Skipping the last leg of multi city itinerary

[zylin]

My partner and I are doing a month long RTW (oneworld award) itinerary in November. The trip starts in Sydney and the final flight is from JFK to SYD via AKL on QF4/QF142. We have an event in Auckland the day after we arrive back in Sydney so ideally we would just get off in AKL and skip the final AKL to SYD leg.

From my understanding, this is doable if we only have carry-on but unfortunately we have checked bags given the length of the trip. I was wondering if there was some way around this still. My guess is that there's no way for us to guarantee this in advance, and we would just have to ask at JFK if they can avoid checking our bags all the way through the SYD. Does that sound correct?

(I believe these segments are married since when I searched JFK to AKL availability there wasn't any, but there was JFK to SYD. As a result, I don't think I can just cancel the last leg directly.)

If not possible for both of us, would it be possible for me to check both our bags in at JFK under my name, then have my partner get off by herself at AKL? Then I would catch a flight by myself from SYD to AKL (saving us at least one flight). Are there any potential issues with this approach?

Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks !

 

[RooFlyer]

What's the transit time in AKL? If, say more than 5 hours (preferably more) you could ask JFK agent to 'short check' the bags because you have to drop something off to someone in Auckland. Trouble with that is, if they don't, you are stuck, as you allude to. If they do, the issue below may still apply.

The second approach seems do-able, but I wouldn't have your partner just not catch the AKL-SYD leg. Inform the airline that she is seeking medical help or something forcing her to break the journey. BUT there may then be an issue with them exiting through NZ immigration when they should be transiting. There was discussion somewhere here about an Oz citizen doing it during a transit at an Australian airport and it wasn't clear whether that could be done without problems (and that would be easier then your case, unless your partner is a NZ citizen).

 

[tdimdad]

Would it be possible to rebook the last flight (QF142) to a later date? There seem to be reward flights AKL-SYD every day in November in Y and most days also in J. That would be the cleanest option. A good TA, though, would be needed instead of the QF overseas call centres for this change.

 

[Blackadder]

If checking all the bags under your name, just be mindful of the checked bag limits, so that you avoid the extra fees.

 

[justinbrett]

Not a good idea, you run the risk of being banned by QF and forfeiting your QFF account and points. Airlines are on to this stuff these days.

There’s also a greater than zero chance NZ will deport you as it looks highly suspicious. If you make up an elaborate story with illness they may send health staff to assist, and if only one of stays that will look even more suspicious. Contrary to popular opinion, Australians do not have an absolute right of entry to NZ, it’s always at the discretion of NZ officials.

When most people talk about skip lagging they’re talking about domestic connections (which is still risky), to do so for an international connection involving a third country is not worth the risk IMO.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My partner and I are doing a month long RTW (oneworld award) itinerary in November. The trip starts in Sydney and the final flight is from JFK to SYD via AKL on QF4/QF142. We have an event in Auckland the day after we arrive back in Sydney so ideally we would just get off in AKL and skip the final AKL to SYD leg.

From my understanding, this is doable if we only have carry-on but unfortunately we have checked bags given the length of the trip. I was wondering if there was some way around this still. My guess is that there's no way for us to guarantee this in advance, and we would just have to ask at JFK if they can avoid checking our bags all the way through the SYD. Does that sound correct?

(I believe these segments are married since when I searched JFK to AKL availability there wasn't any, but there was JFK to SYD. As a result, I don't think I can just cancel the last leg directly.)

If not possible for both of us, would it be possible for me to check both our bags in at JFK under my name, then have my partner get off by herself at AKL? Then I would catch a flight by myself from SYD to AKL (saving us at least one flight). Are there any potential issues with this approach?

Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks !

The current transit time is just under three hours for the connection you list. I don’t think the airlines will short check for that. And the JFK flight might be late anyway.

Option: call QF and either drop the last flight or see if you can move it later, so use it to get home from your event in AKL.

If you are aussie citizens i don’t think entering NZ is a problem. the discussion above regarding potential problems might have been for the qatar airways flight where someone wanted to leave the airport at MEL rather than wait for the continuation to ADL. That would have been a different issue with trying to get bags offloaded.

 

[justinbrett]

If you are aussie citizens i don’t think entering NZ is a problem. the discussion above regarding potential problems might have been for the qatar airways flight where someone wanted to leave the airport at MEL rather than wait for the continuation to ADL. That would have been a different issue with trying to get bags offloaded.

I was nearly refused entry in AKL just doing a status run (SYD-AKL-SYD), they said it was very suspicious I had bought a ticket at the last minute for expensive business fares to only stay in the country for less than 24 hours. Fortunately her supervisor knew what a status run was and let me through.

It's a low chance but it's greater than zero that NZ will have a problem with it as it looks dodgy unless you come up with a good cover story. If nothing else the appropriate taxes to enter NZ would not have been charged.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was nearly refused entry in AKL just doing a status run (SYD-AKL-SYD), they said it was very suspicious I had bought a ticket at the last minute for expensive business fares to only stay in the country for less than 24 hours. Fortunately her supervisor knew what a status run was and let me through.

It's a low chance but it's greater than zero that NZ will have a problem with it as it looks dodgy unless you come up with a good cover story. If nothing else the appropriate taxes to enter NZ would not have been charged.

Agree. It’s not zero risk. Would be good to see if QF can drop the leg, or move it out by a few days

 

[Blackadder]

Agree. It’s not zero risk. Would be good to see if QF can drop the leg, or move it out by a few days

Anything is possible if you pay the additional $$$ for it to happen.
Dropping the Sydney leg will involve a recalculation of the entire airfare, as the existing ticketing conditions would be specific to the original routing.

 

[zylin]

Appreicate the replies everyone. We are both New Zealand citizens and fortuntely flying J so checked baggage isn't an issue. It still seems like the best option is to call Qantas and see if we can just remove/move the last flight. Will try and update with how we go.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Anything is possible if you pay the additional $$$ for it to happen.
Dropping the Sydney leg will involve a recalculation of the entire airfare, as the existing ticketing conditions would be specific to the original routing.

good points, but OP is on an awards, so the points should stay the same. Provided the 5 stops haven’t been used, there should only be some airport taxes?

 

[zylin]

Just got off the call with Qantas. The experience was suspiciously smooth... Operator picked up instantly. Said they could remove the flight without any issues. Asked me for a card number to refund $300 of taxes back and processed the removal straight after. The whole process was no more than 10 minutes. The booking no longer shows the AKL to SYD leg, and I'm just waiting on ticketing (they said this would be expedited and within 24 hours).

TBH, I was completely expecting this to not work at all since no flights were showing up for JFK to AKL when I booked initially (only JFK to SYD). I assumed these segments were married- but I guess there not? Obviously not going to complain but I'm just curious as to whether this is expected/normal.

Thanks to everyone who suggested I just call and ask ! I think I had a bias for avoiding contacting customer support.. but it turned out to be a pleasant experience and result.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just got off the call with Qantas. The experience was suspiciously smooth... Operator picked up instantly. Said they could remove the flight without any issues. Asked me for a card number to refund $300 of taxes back and processed the removal straight after. The whole process was no more than 10 minutes. The booking no longer shows the AKL to SYD leg, and I'm just waiting on ticketing (they said this would be expedited and within 24 hours).

TBH, I was completely expecting this to not work at all since no flights were showing up for JFK to AKL when I booked initially (only JFK to SYD). I assumed these segments were married- but I guess there not? Obviously not going to complain but I'm just curious as to whether this is expected/normal.

Thanks to everyone who suggested I just call and ask ! I think I had a bias for avoiding contacting customer support.. but it turned out to be a pleasant experience and result.

Hmmm.

Wait for ticketing!

I’ve had agents do ‘stuff’ to the booking, including adding or taking out new flights. Two days later after no ticket they put me on hold for 30 mins. Turns out Australia - where they have to review these before ticketing - picked up an error and wouldn’t process it until they fixed it.

Fingers crossed that’s not the case, but it is possible the review team will pick up the married segment issue.

In my case they then had to reinstate the original booking… which is a whole other story

 

[dylarr]

Just got off the call with Qantas. The experience was suspiciously smooth... Operator picked up instantly. Said they could remove the flight without any issues. Asked me for a card number to refund $300 of taxes back and processed the removal straight after. The whole process was no more than 10 minutes. The booking no longer shows the AKL to SYD leg, and I'm just waiting on ticketing (they said this would be expedited and within 24 hours).

TBH, I was completely expecting this to not work at all since no flights were showing up for JFK to AKL when I booked initially (only JFK to SYD). I assumed these segments were married- but I guess there not? Obviously not going to complain but I'm just curious as to whether this is expected/normal.

Thanks to everyone who suggested I just call and ask ! I think I had a bias for avoiding contacting customer support.. but it turned out to be a pleasant experience and result.

If the booking contains non-QF sectors, I'd be pushing for ticketing on the spot due to the risk that the partner airlines could cancel sectors if not ticketed quick enough.

 

[justinbrett]

Just got off the call with Qantas. The experience was suspiciously smooth... Operator picked up instantly. Said they could remove the flight without any issues. Asked me for a card number to refund $300 of taxes back and processed the removal straight after. The whole process was no more than 10 minutes. The booking no longer shows the AKL to SYD leg, and I'm just waiting on ticketing (they said this would be expedited and within 24 hours).

TBH, I was completely expecting this to not work at all since no flights were showing up for JFK to AKL when I booked initially (only JFK to SYD). I assumed these segments were married- but I guess there not? Obviously not going to complain but I'm just curious as to whether this is expected/normal.

Thanks to everyone who suggested I just call and ask ! I think I had a bias for avoiding contacting customer support.. but it turned out to be a pleasant experience and result.

Did they have an Aussie accent? You may have got Hobart.

They can un-marry segments pretty easily.

 

[zylin]

Didn't receive ticketing within 24 hours so I sent a DM to the Qantas Twitter. A representative replied instantly and got the itinerary ticketed within an hour. The new 081 number is now showing up on my E-Ticket Flight Itinerary and the status has changed from 'On Hold' to 'Ticketed' on the JAL 'Manage my booking' page.

Pleasantly surprised how everything turned out since I was convinced those segments were married... Thanks again everyone !

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Didn't receive ticketing within 24 hours so I sent a DM to the Qantas Twitter. A representative replied instantly and got the itinerary ticketed within an hour. The new 081 number is now showing up on my E-Ticket Flight Itinerary and the status has changed from 'On Hold' to 'Ticketed' on the JAL 'Manage my booking' page.

Pleasantly surprised how everything turned out since I was convinced those segments were married... Thanks again everyone !

result! well done!

 

[RooFlyer]

Didn't receive ticketing within 24 hours so I sent a DM to the Qantas Twitter. A representative replied instantly and got the itinerary ticketed within an hour. The new 081 number is now showing up on my E-Ticket Flight Itinerary and the status has changed from 'On Hold' to 'Ticketed' on the JAL 'Manage my booking' page.

Pleasantly surprised how everything turned out since I was convinced those segments were married... Thanks again everyone !

Good result, well done, but generally BS that someone has to dip their head into the Twitter (?? 'X') sewer to get a result.