Originally Posted by
VaguelyCynical
I just got a flight change notification for my LONE5 ex-JNB departing in October. My 3rd leg, EZE-xSCL-IPC is what changed, now leaving me with a 11+ hour layover in SCL I'd love to avoid. What's the best way to handle a pre-departure flight change like this? I obviously don't want to go through repricing, but would love to have get a better fix in place sooner rather than later.
- Original: EZE-SCL-IPC with a 4:45 layover, arriving 22:15 (EZE-SCL LA450 appears to have now ceased for that date)
- Changed to: EZE-SCL-IPC with an 11:15 layover, arriving 22:15
- Option 1: EZE-SCL-IPC with a 1:55 layover, arriving 12:55 (different SCL-IPC flight, which doesn’t show up as available in the online tool)
- Option 2: AEP-SCL-IPC with a 3:40 layover, arriving 22:15 (different departing airport; causing a 17th segment)
- Option 3: Wait until post-departure to try to fix this...
What should I expect Qantas (booking carrier) to be able to do here? My preference would be Option 1, but Option 2 would also be better than the current itinerary. Everything in this section is LA metal. Thank you!!
Qantas, as your ticketing carrier, can and should accommodate your preference in how to deal with the schedule change. There's no fear of repricing, because the change will be coded as involuntary, as it resulted from a schedule change rather than you calling up and asking for a change. There's no need to wait until after flying your first flight. However, it's best to ask for an option where
L inventory is available. You can verify
L space on your desired flight using a tool such as ExpertFlyer, or by calling and asking. If
L isn't available, QF might book you in another inventory, but that might be a more difficult fight. Your option 2 requires an extra segment (a surface segment EZE-AEP), which QF should be able to handle, but if that pushes you over 16 segments might require that QF either issue you a paper ticket or delete some segments and note in the PNR that they are to be re-added after you've flown a few.