QF Website booking weirdness - can anyone explain?

[RSD]

Are there any workarounds when the QF website booking engine allocates an EK flight number to an EK flight even though you know that there is a QF flight number for the same flight? In this case EK927 which is the 8.15 DXB to CAI is also QF8927 - but if the QF website gives it the EK flight number when you try to book then you don't get the 50 SC's which is damn annoying! Anyone have any ideas?

 

[AIRwin]

Does an OTA return the same options?

 

[RSD]

Does an OTA return the same options?

OTA?

 

[CaptJCool]

This possibly has to do with your starting city.

I put Sydney in on two separate dates in July and September and it came up with the QF flight number even if flying some via Melb or Bris.
But the cheapest fare had the EK flight number

Perhaps you copped a bad date selection ?

 

[RSD]

This possibly has to do with your starting city.

I put Sydney in on two separate dates in July and September and it came up with the QF flight number even if flying some via Melb or Bris.
But the cheapest fare had the EK flight number

Perhaps you copped a bad date selection ?

Its really weird - on the same day it depends on the departure time out of DPO as to whether it gives an EK or QF flight number for the DXB-CAI leg - its just weird!
The it gets even weirder still - I tried a booking MEL-DXB-CAI on the same day - and for a booking where I can get the QF flight number I get 140 SC's and 21,700 miles for a Flex Booking - which is the same as what is showing as being earnt for DPO-MEL-DXB-CAI where I can get QF flight number for the DXB-CAI leg - it seems like there are no SC's or points/miles for the DPO-MEL leg even though it is a different flight number - weird again!

 

[Seat0B]

I can’t explain the weirdness, but maybe gird your loins and call up for a phone booking of the flight numbers you want - and ask for phone booking fee to be waived as it isn’t possible to do it yourself online?

 

[RooFlyer]

OTA?

Online Travel Agent.

 

[RSD]

I can’t explain the weirdness, but maybe gird your loins and call up for a phone booking of the flight numbers you want - and ask for phone booking fee to be waived as it isn’t possible to do it yourself online?

Agreed - I think that is going to be the only way!

More weirdness that may or may not be able to be explained using a close look at the earn tables is -
DPO-MEL-DXB-CAI on all QF flight numbers is 140 SC's but...
DPO-MEL-SIN-DXB-CAI on all QF flight numbers is only 100 SC's according to the booking engine

 

[RSD]

Online Travel Agent.

Ah - cheers Mate!

 

[dairyfloss]

Agreed - I think that is going to be the only way!

More weirdness that may or may not be able to be explained using a close look at the earn tables is -
DPO-MEL-DXB-CAI on all QF flight numbers is 140 SC's but...
DPO-MEL-SIN-DXB-CAI on all QF flight numbers is only 100 SC's according to the booking engine

Have you tried calculating each segment with the automated QFF calculator?

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/calculators.html#/earnpoints

If it's all Flexible Economy with [unique] QF flight numbers, then I think this is the numbers for routing via SIN: 20+60+50+50 = 180 SCs.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[RichardMEL]

I'd ignore what the calculation QF gives on any particular multi sector booking as they sometimes aren't correct (and has been this way for ages).

As for the lack of the codeshare number - you almost certainly won't get offered the QF# when just trying to book DXB-CAI, or any bookings not starting in AU - I believe this has to do with what routes QF can sell as its own services via codeshare.. so DXB-CAI they likely can't sell so can't offer as a QF codeshare. However, if one originates in AU then QF would offer a fare to CAI and thus be able to offer the codeshare numbers.

That's one reason I can think of.

 

[RSD]

Have you tried calculating each segment with the automated QFF calculator?

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/calculators.html#/earnpoints

If it's all Flexible Economy with [unique] QF flight numbers, then I think this is the numbers for routing via SIN: 20+60+50+50 = 180 SCs.

Cheers,
Matt.

Cheers Matt - so it looks like DPO-MEL-DXB-CAI gives 160 SC's, adding the extra leg via Singapore gives 180 SC. Interestingly last time I flew back from Cairo I went via Singapore and arrived in Oz feeling a lot better having done two shorter legs than DXB-MEL direct. I will have to keep this in mind!

 

[RSD]

I'd ignore what the calculation QF gives on any particular multi sector booking as they sometimes aren't correct (and has been this way for ages).

As for the lack of the codeshare number - you almost certainly won't get offered the QF# when just trying to book DXB-CAI, or any bookings not starting in AU - I believe this has to do with what routes QF can sell as its own services via codeshare.. so DXB-CAI they likely can't sell so can't offer as a QF codeshare. However, if one originates in AU then QF would offer a fare to CAI and thus be able to offer the codeshare numbers.

That's one reason I can think of.

Ah OK - I didn't know that the multi-sector booking tool had a reputation for being wrong - total PITA!

Looks like it is going to have to be a phone call to the QF call centre to get the QF flight number - another PITA!

 

[dairyfloss]

Cheers Matt - so it looks like DPO-MEL-DXB-CAI gives 160 SC's, adding the extra leg via Singapore gives 180 SC. Interestingly last time I flew back from Cairo I went via Singapore and arrived in Oz feeling a lot better having done two shorter legs than DXB-MEL direct. I will have to keep this in mind!

Why fly direct, when you can connect! Stretch your legs; have a proper bite to eat... and maybe even a nap!

 

[RSD]

Why fly direct, when you can connect! Stretch your legs; have a proper bite to eat... and maybe even a nap!

and pick up the extra 20 SC's - that's the most important thing for those of us who frequent this forum isn't it?

 

[RSD]

Well after doing a fair bit of work on a spreadsheet it seems like it is not worth going via Singapore normally - it adds about $550 each way to pick up 20 SC's each way. If there is a DSC offer for flights on QF metal it might perhaps be worth it as the DPO-MEL and MEL-SIN legs would be on QF metal.