Question: New booking or modify existing

[Airbumps]

Hi All,

Question for the brains trust. I've got a MEL-NAN-LAX Biz award flight booked for later in the year on FJ. When I booked it there was no Oneworld flights available.

On my departure date, there is now a QF award seat that I could use. This would also allow me to start building a Oneworld RTW award which is an option for getting home. Complicating matters, the credit card I used to pay for the award ticket is now churned and I don't want to fight with the credit card company for a refund of the taxes.

Is it possible for me to call QF and have then use the existing PNR to remove the FJ flights and replace those with the QF flight, and thus, use the same taxes (noting I will probably have to pay some additional tax and a change fee?). If that was an option, is there any risk in the QF award ticket not being 'ticketed' and would that allow me to then start building my Oneworld RTW?

Failing that I can always just book the new QF flight and start there, but I'm trying to avoid the hassle of getting the taxes refunded so would prefer to use the existing PNR if its low risk.

Hopefully that makes sense
Cheers,

 

[Seat0B]

Well technically as you’re willing to pay change fees and increases to taxes you should be able to do this…but good luck making it happen. If you have WP status or better, you will probably be successful if you get through to HBA call centre. Otherwise, it may be very challenging to get the consultant to understand what you want to do, see the flight you want to book and issue the ticket. This forum is littered with sad stories about these issues.
I don’t want to discourage you but honestly, based on my own lived experience, it might easier to get the taxes back via a closed credit card than to make these changes unless you can talk to Hobart.

Post back with results?

 

[cjd600]

Easily done, calling to change. I'd be more scared of going through the hoops, stat decs or whatever to refund on a closed card.

They'll recalc the surcharges, and as you say for this change there will be a payment (and a new credit card used if any future refund is needed)

And not too much concern on ticket issue given it's on to QF metal.

 

[Airbumps]

Easily done, calling to change. I'd be more scared of going through the hoops, stat decs or whatever to refund on a closed card.

They'll recalc the surcharges, and as you say for this change there will be a payment (and a new credit card used if any future refund is needed)

And not too much concern on ticket issue given it's on to QF metal.

Yeah thats kind of what I was thinking too.

Does anybody know if QF will refund taxes paid on an award as a flight credit?

 

[Seat0B]

Easily done, calling to change. I'd be more scared of going through the hoops, stat decs or whatever to refund on a closed card.

They'll recalc the surcharges, and as you say for this change there will be a payment (and a new credit card used if any future refund is needed)

And not too much concern on ticket issue given it's on to QF metal.

My mileage really varies from yours - my experience is exactly the opposite. No worries re the card (in my case it was expired and replaced by A new one with a new number). Major major trouble getting the consultant to understand what I wanted and then to have system access to give me the flights I wanted kept telling me “phantom availability” and they couldn’t book it. But they could happily cancel what I had and not rebook.

 

[cjd600]

My mileage really varies from yours - my experience is exactly the opposite. No worries re the card (in my case it was expired and replaced by A new one with a new number). Major major trouble getting the consultant to understand what I wanted and then to have system access to give me the flights I wanted kept telling me “phantom availability” and they couldn’t book it. But they could happily cancel what I had and not rebook.

Yeah, def depends who answers the phone.
Having just completed a J OWA for 4, originally ticketed 2019, I've been through all parts of the spectrum on the call centre (as NB) changing/adding flights.
But this is a pretty 'simple' change so I'd run the gauntlet....
As you say, MMV...