No Stopover option in Dubai on QF flight number

[mbrplane]

Hi everyone,
trying to book a trip to Europe from MEL via DXB on QF number and staying in Dubai for a few days on both legs for work and friends. Somehow the QF website multi city booking tool only shows layovers (less than 24h) and no stopovers (more than 24h) are possible. Calling the QF hotline quoted me a ridiculous price 5x as much as a straight return trip. Looking at the EK website, there are plenty flight options available and the multi day stopovers don't cost more than a straight return trip.
Does anybody have experience with this? QF writes that there are plenty of free stopover options when on QF flight numbers but I can't see any. I hope this doesn't make me book a EK flight number (all flights are on EK aircraft either way).
Thanks for your help.

 

[tdimdad]

Welcome to AFF, Mbrplane! Happy travels!

The availability of QF codeshares might be low. Making guesswork of when & where to you are going, I tested Frankfurt in May and it looks like this. The multi-city booking engine said that my desired dates are not available and showed these ones as options.

Remembering that it'd really easy to scoot between the major cities in Europe by train, you may possibly consider alternate destinations, as well, if your closest one seems to be unavailable (e.g. if going to Germany, fly to Frankfurt, Berlin, Zurich or Amsterdam).

 

[Seat0B]

Actually it also depends where in Europe you want to go. Many fare conditions expressly DO NOT allow a DXB stop over if your destination is Italy,France,Belgium or the Netherlands to name a few. You can definitely get a stop over in DXB if you go to Spain or Germany or Switzerland. So please check the small print in the fare conditions to see what’s what.

Post automatically merged: Feb 28, 2024

And welcome to posting on AFF @mrplane

Edit typo

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @mbrplane

 

[Ade]

Hi everyone,
trying to book a trip to Europe from MEL via DXB on QF number and staying in Dubai for a few days on both legs for work and friends. Somehow the QF website multi city booking tool only shows layovers (less than 24h) and no stopovers (more than 24h) are possible. Calling the QF hotline quoted me a ridiculous price 5x as much as a straight return trip. Looking at the EK website, there are plenty flight options available and the multi day stopovers don't cost more than a straight return trip.
Does anybody have experience with this? QF writes that there are plenty of free stopover options when on QF flight numbers but I can't see any. I hope this doesn't make me book a EK flight number (all flights are on EK aircraft either way).
Thanks for your help.

Welcome to AFF @mbrplane .Can you tell us the origin & destination, what codeshare flight number you were trying to select ? I can try and let you know ?

 

[mbrplane]

Welcome to AFF @mbrplane .Can you tell us the origin & destination, what codeshare flight number you were trying to select ? I can try and let you know ?

Thank you. I'll attach screenshots of the dates required and the options I get. Trying to go for Flex tickets etc also only gives me the option of only having a layover of 24h max and not several days. I'm not too fussed about exact flights on the days as there are several, but I always only seem to get the most unpopular options when selecting the flights (2 am departures etc). Very strange. Looks like EK doesn't release all of their flights to be booked under QF numbers for stopover bookings.

 

[Ade]

Thank you. I'll attach screenshots of the dates required and the options I get. Trying to go for Flex tickets etc also only gives me the option of only having a layover of 24h max and not several days. I'm not too fussed about exact flights on the days as there are several, but I always only seem to get the most unpopular options when selecting the flights (2 am departures etc). Very strange. Looks like EK doesn't release all of their flights to be booked under QF numbers for stopover bookings.

I logged in to my QF and searched for the same dates as in your multi-city screenshot. The defaulted options are the same as yours.



And I'm able to get all QF codeshared-EK flights, in FLEX.





And I'm able to take it to the pax details page.

 

[mbrplane]

I logged in to my QF and searched for the same dates as in your multi-city screenshot. The defaulted options are the same as yours.

View attachment 372818

And I'm able to get all QF codeshared-EK flights, in FLEX.

View attachment 372819

View attachment 372820

And I'm able to take it to the pax details page.

View attachment 372821

Thanks for trying that. I am able to do the same but my plan was to stay in DXB a few days either way as per the initial search request and the only options I can book were for less than 24h layover either way. Seems to me that QF doesn't allow proper multi day stopovers.

 

[Ade]

my plan was to stay in DXB a few days either way

May be I'm misunderstanding what you meant - but the flights are days apart, giving you the time you require in DXB? I mean, flying into DXB on 13APR, fly out 15APR, fly in 26APR and fly out 28APR.

Seems to me that QF doesn't allow proper multi day stopovers.

In the search result on the QF website, you are getting a couple of days between 13-15APR and 26-28APR ...

What am I missing?

Post automatically merged: Feb 28, 2024

few days either way

Do you mean you need more than 2 days per visit?

 

[mbrplane]

May be I'm misunderstanding what you meant - but the flights are days apart, giving you the time you require in DXB? I mean, flying into DXB on 13APR, fly out 15APR, fly in 26APR and fly out 28APR.


In the search result on the QF website, you are getting a couple of days between 13-15APR and 26-28APR ...

What am I missing?

Post automatically merged: Feb 28, 2024

Do you mean you need more than 2 days per visit?

The first option is 22h and the second less than 48h. I would need some more time to do some work in my local office, particularly on working days. Looking at the EK website I am easily able to book the flights at exactly the dates I want. Looks to me that there are special rules on those stopovers when booking with a QF flight number.

 

[Seat0B]

You absolutely can book for stop overs. I just did that on Monday (my son lives there) and my first stop over is for 10 days and the second is for 18 days with a side trip to Madrid. So check that you are doing it correctly. Your screen shot doesn't look like the QF page, it looks like the Emirates page. Make sure you are booking on the QF web site, using the multi city tool. Just like @Ade, I just did a dummy for your dates and legs and got through this far no worries:





But where I think you are in trouble is this part of the fare rules, which expressly says you are NOT ALLOWED a stop over if you are on QF codeshare and travelling to the Netherlands, which is what you want to do. See this highlighted part of the fare rules below - it will blow up when you try to pay. You need to choose a different port of entry for Europe that is permitted on the fare.

Yes I know it is cough that QF appears to let you book this route and then the computer says no, but that is QF IT for you. I'm sure that is the cause of your difficulty making the booking.

Post automatically merged: Feb 28, 2024

Looks to me that there are special rules on those stopovers when booking with a QF flight number.

Exactly this as per the rules I highlighted above. Just choose a different port in Europe that meets the fare rules.

 

[Peter F]

Hi. My partner is experiencing a similar issue. She originally booked:

SYD-DXB-MUC
6 Dec 2023
Q Class Economy

GVA-DXB-SYD
8 May 2024
N Class Economy

We now wish to add a stopover in DXB on the return journey to SYD and requested to change the DXB-SYD final return leg to 28 May 2024.

Qantas originally advised this is not possible as the flights are married. So we rang Emirates as it is an Emirates operated flight and requested for the flights to be divorced. Emirates were able to divorce the flights and complete the process within 2 hours.

When calling Qantas back after the flights were divorced, we were advised the stopover was still not possible. This time the operator said the stopover is not permitted in the fare rules. However as far as I can find on the Qantas Australia website, the fare rules from Switzerland to Australia (see link below) state that even on the lowest fare (Q deal) a stopover in Dubai is permitted.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/book-a-trip/flights/fare-types/fare-guide-information.html

We have called Qantas multiple times now with similar responses and they cannot assist.

Can anyone offer any advice please?

Many thanks in advance.
Pete

 

[Seat0B]

Yes the fare rules you linked to do seem to support adding a stop over in DXB.

I suggest you maybe got an agent that doesn’t know what they are doing - it happens! Perhaps HUACA (hang up and call again).

Be prepared with the research you have done and explain logically why you are asking for and why you think it is allowed. Ask them to provide you with full details if they say it is not permitted - maybe we are missing something. It’s very frustrating but quite common tht gents don’t want to deal with anything slightly out of the ordinary and they JMSU. Keep trying!

and welcome to posting on AFF. Let us know how you go.

 

[Rangalad]

You absolutely can book for stop overs. I just did that on Monday (my son lives there) and my first stop over is for 10 days and the second is for 18 days with a side trip to Madrid. So check that you are doing it correctly. Your screen shot doesn't look like the QF page, it looks like the Emirates page. Make sure you are booking on the QF web site, using the multi city tool. Just like @Ade, I just did a dummy for your dates and legs and got through this far no worries:


View attachment 372826


But where I think you are in trouble is this part of the fare rules, which expressly says you are NOT ALLOWED a stop over if you are on QF codeshare and travelling to the Netherlands, which is what you want to do. See this highlighted part of the fare rules below - it will blow up when you try to pay. You need to choose a different port of entry for Europe that is permitted on the fare.

Yes I know it is cough that QF appears to let you book this route and then the computer says no, but that is QF IT for you. I'm sure that is the cause of your difficulty making the booking.



View attachment 372829

Post automatically merged: Feb 28, 2024

Exactly this as per the rules I highlighted above. Just choose a different port in Europe that meets the fare rules.

Hate to be that bloke, but neither stop in Dubai is a stopover technically, as they are less than 24 hours.

 

[RealtimeY]

Could it be the case that N availability no longer exists on the new dates requested, so system is saying no?

 

[Seat0B]

Hate to be that bloke, but neither stop in Dubai is a stopover technically, as they are less than 24 hours.

Yes I did not notice the 23 hr thing first time round. Regardless, the fare rules relating to NL would have stopped him from a stop over. I wonder what ended up happening? @mbrplane is there any update for you?

 

[Peter F]

Yes the fare rules you linked to do seem to support adding a stop over in DXB.

I suggest you maybe got an agent that doesn’t know what they are doing - it happens! Perhaps HUACA (hang up and call again).

Be prepared with the research you have done and explain logically why you are asking for and why you think it is allowed. Ask them to provide you with full details if they say it is not permitted - maybe we are missing something. It’s very frustrating but quite common tht gents don’t want to deal with anything slightly out of the ordinary and they JMSU. Keep trying!

and welcome to posting on AFF. Let us know how you go.

Thank you for your response.

I am on the same return flight ie. GVA-DXB-SYD (N Class Economy, QF ticket, operated by Emirates) on 8 May however I booked the ticket through AMEX Australia. I am also trying to make the same change however I am dealing with AMEX as they are the travel agent. Today I received an email response from AMEX advising that the stopover was not permitted by the airline. Qantas offered AMEX to offer to me a business flight upgrade to allow the stopover for AUD11166.50 !!!

Obviously I have booked an economy class ticket for a reason, so the above option is not suitable. I called AMEX Australia to discuss and explain as per fare rules stated on the website a stopover in Dubai is allowed. AMEX advised that the fare rules attached to the ticket state that no stopover in Dubai is allowed and that the fare rules on the Qantas Australia website are general only. Upon asking for the fare rules in writing the operator was not able to find it and advised I would receive communication within 24 hours in response to the fare rules attached to the ticket. I also provided the links to the Qantas Australia website with the fare rules stating the stopover in Dubai is in fact allowed.

Do you know if AMEX's claim that the website fare rules are in fact only general? Are there separate fare rules attached to the ticket? I have been through all communication plus all provided documents and I cannot find the fare rules attached to the ticket that the AMEX operator was referring to.

Thanks again for your help.
Peter

 

[mbrplane]

Yes I did not notice the 23 hr thing first time round. Regardless, the fare rules relating to NL would have stopped him from a stop over. I wonder what ended up happening? @mbrplane is there any update for you?

Thanks everyone again. I ended up booking with Emirates instead of Qantas as it got too frustrating. All QF rules seem to allow a stopover yet the website didn't let me book (even in highest flex ticket class) and the Qantas agent quoted one way flights for all legs at $13k...
Still get lounge access and priority seat selection for free being QF Gold but obviously minimal points and no credits. Not happy but it's more important to get work done and seeing friends on the stopover than throwing money at Qantas at all costs. Emirates website and booking system is very smooth compared to all the Qantas options that nobody needs. Booked the exact flight I wanted with stopovers etc within 3 minutes and even saved some money.

 

[Peter F]

Thanks everyone again. I ended up booking with Emirates instead of Qantas as it got too frustrating. All QF rules seem to allow a stopover yet the website didn't let me book (even in highest flex ticket class) and the Qantas agent quoted one way flights for all legs at $13k...
Still get lounge access being QF Gold but obviously minimal points and no credits. Not happy but it's more important to get work done and seeing friends on the stopover than throwing money at Qantas at all costs.

Thank you for sharing this experience. It seems my issue and my partner's is somewhat similar. However in our case we booked the return ticket with layovers in DXB. And now we wish to add the stopover in DXB on the return journey to Australia. Regardless of the fact that the fare rules on the Qantas Australia website state the stopover in DXB is allowed, we are being told it is not allowed. I am wondering whether the stopover is only permitted at the time of booking? However that also doesn't make sense as the fare rules state that changes are permitted?!

 

[kookaburra75]

Thank you for your response.

I am on the same return flight ie. GVA-DXB-SYD (N Class Economy, QF ticket, operated by Emirates) on 8 May however I booked the ticket through AMEX Australia. I am also trying to make the same change however I am dealing with AMEX as they are the travel agent. Today I received an email response from AMEX advising that the stopover was not permitted by the airline. Qantas offered AMEX to offer to me a business flight upgrade to allow the stopover for AUD11166.50 !!!

Obviously I have booked an economy class ticket for a reason, so the above option is not suitable. I called AMEX Australia to discuss and explain as per fare rules stated on the website a stopover in Dubai is allowed. AMEX advised that the fare rules attached to the ticket state that no stopover in Dubai is allowed and that the fare rules on the Qantas Australia website are general only. Upon asking for the fare rules in writing the operator was not able to find it and advised I would receive communication within 24 hours in response to the fare rules attached to the ticket. I also provided the links to the Qantas Australia website with the fare rules stating the stopover in Dubai is in fact allowed.

Do you know if AMEX's claim that the website fare rules are in fact only general? Are there separate fare rules attached to the ticket? I have been through all communication plus all provided documents and I cannot find the fare rules attached to the ticket that the AMEX operator was referring to.

Thanks again for your help.
Peter

It's a good question, although I find the Amex Agent's response that Qantas' website terms are general only a bit odd. Scanning the Amex Travel T&Cs, they are a bit vague (8. Supplier's Conditions & 9. Special Conditions for Airfares) where they state that "... Some of those terms will be displayed in the rules applicable to a particular product, but not all...". They do say, contact Amex, as you have done.

N Class booking is a Red-eDeal/Discount Economy class, and that could be why they are being difficult about changes.