SFO routes dropped?

[roby]

Horrible horrible experiences with QF call centres. My April SYD-SFO classic reward booking in Business was cancelled yesterday and I was put on SYD-LAX automatically (still U class). I received an email later that night advising me that they were in the process of booking a partner airline flight from SYD to SFO to get me to my original destination. Knowing QF, I decided to be more proactive and called them this morning.

First call made it to their Fiji call centre and after an extensive hold, I was told that there there was nothing they could do as nothing was available. I was asked to check back in a month to see if anything opens up on SYD-SFO direct flight. This pissed me off. I told her that QF has pushed back restarting date to SFO to May 2023 and there will not be anything opening up. I asked her to check with a supervior as all I was asking for was a US domestic connection from LAX-SFO. She then came back and said they had found a flight but they would need to deduct more points and more taxes would need to be paid. I argued for about 3 mins to no avail and decieded to hang up.

My second call made it to South Africa. After another extensive hold, I was told no Business seats were available as far as connection is concerned. I explained in America, they are called First Class. She would not listen and repeated her answer. Did not argue further and hung up.

My third call made it to Manila with a bady screaming in the background. Maybe the agent was working at home. I had zero confidence and decided to hang up.

My 4th and final call finally made it to Hobart. A very competent agent added a domestic flight on AS to the same booking and advised me that the booking would be re-tickected within 24 hours. The domestic flight is not showing under Manage My Booking yet. Fingers crossed that the new ticket will come through soon.

What's the point with all those overseas call centres when the only one that can get you anywhere is Hobart. What a ridiculous third world airline experience.

Surprise surprise! After 24 hours of talking to the Hobart agent, nothing changed in my booking so I called again. This time it's Manila again. The agent said there was no record of any domestic flight being added but she was happy to add one now. She added an AA sector in Economy but at least this time I can see the 2nd sector in my app. Another 24 hour wait until it gets ticketed. What a nightmare dealing with QF!

 

[roby]

Ok, maybe I got "greedy" after reading a few posts and believed that I am entitled to Business/First on the LAX-SFO sector so I decided to call again to ask if the domestic connection can be changed to Business/First. Reached Fiji call centre and met with a very friendly agent eager to help. I didn't think the real nighmare had only just started. He came back offered a flight in Business on AA while I was on hold for more than an hour. While I was holding, I found a separate booking in my app. While ideally it should have been booked under the same booking, I didn't mind too much as I was going to have a long layover in LAX. I thought I had finally got what I wanted only to be told that I needed to pay for the flight. I explained the flight was a result of a flight disuption and should be free. He said this was his support team's decision and that I could email customer service afterwards and get the money back but I would have to pay now. I refused. He then deleted the booking he created along with the other one Manila created. I questioned him why on earth he deleted the other one created by the Manila agent. He said that one had no chance of getting ticketed as no payment had been received.

Eventually, I reached South Africa again and was booked on a Business seat under the same booking pending re-tickecting within 24 hours.

So there you go. From my ordeal, it's clear that there is an evil support team at work at the Fiji call centre who cares nothing but take money/points from you regardless of circunstances. My advice is to ask which call centre at the start of every call and hang up immediately if it was Fiji. QF doesn't need 4 call centres. They only need 1-2 properly trained ones.

 

[roby]

So South Africa call centre put me on a new flight and told me ticket would be issued within 24 hours. It's been more than 48 hours and I just called again. Unfortunately reached Fiji. The agent told me the first flight was ticketed and the 2nd flight was not. I am on the verge of a breakdown. How can the 1st flight have been ticketed and the 2nd has not when both flights are on the same ticket with the same booking reference number. I have no idea how to proceed. COVID is as hard as it is and dealing with this company really gives people depression.

 

[roby]

Alaska auto cancelled my domestic leg due to not being ticketed. Now I am back to square one after 4 days of phone calls. Called again and it was South Africa. The agent put me back on a different Alaska flight and told me he doesn't believe the previous flight was cancelled due to non-ticketing but he could not answer why. I asked him what's different this time and he said from his point of view, there is nothing wrong with the ticket and the 24 hour turnaround was just a guide and the ticket could be issued in 5 mins or 2 hours. To be honest, I don't think this will happen but will see what happens tomorrow.

 

[dandandan]

Alaska auto cancelled my domestic leg due to not being ticketed. Now I am back to square one after 4 days of phone calls. Called again and it was South Africa. The agent put me back on a different Alaska flight and told me he doesn't believe the previous flight was cancelled due to non-ticketing but he could not answer why. I asked him what's different this time and he said from his point of view, there is nothing wrong with the ticket and the 24 hour turnaround was just a guide and the ticket could be issued in 5 mins or 2 hours. To be honest, I don't think this will happen but will see what happens tomorrow.

Here is the link @encryptededdy posted that details rebooking options. Hobart call centre was helpful sorting out if you can get through to them.

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/agency-news/agency-news-september-22/commercial-policy-for-customers-impacted-by-cancellation-of-qantas-operated-services-between-sydney-and-san-francisco.html

 

[AIRwin]

Looks like Monday, 21 May 2023 is now the first scheduled QF 73.

22 May:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/international-flight-network.html?int_cam=au%3Anetwork-and-partner-airlines%3Aarticle%3Ainternational-network-map%3Aen%3Ann

 

[SYD]

Further rolling cancellations… . Looks like Monday, 21 May 2023 is now the first scheduled QF 73.

Fortunately I got HOB call centre first try. Rebooked 2x J award on QF11 (the system already had that), but now a seperate revenue tix (QF paying) for 2x F on AS up to SFO.

Other options were the usual:
1. Cancel outright (with refund)
2. Fly to LAX and walk…(MOW).
3. Award seats in whY on AS (no F award seats available but these would be on same ticket)
4. QF pay for tag flight.

So we took the seperate AS “First Class” tag flight offered by QF from LAX to SFO following our rebooked Classic Reward J flight SYD-LAX. Apart from QF11 being subbed for a B787 two wks out and missing lunch in the QF F Lounge thanks to the earlier departure, it otherwise went relatively smoothly - except a minor hiccup - see note below.

We rocked up to the SYD First checkin and showed the seperate ticket to SFO. I had a printout of the QF baggage interline rules in case there was pushback on checking bags through but there was no issue just that the person wasn’t sure how to and sought assistant from the supervisor. Not long after, BPs SYD-LAX and LAX-SFO in our hands and luggage tagged through and on its way.

We actually landed in LAX at 05:30 but of course, LAX doesn’t open until 06:00, so after waiting on board we got through immigration reasonably quickly, collected bags and sent them on their way at the transfer conveyor. Back through transfer security and in the QF F Lounge by about 06:30 and questioning our choice of the 11am AS flight to SFO!

About 09:30, we schlepped down to T6 where our Apple Airtags reassuringly told us our luggage was already there while we went to the AS lounge. Whilst functional, the AS lounge isn’t the QF F or AA FS lounge, so no need to rush. On arrival at the AS lounge, I asked if the QF issued BPs were ok. We were told “Yes” but they weren’t.

Note: QF issued BPs don’t scan properly and they need to manually enter your details while everyone else boards while you wait…
AS flights board 40 mins before departure. At the gate, get them to reprint/reissue your BP before boarding commences.

Oh, and the 40 bonus SCs posted exactly 7 days later.

 

[Quickstatus]

and in the QF F Lounge by about 06:30

Wow, that is very fast. Any queues at Immigration?

Were they still setting up FLounge when you arrived there?

 

[SYD]

Wow, that is very fast. Any queues at Immigration?

First flight in (they let us off about 05:55), so we were the queue waiting for the happy chaps to open up shop. It moved pretty quickly as did luggage (don‘t know if they started offloading before us - which might have helped). Zero wait at transfer security.

Were they still setting up FLounge when you arrived there?

Apparently the Chef was late arriving, but given we weren‘t in a hurry nor hungry we waited a while before getting something to eat and drink (including a fiery Bloody Mary - Tip: ask to go easy on the chilli!).

Edit: Immigration kiosks still not in play but overall, one of the better LAX arrivals experiences. As it used to be 20 years ago….

 

[roby]

So we took the seperate AS “First Class” tag flight offered by QF from LAX to SFO following our rebooked Classic Reward J flight SYD-LAX. Apart from QF11 being subbed for a B787 two wks out and missing lunch in the QF F Lounge thanks to the earlier departure, it otherwise went relatively smoothly - except a minor hiccup - see note below.

I was in the same boat. After emailing reward esclation team 4 times, someone from Hobart finally got back to me and offered an AS flight from LAX to SFO separately. She said she wouldn't be able to combine the 2 tickets together due to 1 being a reward ticket and the other a revenue ticket paid for by QF. She added that QF would cover the 2nd flight if the first one got delayed even though not on the same ticket (I was skeptical).

The next day I discovered that I could rebook myself a day earlier using their new online flight disruption rebooking function and got myself confirmed for the same flight a day earlier connecting to an AA flight in revenue booking class all on the same ticket. The ticket was never re-issued until I called them. The agent called Hobart while I was on hold and the ticket got issued shortly afterwards. I also advised them to cancel the separate AS ticket.

AA had no problem scanning QF issued boarding pass. Spent some time in the nice AA Flagship lounge. The downside is those AA Embraer jets take off from a separate terminal that needs a bus ride. My account got credited the AA flight (550 points and 40 SC) but I would not want to relive this whole drama again.

 

[DC3]

… AA Embraer jets take off from a separate terminal that needs a bus ride …

I’ve tried a few times to get a flight out of the Eagles Nest, just for the bus trip through the tarmac/runway area, but it’s never worked out. Maybe next time.

 

[serfty]

Back through transfer security and in the QF F Lounge by about 06:30

Wow, that is very fast. Any queues at Immigration?

Were they still setting up FLounge when you arrived there?

Shortly before COVID-19, I arrived at the LAX QF First lounge doors 06:15 and had to wait 15 minutes for the official opening at 06:30.

 

[jakeseven7]

Is there any date for the return of MEL/SFO yet that anyone has seen?

 

[HS-TQE]

Not for the foreseeable future. Other routes out of SYD and MEL are ahead of the queue.

Only chance of SFO getting ahead is if Premier Dan and the Airport stumps up the subsidy money for QF.

 

[jrfsp]

Not for the foreseeable future. Other routes out of SYD and MEL are ahead of the queue.

Only chance of SFO getting ahead is if Premier Dan and the Airport stumps up the subsidy money for QF.

Which is not going to happen as UA already fly the route

 

[pippen_2k]

Is there any date for the return of MEL/SFO yet that anyone has seen?

It's a shame as that night time flight on the Dreamliner was my favorite when travelling to the USA

 

[jakeseven7]

Is there any date for the return of MEL/SFO yet that anyone has seen?

Bumping my own post.

Desperate for this route to recommence.

Apparently the SYD route is doing well…

Any insiders with knowledge?

Waiting in hope

 

[HS-TQE]

Not for the foreseeable future. Other routes out of SYD and MEL are ahead of the queue.

Only chance of SFO getting ahead is if Premier Dan and the Airport stumps up the subsidy money for QF.

I'll just requote the earlier post.

As an alternative you'll going to have ask Dan and Airports to stump up the taxpayer subsidy money (and have QF Rob Paul to Pay Peter) but there could be surprises if Anna (and BAC) beats Dan for the long delayed BNE-ORD on QF.

 

[SYD]

Bumping my own post.

Desperate for this route to recommence.

Apparently the SYD route is doing well…

Any insiders with knowledge?

Waiting in hope

Key question is do they have the aircraft? Some new routes have started while old routes (and previously announced routes) haven’t started/restarted

 

[AIRwin]

Key question is do they have the aircraft?

There have been new deliveries recently?