QF moved my AA award flight by 10 hours because EK replaced my QF flight

[luxury-lizard]

many months ago I sprung for a QF J award SYD-CHC using AA points - well yesterday when printing / double checking all my travel docs for this trip I noticed (very much to my surprise) that my 8:30am (QF 45) flight had been moved to 18:50 (QF 139). The morning flight has been replaced by a code-share EK flight so I cannot be moved to that. I called QF and AA to no avail (other than sympathy and an offer by AA to cancel the award at no cost).

I was never notified of this change by AA - looks like I'll need to cancel the award and book and pay for EK (Y is over $300 pp at this stage and J is $800+). If anyone has any other ideas please let me know - their are no other morning options I can see on any other airline - paid or award, Y or J.

 

[markis10]

QF are allowing you to book on the night before:

For customers holding a ticket issued by another carrier (non-081):


Passengers may, without fee:


Re-book travel


Rebook permitted within 24 hours of original ticketed departure date on Qantas flights with 'QF' flight number operated by Qantas subject to available inventory in the booking class originally ticketed.

http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/info/201308/0811

 

[luxury-lizard]

QF are allowing you to book on the night before:

For customers holding a ticket issued by another carrier (non-081):


Passengers may, without fee:


Re-book travel


Rebook permitted within 24 hours of original ticketed departure date on Qantas flights with 'QF' flight number operated by Qantas subject to available inventory in the booking class originally ticketed.

But in my case, the flight I want is no longer operated by QF but by EK so the way I read the above it would not work. Also - I would need to wait until the very last minute - at this stage I still have a few weeks to sort out my travel plans - just need to depart on the original date due to other arrangements already locked in. thanks - I did not know of this rule and may be able to use it another time.

 

[markis10]

But in my case, the flight I want is no longer operated by QF but by EK so the way I read the above it would not work. Also - I would need to wait until the very last minute - at this stage I still have a few weeks to sort out my travel plans - just need to depart on the original date due to other arrangements already locked in. thanks - I did not know of this rule and may be able to use it another time.

I don't think I worded my post well, Qantas will allow you to move your flight back 24 hours if there is seat availability in the award bucket, so rather than catching the EK flight which is not possible, you will be arriving the night before which may well be preferable to other alternatives. Note this rule is for this situation only.

 

[Mwenenzi]

.....book permitted within 24 hours of original ticketed departure date on Qantas flights with 'QF' flight number operated by Qantas subject to available inventory in the booking class originally ticketed...

"Available inventory" will be the issue for you.

As a semi frequent passenger MEL-CHC and CHC-MEL / CHC-SYD-MEL the Qantas scdeule changes (with EK ) have seen my $$ move to AirNZ / VA. This schedule change was anounced on line some time ago.

Until now people could fly CHC-SYD QF46 and connect to QF1 SYD-LHR. My limited understanding that this is now not possible. Many QF group TT flights have gone to Jetrats. Qantas has close to abandoned CHC with "Qantas flights with 'QF' flight number operated by Qantas " over the last 5 years.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Thanks for the input and suggestions - at this stage I think we might just keep the 18:50 departure - not happy but others options are very limited.