QFF Mixed class multi-city on JL

[Peso]

Hey all,

I recently tried to book a SIN-HND-ITM itinerary via QFF, both flights on JL with at least a 2h connection. While SIN-HND has plenty of J, it appears that the only same day connections available for HND-ITM are on Y (JL maybe blocking all J seats on all flights but the first of the day on the HND-ITM route until about 14 days before departure, from my searches).

Given there's little difference in both fare and service on JL Dom Y and J, I went ahead and tried to book, only to be met with the error code 15079 - 23951 - 420. Same error appeared when trying all later flights. Calling QF yielded little success, they said that while the flights are bookable on separate PNRs, it cannot be joined together for the lower points cost (61200 combined, 61200+10000 separate). I've asked them for a long sell, and they say they'll get back in a few days, but in the meantime I wanted to know whether this is a known issue with JL just not allowing mixed-class bookings, something on QF end to escalate, or something else? Appreciate your insights.

 

[MELso]

Did you try breaking the flight into separate sectors on the multi-city tool (i.e. SIN-HND/HND-ITM) or just try booking SIN-ITM (or vice-versa)?

 

[Peso]

Did you try breaking the flight into separate sectors on the multi-city tool (i.e. SIN-HND/HND-ITM) or just try booking SIN-ITM (or vice-versa)?

I broke it into separate sectors. Searching SIN-ITM on the non-multi-city tool doesn't show the flights.

 

[WilsonM]

Japan Airlines is notorious for married segments internationally, although I don't know if this applies to Japan domestic flights as well - it seems like this in your case. If they are married, then yes, they're going to prevent you from booking SIN-HND-ITM, as technically the classic reward fare bucket for those flights (effectively SIN-ITM, on their end) is non-existent, despite it existing for SIN-HND and HND-ITM.

For some airlines, breaking up the search is fine and causes no issues. For others such as JL, AA, AY, CX and CI (and more), it can. As an off-topic example, I've seen 7 seats in J on SFO-LAX-SYD on AA before, but 0 in J on LAX-SYD. It just makes sense

To get around it I think you'd either have to book as seperate PNR's and cop the risk (not much as it's on the same carrier tbf, just ask at check-in to check bags through), or book on one PNR but have a 24+ hour stopover in HND. Either way, it's an extra 10,000 points.

There's an odd JL answer board thing here which kind of details what you're seeing: An error message blocked my booking even I have checked my preferred flight was available on the previous screen. Why?

 

[sudoer]

To get around it I think you'd either have to book as seperate PNR's and cop the risk (not much as it's on the same carrier tbf, just ask at check-in to check bags through)

If doing this, I'd suggest using the Japan Explorer Pass for the HND-ITM leg instead of paying 10k points + taxes.

 

[Peso]

Japan Airlines is notorious for married segments internationally, although I don't know if this applies to Japan domestic flights as well - it seems like this in your case. If they are married, then yes, they're going to prevent you from booking SIN-HND-ITM, as technically the classic reward fare bucket for those flights (effectively SIN-ITM, on their end) is non-existent, despite it existing for SIN-HND and HND-ITM.

For some airlines, breaking up the search is fine and causes no issues. For others such as JL, AA, AY, CX and CI (and more), it can. As an off-topic example, I've seen 7 seats in J on SFO-LAX-SYD on AA before, but 0 in J on LAX-SYD. It just makes sense

To get around it I think you'd either have to book as seperate PNR's and cop the risk (not much as it's on the same carrier tbf, just ask at check-in to check bags through), or book on one PNR but have a 24+ hour stopover in HND. Either way, it's an extra 10,000 points.

There's an odd JL answer board thing here which kind of details what you're seeing: An error message blocked my booking even I have checked my preferred flight was available on the previous screen. Why?

If doing this, I'd suggest using the Japan Explorer Pass for the HND-ITM leg instead of paying 10k points + taxes.

Thanks for the advice. Kind of weird though, since normally married segments force you to attach the flight to a connecting one, and this basically does the opposite (I can book the lone flights, but not "marry" them).

I've decided to do a more awkward connection with the same route, a 20-hour layover that has me doing the HND-ITM at 6am the next day. Fortunately, both flights would be in J (not that the HND-ITM J is much better than Y). Online booking yielded a 4002 [7597] error, and the contact centre managed to book it after 90 minutes on the phone, sadly not without screwing up my name (middle name missing) and charging me in a different currency (staff assured me they'd charge me in AUD, but it came out in SGD) resulting in an overseas transaction fee (would've used a no-fee card if they said it can only be done in SGD). Going through the complaints process for the currency stuff.

As for the name, is it true that QF can't simply reissue the JL ticket within 24 hours for a name change? The agent said that she created a PNR with my correct middle-inclusive name and is going thru the "OW Help Desk" to get additional award space to put on the new PNR before cancelling the original PNR (as the flights that I've booked had no additional award seats). She'll refund the original booking and call me again to give my credit card details. Can anyone confirm if this the actual way they're supposed to do it?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A missing middle name shouldn’t be an issue? I would have let it slide. Full passenger information is gathered directly from the passport and transmitted by the airlines. So the name on the ticket itself doesn’t count for much.

 

[sudoer]

Definitely don't need middle name on ticket for JL (or any carrier in my experience) from personal experience

 

[DC3]

…The agent said that she created a PNR with my correct middle-inclusive name and is going thru the "OW Help Desk" to get additional award space to put on the new PNR before cancelling the original PNR (as the flights that I've booked had no additional award seats). She'll refund the original booking and call me again to give my credit card details …

 

[Human]

Japan Airlines is notorious for married segments internationally

Agree with this, and there's absolutely no logic to it.

I have a Qantas Classic Rewards booking with JAL for JFK-HND-SIN. The JFK-HND leg is in First, and the HND-SIN leg is in Premium Economy. A week or so ago, First class became available on the HND-SIN flight (JL37). 3 calls to Qantas customer service all ended the same way: the agent told me that JAL simply wouldn't allow me to change my booking from Premium Economy to First -- on the same flight! All 3 agents, including one in Australia, said that it was somehow because the second flight in PE was "married" to the first flight.

Go figure.

 

[elanshin]

As for the name, is it true that QF can't simply reissue the JL ticket within 24 hours for a name change? The agent said that she created a PNR with my correct middle-inclusive name and is going thru the "OW Help Desk" to get additional award space to put on the new PNR before cancelling the original PNR (as the flights that I've booked had no additional award seats). She'll refund the original booking and call me again to give my credit card details. Can anyone confirm if this the actual way they're supposed to do it?

Name is fine. Last time they forgot mine too.

The JL lady at check in just hand wrote it on my BP and typed it in. They really don't care as long as first and last name match.

JP systems in general struggle mightily hard with middle names sl they're used to it.

 

[sudoer]

JP systems in general struggle mightily hard with middle names sl they're used to it.

Yep. My Japanese bank account cuts off my first & middle name because the field maxes at 8 characters.

On the travel front, many name mismatch issues are introduced by the Japanese government also - especially non Japanese names in Japanese passports.. like this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/1bknzws/romaji_name_on_japanese_passport_am_i_stuck_with

My daughter has both AU and JP passports, but a different surname in each as my wife kept her maiden name and the family register system in Japan therefore forces this surname on our daughter. Her JP passport shows an "alternative surname" in brackets (e.g. the surname field is "SUZUKI (SMITH)" but I can imagine some non Japanese airlines having a meltdown that this isn't an exact match. I think we will just rely on her AU passport for travel to any country except Japan... but my point is that the Japanese airlines probably extend a LOT more leeway on name spelling/order/formatting because of stuff like this.