Link separate bookings - QF

[emilbulls]

I have some questions regarding linking two seperate QF bookings. Accoridng to the QF website, this needs to be done by the call center, but there isn't much more information availabe.

Just want to find out regarding the rules if you link to bookings.
In my case, one booking will be a Flex booking and the other one a sale or saver booking, which rules apply after they have been linked?
Main reason for linking the bookings is, that I'm QF Platinum and the chances for a Points Business Upgrade are way higher than if Mrs emilbulls tries with her silver status alone.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have some questions regarding linking two seperate QF bookings. Accoridng to the QF website, this needs to be done by the call center, but there isn't much more information availabe.

Just want to find out regarding the rules if you link to bookings.
In my case, one booking will be a Flex booking and the other one a sale or saver booking, which rules apply after they have been linked?
Main reason for linking the bookings is, that I'm QF Platinum and the chances for a Points Business Upgrade are way higher than if Mrs emilbulls tries with her silver status alone.

Linking does nothing material.

It simply puts a note in each respective booking about the other. And it’s not a flashing symbol or marker, as far as I understand it’s just a ‘note’ which an agent actually has to look for, otherwise they wouldn’t even know it’s there.

The linking itself is not going to help with upgrades or anything like that.

 

[encryptededdy]

I find linking allows you to Online checkin together and will show both boarding passes in both passengers' apps.

Otherwise, as noted above, it makes no difference to upgrade chances or fare rules.

 

[dylarr]

As MEL_Traveller has said linking the bookings doesn't really do anything material with the bookings. They will still remain as two distinct bookings with their existing booking references and rules. If you have higher status there is no way to have your upgrade priority apply to another booking unless you have P1 status.

It simply puts a note in each respective booking about the other. And it’s not a flashing symbol or marker, as far as I understand it’s just a ‘note’ which an agent actually has to look for, otherwise they wouldn’t even know it’s there.

It does (just slightly) more than leaving a note (remark) in each booking. A LKRL (LinK Record Locator) special keyword is inserted into each booking. It's not really recognised anywhere up until T-24 when you go to check in online. It's also recognised by the Altea DCS software that check-in agents use so they will know you are travelling with other people on seperate bookings when you present yourself at the check-in counter.

 

[RichardMEL]

Unfortunately this won't do anything for your wife's upgrade priority. They are still separate bookings and her upgrade request will be assessed at the Silver level.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As MEL_Traveller has said linking the bookings doesn't really do anything material with the bookings. They will still remain as two distinct bookings with their existing booking references and rules. If you have higher status there is no way to have your upgrade priority apply to another booking unless you have P1 status.



It does (just slightly) more than leaving a note (remark) in each booking. A LKRL (LinK Record Locator) special keyword is inserted into each booking. It's not really recognised anywhere up until T-24 when you go to check in online. It's also recognised by the Altea DCS software that check-in agents use so they will know you are travelling with other people on seperate bookings when you present yourself at the check-in counter.

Thanks!

 

[TomYagher]

Linking booking does also mean a bronze or no status passenger will get access to the preferential seats of a higher status passenger which is nice. At least in my experience.

 

[dylarr]

Linking booking does also mean a bronze or no status passenger will get access to the preferential seats of a higher status passenger which is nice. At least in my experience.

It doesn't change seating availability for the lower status pax unfortunately.

 

[Matt_01]

It doesn't change seating availability for the lower status pax unfortunately.

If the booking are linked you can get the lower status PAX into better seating if the higher status PAX is travelling with them. This normally has be done via the call centre.

 

[dairyfloss]

If the booking are linked you can get the lower status PAX into better seating if the higher status PAX is travelling with them. This normally has be done via the call centre.

Yes - can confirm IME it won't change anything for online seat selection, but if you call up you can get it done. My wife & son were PS until recently and I was able to get them moved further forward in the business cabin over the phone, after the TCP ('The Complete Party') link was done. I tried initially online after the link, but that was the same. Needed to call back.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[emilbulls]

Thank you so much for all your information provided in this thread.
So in the end, it doesn't change much overall, but at least I assume it will help if people are bumped off the flight due to overbooking or during disruptions.
Cheers everyone

 

[TomYagher]

It doesn't change seating availability for the lower status pax unfortunately.

Defineitly works on dash 8 QantasLink flights when online check in opens. Work sometimes pays a revenue fare for me and I’ll put my partner on a classic award. Have to call to link the bookings but then all platinum seats are available for both pax during online check in. Sure I’ve done it on 737’s also.

 

[dylarr]

Defineitly works on dash 8 QantasLink flights when online check in opens. Work sometimes pays a revenue fare for me and I’ll put my partner on a classic award. Have to call to link the bookings but then all platinum seats are available for both pax during online check in. Sure I’ve done it on 737’s also.

Altea (at the airport) and OLCI recognise the LKRL keyword so will try to seat passengers together at check-in, but remember in most scenarios (excluding Dash-8 flights where you need to wait for check-in at T-24), all premium seating is unblocked at T-80 mark so even people with two seperate unlinked bookings are going to be able to seat each other in premium seating zones, as long as those seats are still available, regardless of linking status.

Outside of the T-80 mark, you'd need to use the contact centre to process as they can seat a non-status pax next to a status pax on a seperate booking in a premium seating zone.

On a Dash-8, if the system is maintaining a shadow for you I've found that even linking the bookings isn't enough to allow a lower status linked pax to be able to select your shadow — the airport has needed to override it.

 

[Matt_01]

Thank you so much for all your information provided in this thread.
So in the end, it doesn't change much overall, but at least I assume it will help if people are bumped off the flight due to overbooking or during disruptions.
Cheers everyone

So a couple of my experiences in linking bookings. IME if there is an aircraft change well before the flight and you receive advanced notification check the seat map and bookings to see if you are still seated together. I have had occasions when a 330 was swapped to a 737 and Mrs&MissM had been sent back to R2 or R6 and beyond. The same goes in reverse, I was still in my prefered seat, but Mrs&MissM were moved to another seat in the J or Y cabins. At other times, which were normally IROPs related I have been upgraded and so were Mrs&MissM. Also we have all been 'complementary downgraded' when I have been in revenue J while Mrs&MissM were travelling J rewards,these occasions were rare and normally limited to delayed international connecting to domestic to keep us on the same same flights. Also I have linked work colleagues to my bookings and they have also been upgraded in line with me. Note, all my experiences was as a P1 not sure how other status levels are treated.

 

[shuuy]

Well, the low likelihood scenario has happened that I was trying to avoid. My wife/infant are on a separate reference number to me/child.

Wife/infant have a bassinet, me/child sitting next to them.

My seat apparently unservicable, and so now we're split up by a number of rows.

VIP service team: "nothing I can do... you are sitting with your family" [on one locator].



Apparently this can be 'solved' at the airport - any advice? I'm not really up for asking people to move.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well, the low likelihood scenario has happened that I was trying to avoid. My wife/infant are on a separate reference number to me/child.

Wife/infant have a bassinet, me/child sitting next to them.

My seat apparently unservicable, and so now we're split up by a number of rows.

VIP service team: "nothing I can do... you are sitting with your family" [on one locator].



Apparently this can be 'solved' at the airport - any advice? I'm not really up for asking people to move.

It ‘may’ be able to be resolved at the airport, but that may involve moving other passengers without consultation.

If your seat is unserviceable, not much can be done about that. If you want to all sit together, your wife might have to give up the bassinet position.

The best you can hope for, maybe, is sitting the row immediately behind the bassinet, or possibly to the side. Keep an eye out as someone in the bulkhead may get upgraded, freeing up some seats.

 

[shuuy]

Closing the loop here -

line disconnected; after the P1 agent spoke to a manager, seating was all sorted.