SFO routes dropped?

[FlyingKangaroo]

Any thoughts on the mid morning flight or night departure?

To each their own preference but I prefer the evening departure as I'm more likely to sleep. It's nice to enjoy the J experience, but that can still make for a long 14-15 hours if you find yourself wide-awake. With the night flight, you can enjoy yourself while still getting a solid rest, which may be why the return to Oz always seems to go by so much faster for me, even though it's actually a bit longer.

Downside of the later departure of course is if you have to check out of your hotel, you'll need to find a way to busy yourself that afternoon.

 

[dandandan]

To each their own preference but I prefer the evening departure as I'm more likely to sleep. It's nice to enjoy the J experience, but that can still make for a long 14-15 hours if you find yourself wide-awake. With the night flight, you can enjoy yourself while still getting a solid rest, which may be why the return to Oz always seems to go by so much faster for me, even though it's actually a bit longer.

Downside of the later departure of course is if you have to check out of your hotel, you'll need to find a way to busy yourself that afternoon.

Thanks for your response, it's a departure out of Sydney to start the trip so no hotel. I was thinking night departure, however read a few opinions of the Qantas 787 vs a380. I don't think I flown the Qantas 787 and last time I was on a Qantas A380 was in F in 2019. Flown both aircraft many times before so tough choice! of more room on the a380 or more time in the F lounge and taking the overnight flight on 787, where you can also get a bit of sleep early on and adjust to time a bit better.

 

[Rhea]

Just got the e-mail as well. I have a reward booking so no attempts to get me from SFO-LAX, but unlike many who are understandably not happy with the sudden dump to/from LAX, I am fine with coming back from LAX as I have to position myself in California either way.

However, it has thrown off my schedule a bit, so I called in and asked to change the new LAX-SYD sector to the same flight two days earlier. Fiji immediately made the change in the booking which I can see (looks like they've just opened up J class and put me on it), but whether it actually tickets remains to be seen.

After checking my qantas account i have been re-routed from Lax to Syd. I got a call from Qantas a couple of days ago offering to get us to lax but no direct code share flights so would have to fly from SFO to Dallas and then Dallas to lax but we declined. We will drive ourselves there rather than rely on two US flights!

 

[kreuky]

Just got a call from QF (South Africa call centre) regarding this. I am planning to cancel this booking but I thought I'd play along to see what they offer me and get some datapoints:
Original was SYD-SFO in J reward booking thru QF (non-stop)

QF: We can put you on SYD-LAX (J) and then LAX-SFO (J) on AS with 9hr layover in LAX
Me: no thanks, 9 hours too long.
QF: Ok we will put you on commercial booking in J paid by QF for the LAX to SFO leg at an earlier time
Me: That sound's ok but i'd actually like a night flight since the original SYD-SFO left at night. I see there's SYD-LAX on QF17 that departs at night on a Monday (4 days from my original flight) - i'd like to change to that
QF: Hmm ok, but there's no classic award avail and no avail in J from LAX to SFO until 2200
Me: Can we request a seat on that QF flight and do the commercial booking from LAX to SFO at an earlier time?
QF: No, can't request a seat, but let me check commercial bookings. Yes there's commercial seats avail on SYD to LAX on QF 17 - can I book you into that? (LOL)
Me: Sure, as long as I don't have to pay any extra
QF: no you won't have to, let me put you on hold
15mins later
QF: I'm still searching for availability on commercial flights - we will have to cancel your original booking and put you on a new booking. Can i call you back later since it will take me a while to search?
Me: Sure, no problem. (normally would never allow them to touch the original booking but since i already have backup flights, i'm fine)

Taking bets on what's going to happen:
1. Original booking cancelled, completely screwed over with no flights (since i know there is ZERO SYD-LAX J classic award availability) ($1.02)
2. Booked in revenue J class on the flights I want, but it won't ticket since not really paid for by anyone ($1.10)
3. Some other massive QF cough up ($1.15)
4. Getting the actual flights i asked for in J and ticketed ($10000000)

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

After checking my qantas account i have been re-routed from Lax to Syd. I got a call from Qantas a couple of days ago offering to get us to lax but no direct code share flights so would have to fly from SFO to Dallas and then Dallas to lax but we declined. We will drive ourselves there rather than rely on two US flights!

1 point for at least trying rather than just telling you that you were on your own, but minus one point for that silly routing. Net = 0. At least (part of) it is a pretty drive.

Taking bets on what's going to happen:
1. Original booking cancelled, completely screwed over with no flights (since i know there is ZERO SYD-LAX J classic award availability) ($1.02)
2. Booked in revenue J class on the flights I want, but it won't ticket since not really paid for by anyone ($1.10)
3. Some other massive QF cough up ($1.15)
4. Getting the actual flights i asked for in J and ticketed ($10000000)

$1.02? Seems expensive!

 

[kreuky]

She actually called back and of course "couldn't find any classic awards" and instead offered the original SYD-LAX and LAX-SFO (commercial booking) or cancellation and refund or cancellation and "pay the fare difference" for the flights (revenue booking) i wanted SYD-LAX. Just declined and said I will call later to sort it out.

 

[dandandan]

She actually called back and of course "couldn't find any classic awards" and instead offered the original SYD-LAX and LAX-SFO (commercial booking) or cancellation and refund or cancellation and "pay the fare difference" for the flights (revenue booking) i wanted SYD-LAX. Just declined and said I will call later to sort it out.

I see you said you are going to cancel, however I was able to get moved onto the SYD-LAX night flight a day earlier through the Hobart call centre, however not through South Africa who said no rewards seats available.

 

[kreuky]

Yeah i have been able to get the flights i wanted through HBA before but i already have backup flights on the date i want so don't need this one. Will keep though until last minute before cancelling.

 

[docjames]

After checking my qantas account i have been re-routed from Lax to Syd. I got a call from Qantas a couple of days ago offering to get us to lax but no direct code share flights so would have to fly from SFO to Dallas and then Dallas to lax but we declined. We will drive ourselves there rather than rely on two US flights!

What on earth is that option? When there are hourly AA SFO-LAX flights. Ouch.

I once did MEL-LAX-DFW-YVR as AA changed flight times and I couldn’t get a LAX-YVR direct on anything other than Rouge (with about a 5hr connection) or AA with a ~ 9hr layover in LAX so figured I’d fly (J/F) around via DFW (the proffered alternative) and accrue the SCs and end up in YVR at around the same time - but it was a slog i’m not desperate to repeat.

 

[jrfsp]

What on earth is that option? When there are hourly AA SFO-LAX flights. Ouch.

I once did MEL-LAX-DFW-YVR as AA changed flight times and I couldn’t get a LAX-YVR direct on anything other than Rouge (with about a 5hr connection) or AA with a ~ 9hr layover in LAX so figured I’d fly (J/F) around via DFW (the proffered alternative) and accrue the SCs and end up in YVR at around the same time - but it was a slog i’m not desperate to repeat.

Unfortunately AA are down to only 3 daily on LAX-SFO

 

[encryptededdy]

Not sure if it's all been covered here, but Agency Connect has a page on this too: https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnec...ervices-between-sydney-and-san-francisco.html
It seems to more formally detail rebooking options.

Permitted Actions

• Rebook to Qantas Airways operated flight between Australia
  and LAX connecting with QF*/AA or QF*/AS flights to/from
  LAX/SFO. Where QF* is not available then the LAX/SFO vv.
  sector may be rebooked on AA or AS prime flight numbers.
• Customers travelling to/from other points via SFO can be
  rebooked onto QF*/AA or QF*/AS via LAX. Where QF* is not
  available then the sector may be rebooked on AA or AS
  prime flight numbers.
• Customers travelling in the business cabin, can be rebooked
  into the first cabin on AA or AS operated domestic sectors.
  Fare classes for AA/AS first cabin are:
  - J/C/D/I on QF*AA, QF*/AS or AS prime
  - C/J/R/D/I on AA prime.
• If the same booking class is not available, the lowest booking
  class within the same cabin may be booked.
• Where a cabin is no longer available, customers can be
  accommodated / rebooked on the next available Qantas
  operated flight in a lower cabin and offered a partial refund
  if applicable.

 

[docjames]

Unfortunately AA are down to only 3 daily on LAX-SFO

Crazy. But I guess the assets are better deployed elsewhere - Southwest are dominating California.

 

[kreuky]

Ever since AS joined oneworld too, i have noticed AA have killed many SFO-LAX /vv flights. Should still be able to get on AS

 

[dandandan]

Not sure if it's all been covered here, but Agency Connect has a page on this too: https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnec...ervices-between-sydney-and-san-francisco.html
It seems to more formally detail rebooking options.

On the phone to Qantas to add LAX-SFO, I believe to someone in the Hobart call centre. I have been told we will have to get our own way from LAX to SFO, Qantas has got us as close to SFO as they can and that there is no reward tickets. I told the agent I have an email saying Qantas will book from LAX to my final destination SFO and also pointed out this commercial policy. The person said they will check, so I am on hold however added they have been there for 7 years and first they had heard of this!. Waiting on hold while they check........

 

[dandandan]

On the phone to Qantas to add LAX-SFO, I believe to someone in the Hobart call centre. I have been told we will have to get our own way from LAX to SFO, Qantas has got us as close to SFO as they can and that there is no reward tickets. I told the agent I have an email saying Qantas will book from LAX to my final destination SFO and also pointed out this commercial policy. The person said they will check, so I am on hold however added they have been there for 7 years and first they had heard of this!. Waiting on hold while they check........

Once again though great service from the Hobart call centre. Person came back from hold and said they were not aware of this however had checked and all was good and that they would add the LAX-SFO leg. While I have to transit through LAX Qantas has done the the right think and getting to the original destination booked. Thanks for adding up the Commercial Policy @encryptededdy

​

 

[DC3]

… I am on hold however added they have been there for 7 years and first they had heard of this ..

 

[dandandan]

Yes and I spoke a little early, as I was booked in economy! just got off the phone after calling back again and now on Business/First
LAX-SFO.

 

[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.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

This is just pathetic at this point.

 

[VHOEJ]

I also got the dreaded message - I opted to cancel as I am done with QF's treatment of SFO.

I was on an award booking so better not get stung a Cancellation point fee as a result.