I am not using Qantas again. I once mistakenly used Qantas for an rtw. Never in any circumstances again.

Simple change of routing - should cost $125. They had no clue what they were doing and frequently blamed each other.

Can you try and get AA to take over the ticket?

It's threads like these that make me glad I used an agent with knowledge of these tickets. Currently enjoying row 1 on a JAL 787, sector 5 of my DONE4.

I used nufnuf who was even able to book seats and use code shares to maximise tier points and fare masking on AA/BA flights.

There's no way to DIY that. The very reasonable fee I paid has more than paid for itself in convenience and airline specific added charges/taxes.

What was

• old route
• new route

Full details will help in getting an answer.
Have you flown the first segment?

After a long, patient and polite explanation of the rules the changes were made the first time (approx. 90 minutes on the phone, about half the time on hold). Then they purported to take payment (the fees were pending on my credit card but then disappeared). Presumably through lack of payment the flights were marked as cancelled. A couple of days later another hour or so on the phone got the flights reinstated on the reservation but two days later they have not been ticketed and there is no record of the charges being debited from my credit card. I fear another 60 minutes or so on the phone is in prospect.

I accept the error in having engaged with this lot in the first place...but this simply should not be so difficult.

Agreed, the fact is it reliably will be this difficult or even impossible -- hence the error you accept is an error! The next error is to expect to find a way to make it reasonable. You might get very lucky but fact is repeated troubles of the kind you are getting is vastly more likely and none of us can help you change that reality.

I believe I asked this too a while back alongside noting the only fix is to cancel & rebook elsewhere as fairly affordable pre first segment. I assume the op's non answer(s) comes from the deniel stage of grief

I am thinking of a RTW trip for next year, and weighing on either using AA RTW desk or a TA (not the same one I used this year as their fees appeared to be high). Does AA RTW desk charge a booking fee? Does AA actively manage any cancellation (eg rebooking), after the ticketing is made? I am not sure if a TA will do that as part of their service - unless I alert them to the cancellation.

The AA RTW desk does not charge a booking fee.

AA's automated systems usually try to rebook after a significant schedule change or cancellation; when the automated system is unable to do so, it sends the passenger an email telling them to call. AA may or may not (it is unreliable) alert passengers of schedule changes and cancellations. AA generally does not send an alert for an equipment change.

Whenever booking, but especially with AA, it's always a good idea to create schedule and equipment change alerts in Expert Flyer and/or use another reliable third-party service. Flighty is also a good choice. (I use both Expert Flyer and Flighty.)

When a travel agent creates an itinerary, the agency is alerted to schedule changes/cancellations (not necessarily equipment changes), and any decent agent will check the alerts and inform the customer about them. Most agents charge a fee when initially creating an itinerary and for subsequent modifications, including for schedule changes. If the fee is reasonable, it can be well worth it because a good agent can help you maximize earnings by choosing codeshares, and can minimize airline overcharges (fuel surcharges) by choice of ticketing carrier. Booking with AA avoids the agent's fees but also limits the use of codeshares and of course eliminates the choice of ticketing carrier.

I didn't answer because I thought it made no difference. There is no doubt about the rules which apply. But for what it is worth yes I have flown the first three segments. The routing in case anyone wants to know is:

HND-LHR-DBV-LHR [flown] LHR-HER-LHR-YVR-PDX-SFO-NAN-BNE-CHC-SYD-SIN-NRT

There are two bookings which are both the same (various reasons - they were intended to be slightly different at one stage). The history so far:-

Last Monday : called to make changes (from LHR-YYZ-IAD-JFK-SFO to LHR-YVR-PDX-SFO. A lot of explanation of the changes wanted (I had checked for D class availability for each sector beforehand though I know that is not conclusive). Then a very long wait for repricing (I assume due to differences in fuel surcharges, taxes etc. +$125 x 2 change fees). Several attempts to take payment while attempting to tell me that card declined (it hadn't been as the charges stated to be pending on my banking app). Ended with both reservations showing on manage my booking, charges apparently taken and new tickets promised. Time on phone: 64 minutes

Tuesday: no proactive comms from Qantas but both bookings showed YVR-PDX-SFO flights as cancelled (spoiler alert: they weren't). A very long wait to be connected. First line of contact said not something she could deal with - passed to "one of our specialists" who stated the person on Monday had not followed correct procedure and not taken the money. Said would reinstate flights. I repeat credit card details. Email with ticket details promised. Flights reinstated on apps. Charge once again pending. Time on phone: 109 minutes

Thursday: Noted that one booking had YVR-PDX-SFO flights cancelled (again). No ticket numbers in flight confirmation emails. Tbh I forget the reasons given. Promised to send new confirmations with ticket numbers.Time on phone 54 minutes.

Today (Saturday). No ticket s or itineraries received. One booking however had all the right flights confirmed. Other booking showed the same flights (YVR-PDX-SFO ) as cancelled (yet again) . First, agent said there were too many visits to London and the back office had therefore cancelled them. This is nonsense as (i) they hadn't cancelled the LHR-YVR segment but the two between YVR and SFO and (ii) they had booked and ticketed exactly the same itinerary for me the day before and (iii) London is not the point of origin (yes there are other limitations but none relevant). I offer (somewhat curtly) to take them through the rules line by line. No, they will speak again to the back office. 40 or so minutes later... They now agree with me and will reinstate the flights. But pending charge now too old to process. Gave credit card number again (three times). Promised to send email with ticket number. This time they did and I have ticket numbers and the apps all show the right flights (though I have only old fashioned e-tickets in courier type: the "send itinerary" links on the website show no ticket numbers. Time on phone: 98 minutes.

Total time on phone to make one change to ticketed points for two people: 325 minutes or 5 hours 25 minutes. Go Qantas! I will check almost daily to see if they have cancelled anything else. This doesn't actually do Qantas's brand (or even Australia's come to think of it) any good whatever. Unless I can think of a good reason not to I shall use VA for Aus domestics next time - they're cheaper anyway.

Working with the right TA makes a big difference and there are a few highly recommended in this thread. Whether you find it suitable for your needs (example, avoidance of certain marketing carriers for the purpose of enhancing status-earnings) is a personal matter. Your TA should alert you of flight cancellations/changes but I would advise you to keep an eye on your bookings anyway (I do it every once in a while, more regularly close to departure) and reach out to them to make the necessary adjustments, if needed.

Personally, I can build my itinerary and provide the flights I want (along with the codeshares) and sending all the details through e-mail makes it easier, as well as when we need to change something. I don't need to spend a few hours on the phone for ticketing + changes, it can be taken care of when suitable... And some surcharges can be avoided/reduced depending on the ticketing airline

Thank you, anabolism, for your reply - appreciated your explanations on using AA vs a TA. I will keep all that in mind when ready to fire off the RTW itin.

Thank you, miles_collector, for your reply. I have noted down names of some TA recommended in this thread (who are forum posters). My better half usually builds the itin - dates and flight details. I use expertflyer to check the inventory, and fire the itin off to a TA for pricing booking so the TA has a relatively easy job. The hard job is for the TA to deliver the "service" when things go wrong. I do regularly monitor our bookings across various airline platforms for any changes.

Any answer from QR as yet?