DXB - ATH flight replaced

[arlene_i]

Hello everyone. I was disappointed when I got an email from Qantas of a change on DXB-ATH leg of my trip. Instead of the straight flight I booked, I now have DXB-ATH via LCA. And this is 1hr 20mins after arriving from MEL-DXB leg. The annoying thing is, there is a straignt DXB-ATH flight everyday for the week before and after, but not on my departure date. Anyway, what options do i have in this case, apart from Accept the change or Cancel the booking? This is a rewards flight.

Cheers

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hello everyone. I was disappointed when I got an email from Qantas of a change on DXB-ATH leg of my trip. Instead of the straight flight I booked, I now have DXB-ATH via LCA. And this is 1hr 20mins after arriving from MEL-DXB leg. The annoying thing is, there is a straignt DXB-ATH flight everyday for the week before and after, but not on my departure date. Anyway, what options do i have in this case, apart from Accept the change or Cancel the booking? This is a rewards flight.

Cheers

You probably don't have (m)any options in terms of your consumer or contract rights. You are still getting to ATH, presumably more or less around the same time? The length of the layover in DXB, unless you originally booked it to allow you to go and visit Dubai (as in you had 7 or 12 hours transit or whatever) is probably not really relevant. A transit is a transit.

Nothing stops you ringing Qantas (or whichever FF program you used points from) and asking them for another flight - like a day later. But as you probably don't have any legal recourse, if they want to charge you for the change they are likely in their rights to do so. On the plus side - the DXB-ATH for that day is probably now very full, or oversold... so they might be happy to move you a day later!

 

[Quickstatus]

So you are on QF9 which arrives into DXB at 0630. And was originally on EK105 DXB-ATH which departs at 0950hrs. But now you are on EK107 DXB-LCA-ATH which departs at 0750 which is 1 hr 20 min after arrival of QF9.

So instead of a 3:20 transit you are now down to 1:20

Are you on the one ticket for MEL-ATH?

1:20 hr is not a lot of time. From a practical point of view its less than an hour because aircraft boarding will commence say 45 minutes prior to departure. Additionally QF9 is not a very time reliable flight. Its departure depends on an ontime arrival of QF10 LHR-DXB-MEL and there is a very tight time constrained turnaround in MEL (though QF has padded the timetable a bit). If QF9 arrives 30 minutes late you will be arriving when boarding has commenced on your connecting aircraft. On the positive QF9 and EK107 should both be at Terminal 3

Your options depend on whether iyour flights are on the one ticket but would ask the airline as MEL_Traveller suggests

BTW can you please confirm the actual flight numbers you are on as that may help the discussion

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So you are on QF9 which arrives into DXB at 0630. And was originally on EK105 DXB-ATH which departs at 0950hrs. But now you are on EK107 DXB-LCA-ATH which departs at 0750 which is 1 hr 20 min after arrival of QF9.

So instead of a 3:20 transit you are now down to 1:20

Are you on the one ticket for MEL-ATH?

1:20 hr is not a lot of time. From a practical point of view its less than an hour because aircraft boarding will commence say 45 minutes prior to departure. Additionally QF9 is not a very time reliable flight. Its departure depends on an ontime arrival of QF10 LHR-DXB-MEL and there is a very tight time constrained turnaround in MEL (though QF has padded the timetable a bit). If QF9 arrives 30 minutes late you will be arriving when boarding has commenced on your connecting aircraft. On the positive QF9 and EK107 should both be at Terminal 3

Your options depend on whether iyour flights are on the one ticket but would ask the airline as MEL_Traveller suggests

BTW can you please confirm the actual flight numbers you are on as that may help the discussion

Agree - I had assumed it was all one ticket and the OP will be protected. If it is two separate tickets - that could cause a problem and may give rise for the OP being able to change the DXB-ATH leg as the timing is now inconvenient.

 

[Quickstatus]

MEL_Traveller,

Here is arlene_i's number 1 post in AFF which gives some context.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s-availability-for-4-a-74680.html#post1413950

 

[arlene_i]

MEL_Traveller,

Here is arlene_i's number 1 post in AFF which gives some context.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s-availability-for-4-a-74680.html#post1413950

Thank you for the replies.

Yes, it is all part of one ticket. QF696 ADL-MEL, QF9 MEL-DXB and EK105 DXB-ATH. EK105 is being replaced with EK107 DXB-LCA-ATH. Arrival to and departure from DXB is at T3.

I find that 1:20 transit time a bit tight too, as I'm not too familiar with the airport. But maybe we'll be alright since we'll be in T3 already? (The last time I was in DXB, T3 was packed with people and that was 5:30am.) And I'm assuming that we'll be able to check our luggages through to Athens from Adelaide? And so what happens in the event of missed connection? Qantas or Emirates will re-book us, right? And since the next flight is the following day, they will place us on accommodation, right?

Sorry, I have too many questions. i want to be prepared when I call Qantas.

Cheers

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you for the replies.

Yes, it is all part of one ticket. QF696 ADL-MEL, QF9 MEL-DXB and EK105 DXB-ATH. EK105 is being replaced with EK107 DXB-LCA-ATH. Arrival to and departure from DXB is at T3.

I find that 1:20 transit time a bit tight too, as I'm not too familiar with the airport. But maybe we'll be alright since we'll be in T3 already? (The last time I was in DXB, T3 was packed with people and that was 5:30am.) And I'm assuming that we'll be able to check our luggages through to Athens from Adelaide? And so what happens in the event of missed connection? Qantas or Emirates will re-book us, right? And since the next flight is the following day, they will place us on accommodation, right?

Sorry, I have too many questions. i want to be prepared when I call Qantas.

Cheers

Yes - you will be rebooked. Whether or not they provide accommodation may depend on the reason for the delay... if it's weather or air traffic control... you may not get accommodation. If it is a mechanical or crew issue - you should should.

Your travel insurance will cover the cost of hotels and meals anyway if you are delayed and the airline isn't paying. Check your policy for the requirements... most policies require the delay to be longer than 6 hours before they pay out.

 

[arlene_i]

I appreciate the reply. Thanks, MEL_Traveller.

 

[Quickstatus]

Here is an insightful comment about QF9 and its ontime performance by Melburnian1

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....lays-cancellations-52193-396.html#post1539265

 

[arlene_i]

Here is an insightful comment about QF9 and its ontime performance by Melburnian1

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....lays-cancellations-52193-396.html#post1539265

Oh, dear...

I wonder if Qantas can re-book my entire flight, ADL-ATH, for say, the day before. Can that happen? With rewards flight?

 

[Quickstatus]

They will definitely not replace your entire outbound itinerary. If you are late they should rebook you and put you up in some semi-dodgy hotel.

Your itinerary also seems a bit tight in more than one place. The construction of a 3 or multi sector itinerary without a stopover should include in it some time buffer. I would have arrived in MEL a bit earlier and definitely would not have attached EK105 into it.

QF696-QF9 only has 2:15hrs which is within minimum connection time (MCT) at MEL which is 1 hour. You only have 1:30hrs before boarding commences on QF9.
But what if QF696 is delayed?
Just check your return itinerary as well for similar.

Next time assume you need to be on the plane when boarding starts.

So if a flightdeparts at 2100 hrs, your "departure time" for the purposes of itinerary construction should be the commencement of boarding. You need to be able to get to the gate at that time.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They will definitely not replace your entire outbound itinerary. If you are late they should rebook you and put you up in some semi-dodgy hotel.

Your itinerary also seems a bit tight in more than one place. The construction of a 3 or multi sector itinerary without a stopover should include in it some time buffer. I would have arrived in MEL a bit earlier and definitely would not have attached EK105 into it.

QF696-QF9 only has 2:15hrs which is within minimum connection time (MCT) at MEL which is 1 hour. You only have 1:30hrs before boarding commences on QF9.
But what if QF696 is delayed?
Just check your return itinerary as well for similar.

Next time assume you need to be on the plane when boarding starts.

So if a flightdeparts at 2100 hrs, your "departure time" for the purposes of itinerary construction should be the commencement of boarding. You need to be able to get to the gate at that time.

The original EK105 at 950 would have been plenty of time. The whole issue arises because the flight was cancelled and the new one is just 1hr20mins transit.

I differ on your assessment of connecting times. 2+ hours at MEL is more than enough as bags will be checked through. You only need to be at the gate 30 mins prior to departure, and even that builds in a 10-15 minute leeway if the airline knows you are coming if your inbound was late.

 

[arlene_i]

Ok. Time to call Qantas. Thanks to MEL_traveller and Quickstatus for all the advice.

 

[Quickstatus]

Let us know how you go. and please put in a trip report. There is a thread somewhere

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ok. Time to call Qantas. Thanks to MEL_traveller and Quickstatus for all the advice.

I too would be interested to know what the outcome is...

 

[arlene_i]

I'll definitely let you know.

 

[Quickstatus]

Trip Reports and Trip Photos

 

[arlene_i]

Trip Reports and Trip Photos

Oh, thanks for that! I was thinking, 'Trip Report? How do I do that?'.

 

[dajop]

I differ on your assessment of connecting times. 2+ hours at MEL is more than enough as bags will be checked through. You only need to be at the gate 30 mins prior to departure, and even that builds in a 10-15 minute leeway if the airline knows you are coming if your inbound was late.

Agree totally with this. If I was arlene_i, I wouldn't overly worry on the QF 696 to QF 9 connection. For what it is worth, recognising past history doesn't always predict future performance, but in the last 53 flights of QF 696, it has run on time (within 15 mins) 83% of the time, and the 18 delayed flights showed an average delay of 18 mins and maximum delay of 56 mins. Even with a 56 min delay that still leaves 1hr + 19 mins to stroll across to international terminal, go through security/immigration and walk to gate, that is plenty of time.

At an airport like MEL, it really is the time boarding closes that is important, not the time the plane starts boarding. If inbound flight is late, you don't need to be there with the other 400 people when it starts boarding, if you are in the last 20 it is still OK! I am not sure if this same advice applies to DXB though.

 

[RichardMEL]

2:15 dom->int at MEL is absolutely fine.. even if you want lounge time

Also don't forget if 696 is delayed badly they have (hopefully) the option to be rebvooked on the day onto EK's ADL-DXB direct and connect that way (and dare I say avoid worrying about the DXB connection probably).

I also agree the original QF9-EK105 was PLENTY of time - almost a little much after a long flight - so no issue there. The change was by EK and not really QF's fault(not that anyone suggested it was ) - but protection would be made at DXB I would think