Sydney connection, will we be protected?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: AA, BA, UAL, NZ, QF, LH, SPG, IHG, HH, Marriott etc etc
Posts: 152
Sydney connection, will we be protected?
We are flying QF2 first class on BA redemptions (very lucky, first time in F) LOndon to Sydney. My wife is qantas gold. We have had to purchase a separate cash ticket on QF paper and QF flight number, but operated by emirates SYD-CHC in economy. If QF2 is delayed, can we expect to lose our SYD-CHC flight? Is there reasonable chance my wife's gold status will get us some protection? We are 4 pax family and expect flights to be pretty full ahead of Christmas. Any other ways to avoid a stopover in SYD?
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,394
If you book a short connection on a separate ticket , you may well be on your own if you miss it
If wanting to book that flight, I would suggest making sure it is a flexible ticket so that if you miss it, you can easily refund/rebook
There seems to be about 3 hours between the flights, so a decent chance of making the connection
If you miss the connection, then with a flexible ticket , should be able to get another flight to New Zealand
If wanting to book that flight, I would suggest making sure it is a flexible ticket so that if you miss it, you can easily refund/rebook
There seems to be about 3 hours between the flights, so a decent chance of making the connection
If you miss the connection, then with a flexible ticket , should be able to get another flight to New Zealand
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,885
With separate tickets you have no protection. QF gold will mean little. Baggage should be able to be checked LHR-SYD-CHC. Getting the SYD-CHC boarding pass mayl be an issue at you leave LHR more than 24 before the SYD-CHC flight. There is likely to be others on LHR-SYD-CHC as 1 ticket. There are good reasons not to have separate reservations
Normally there is the morning QF codeshare on EK and a late QF service (B737) that arrives at about midnight SYD CHC. If near Christmas flights well be ~100% full. CHC is poorly served by QF. There is no domestic QF services in NZ or MEL-CHC.
Check your travel insurance
Normally there is the morning QF codeshare on EK and a late QF service (B737) that arrives at about midnight SYD CHC. If near Christmas flights well be ~100% full. CHC is poorly served by QF. There is no domestic QF services in NZ or MEL-CHC.
Check your travel insurance
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QF Gold LTG (ow Saph), HHon Silver, Marriot Gold
Posts: 2,927
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
#6
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LON
Programs: QF Plat & LTG, VA Plat
Posts: 1,434
If it was a QF flight they would look after you. As it is EK, I would not be so confident. The best thing that can help is to get your bags through-checked. You can also ring QF and tell them you are connecting to that flight, that will help getting boarding passes issued for it. If they can't do it in London you should be able to do it yourself at DXB.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,885
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,394
If happy to book a flexible ticket , I would think it would be worthwhile trying
I would consider what the view of the other passengers is and the risk of missing the flight. The other passenger might be much happier to plan to have a day in Sydney and take a later flight to Christchurch rather than take the risk ( and just be able to book a cheap fare too )
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: AA, BA, UAL, NZ, QF, LH, SPG, IHG, HH, Marriott etc etc
Posts: 152
Thank you. I suppose the real question is if we miss the emirates operated flight syd-chc (that is the one booked), but there is space for us on the later qantas flight that we arrive in time for, could we expect qantas would switch us (as a gold, first class arrival, and since they delayed us) or should we expect them to apply a strict rule that as they are separate tickets they will, at best, ask us to pay again even if our bags were tagged through? Does it depend on luck (mood of the moment?) or is there a policy?
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,394
Thank you. I suppose the real question is if we miss the emirates operated flight syd-chc (that is the one booked), but there is space for us on the later qantas flight that we arrive in time for, could we expect qantas would switch us (as a gold, first class arrival, and since they delayed us) or should we expect them to apply a strict rule that as they are separate tickets they will, at best, ask us to pay again even if our bags were tagged through? Does it depend on luck (mood of the moment?) or is there a policy?
If you choose to book that flight, I would recommend that you make sure that you have booked a ticket where the no show change penalty and fare difference that may apply is one which you are happy with or book a flexible ticket or take the evening flight
Much better than not being prepared and then having a shock at how much you may need to pay to get to Christchurch later
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
My personal experience is that it will simply depend on who you deal with if something comes up. I've had QF not care. I've had them re-book. As far as I can tell QF or OW status helps in so far as the higher up the food chain you are they are more polite about messing you about and will pretend for a bit longer to be doing something on the computer before telling you no.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: AA, BA, UAL, NZ, QF, LH, SPG, IHG, HH, Marriott etc etc
Posts: 152
Qf2 is Lhr-SYd via Dxb. There are 2 on Lhr-SYd and 2 Lhr-dxb and 2 dxb-SYd. If you are a real sweet talker they might only charge you the Lhr-SYd avios but you have to work it ....
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,394
If it gets booked, then Qantas will cancel it
#15
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,131
Book one of the LHR-SYD seats, and you'll almost certainly see the number available on the "other" two flights drop by 1 as well.