Oneworld separate ticket interline changes

[MEL_Traveller]

I thought this was actually a SATS requirement/standard service, ie.airlines can't pick and choose?

That's the question... the FAQ seems to allude to the service being provided, but the main transfer page only refers to 'pax with baggage already through to final destination'. I guess SATS does it to save money with immigration. But this would be another thing on airlines' radar to get rid of to reduce costs.

 

[banger2]

Disappointing action by Oneworld...and therefore QF etc. There is one last reason for me to remain "loyal" to QF and Oneworld.....lounge access.
With the shaky access to the lounge in my regular destination of BKK when using 3K already leaving a sour taste....if they tinker with lounge access on OW carriers.....Ill just become a point to point LCC traveller (ie BFOTD) and pay for lounge access. I almost can't see a point to the airline alliance now (for my type of travel - I simply can't book on one ticket the way I travel through Asia on the QF website).

If I wasn't shackled to QF FF aiming for LTG, I would probably move to CX as they simply have too many good options out of AUS for my inter-Asia travel compared to QF. But then again, if lounge access is tinkered with...LTG will likely be pointless too!

I've never really questioned my loyalty before....but now I am.

 

[madrooster]

On to the future though, I was wondering what we can do to get around this change and I notice that a number of AFF'rs have mentioned that a travel agent can add additional sectors to an existing PNR (presumably only one they have created?). Now this was certainly news to me (the things you learn), but I'm guessing it is a topic of interest to a few on here, so I was hoping someone more knowledgeable than me could help clear a few things up in my mind.

• Can any travel agent do this, or only particular ones (ie do they need to be using a particular GDS or it doesn't matter)?
• What are the restrictions to this (probably too open-ended this question, so maybe the examples below, covering a range of possible options, is better):
  • 1. QF SYD-BKK RTN in Y booked initially, can AY BKK-HEL-CDG RTN in J be added later?
  • 2. QF SYD-SIN RTN in Y booked initially, can SQ SIN-LHR RTN in J be added later?
  • 3. BA SIN-LHR RTN in Y booked initially, can QF SYD-SIN RTN Classic Award in U be added later?
  • 4. JQ SYD-HNL RTN in J booked initially, can AA HNL-LAX RTN in Y be added later?
• Are there any additional costs charged by the first carrier when the TA adds the additional sectors?

Hopefully this all makes sense, but I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't as I might have completely misunderstood the whole concept.

Any travel agent can do it. It doesn't matter which GDS they are using, though there's less problems if you use an agent that uses Amadeus as Amadeus is the most common system within oneworld.

I've numbered your examples in the quote above for easy reference.

Example 1 - Yes no problem. This will let you take advantage of sales as appropriate.
Example 2 - Yes no problem, but somewhat pointless as SQ is not in oneworld.
Example 3 - Yes no problem. The agent needs to know how to process these. Most agents probably aren't familiar with the process involved though, so good luck. Very ideally, you'd be better off doing the award first then the BA ticket. It's much easier.
Example 4 - Most agents don't book JQ in the GDS but rather use JQ's agent portal to do this. Why? Because JQ through the GDS costs more, often notably more, so it's not worth it. If you were booking QF to HNL then AA, then yes that's possible and makes sense to do.

There are no additional costs charged by the first carrier.

Depending on the carrier involved, there may be an issue with adding more sectors for an already-ticketed carrier though. This is due to how these carriers deal with ticketing time limits in the same PNR.

Eg. You have a ticket issued for BA SIN-LHR-SIN then later decide to add BA LHR-FRA-LHR...

 

[ChrisCunard]

Why did you need to QF 4 times?

How did you get over to the UK to begin with? Was your outbound trip the mirror image of your return ie did you have a QF pnr Aust/SIN/Aust plus the BA one SIN/LHR/SIN or were your flights over on totally different pnrs and airlines?

Hello!

The first two people told me that QF would interline and that there had been no changes made. The third told me my travel agent could create a new reference and merge two tickets into one. When they couldn't I asked a fourth rep if they could do that and that rep didn't know that there was an issue interlining between oneworld carriers.

Outbound is all the way through on SQ using points. One reference.

Return is classic F ticket on BA to SIN and paid QF for the last leg back into Australia.

 

[wandering_fred]

One aspect of this has been point of sale limitations. A few years ago I would purchase long haul on CX with a stopover in SIN or BKK and add a side trip on QF back to PER return. The lower cost Y fare classes ex SIN were all limited to POS Singapore, ie the travel agent in CMB could sell SIN-PER-SIN but only in K class or higher (twice the price).

I wonder how this will be surmounted in the end.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Quickstatus]

Any travel agent can do it. It doesn't matter which GDS they are using, though there's less problems if you use an agent that uses Amadeus as Amadeus is the most common system within oneworld.

I've numbered your examples in the quote above for easy reference.

Example 1 - Yes no problem. This will let you take advantage of sales as appropriate.
Example 2 - Yes no problem, but somewhat pointless as SQ is not in oneworld.
Example 3 - Yes no problem. The agent needs to know how to process these. Most agents probably aren't familiar with the process involved though, so good luck. Very ideally, you'd be better off doing the award first then the BA ticket. It's much easier.
Example 4 - Most agents don't book JQ in the GDS but rather use JQ's agent portal to do this. Why? Because JQ through the GDS costs more, often notably more, so it's not worth it. If you were booking QF to HNL then AA, then yes that's possible and makes sense to do.

There are no additional costs charged by the first carrier.

Depending on the carrier involved, there may be an issue with adding more sectors for an already-ticketed carrier though. This is due to how these carriers deal with ticketing time limits in the same PNR.

Eg. You have a ticket issued for BA SIN-LHR-SIN then later decide to add BA LHR-FRA-LHR...

Would the airlines see these addons?

 

[madrooster]

One aspect of this has been point of sale limitations. A few years ago I would purchase long haul on CX with a stopover in SIN or BKK and add a side trip on QF back to PER return. The lower cost Y fare classes ex SIN were all limited to POS Singapore, ie the travel agent in CMB could sell SIN-PER-SIN but only in K class or higher (twice the price).

Mostly it's SQ (not oneworld) and CX/KA doing such limitations.

Would the airlines see these addons?

What do you mean?

 

[Quickstatus]

Mostly it's SQ (not oneworld) and CX/KA doing such limitations.



What do you mean?

Even if a TA can add a ticket to a previously constructed PNR, will the airlines be able to see it?. It seems that this "ability" does not apply to QF constructed PNRs only TA ones. So a Classic U fare booked via QF website (as this is the most efficient) will be stuck as a 1 ticket PNR.

 

[madrooster]

Even if a TA can add a ticket to a previously constructed PNR, will the airlines be able to see it?. It seems that this "ability" does not apply to QF constructed PNRs only TA ones. So a Classic U fare booked via QF website (as this is the most efficient) will be stuck as a 1 ticket PNR.

Yes, the airlines will be able to see it. Amadeus has a single copy of the PNR for all Amadeus carriers, so that means QF, CX, BA, AY, UL, AB, IB, KA, RJ and QR all see the exact same PNR as each of the other 10 carriers + the TA too (if they are an Amadeus user).

For the carriers that don't use Amadeus, it'll flow through to the other GDS system that the given airline uses. For example for a PNR involving WS, AY and UL, WS is able to all the AY and UL flights too, even though WS uses Sabre.

Any Amadeus PNR can contain multiple tickets (including ones created by an airline). Any Amadeus PNR is functionally the same - airline created PNRs are not special in any way whatsoever. The only things limiting you from doing what you are after, is the person with the access to Amadeus, and the person who issues the tickets.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes, the airlines will be able to see it. Amadeus has a single copy of the PNR for all Amadeus carriers, so that means QF, CX, BA, AY, UL, AB, IB, KA, RJ and QR all see the exact same PNR as each of the other 10 carriers + the TA too (if they are an Amadeus user).

For the carriers that don't use Amadeus, it'll flow through to the other GDS system that the given airline uses. For example for a PNR involving WS, AY and UL, WS is able to all the AY and UL flights too, even though WS uses Sabre.

Any Amadeus PNR can contain multiple tickets (including ones created by an airline). Any Amadeus PNR is functionally the same - airline created PNRs are not special in any way whatsoever. The only things limiting you from doing what you are after, is the person with the access to Amadeus, and the person who issues the tickets.

What does AA and DL use?

 

[madrooster]

What does AA and DL use?

AA uses Sabre. DL uses Deltamatic (their own system). Deltamatic does NOT support multiple tickets on a single PNR and it's actually a bad idea to attempt to do such a thing with DL.

 

[Quickstatus]

AA uses Sabre. DL uses Deltamatic (their own system). Deltamatic does NOT support multiple tickets on a single PNR and it's actually a bad idea to attempt to do such a thing with DL.

I have seen VA bookings with a VA generated PNR on DL app even if DL flights were on Separate DL PNR

And AAEagle can't see QF PNR

 

[madrooster]

I have seen VA bookings with a VA generated PNR on DL app even if DL flights were on Separate DL PNR

That's quite normal if they were ticketed on the same ticket. It's possible to ticket DL domestic fares end on end combined with a VA international fare on VA ticket stock. It's ill advised if they are separate tickets though. Certainly possible to do with nothing stopping you, it's just an unwise idea, and DL makes it a point to remind the industry about this, the most recent of which was only last week...

 

[Quickstatus]

That's quite normal if they were ticketed on the same ticket. It's possible to ticket DL domestic fares end on end combined with a VA international fare on VA ticket stock. It's ill advised if they are separate tickets though. Certainly possible to do with nothing stopping you, it's just an unwise idea, and DL makes it a point to remind the industry about this, the most recent of which was only last week...

funny thing was that it was a separate VA award ticket then separate DL domestic ticket. And the DL app showed both. Does t happen all the time but twice in the last few years.

Anyway so really I can type in a QF PNR into ba.com and see the QF itinerary?

 

[madrooster]

funny thing was that it was a separate VA award ticket then separate DL domestic ticket. And the DL app showed both. Does t happen all the time but twice in the last few years.

Anyway so really I can type in a QF PNR into ba.com and see the QF itinerary?

Then it wasn't 2 tickets, so it's perfectly normal.

Yes you can view QF PNRs on ba.com generally. QR's site is generally the best for viewing oneworld Amadeus carrier PNRs.

 

[Quickstatus]

Then it wasn't 2 tickets, so it's perfectly normal.

Yes you can view QF PNRs on ba.com generally. QR's site is generally the best for viewing oneworld Amadeus carrier PNRs.

But it was: DL domestic (USA) ticket via Delta.com and a VA award on VA2 via virgin 's website purchased 6 months apart
but thanks mad rooster have learnt something about the dark arts of airline reservations

 

[ChrisCunard]

My apologies if this was covered and I missed it, but can QF or an agent merge a BA award flight (booked with QF) ticket and a paid QF ticket into one PRN to allow interline?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

My apologies if this was covered and I missed it, but can QF or an agent merge a BA award flight (booked with QF) ticket and a paid QF ticket into one PRN to allow interline?

You're on your own with these changes...

 

[JohnK]

So frustrating!

I have (my first ever) F ticket booked on BA which is connecting to a QF J class flight in Singapore. Two PRN's as I booked one using points.

When I booked all was well in the interline world.

Now...

Is 2:35 mins enough time to transfer in Singapore with bag reclaim, recheck etc?

I know your question has been answered a few times but the transfer desk is your best friend. This service is currently available and works for most connections regardless of alliance.

I am confident this service will remain even with these Oneworld interline changes.

I would also not hesitate to book connections via SIN or HKG in future. I have been risking 3 hour connections in the past and a few times have risked shorter connections. Will we be protected in future? That is yet to be seen but I feel airlines such as Qantas will re-accommodate on other flights as they have been doing up to now.

I guess best wait and see what happens after these changes are implemented before commenting further.

 

[madrooster]

My apologies if this was covered and I missed it, but can QF or an agent merge a BA award flight (booked with QF) ticket and a paid QF ticket into one PRN to allow interline?

No. Not possible without a cancel and rebook at today's fares.