QR returning to CBR

[scottie222]

Hey all - we’ve booked SYD-SIN-DOH-ATH and are looking at return flights - MAD-DOH-CAN-SYD (with MAD-DOH being economy and DOH-CAN showing business availability).

I keep getting an error message using the multi search filter ‘unable to confirm the fare for the flights you have selected from the airlines that we search’. I’ve tried booking DOH-SYD but the multi-search and regular search don’t allow me to start with DOH. Any ideas? I’ve called Qantas customer service a number of times and they say that they can’t access that DOH-CAN business reward flight on their end…

Any ideas are appreciated!

 

[AIRwin]

I’ve called Qantas customer service a number of times and they say that they can’t access that DOH-CAN business reward flight on their end…

Canberra (CBR) or Guangzhou/Canton (CAN)?

 

[scottie222]

Canberra (CBR) or Guangzhou/Canton (CAN)?

Sorry I meant CBR!

 

[points]

Hello to all the amazing experts on this forum. I managed to book a OWA business for two -
MEL - KUL stopover MH
KUL- BCN QR
ATH - BNE QR
At the time BNE - MEL availability hadn't been released and wasn't sure how we would fill the month from arriving in Barcelona and departing Athens (obviously no hardship finding things to do in Spain and Greece!) I had intended just adding in flights however after some further research I'm now very concerned that if I try to add in additional flights the whole booking may have to be reticketed and I could lose the whole booking. Any advice from the gurus would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ketsuzei]

The usual iterative booking process for me.

Version 1: CBR-DOH-LHR-DOH-CBR QFF 318,000pts+AUD1,674.30
(thinking: "nothing on AA and best to get in quick")
Version 2: CBR-DOH-LHR ZRH-DOH-CBR QFF 318,000pts+AUD1,303.10
(a few hours later; Stockholm syndrome has kicked in and that feels almost "cheap")
(two calls to Fiji; first jumped through to the survey before the booking had been completed; second operator had no record of the first attempt, but was able to change my booking as requested in around 20 minutes)
Version 3: CBR-DOH-EDI ZRH-DOH-CBR AA 200,000pts+USD205.20
(ZRH-DOH in F, seems to be the old Cathay seats; ticketed within 15 minutes)

This is why my QFF points balance never seems to decline more than temporarily.

Getting to deal with AA rather than QFF when things went pear-shaped: priceless.

 

[scottie222]

Hi all - urgent question. So I originally had a DOH-CBR booked for end of this month but it was changed to DOH-MEL a few weeks ago automatically by Qatar. Qantas didn’t re-issue the e-ticket and now Qatar cancelled our flights a few hours ago. Anyone been in a similar situation? We’ve called Qantas to try get our booking fixed again but not too hopeful. The updated flight destination was already updated on our Qantas app and booking so thought it was all fine…

 

[Scr77]

Hi all - urgent question. So I originally had a DOH-CBR booked for end of this month but it was changed to DOH-MEL a few weeks ago automatically by Qatar. Qantas didn’t re-issue the e-ticket and now Qatar cancelled our flights a few hours ago. Anyone been in a similar situation? We’ve called Qantas to try get our booking fixed again but not too hopeful. The updated flight destination was already updated on our Qantas app and booking so thought it was all fine…

If reward flights, this is going to be difficult to solve. Was this flight on a ticket by itself or part of a bigger itinerary? There are many cases of people loosing their flights for the same reason in the Qantas forum On here. Some have had success after much work by emailing Stephanie Tully (she is leaving the role, not sure when). Qantas doesn’t seem to be able to get Qatar flights back, but it can put you on QF metal - can you come home via a QF served port?

I would immediately see if there’s a backup option you can book, even in economy. Also, you need a ticket for the original flights or you may be at risk of losing more segments.

 

[scottie222]

If reward flights, this is going to be difficult to solve. Was this flight on a ticket by itself or part of a bigger itinerary? There are many cases of people loosing their flights for the same reason in the Qantas forum On here. Some have had success after much work by emailing Stephanie Tully (she is leaving the role, not sure when). Qantas doesn’t seem to be able to get Qatar flights back, but it can put you on QF metal - can you come home via a QF served port?

I would immediately see if there’s a backup option you can book, even in economy. Also, you need a ticket for the original flights or you may be at risk of losing more segments.

Thanks for the reply. The flight was on a ticket/booking itself. I’ve emailed Stephanie Tully so waiting for a response (not holding my breath but fingers crossed). Been looking at options for return home flights but unfortunately none look too promising and finding difficulty especially getting flights back into Sydney/Melbourne from Doha or the Asia Pacific.

 

[Sprucegoose]

No. MEL-CBR and vice versa don't appear standalone in the GDS at all.

you would need a clever TA to sort that…..

 

[Mattg]

Qatar Airways Closes Canberra Reservations From Dec 2022 — AeroRoutes

Published at 1100GMT 27OCT22 Qatar Airways in recent update closed reservation for planned service to Canberra, scheduled to resume on 30NOV22 from Doha. The oneWorld member previously planned to operate Doha – Melbourne – Canberra routing. For Northern summer 2023 season from 26MAR23, reservat

www.aeroroutes.com

Apparently QR has now closed reservations to CBR.

Looks like the route is a non-starter

The whole point of CBR was always to get around the limit of 28 weekly flights from Qatar to SYD, MEL, BNE and PER that can be operated by Qatari airlines under the current Air Services Agreement between Australia and Qatar. Instead of operating the onward leg from MEL to CBR, it looks like QR has been ferrying its aircraft between MEL and ADL every day - presumably with some freight on board.

 

[levelnine]

Interesting. What's the take away from this development?

Demand into/out of Canberra is quite low? Seems surprising given the generally huge demand for international travel into/out of Australia and the fact that Canberra is an affluent city, but I guess most are probably rusted on to Qantas from their domestic publicly funded travel.

Or that cargo rates are so high at the moment that more money is to be made from that? I guess it also saves them a set of flight attendants (none need to go to Adelaide if it is only cargo presumably?).

 

[Mattg]

Interesting. What's the take away from this development?

Demand into/out of Canberra is quite low? Seems surprising given the generally huge demand for international travel into/out of Australia and the fact that Canberra is an affluent city, but I guess most are probably rusted on to Qantas from their domestic publicly funded travel.

Or that cargo rates are so high at the moment that more money is to be made from that? I guess it also saves them a set of flight attendants (none need to go to Adelaide if it is only cargo presumably?).

My personal take is that QR never really wanted to fly to Canberra in the first place, but has now found a loophole to get away with adding a second daily Melbourne flight without having to fly the MEL-CBR tag.

 

[Pom-DownUnder]

Interesting. What's the take away from this development?

Demand into/out of Canberra is quite low? Seems surprising given the generally huge demand for international travel into/out of Australia and the fact that Canberra is an affluent city, but I guess most are probably rusted on to Qantas from their domestic publicly funded travel.

Or that cargo rates are so high at the moment that more money is to be made from that? I guess it also saves them a set of flight attendants (none need to go to Adelaide if it is only cargo presumably?).

yea if the flight is going to be full either way why bother with the nations capital, just ignore it like all the concerts / shows / big game events do etc, le sigh.

 

[Mattg]

This might also have something to do with it:

Deal stalemate blocks Qatar Airways' early return to Canberra

Qatar Airways and Swissport yet to strike deal to get take off of international flights

www.canberratimes.com.au

 

[Sprucegoose]

Qatar Airways Closes Canberra Reservations From Dec 2022 — AeroRoutes

Published at 1100GMT 27OCT22 Qatar Airways in recent update closed reservation for planned service to Canberra, scheduled to resume on 30NOV22 from Doha. The oneWorld member previously planned to operate Doha – Melbourne – Canberra routing. For Northern summer 2023 season from 26MAR23, reservat

www.aeroroutes.com

Apparently QR has now closed reservations to CBR.

Looks like the route is a non-starter

The whole point of CBR was always to get around the limit of 28 weekly flights from Qatar to SYD, MEL, BNE and PER that can be operated by Qatari airlines under the current Air Services Agreement between Australia and Qatar. Instead of operating the onward leg from MEL to CBR, it looks like QR has been ferrying its aircraft between MEL and ADL every day - presumably with some freight on board.

Thats a shame, as I was pretty excited when I heard they were planning on powering out of CBR again. I was in the early planning stages of how I would incorporate it into some of my 2023 travel plans, given I am not an infrequent visitor to the bush capital.

Knowing how many genuine locals used the service instead of interstate connectors would be interesting. Any ideas?

 

[jase05]

My personal take is that QR never really wanted to fly to Canberra in the first place, but has now found a loophole to get away with adding a second daily Melbourne flight without having to fly the MEL-CBR tag.

I did post this back in September and I think your suspicions are correct

Interestingly to get around the capacity regulations the flight is now starting and finishing in ADL I’m led to believe. The ADL-MEL tag will be just used for freight only though, no passengers from what I was told today

 

[Saab34]

Sky News had a story on this, Qantas claimed they have breached its bilateral agreement by flying direct to Melbourne.

I do agree, clear as mud it’s just a workaround to get a second daily. Perhaps the government should advise Qatar of this.

Etihad has the rights to increase its capacity to double daily at both Melbourne and Sydney. Not sure why they are not the demand exists.

 

[jase05]

Sky News had a story on this, Qantas claimed they have breached its bilateral agreement by flying direct to Melbourne.

I do agree, clear as mud it’s just a workaround to get a second daily. Perhaps the government should advise Qatar of this.

Etihad has the rights to increase its capacity to double daily at both Melbourne and Sydney. Not sure why they are not the demand exists.

QR are pushing to double their offerings to Australia and has made some very good points regarding how poorly QF are operating

 

[Saab34]

I do agree that they should get an increase, at least double or triple daily into MEL/SYD. Etihad was 6 Daily flights back in the day to the capitals. They currently have pulled back to 2.

 

[jase05]

Love the barbs by Akbar Al Baker

“The largest operator in Australia (Qantas) has cut its flight to 50 per cent of pre-Covid level, more than doubled the price of the fares to the Australian people in the benefit of the shareholders,"

“In addition, getting billions of dollars of state aid during the pandemic period in 20 and 21.

“And at the same time, even their large international partner has also cut flights to only 50 per cent to pre-Covid levels.

“While we are offering an alternative to the Australian people who we always like to serve."