QR/AY J Australia to Helsinki for $5-6k return

[kidmystic80]

Rookie question, but is it possible (for example) to take advantage of the cheap Qatar/Finnair tickets to Helsinki, and then book another Finnair connection to another European city (either using Qantas points, or cash), and have these on the same ticket, so that the flights are protected? I'm concerned about what happens if I miss the connection at Helsinki. Thanks!

 

[Danger]

Rookie question, but is it possible (for example) to take advantage of the cheap Qatar/Finnair tickets to Helsinki, and then book another Finnair connection to another European city (either using Qantas points, or cash), and have these on the same ticket, so that the flights are protected? I'm concerned about what happens if I miss the connection at Helsinki. Thanks!

I don't see why a travel agent couldn't book two cash fares. It might be more complicated to book cash for the long part of the journey and combine it with points for the shorter but, again, a decent TA might be able to do it.

Depending on where you're located, I can recommend a decent TA who might be willing to try it.

 

[WilsonM]

I don't see why a travel agent couldn't book two cash fares. It might be more complicated to book cash for the long part of the journey and combine it with points for the shorter but, again, a decent TA might be able to do it.

Depending on where you're located, I can recommend a decent TA who might be willing to try it.

Unless there are married segment issues on AY further into Europe, I'd reckon they wouldn't have an issue putting the entire itinerary on one PNR - not 100% sure about marrying a points booking with cash as a TA generally can't help with that, but AY fares intra-Europe are generally competitive enough.

 

[madrooster]

and then book another Finnair connection to another European city (either using Qantas points, or cash), and have these on the same ticket, so that the flights are protected?

It might be more complicated to book cash for the long part of the journey and combine it with points for the shorter but, again, a decent TA might be able to do it.

You cannot mix pure redemption (not counting points plus pay type) and commercial on the same ticket. However, you can mix separate pure redemption + commercial tickets on the same PNR for the purposes of through-check and seamless ground handling though. However, it can only be done by a TA.

Unless there are married segment issues on AY further into Europe, I'd reckon they wouldn't have an issue putting the entire itinerary on one PNR - not 100% sure about marrying a points booking with cash as a TA generally can't help with that, but AY fares intra-Europe are generally competitive enough.

There shouldn't be any married segment issues crossing between QR prime/QR*AY blockspace/AY prime.

 

[kidmystic80]

Many thanks for these replies - super useful.

The travel agent I usually use said it's not possible, so @Danger if you know one who thinks differently, I'd be all ears. I'm based in Sydney.

I think for this flight I'll stick with a JAL booking, which turns out to be a similar price (plus, stopover in Tokyo!), and also the one-hour connections in Helsinki might be a bit hairy without 100% assurance that my luggage will be transferred etc. But for a future trip, it would be really useful to know if this can be done.

Thanks again...

 

[MJW Kangaroo]

We have booked BNE to HEL return for January 2025 staying in DOH for 8 days on the return trip. I used multi city to book as Doha stopover selection only allows for 4 nights. No change in fare J class $5,834 pp return !! We have our Qatar Qsuite seats allocated, but I can’t see how to get the Finnair seats allocated? Tried on the Qatar site, there is no option, likewise I can’t select on the Finnair site ? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[SYD]

We have booked BNE to HEL return for January 2025 staying in DOH for 8 days on the return trip. I used multi city to book as Doha stopover selection only allows for 4 nights. No change in fare J class $5,834 pp return !! We have our Qatar Qsuite seats allocated, but I can’t see how to get the Finnair seats allocated? Tried on the Qatar site, there is no option, likewise I can’t select on the Finnair site ? Any advice would be appreciated.

You could also try seat selection via Royal Jordanian (rj.com).

What fare class did it book into? If it‘s the “unbundled” AY fare class it may not come with advanced seat selection until check-in.

Also the unbundled fares (P class for QR) don’t come with lounge access. OWS and above should be able to access some sort of lounge off the back status - but not the QR premium lounges.

 

[tdimdad]

I think for this flight I'll stick with a JAL booking, which turns out to be a similar price (plus, stopover in Tokyo!), and also the one-hour connections in Helsinki might be a bit hairy without 100% assurance that my luggage will be transferred etc. But for a future trip, it would be really useful to know if this can be done.

Helsinki airport baggage handling is usually efficient. I've had a domestic -> Asia connection transferred in 45 mins (late night though so pretty quiet at the airport) and that was prior to them redoing the baggage handling. On arrival, I've also many times had the baggage on the belt in 20-25 mins from long-haul arrival, sometimes faster and already waiting before I'm in the luggage collection.

If you get your bags checked through, 60 mins should usually be sufficient though not guaranteed, of course.

 

[madrooster]

What fare class did it book into? If it‘s the “unbundled” AY fare class it may not come with advanced seat selection until check-in.

These book into I class, but that is irrelevant for the DOH-HEL QR*AY codeshare as all pax get free seat selection on these, irrespective of whether it is an unbundled fare or not.

 

[CaptJCool]

Many thanks for these replies - super useful.

The travel agent I usually use said it's not possible, so @Danger if you know one who thinks differently, I'd be all ears. I'm based in Sydney.

I think for this flight I'll stick with a JAL booking, which turns out to be a similar price (plus, stopover in Tokyo!), and also the one-hour connections in Helsinki might be a bit hairy without 100% assurance that my luggage will be transferred etc. But for a future trip, it would be really useful to know if this can be done.

Thanks again...

So are you suggesting JAL was around $6,500 J return ?
Could only find one where it’s BA from Tokyo …
Otherwise closer to $8k while F was 10.6k (or $11 k to London)
Eg

 

[kidmystic80]

@CaptJCool I'm going to Munich, and I think it was about $7.5k. So no real difference by the time I buy a J return flight HEL -> MUC, and pay a small cancellation fee on JAL. But yes, it's a bit more expensive I guess!

 

[CaptJCool]

@CaptJCool I'm going to Munich, and I think it was about $7.5k. So no real difference by the time I buy a J return flight HEL -> MUC, and pay a small cancellation fee on JAL. But yes, it's a bit more expensive I guess!

I wonder how the F would price to Munich

PS I had long set side the tax cuts at 60 to find the extravagance