I tried to use my Asiamiles to redeem Qatar Airways business class from Barcelona to Hong Kong. System shows that there are two flights available from BCN to DOH.

I called Marco Polo Club and asked for the earlier flight from BCN to DOH, and then DOH to HKG. But CX agent said that I could only redeem the later flight from BCN to DOH since my journey is from BCN to HKG and the earlier flight for BCN to DOH is not available for such booking despite that there are seats available for separate redemption on this flight. CX explained that the system doesn't allow the redemption on the earlier flight because availability is dependent on the BCN-HKG market conditions instead of two separate BCN-DOH and DOH-HKG flights.

I am puzzled by this explanation! In anyway case, the earlier flight would give 6 hours layover in Doha but the later flight is just 40 minutes! Why don't they allow the redemption on the earlier flight?

Can anyone here knows whether the explanation of CX is true or it is just the problem of individual agents?

Simple, because the 40min itinerary is below MCT!

Yes! It's why I want the earlier flight which will have 6 hours of transit in Doha rather than the later flight with 40 min. But the Marco Polo agent only allows the later flight with 40 min connection time but not the earlier one for the BCN - HKG journey - despite the earlier flight is available separately and with 6 hours of transit time! It all sounds abnormal to me.

A married segment issue, almost no way to getaround

almost? what could be tried? i am in the same predicament

I had the issue before https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...difficult.html

But I thought it was fixed https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...l#post25550035 ?

Yes I've redeemed three HKG-DOH-[EUROPE] or [EUROPE]-DOH-HKG flights for 2017 in J, did not encounter any married segment issues.