Originally Posted by
eponymous_coward
Then imagine me saying all of this in the most neutral voice possible; it really does all depend on the risk you are comfortable taking.
If you are fine with resolving this at the airport during travel if a misconnect happens, then sure, go ahead. What you propose does carry some risk of inconvenience during your travel. Airlines don't make MCT rules for no reason at all.
(PS: she's not checking baggage, right? If so, you're fine with the baggage possibly not making her flight if it's under MCT?)
Like I said at the outset, the ideal situation would be finding availability on another route before departure. Though if nothing comes up then we have 2 options - chance of some hiccups or cancel the trip. Surely taking the chance is the better option. As a normal traveler, she would've just showed up to the airport anyway, there was no notification from US Airways about the change, I just view the booking every now n then to make sure it's all good.
Originally Posted by
eponymous_coward
Would your mother have QF status? I would imagine that helps.
No, she's currently US silver but that expires shortly before the trip.
Originally Posted by
eponymous_coward
Seems some of those questions ("How would QF deal with someone in premium class connecting to CX international on a tight connection at (insert airport here)?") are best addressed in the QF forum, no?
I posted something along those lines in the QF forum, but got no response.
Originally Posted by
eponymous_coward
Are you willing to risk a big finger-pointing exercise ("No, it's a US ticket and it's below our MCT, plus we don't have award inventory, go call them! Sorry, no award inventory and you already started travel! Go call QF!") at the last minute? If so, fine. Perhaps QF or CX will give you good customer service and do as you ask. It's probably much more of a judgment call of what you can expect of QF/CX customer service than anything having to do with a US award, once you decide you're going to let the airlines sort it all out on the day of flight.
I'm not trying to be condescending, really, but this is just the tradeoff you make when you book an award ticket with US flying on third party carriers instead of paying for an actual (and much more expensive) premium class ticket on those carriers. The rebooking for schedule changes isn't as smooth because it depends on either a) award inventory availability, b) US begging (third party airline) for award space, or c) toughing it out to the airport and hoping the stars align that day.
Well I do actually expect decent customer service from QF and CX. That being said, I do hate the attitude that if someone uses miles for a ticket, the airline is less responsible for hiccups they've caused than if someone had paid full retail for a ticket. I'm not trying to point fingers, but surely if a passenger arrives at an airport on a legally booked ticket and since they've booked it, airline A changed their flight times, airline A should be responsible to work on rebooking to get the passenger to their destination?! Award availabiliity should be irrelevant.
Originally Posted by
eponymous_coward
(Trying to open up award space on a different flight might work. You might try seeing if US and QF can do that, and if you're on the call... you have status, no?)
So realize the risks... and decide what works for you. Good luck to your mother.
I have more faith in me finding availability than US getting CX or QF to open up availability.
Thanks
goodo