Qantas Classic Award Penalty for Missing Married Segment?

[Spizz]

Lets say there is alot of Award space to America and back on Qantas in Business originating from another country. Why this is the case and there is none direct out of Australia all year round only Qantas knows. What happens if I take the Qantas Award flight from America back to Australia but don't continue on to the other country with another flight is there a penalty for a no show? Can I get my luggage off the plane when arriving into Australia?

Can I ring Qantas and say if I make the booking to remove the last leg or if this is what I think is a married segment they won't be able to?

 

[Mr H]

You will not be able to remove the last sector ahead of time - removing one married segment will remove the other too.

You should be able to disembark in Australia and retrieve your luggage. Airlines do not like flying with luggage that is unaccompanied. You may need to tell a fib about feeling unwell, and you may meet some resistance, but ultimately you can force the situation.

There is almost certainly no penalty to pay. Theoretically an airline could sue you for the revenue difference if it had been a revenue flight, but in this case, the shorter flight would have cost no more had it been available.

You could theoretically ask for a refund of the tax element of the untaken flight, but that would be very cheeky.

 

[Spizz]

Thanks. l think I'll pass, to risky.

Glad to see these unicorn seats in wide open availability, but a shame there only available mostly to and from there.

 

[RichardMEL]

Hmm potentially one would have to short check in some how - let's say we're talking LAX-SYD-AKL (or whatever) you'd have to check in for LAX-SYD only first (or be going HLO) or else checked bags would be checked through to the 3rd location which could be.. difficult.

but other than that no real penalty though if one made a habit of it it may get nored.. who knows.

 

[Spizz]

Thanks RichardMel, they're both Qantas Flights on Qantas metal so hopefully I could only check the bags to SYD only as you suggest but that may raise some flags with them. The unknown of skipping the last leg without penalty, and getting my bags keeps me from pulling the trigger.

I'll pass in the slim hopes Qantas mirrors these flights to and from Australia as and end point without the need to continue onto another country with them. My EF Alerts are already setup if they do.

 

[djkelly69]

Can I get my luggage off the plane when arriving into Australia?

You have to collect your luggage and clear customs at the first point of entry to Aus anyway, so would be pretty simple to just not re-check it if you chose that option.

 

[justinbrett]

If I've found availability on a married segment, as WP, I've generally been successful calling and asking it for it to be released as a single flight.

It always takes them a while, and there's 10 minutes of "I don't understand why this is happening". At least that's what they say, they do not explain the concept of married segments or confirm it's a "thing".

 

[antycbr]

You have to collect your luggage and clear customs at the first point of entry to Aus anyway, so would be pretty simple to just not re-check it if you chose that option.

I thought the original poster mentioned an International to International connection, if that’s the case most likely your luggage will be through checked.

E.g LAX-SYD-AKL.

 

[jpp42]

You have to collect your luggage and clear customs at the first point of entry to Aus anyway, so would be pretty simple to just not re-check it if you chose that option.

That is not the case when going to a third country; luggage is transferred in Sydney/Melbourne/etc as an international transit passenger. According to the ticket they would not be entering Australia. This won't stop them from actually doing so - immigration won't care - but you would have to take extra steps to get the luggage sent to the carousel, such as saying you're unwell and cannot continue travelling, etc.

 

[Spizz]

If I've found availability on a married segment, as WP, I've generally been successful calling and asking it for it to be released as a single flight.

It always takes them a while, and there's 10 minutes of "I don't understand why this is happening". At least that's what they say, they do not explain the concept of married segments or confirm it's a "thing".

Thanks for this. I will call tomorrow and hopefully get through to Hobart to see if they can release it as a single flight. But as I'm not a WP I don't like my chances but ill see how I go.

 

[Mr H]

Thanks for this. I will call tomorrow and hopefully get through to Hobart to see if they can release it as a single flight. But as I'm not a WP I don't like my chances but ill see how I go.

If you are not Platinum you will not get through to Hobart. Your call will be put in the queue for an overseas call centre.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Thanks for this. I will call tomorrow and hopefully get through to Hobart to see if they can release it as a single flight. But as I'm not a WP I don't like my chances but ill see how I go.

@Spizz , what was the outcome?

 

[aus_flyer]

Would love to know what the other country is that’s showing availability!