Wait Or Book A Back Up Flight ?

[ronlon]

Hi, I have a business class award seat booking Melbourne to Frankfurt via Narita with JAL departing mid June. Due to reduced demand JAL have been cancelling flights up until June.

I have enough points to book a back up flight the day before although it is longer being Melbourne-Singapore-Doha-Frankfurt with only the first flight in business class (Jetstar). I may however need the points to book another back up flight when I return from Frankfurt due to the Russia airspace mess up with Finnair schedules and my booking to return to home via Narita in July.

What happens when my flight to Frankfurt does not fly ? Does Qantas offer a completely different flight and obtain award seats that otherwise are not currently available for me to book now ?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi, I have a business class award seat booking Melbourne to Frankfurt via Narita with JAL departing mid June. Due to reduced demand JAL have been cancelling flights up until June.

I have enough points to book a back up flight the day before although it is longer being Melbourne-Singapore-Doha-Frankfurt with only the first flight in business class (Jetstar). I may however need the points to book another back up flight when I return from Frankfurt due to the Russia airspace mess up with Finnair schedules and my booking to return to home via Narita in July.

What happens when my flight to Frankfurt does not fly ? Does Qantas offer a completely different flight and obtain award seats that otherwise are not currently available for me to book now ?

No they will not. You’ll get a refund of your points if JL cancels the flight. QF will only move you to existing Award seats available.

 

[ronlon]

Thanks Princess Fiona. If the JL flight is cancelled for the booked day but there is the same flight the day before or day after with award availability do Qantas offer that ?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks Princess Fiona. If the JL flight is cancelled for the booked day but there is the same flight the day before or day after with award availability do Qantas offer that ?

IME they won’t proactively offer any alternative flights. If there is availability other days then you can certainly move to that. Would need to be done by telephone.

 

[jrfsp]

I had an award booking for June on JL MEL-NRT-HEL (AY) too, proactively cancelled and found another route. The risk of either or both being cancelled / retimed was too great. AYs new schedule from NRT wont connect with the JAL MEL flight even if it runs.
If i left it and it was cancelled closer to the time chances are there would be no award seats left on any other route.

 

[Anna]

Off topic but when travelling from Australia to Europe via NRT on JL, how long is the transit at NRT?

 

[luxury-lizard]

This might not help but SQ have some amazing fares in J from SYD/MEL to Europe return - from around $5300 depending on destination and dates. I think of all airlines ex-Aus, SQ are the least likely to cancel flights and their connections to in SIN are usually excellent.