cesc

Trying to change a PHL-ADE ticket to PHL-AKL within the same RBD for flight dates in 2020. AKL is within 2,500 miles of ADE and it’s a round trip ticket (onward in business and return in economy).

Just got told by two agents in Qatar that they will not allow that change as I am changing the destination country and that I will have to pay the fare difference! I thought the first agent didn’t know what they were talking about so I hung up and called again. Only to be told the exact same thing by the second agent. Can anyone help with what am I missing here and why the change is being denied?

ISTFlyer

When did you book the ticket? If it was within the last 15 days, you would need to wait until it has been 15 days after you booked the ticket.
Also, the new route should be in the same fare bucket. If you have booked the PHL-ADL routing in "R" fare bucket, the PHL-AKL routing should be in "R" fare bucket as well.
Plus, you must return to Philadelphia or your final destination by 31 December 2020, otherwise, a fare difference would apply when changing tickets.

I just wrote the most common issues above.
If the issues above are not your case, call again at a different time period so you could speak with another set of agents and if you have status in QRPC use the dedicated phone line or the WhatsApp line as you are directly connected to Doha rather than outsourced rest-of-world call centers.

ffay005

Is it really so that original inventory is required? I'm reading the QR guidelines and I understand them so that if R is not available, they'll rebook into next category without any extra charge.

cesc

Ticket was booked over 3 weeks ago for travel dates all within 2020. I am keeping the travel dates and origin the same (PHL) but just wanting to change the destination from Adelaide to Auckland.

I do have status and called the platinum number. Both the agents that I spoke to were based in Doha and both stated that I will be charged the fare difference as I am changing the destination country. I was surprised and asked them to read their policy on the website. They said according to the policy they have they will have to collect the fare difference for voluntary changes to the destination country.

plunet

Unless there is something very special about your specific ticket then it seems that it's a case of politely thanking the agent for their time, confirm no changes to your ticket, putting the phone down, taking a deep breath and trying again (possibly later, possibly a different global call centre)

realgaga

They can only rebook you on a lower RBD class, not a higher one.
IIRC the lowest is R.

realgaga

Try calling another call centre (in another country).

anabolism

My reading is that original inventory is required for voluntary changes. Involuntary changes allow booking into an alternative inventory in the same cabin.

ISTFlyer

From the Qatar Airways website:
https://www.qatarairways.com/en/trav...onfidence.html

Unfortunately, a fare difference would apply if there is no availability in the same booking class.
However, I am not sure if both flights ( DOH-ADL and DOH-AKL ) have the same fare bucket available.

enelym1978

Anyone has the link of the PDF of the T&Cs? Have they been updated since the last available one in this thread (I believe that T&C was dated July 19, 2020).

Thanks

plunet

When I spoke to Amex Travel on Thursday this week they confirmed that the version of the book with confidence policy they were looking at as a travel agent is v1.7.6 dated 19 July 2020 - the link for which is in the wiki for this thread (top of page 1)

10000Ants

Looks like flying into BKK is pretty much out of the equation for 2020 at least for leisure travelers.
Wonder what they'll do with all those people that got funneled to BKK as the destination.

Hoping QR will extend the policy instead of issuing refunds tbh.

NWplatinum

Me too... I shouldn’t have been sucked into this deal. I hope they let us go into 2021. I think there’s a chance thailand opens in the winter but it’s slim.

diverg

I hope it opens in January with notice of doing so by November. Currently booked for NZ/Australia on different airlines, but I'm thinking it is way less than 50/50 that borders will be open. Especially in New Zealand. Keeping my eye out for back up destinations and airlines. Since I love Thailand I'll be ok with another back to back to back to back trip in 3 years.

cesc

Same fare bucket (R) is available for my travel dates. Both agents stated that a fare difference applies as I am changing the destination country. That is contrary to what the written policy T&Cs state.

As suggested I will try another time/call center. I have also simultaneously emailed [email protected] to get the reason for not allowing this change in writing. If they state the same over email then I will initiate a chargeback with my card issuer citing deceptive advertising. Good thing is their T&Cs for this policy are still up there on the website.