Two distinct tickets vs one multi-city

[philr2000]

I’m sure I’m getting the terminology wrong here, and tried to search but to no avail.

If I book two ‘distinct’ QFF classic rewards ie Milan – Doha as one transaction; then Doha – Sydney as another (such that I get two emails/confirmations from Qantas), can they process my whole flight in one go at Milan and link my bags etc or will I have to collect bags, then re-check in at Doha?

Whilst the obvious alternative is to book as one multi-leg on one ticket ie Milan-Doha-Sydney, I am still waiting to see if more availability shows up for Milan-Doha leg in Business Class, and if I can add in a stop-over (Doha’s new visa rules for the World Cup presenting some challenges).

Thanks all!

 

[aikman]

It will probably depend on the check in agent you get on the day at Milan.

 

[BD1959]

"Qatar Airways is pleased to offer passengers the courtesy of through check-in of themselves and their bags to their final destination when travelling on multi-sector journeys involving connections onto other oneworld member airlines, even when the trip is booked using separate tickets."

See Benefits > Other Benefits here: https://www.qatarairways.com/en/about-qatar-airways/oneworld.html

Regards,

BD

 

[Hvr]

The main issue with discrete tickets is that there is no protection should you miss the second flight because the first flight arrives late etc.

 

[theoracle30]

Also note you can't book a Qantas reward ticket originating from Doha online. You would need to call to book Doha-Sydney.

 

[philr2000]

Thanks for this, super helpful...

And what if I wanted to just book say the Doha-Sydney leg, could I then add Milan-Doha later (and have as one ticket, so that I am protected if I missed connection etc)?

I have been stung before when trying to change a Reward ticket by this 'linked' segments or similar which meant I had to cancel the full booking to make a change to one leg.

 

[RichardMEL]

The potential problem here is before day of travel imo. Agents at MXP should be able to through check no worries on the two tickets.

If however you book them separately and QR retime one, or both, and they then misconnect, you're out of luck. It's not something I would want to do without creating a stopover of sorts as protection just in case. Things are so variable these days with schedules that it's not unreasonable that one of them could chang between now and flight date.

 

[philr2000]

Final question looping back to this topic. Thanks for all the advice thus far.

I have booked Milan-Doha; then Doha-Sydney on two distinct award tickets with Qatar (with a ~3 hour wait in Doha).

If at check-in in Milan they are unable to link my ticket or check my bags all the way through for whatever reason, what happens in practice once I get to Doha? Do I need to go through immigration and collect bags then re-check in?

I only ask, because Doha has just announced a very strict visa policy in place for the World Cup where from 1 November to gain entry into Qatar you need to have a World Cup ticket (note, the World Cup starts 21 November and we happen to be flying through Doha on 3rd November, so we are no chance of tickets).

Obviously want to avoid any risk / scenario where my bags are on the other side waiting for collection but I am unable to get to them.

Thank you!

 

[aikman]

Usual practice if you don't have a visa is denied boarding.

 

[jpp42]

I only ask, because Doha has just announced a very strict visa policy in place for the World Cup where from 1 November to gain entry into Qatar you need to have a World Cup ticket (note, the World Cup starts 21 November and we happen to be flying through Doha on 3rd November, so

Oh my , this doesn't look good. I agree with aikman, you are unlikely to be allowed to board at MXP without a valid visa given this rule. It's the airline's responsibility that you have permission to enter the country, and because your ticket says your final destination is Doha, they will be bound to follow this regardless of your intention to travel onward. The exception might be is if the country's immigration policy specifically has an exemption for the World Cup ticket rule for people with onward travel. However, a quick search I could not find anything about that - they only said they will be announcing information "later" on options for visitors without World Cup tickets.

I would strongly recommend changing your itinerary, which I realise may involve giving up award seats in J, but you'd be better off rebooking in economy on one ticket, and/or some other route.

 

[BD1959]

Final question looping back to this topic. Thanks for all the advice thus far.

I have booked Milan-Doha; then Doha-Sydney on two distinct award tickets with Qatar (with a ~3 hour wait in Doha).

If at check-in in Milan they are unable to link my ticket or check my bags all the way through for whatever reason, what happens in practice once I get to Doha? Do I need to go through immigration and collect bags then re-check in?

I only ask, because Doha has just announced a very strict visa policy in place for the World Cup where from 1 November to gain entry into Qatar you need to have a World Cup ticket (note, the World Cup starts 21 November and we happen to be flying through Doha on 3rd November, so we are no chance of tickets).

Obviously want to avoid any risk / scenario where my bags are on the other side waiting for collection but I am unable to get to them.

Thank you!

Per my post earlier, there should be no problem with MXP tagging the bags through to SYD. If you are at all worried, I would contact QR direct and ask them the likelihood of you have to exit to reclaim/recheck bags at DOH. Hopefully they can set your mind at ease.

Regards,

BD

 

[jpp42]

Per my post earlier, there should be no problem with MXP tagging the bags through to SYD. If you are at all worried, I would contact QR direct and ask them the likelihood of you have to exit to reclaim/recheck bags at DOH. Hopefully they can set your mind at ease.

The issue isn't only the through-checking of bags, the more critical issue is whether the OP will be denied boarding without a visa, since his official destination as per the ticket is Doha and as far as I know there's no way to "link" the onward tickets formally for immigration purposes (or combine into one PNR).

The question is whether the policies being used by the check-in agent and station chief at MXP will accept the immediate onward travel as acceptable for Qatar's immigration rules. Right now there is no evidence I can find that says it is acceptable. Maybe Qatar will clarify the rules and allow airlines to carry people with immediate onward tickets on a different PNR (as Japan is currently doing), but maybe not. They simply haven't announced the rules as I can see... it just seems too risky to continue with this itinerary in my mind.

I have been privy to a few arguments on this front between passengers and station chiefs (for other airlines), and airlines will be very strict about this due to the fines involved if they carry someone who cannot be admitted.

 

[NoName]

Interesting thread. Apologies for jumping in but I have a similar scenario. Two tickets: SIN-KUL-DXB (MH & EK) then DXB-MUC (EK). 3.5hr transit. Australian passport if that makes any difference.

Going to be any issue here 1. Getting the bags checked all the way through to MUC and 2. Being allowed to board?

 

[BD1959]

Do I need a visa to transit Doha Airport

Regards,

BD

 

[jpp42]

Interesting thread. Apologies for jumping in but I have a similar scenario. Two tickets: SIN-KUL-DXB (MH & EK) then DXB-MUN. 3.5hr transit.

Going to be any issue here 1. Getting the bags checked all the way through to MUN and 2. Being allowed to board?

The discussion here was about Doha, Qatar, and its special rules relating to the World Cup. Your flight to DXB (Dubai), is in a different country, the United Arab Emirates. As long as you have a passport that allows entry into UAE you should not have an issue. If you do not hold such a passport, I would be looking at applying for at transit visa just in case the check-in agent at KUL asks for proof that you are allowed to visit DXB. I am not sure about through-checking of bags on EK in this situation; will let others reply.

 

[philr2000]

Thanks for the replies...all largely consistent with my thought process, but good to know I'm not off track.

I will call Qatar, but also have a fear I'm relying on someone's advice from the call-centre which may mean very little once we are in Doha or checking-in, in Milan...

May have to revisit the route home - just so hard to give up given the ticket is in J!

 

[NoName]

The discussion here was about Doha, Qatar, and its special rules relating to the World Cup. Your flight to DXB (Dubai), is in a different country, the United Arab Emirates. As long as you have a passport that allows entry into UAE you should not have an issue. If you do not hold such a passport, I would be looking at applying for at transit visa just in case the check-in agent at KUL asks for proof that you are allowed to visit DXB. I am not sure about through-checking of bags on EK in this situation; will let others reply.

Thanks. Yes I’m aware the discussion was about Qatar and also aware they are different counties, hence the word “similar” in my post. “Similar” referring to the transiting on two different tickets.

 

[SYD]

Thanks for the replies...all largely consistent with my thought process, but good to know I'm not off track.

I will call Qatar, but also have a fear I'm relying on someone's advice from the call-centre which may mean very little once we are in Doha or checking-in, in Milan...

May have to revisit the route home - just so hard to give up given the ticket is in J!

As @BD1959 has pointed out, it’s QR’s published policy to through check PAX on seperate bookings (my partner recently used this to advantage returning home from BER via DOH and SIN, albeit the seperate bookings were the SIN transit. But not only did luggage arrive in SYD, but QR checkin in BER were able to issue all BPs (BER-DOH, DOH-SIN and QF SIN-SYD).

But the point is you shouldn’t have to enter Qatar.

The issue will be if there’s a delay or cancellation but presumably you’d stay airside until you can be put on another flight. You’d expect there might be a few spare seats outbound with lots of PAX mainly coming in for the World Cup?

 

[philr2000]

As luck would have it...two Qsuite tickets appeared tonight - Milan to Sydney (via Melb), but was able to (eventually) get a helpful Australian call centre who could make the changes for me.

Crisis averted! Thanks all