Involuntary Change to a *ONE* - what are my options?
 

My Situation:QF has just announced that its 3-weekly BOM-SYD service is ceasing in May
and it looks like it is being replaced with a codeshare with Jet Airways to SIN, connecting with a QF flight to SYD (and with other QF flights to other destinations in Oz)

So my issues are:Any advice on my options would be most welcome, particular the following thoughts I've had:FYI my full itinerary is: PER-SYD-JFK-BGI-BOS-LHR-CAI (already flown); CAI-AMM-IST-LHR-PEK-HKG-SIN (planning to fly in Apr/May); SIN-BKK-BOM-SYD-PER (planning to fly in Sep/Oct)

It might be too late for this to happen now, but something like this happened to me last year.

I had sector booked for NRT-MEL and was using all 16 sectors. Then QF cancelled the MEL-NRT-MEL route. I was forced to route via SYD and use 17 sectors. QF allowed it because it was their issue.

My understanding is that if you have a booking on a flight and then it gets withdrawn, then the airline will have to sort you out

In the case, such as yours, where you haven't yet booked the flight that you will have to work out a new itinerary that is valid

Dave

If I read the OP correctly then he does have a confirmed date for the BOM-SYD (albeit one he never intended to fly) so it is the airline's problem. I would ask QF to make a proposal, but I reckon you should be able to persuade them to fly you BOM-HKG-SYD-PER, or BOM-HKG-PER, whichever you prefer.

Isn't it only the airline's problem if he has a confirmed booking on a flight that then becomes unavailable whilst this is a voluntary change but no flight to change onto?

Dave

Yes christep you have read me correctly. I have a confirmed booking BOM-SYD in July which will not now take place, but I had always intended to change it to date in October.

So, my take on it is - if I had intended to actually fly on the confirmed flight booking, then it would be the airline's problem to get me home to PER. But since I will, in due course, want to change the date to October does it now fall to me to arrange something?

Could I get QF to make the change, for July, and then can I change the date later?

Just looking for some guidance on what might be feasible before I start making phone calls.

Of course, that's your best bet - get confirmed on alternative flights in relation to the original dates booked and the xONEx rules. Then subsequently endeavour to change these individual flights.

I have a similar question to pandaperth.
Have an upcoming 20-segment DONE5 starting this April. I was already planning on making a routing change once travel commenced (switching from Australia/NZ to North America). Now, it looks like one of our legs will be cancelled (QF from SYD-PEK). Not sure what they'll offer us as an alternative, but as we'll now presumably have to get the ticket reissued, should I be able to make the other routing changes now and free of charge?

Current routing is: CPT-JNB-LHR-DXB-AMM-MAD-SCL-IPC-SCL-EZE-SYD-AKL-CHC-SYD-PEK-HKG-DPS-KIX-BKK-LHR-DAR

Planning to switch to: CPT-JNB-LHR-DXB-AMM-MAD-SCL-IPC-SCL-EZE-JFK-SFO-HKG-PEK//PVG-HKG-DPS-KIX-BKK-LHR-DAR

Not free of charge, as you are fundamentally altering the routing by dropping SWP. Note no refund to drop a continent.

Happy to pay the $125 fee - just would prefer to make our routing changes now rather than after travel commences to make sure we can secure the flights that we want. Thought that now that they'll most likely have to reissue this would be an option.

Know there's no refund for dropping a continent, but we're replacing SWP with NA.

You can cancel this ticket without penalty due to the schedule change, and then buy a new one and save 10% in the process.

Yes, but the new ticket will be 16 segments maximum; jkirsch currently has a 20-segment ticket

Sorry, I missed the 20 segment part.

There is no way out of it; you have to fly the "dummy dates" to get INVOL; this would allow an extra segment or routing that otherwise violates the rules. But once you change the date, it requires reissue which then causes a routing check and you lose the INVOL benefit. You can try arguing the case that the INVOL routing change causes you to also change the date for some related reason (visa for transit, elongated travel time interferes with plan, etc.) but it is a very long shot. However a sympathetic agent/supervisor can "buy" your explanation if they want to and authorize INVOL with date change, but it takes more authority than the average agent has and they need some documented reason.

Thanks number_6, I see that is a gotcha. I'm still pondering my options. In the next week or so I will give it a try (need to move the segments scheduled for early April to mid-April). Will update this thread with the outcome.

FWIW I am thinking of just changing my SIN-BKK segment to a surface segment. It's been years, no decades:eek:, since I travelled up the elephant's trunk of S.E. Asia, so it might be fun to re-visit old stomping grounds:D
Old intinerary: ...LHR-PEK-HKG-SIN-BKK-BOM-SYD-PER
New itinerary: ...LHR-PEK-HKG-SIN//BKK-BOM-HKG-PER