Chances of switching flights (ex-LHR)
Sep 5, 2016, 10:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (OW Emerald) & Jet Airways - Thank goodness i never got started.......most awful FF program
Posts: 2,385
Chances of switching flights (ex-LHR)
Dear all,
I am currently booked in J for the 777 departing LHR at 16:00 hrs. I also have a £150 voucher burning a hole in my pocket and expiring in about 3 months time.
What are the chances of me phoning Qatar and them allowing me to switch to the 15:15 hrs A380?
My current flight shows all J seats occupied.
FYI, I am booked in D class but booked via a corporate travel agent.
I am currently booked in J for the 777 departing LHR at 16:00 hrs. I also have a £150 voucher burning a hole in my pocket and expiring in about 3 months time.
What are the chances of me phoning Qatar and them allowing me to switch to the 15:15 hrs A380?
My current flight shows all J seats occupied.
FYI, I am booked in D class but booked via a corporate travel agent.
Sep 5, 2016, 11:50 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 466
One thing I've learned this week is that bookings are handed over to the airline from the travel agent 96 hours before. Unsure if this also applies for corporate TAs, however! So maybe this is useful, maybe not! 
Sep 5, 2016, 1:12 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
I tried to take an earlier flight ex-LCA last month but was told once OLCI had been done (which I had completed the day before), there was no way to re-issue the ticket for a changed flight. There would have also been a fee for the change (also business, I-class). If this is the first segment of the itinerary, then it's worth contacting your TA and asking them to handle it...after all you did pay them a fee for making the booking and issuing your ticket. That's what they are there for.
Sep 5, 2016, 11:59 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (OW Emerald) & Jet Airways - Thank goodness i never got started.......most awful FF program
Posts: 2,385
I tried to take an earlier flight ex-LCA last month but was told once OLCI had been done (which I had completed the day before), there was no way to re-issue the ticket for a changed flight. There would have also been a fee for the change (also business, I-class). If this is the first segment of the itinerary, then it's worth contacting your TA and asking them to handle it...after all you did pay them a fee for making the booking and issuing your ticket. That's what they are there for.
Hence, my preference to deal directly with Qatar!
If not possible, I get to enjoy the LHR Lounge that little bit longer!
Sep 6, 2016, 4:51 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,539
Normally I would do this but when you work for an employer who negotiates an atrocious contract with the TA, I am reluctant to go via them simply because I cannot justify (to my employer) the ridiculous fees they ( the TA) would charge to change to a flight 45 mins earlier.
Hence, my preference to deal directly with Qatar!
If not possible, I get to enjoy the LHR Lounge that little bit longer!
Hence, my preference to deal directly with Qatar!
If not possible, I get to enjoy the LHR Lounge that little bit longer!
Sep 6, 2016, 1:50 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: UK countryside
Posts: 1,031
I've done this at least a couple of times ex-LHR when I was booked on the baby bus (back in the day) to DOH and managed to ask charmingly at check-in if I could switch to the A380 service leaving 30 minutes or so earlier. Never had a problem. This was on a corporate TA ticket. No mention of change fees etc.
Sep 8, 2016, 1:44 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (OW Emerald) & Jet Airways - Thank goodness i never got started.......most awful FF program
Posts: 2,385
Problem solved!
Has to change the final destination of my flight due to unforeseen circumstances so now booked on the QR4 as that was the first reasonable option!
Has to change the final destination of my flight due to unforeseen circumstances so now booked on the QR4 as that was the first reasonable option!