After my "success" last week with amending my 2nd booking during the blockade, I decided to sort my 3rd blockade impacted trip - HEL DOH DXB in October. 8 weeks ahead.
1 call with 39 minutes holding on the UK number. Whatever system they use to forward calls to the actual provider location isn't great - there was continuos clipping and break up of the agent (happens each time but this was worse) so we had a bit of faff mutually asking each other to repeat parts of the conversation. I wasn't going to call back and lose my place in the queue.
I again asked to change to HEL DOH MCT (I'll separately sort out getting to DXB with my own $, but wanted to confirm I am actually going to get to the region on or around my preferred dates).
Again the agent misunderstood and started a scripted spiel about 72 hrs and we'll change it. I wasn't interested in taking the risk of availability on whichever carrier they might deem as acceptable in 3 months time, (particularly as BA via LHR seems to no longer be offered) so clarified, no change of carrier, just shift DOH DXB to DOH MCT, on QR.
I had checked expertflyer with connecting routing availability (it's interesting the married sector availability does dramatically change - on one specific DOH HEL flight depending on which MCT DOH flight is used before it, to the extent of only J4, C2, D1, I0, R0 availability with one specific connector from MCT, but the same HEL flight with a different connector is J9, C9, D9, I9, Rx (can't recall R). In this instance POS didn't make any difference between UK, US and UAE.
No problem, all done. Moved from I to D on the return HEL and a 787 is currently scheduled.
Expertflyer (other systems are available) was critical to plan the requested change and confirm availability. I was not in the mood to hear "sorry, no availability" as I could definitely see there was (including the married sector and any POS issue) but no problems.
As a same day, airside connection with no checked bags in MCT, I don't think I will need to pay the £40 tourist tax/visa fee in either direction, and directly returning by air from DXB with a DXB entry visa, it's exempt anyway.