notification, no anything, Points still showing as redeemed. Called QF, got the usual, "Not our fault, we'll have to request QR... yada yada..". I know they won't resolve it.

Must have spent a total of 100 hours over the last month or two trying to piece together a palliative trip for myself. On top of tracking/chasing refunds, auditing points redemptions, monitoring flight changes, changes to hotel bookings, trying to align family availability etc. etc. When did travel become this hard?
I've basically given up. I'm obviously not match-fit. Don't have the energy to fight the system anymore. After 25 years of QFF membership, I'll give the points to my kids.

 

[kpc]

I just want to wish you well with your health...maybe one of the Frequent Flyer Solutions booking team can try to help you out here

 

[offshore171]

I empathise with your situation.

From a practical standpoint, I think really simple "out and back" itineraries seem to be "safest" in the current environment. With the multi city tickets, it only takes one cancellation for the whole thing to fall over.

Although, I can see given your circumstances why you are trying to cover a lot of destinations in each trip.

Wish you well.

 

[Guvner]

I just want to wish you well with your health...maybe one of the Frequent Flyer Solutions booking team can try to help you out here

Thankyou, that's a great suggestion. I hadn't considered that path.

 

[Quickstatus]

Sorry to hear @Guvner -on several levels

I think at the moment the multi sector awards are just too tricky with all the chaos going on with air travel. But empathise that time may not be on your side.

 

[Vic]

Really sorry to hear about the reason for the trip...

sounds like you've got the out bound and the ATH-LHR-ATH still.
Is it as simple as looking for something to get back from Athens?
sorry if this is a stupid question...

 

[Guvner]

Really sorry to hear about the reason for the trip...

sounds like you've got the out bound and the ATH-LHR-ATH still.
Is it as simple as looking for something to get back from Athens?
sorry if this is a stupid question...

No, not a stupid question at all. That is my challenge at the moment. I can get from ATH to DOH. It's DOH to MEL which is the issue.
There's married segment availability DOH-MEL-CBR 4 days after I'd planned to return, but I'll struggle to go HLO @ 15kgs
(given my trip is over 3 weeks) and get off at MEL.
I could go through to CBR and then fly back as a worst case scenario, or send my luggage via a 3rd party. Problem for me now is I have no confidence in any rewards booking sticking and my motivation to search and plan is now rock bottom.

 

[andye]

No, not a stupid question at all. That is my challenge at the moment. I can get from ATH to DOH. It's DOH to MEL which is the issue.
There's married segment availability DOH-MEL-CBR 4 days after I'd planned to return, but I'll struggle to go HLO @ 15kgs
(given my trip is over 3 weeks) and get off at MEL.
I could go through to CBR and then fly back as a worst case scenario, or send my luggage via a 3rd party. Problem for me now is I have no confidence in any rewards booking sticking and my motivation to search and plan is now rock bottom.

Sympathies on both the health and booking front
Have you considerded DOH-SIN (or maybe other Asian ports) then get a separate revenue (or SQ award) flight from there?

 

[Guvner]

Sympathies on both the health and booking front
Have you considerded DOH-SIN (or maybe other Asian ports) then get a separate revenue (or SQ award) flight from there?

Yes @andye I have looked at that and a few other permutations. Even looked at {gulp} DOH-DPS and JQ DPS - MEL {double gulp}...

 

[Danger]

Guvner, did QF give you an explanation as to why the MEL-xDOH-ATH had disappeared? Was it ever ticketed?

 

[rginoz]

I hope you can get this sorted out @Guvner. Wishing you success with all the flights, happy travels and stable health.

 

[Guvner]

Guvner, did QF give you an explanation as to why the MEL-xDOH-ATH had disappeared? Was it ever ticketed?

Yes. it was ticketed. I have the original emailed 081 e-ticket showing all flights. No, I did not get an explanation. I got the standard "we'll contact QR and get back to you".

 

[Danger]

Yes. it was ticketed. I have the original emailed 081 e-ticket showing all flights. No, I did not get an explanation. I got the standard "we'll contact QR and get back to you".

I say QF's on the hook, provided you can get some evidence that QF was notified You had a ticket. Pursue Qantas through NCAT in New South Wales or another appropriate avenue. As you well know, this is happening far too often. If you can't get evidence QF was notified, go them anyway, because by that point QF won't have been cooperative and you will have exhausted other options.

I'm happy to help you in any way I can, having dealt with airlines in Australian courts in the past and with my first taste of NCAT coming up soon.

 

[Pushka]

I had an award booking on Jetstar, all ticketed etc, then Jetstar cancelled the flight last week. Called Qantas and they had not been informed. Called Jetstar who refused to assist (as I expected as it was a Qantas Award ticket). Eventually Qantas contacted me with an alteration. It seems it was up to Jetstar (according to Qantas) to make available another award ticket but it was Qantas who had to offer the deal. We weren't offered any explanation either. I sincerely hope you are able to travel.

 

[Vic]

No, not a stupid question at all. That is my challenge at the moment. I can get from ATH to DOH. It's DOH to MEL which is the issue.
There's married segment availability DOH-MEL-CBR 4 days after I'd planned to return, but I'll struggle to go HLO @ 15kgs
(given my trip is over 3 weeks) and get off at MEL.
I could go through to CBR and then fly back as a worst case scenario, or send my luggage via a 3rd party. Problem for me now is I have no confidence in any rewards booking sticking and my motivation to search and plan is now rock bottom.

I'm not sure you have to go to cbr. you have to collect luggage and clear customs in Melbourne. You could just not recheck luggage onto to the flight to Canberra. Do a no show or something.
I hesitate to suggest another reason to skip the flight to Canberra, but I'm sure there could be a true and valid reason to stop in Melbourne.

Nope, I was wrong

 

[UP4014]

Sorry to read of these frustrations, annoying to say the least.

I can't offer any extra advice on the above suggestions, all the best Guvner and hope it can be sorted for your travels.

 

[spade1686]

I'm not sure you have to go to cbr. you have to collect luggage and clear customs in Melbourne. You could just not recheck luggage onto to the flight to Canberra. Do a no show or something.
I hesitate to suggest another reason to skip the flight to Canberra, but I'm sure there could be a true and valid reason to stop in Melbourne.

are you sure about that? I have the Canberra flight booked for October and my understanding was that the luggage is checked all the way to Canberra and we clear customs/immigration there as well. At Melbourne we just get of the aircraft but stay in departure gate/lounge (if it’s open)

 

[jpp42]

No, not a stupid question at all. That is my challenge at the moment. I can get from ATH to DOH. It's DOH to MEL which is the issue.
There's married segment availability DOH-MEL-CBR 4 days after I'd planned to return, but I'll struggle to go HLO @ 15kgs
(given my trip is over 3 weeks) and get off at MEL.

That shouldn't be an issue for your luggage. When you clear customs in MEL, simply walk out the door any go home. Just don't re-check it for the domestic leg for Canberra. Only do this if MEL-CBR leg is the final part of your whole trip; as I'm sure you are aware, if there are any future legs that you want to travel, your itinerary may (will) be cancelled.

are you sure about that? I have the Canberra flight booked for September and my understanding was that the luggage is checked all the way to Canberra and we clear customs/immigration there as well. At Melbourne we just get of the aircraft but stay in departure gate/lounge (if it’s open)

Ah, the OP said, "married segment" which implied he was on a separate connecting flight MEL-CBR.

For the "direct" flights from DOH-CBR that have a stop in Melbourne, you're correct that you wouldn't collect luggage in MEL. In airline terminology that's not married segments, that's a single segment (just happens to have a stop).

 

[Vic]

are you sure about that? I have the Canberra flight booked for October and my understanding was that the luggage is checked all the way to Canberra and we clear customs/immigration there as well. At Melbourne we just get of the aircraft but stay in departure gate/lounge (if it’s open)

Damn, you're right this is the Qatar flight that ends up in Canberra, isn't it.
sorry, I didn't think properly

 

[Guvner]

I say QF's on the hook, provided you can get some evidence that QF was notified You had a ticket. Pursue Qantas through NCAT in New South Wales or another appropriate avenue. As you well know, this is happening far too often. If you can't get evidence QF was notified, go them anyway, because by that point QF won't have been cooperative and you will have exhausted other options.

I'm happy to help you in any way I can, having dealt with airlines in Australian courts in the past and with my first taste of NCAT coming up soon.

Thanks @Danger. Really appreciate the offer. For now I'm taking a passive approach. That may change though..