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Risk of missing first leg - options?
I'm flying from Tunis (TUN) to Buenos Aires (EZE) on Wednesday with Qatar.
My positioning light into TUN from Malta (MLA) arrives 2 hours and 20 minutes before, and looking on Flightradar24 it has a checkered history of reliability (https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ug1301) - it is either on time, or substantially late. We've flown through Tunis before so if on time, all is good. My question is, if I know in Malta I'm not going to make the QR1400 (because the TG1301 is delayed by 4 hours or something) I could get myself to DOH via FCO or something, in time for my flight to EZE the next day (QR773 leaves at 07:20). Is it possible for Qatar to NOT cancel the other 3 legs of my trip, if I miss the first leg (the QR1400)? I fully accept I'll need to pay the difference to route myself to Doha through Rome or equivalent, but what I'm trying to avoid is losing the other 3 legs of the trip by missing the first leg. My question is really, do I need to call them from the airport in Malta, or in advance? I'm also wondering whether checking in online from Malta is a good or bad thing. The fare basis is ILR0O1RX, if that helps. It was a great fare, hence why I routed through Tunis. I'm burgundy tier, if it makes a difference (the first leg would move me to Silver!). I'm going to speak to Qatar customer service, but I wanted to ask here in case anyone had any experiences to share, and it will be helpful for anyone searching in the future :) |
It is possible for QR to retain the remaining three legs of your booking, but it won't. You'll be considered a no-show on the TUN-DOH leg and the rest will auto-cancel and you'll have to buy a new ticket at walk-up prices. There is a very slim chance (depending on fare terms) that an agent will be willing to reprice your ticket starting from DOH, but I suspect that if they do, this will be at a substantially higher price.
Your best bet is to get a much earlier flight into TUN. |
Originally Posted by SRG
(Post 30310207)
I'm also wondering whether checking in online from Malta is a good or bad thing.
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You’d have to look at the fare rules for that. Out of curiosity, is it only a change fee or a depriving based on available fares? |
Originally Posted by LondonElite
(Post 30310329)
You’d have to look at the fare rules for that. Out of curiosity, is it only a change fee or a depriving based on available fares? Basically if I phone prior to 3 hours to change the flight back by a day (before 2pm Malta time) it will cost me 629 TND - about 200 euros. If I phone within 3 hours, even if checked in it'll be classed as a no show, and flights fully cancelled. That'll cost me (or travel insurance company) about 13,600 TND for a new ticket - 4,200 euros for the 2 of us travelling. So here's my plan: 1. Check in online 48 hours before. That means they're expecting us at the gate. Not sure what time they'll close the gate (30 mins prior to take off?) 1. Monitor the incoming flight (https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ug1300) and see if its arriving on time. If its not left by noon Malta time, phone Qatar and pay the 629 TND change fee. That way we relax and just wait for the flight to arrive at whatever time. 2. If the flight is on time, don't call Qatar, but risk it gets to TUN in time. 4. Make the flight :D If we don't make it all the way to the gate in time before its closed, then we call Qatar and get booked onto the flight the next day - 13,600 TND and claim on travel insurance. Fingers crossed! |
Good luck with this. A word of caution though; travel insurance is unlikely to cover itineraries across two tickets, and probably not for that amount. |
Originally Posted by SRG
(Post 30310375)
I spoke to Customer Service, and a very helpful gentleman there.
Basically if I phone prior to 3 hours to change the flight back by a day (before 2pm Malta time) it will cost me 629 TND - about 200 euros. If I phone within 3 hours, even if checked in it'll be classed as a no show, and flights fully cancelled. That'll cost me (or travel insurance company) about 13,600 TND for a new ticket - 4,200 euros for the 2 of us travelling. So here's my plan: 1. Check in online 48 hours before. That means they're expecting us at the gate. Not sure what time they'll close the gate (30 mins prior to take off?) 1. Monitor the incoming flight (https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ug1300) and see if its arriving on time. If its not left by noon Malta time, phone Qatar and pay the 629 TND change fee. That way we relax and just wait for the flight to arrive at whatever time. 2. If the flight is on time, don't call Qatar, but risk it gets to TUN in time. 4. Make the flight :D If we don't make it all the way to the gate in time before its closed, then we call Qatar and get booked onto the flight the next day - 13,600 TND and claim on travel insurance. Fingers crossed! |
Originally Posted by LondonElite
(Post 30310427)
Good luck with this. A word of caution though; travel insurance is unlikely to cover itineraries across two tickets, and probably not for that amount. Now I just need to convince my wife to check our bags through from Malta, instead of collecting them and checking them in again. That would make things easier as we can use flight connections and avoid immigration. However last time we did this (albeit the other direction) they went missing in Tunis for 3 days, and were damaged :( |
Originally Posted by HSR1234
(Post 30310444)
Will they really let you change to a different flight after you have checked in? |
Originally Posted by SRG
(Post 30310375)
I spoke to Customer Service, and a very helpful gentleman there.
They don't have customer service or helpful people. |
This is from the Penalties section of your fare rules. You may wish to read it before you speak with the next agent:
FARE RULE CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME CHARGE USD 150.00. CHARGE USD 360.00 FOR NO-SHOW. CHANGES ANY TIME CHARGE USD 80.00. CHARGE USD 185.00 FOR NO-SHOW. GENERAL RULE - APPLY UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. NO-SHOW IN CASE OF NO-SHOW QATAR AIRWAYS WILL CANCEL THE ONWARD OR RETURN RESERVATIONS -------------------------------------------------- EXCEPTION FOR POS ITALY -------------------------------------------------- A PASSENGER FAILS TO CHANGE/CANCEL HIS/HER RESERVATION 3 HOURS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ANY RE- BOOKING MADE WITHIN 3 HOURS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE OR AFTER DEPARTURE OF FLIGHT AS SHOWN IN THE E-TICKET WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A NO-SHOW. -------------------------------------------------- FOR A SCENARIO WHERE IN THE ORIGINAL RESERVATION IS CANCELLED PRIOR TO NO-SHOW CONDITION BUT THE NEW RESERVATION ARE MADE AFTER DEPARTURE OF THE FLIGHT AS MENTIONED IN E- TICKET COUPON RESERVATION AND TICKETING STAFF MAY PERFORM A MANUAL TRANSACTION WITHOUT ATC ENTRIES TO AVOID THE COLLECTION OF NO-SHOW FEE ------------------------------------------------- CHANGES AGAINST NO SHOW - IN CASE OF NO-SHOW ONLY ONE FEE IS TO BE CHARGED I.E. EITHER THE NO-SHOW FEE OR THE REISSUE/REVALIDATION FEE WHICHEVER IS HIGHER AND NOT BOTH. -------------------------------------------------- CANCELLATION / REFUNDS AGAINST NO SHOW - IN CASE OF NO-SHOW ONLY ONE FEE IS TO BE CHARGED I.E. EITHER THE NO-SHOW FEE OR THE CANCELLATION/REFUND FEE WHICHEVER IS HIGHER AND NOT BOTH. ------------------------------------------------- CHANGES - FEES APPLICATION - THE CHANGE FEE APPLIES PER TRANSACTION THE CHANGE FEE APPLIES PER FARE COMPONENT. WHEN MORE THAN ONE FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED THE HIGHEST PENALTY OF ANY OF THE CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS WILL APPLY. ------------------------------------------------- REPRICING SCENARIO- 1.BEFORE DEPARTURE BEFORE UTILIZATION OF THE FIRST COUPON OF THE TKT WHEN VOLUNTARY CHANGE OCCURS IRRESPECTIVE OF THE OUTBOUND OR INBOUND FLIGHT OF THE JOURNEY THE FARE WILL BE RECALCULATED APPLY NEW FARE/RULES ADHERING TO THE AP CONDITION IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF THE RE-ISSUE. 2.AFTER DEPARTURE AFTER UTILIZATION OF THE FIRST COUPON OF THE TKT NEW FARE WILL BE RECALCULATED USING FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE HISTORICAL FARES WHEN THE ORIGINAL TICKET WAS ISSUED. 3.THE TICKET NEEDS TO BE REISSUED WITH APPLICABLE FARE DIFFERENCE IF ANY. 4.IN CASE OF REISSUED CHANGE/NO-SHOW FEES MUST COMPLY WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF THE ORIGINALLY TICKET FARE. NOTE- CHANGE/NO-SHOW FEES MUST BE CODED AS XP IN THE TAX FIELD ------------------------------------------------- 1FOC CHANGE PERMITTED TO INBOUND ONLY FOR BOOKINGS MADE WITH TRAVEL BEYOND SYSTEM RANGE -------------------------------------------------- NAME CHANGE NOT PERMITTED. -------------------------------------------------- CHARGE APPLIES FOR ADULT CHILD AND INFANT OCCUPYING A SEAT. CHARGE INCLUDING NO-SHOW CHARGE WILL NOT APPLY FOR INFANT NOT OCCUPYING A SEAT. -------------------------------------------------- UPGRADE - ANY TIME WITHIN THE TICKET VALIDITY FARES CAN BE UPGRADED TO ANY FARE IN A HIGHER CABIN AND THEN THE FARE WILL BE RECALCULATED FROM THE POINT OF ORIGIN PROVIDED THE CONDITIONS OF THE HIGHER CABIN HAVE BEEN MET. RE-ISSUE AND CHANGE FEE WILL NOT BE APPLICABLE HOWEVER ADDITIONAL TAX-IF ANY HAVE TO BE COLLECTED. IF THE RE-ISSUED TICKET IS SUBSEQUENTLY CANCELLED THE ORIGINAL OR PENALTY OF THE MOST RESTRICTED FARE WILL APPLY. -------------------------------------------------- RE-ROUTING - WHEN A VOLUNTARY CHANGE IS REQUESTED BY THE PASSENGER CHANGES ARE PERMITTED ON THE SAME OR HIGHER BOOKING CLASS ONLY. IN CASE THERE IS A CHANGE OF FARE BREAK POINT AND THE NEW FARE RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE / TAX THE RESIDUAL VALUE AFTER DEDUCTION OF PENALTIES AS APPLICABLE WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PASSENGER IN THE FORM OF AN EMD FOR FURTHER TRANSPORTATION AND OR REFUND TO THE ORIGINAL FORM OF PAYMENT. -------------------------------------------------- WAIVERS - WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. ALL WAIVERS HAS TO BE PROCESSED THROUGH QR OFFICES ONLY AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENT HAS TO BE PRESENTED. -------------------------------------------------- CANCELLATION - REFUND ON PARTIALLY USED TICKET - APPLICABLE PENALTIES PLUS APPLICABLE OW FARE IN SAME RBD. IF ONE WAY FARE IS NOT AVAILABLE OR PUBLISHED ON THE INVENTORY MENTIONED ON THE TICKET THEN DEDUCT NEXT AVAILABLE OW IN HIGHER RBD FOR WHICH THE JOURNEY HAS BEEN PERFORMED 1.ANY NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT FROM A PREVIOUS TICKET REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE FOLLOWING A CHANGE. 2.WHEN FARE COMBINED WITH A NON-REFUNDABLE FARE THE CANCELLATION FEE WILL APPLY FROM THE AMOUNT OF THE NON-REFUNDABLE FARE WITHOUT DEDUCT ADDITIONAL CANCELLATION FEE. ------------------------------------------------- REFUNDABLE PERIOD FOR REFUNDABLE FARES ORIGINAL E-TICKET ----------- BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF TRAVEL ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF ISSUE FOR TOTALLY UNUTILIZED E-TICKET OR IN ACCORDANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ----------- AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF TRAVEL ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF UPLIFT /USE/ OF 1ST COUPON OR IN ACCORDANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ------------------------------------------------ REFUNDABLE PERIOD FOR REFUNDABLE FARES FOR EXCHANGED OR REISSUED E-TICKET /LAST E-TICKET TO BE CONSIDERED/ ------------- BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF TRAVEL ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF EXCHANGE FOR TOTALLY UNUTILIZED E-TICKET OR IN ACCORDANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS NOTE - REFUND VALIDITY IS COMPLETELY CARRIED FORWARD TO NEW E-TICKET ----------------------------------------------- AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF TRAVEL ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF REISSUE FOR TOTALLY UNUTILIZED REISSUED E-TICKET OR IN ACCORDANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS NOTE- REFUND VALIDITY IS COMPLETELY CARRIED FORWARD TO NEW E-TICKET OR- ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF UPLIFT /USE/ OF 1ST COUPON ON REISSUED E-TICKET OR IN ACCORDANCE OF LOCAL GOVERMRNT REGULATION NOTE- REFUND VALIDITY IS COMPLETELY CARRIED FORWARD TO NEW E-TICKET -------------------------------------------------- FOR NON-REFUNDABLE FARES YQ/YR AND SURCHARGES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE -------------------------------------------------- NON REFUNDABLE FARES YQ/YR PORTION ON REISSUED TICKETS - IF NON-REFUNDABLE FARE IS RE-ISSUED TO A REFUNDABLE FARE YQ / YR WILL BE PROCESSED AS PER THE NEW FARE CONDITION AND ONLY THE BASE FARE OF THE ORIGINAL NON-REFUNDABLE TICKET REMAINS AS NON- REFUNDABLE. ------------------------------------------------ PARTIAL REFUND CALCULATION YQ/YR FOR REFUNDABLE FARE WITH FEE - IF APPLICABLE OW FARE PLUS CANCELLATION FEES EXCEED THE ACTUAL COLLECTED BASE FARE FOR THE JOURNEY THE BASE FARE PAID REMAINS NON- REFUNDABLE. ALL UNUTILIZED COUPONS FLOWN BASED TAXES INCLUDING YQ/YR WILL BE REFUNDABLE FOR SUCH SCENARIOS. TICKETS WHICH ARE USED BEYOND POINT OF TURNAROUND- NO REFUND PERMITTED OUT OF SEQUENCE NO REFUND PERMITTED -------------------------------------------------- WHEN A TICKET IS ISSUED WITH COMBINATION OF FARES WITH DIFFERENT PENALTY RULES THE MOST RESTRICTIVE CANCELLATION RULES WILL APPLY FOR THE ENTIRE TICKET.IF A TICKET HAS BEEN RE-ISSUED MULTIPLE TIMES AND FINALLY SUBMITTED FOR CANCELLATION/ REFUND THE HIGHEST CANCELLATION FEE/NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT AMONG ALL THE REISSUED FARE WILL APPLY. -------------------------------------------------- PASSENGER SELF OFFLOAD DECISION REFUSAL OF FURTHER TRANSPORTATION IF AFTER CHECK-IN YOU AND OR ANY PASSENGER ACCOMPANYING YOU DECIDE NOT TO TRAVEL ON A QATAR AIRWAYS SERVICE WITHOUT A VALID REASON AND INFORM US LESS THAN THREE HOURS PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT DEPARTURE THEN THE FOLLOWING WILL APPLY A. IF THERE IS A FLIGHT DELAY AS A RESULT OF YOUR DECISION THEN WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO RECOVER FROM YOU ANY AND ALL DIRECT COSTS INCURRED DUE TO DISRUPTED OPERATIONS WHICH INCLUDE REMOVAL OF YOUR BAGGAGE FLIGHT DELAY DISRUPTIONS AND MISCONNECTIONS OF OTHER PASSENGERS. IN ADDITION WE WILL CANCEL YOUR ENTIRE TICKET FOR ANY FURTHER TRANSPORTATION WITH NO REFUNDS. B. IF YOU INFORM US BETWEEN 3 TO 2 HOURS PRIOR FLIGHT DEPARTURE TO OFFLOAD YOURSELF ON THE BOOKED FLIGHT S AND IF THIS DOES NOT RESULT IN ANY FLIGHT DELAY DISRUPTIONS OR INCONVENIENCE TO OTHER PASSENGERS THEN WE MAY PERMIT CHANGES TO YOUR TICKET BASED ON THE APPLICABLE FARE RULES. A CHARGE WILL HOWEVER APPLY WHICH WILL BE EITHER THE NO-SHOW FEE OF THE RESPECTIVE FARE TYPE OR USD 150 WHICHEVER IS HIGHER |
Originally Posted by mlqsko
(Post 30310491)
Are you sure you called Qatar Airways???? :D
They don't have customer service or helpful people. |
Originally Posted by SRG
(Post 30310446)
I actually asked them specifically, and they confirmed it would cover this situation (although only 3/4 of the amount).
Now I just need to convince my wife to check our bags through from Malta, instead of collecting them and checking them in again. That would make things easier as we can use flight connections and avoid immigration. However last time we did this (albeit the other direction) they went missing in Tunis for 3 days, and were damaged :( |
Originally Posted by LondonElite
(Post 30310536)
I doubt you'll be able to check through on separate tickets at Malta. Also, may I ask what insurance company this is?
Insurance is from a local Maltese company - GasanMamo. |
I would be very nervous to book 2 tickets with a connection time of just 2h30m, usually I aim for 4h+. But if they actually let you re-book for just 200€ that would be very reasonable. Have you made sure with the phone agent that this isn't just the change fee and you won't get a fare recalculation on top of that?
As for misconnection insurance, they usually require a longer transit time but if yours works with 2h30m, its not a bad option I guess. |
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