Originally Posted by
izzik
If this was your original routing: CAI-AMM-DOH-CGK (RJ, QR, QR), CGK-NRT (JL), HND-BKK (JL), BKK-HND-JFK (JL), JFK-CLT-STL (AA), STL-SEA (AS), SEA-DOH (QR), DOH-NBO (QR), NBO-DOH-CAI (QR)
Then my hunch is that dropping AMM in the beginning and going CAI-DOH-CGK does not change the fare basis that your ticket is priced on.
Because QF didn't understand that CAI / DOH / TUN aren't Africa, I ended up changing it quite a bit. I converted from a DONE4 to a DONE5, because it literally cost me $200 and took some flights to South America on a JL code (for the benefit of AAdvantage crap earnings on AA codes) But yes, when I still had the DONE4, changing from CAI-AMM-DOH-CGJK, on RJ and QR to CAI-DOH-CGK on QR alone significantly reduced my YQ. About AUD250 according to my QF agent.
Originally Posted by
steveholt
But then why would the base fare drop by several thousand dollars if I switch the final leg from AKL-DOH to AKL-SYD-SIN-DOH, given that they're both QR DONE4s?
Because there's something broken with Oceanic destinations in the OW tool. Some seem to work, others definitely don't.
Originally Posted by
steveholt
There's a QR A segment from AMM-DOH. That could be the bug the tool is battling, but it shouldn't be that way: having the end be AKL-SYD-SIN-DOH as opposed to AKL-DOH shouldn't make it a DONE fare again.
I have zero issue with those, have had a fair number of them in my itineraries including the current one. That doesn't cause issues in my own experience. This includes the current ex-CAI I've been working on, and also my currently in progress ex-TYO CX issued.
Originally Posted by
izzik
I have no idea what your itinerary is, let alone what fare it's priced on.
This is all speculation and so I cannot answer your question with certainty. Again, YMMV.
I would suggest contacting a travel agent with GDS access to understand why your trip is pricing the way it is.
That's not the easiest thing in the world to do. No one (or very few) on FT are raising their hands willing to book these for fellow FTers. Similarly not many B&M agents are up to speed on them either. Are you one? That would be great for the good of the FT community.
I actually tried to go through an agent the first time I booked one of these but they couldn't get my routing to work when I could 'rig' the OW tool to do it. Much to my dismay that was a QF issued ticket and I learned many lessons along the way.
There are A LOT of QF first timers in this thread now with the ex-CAI fare, but trust me do your research and you'll learn how to manage QF.