Need help with the current flight change rules
Jul 10, 2021, 12:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: LAX & TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Silver, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 168
Need help with the current flight change rules
I would like to book IAD-DOH-MLE. For my dates, the only flight option is:
IAD-DOH 9:05pm - 5:00pm
~9 hour layover
DOH-MLE 1:45am - 8:45am
However, for the second leg, there’s another flight that leaves later at 8:20am, which is a little more forgiving than the 1:45am flight.
My question is, after booking, is it possible to only change the second leg to the later flight?
IAD-DOH 9:05pm - 5:00pm
~9 hour layover
DOH-MLE 1:45am - 8:45am
However, for the second leg, there’s another flight that leaves later at 8:20am, which is a little more forgiving than the 1:45am flight.
My question is, after booking, is it possible to only change the second leg to the later flight?
Jul 10, 2021, 6:42 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
I would like to book IAD-DOH-MLE. For my dates, the only flight option is:
IAD-DOH 9:05pm - 5:00pm
~9 hour layover
DOH-MLE 1:45am - 8:45am
However, for the second leg, there’s another flight that leaves later at 8:20am, which is a little more forgiving than the 1:45am flight.
My question is, after booking, is it possible to only change the second leg to the later flight?
IAD-DOH 9:05pm - 5:00pm
~9 hour layover
DOH-MLE 1:45am - 8:45am
However, for the second leg, there’s another flight that leaves later at 8:20am, which is a little more forgiving than the 1:45am flight.
My question is, after booking, is it possible to only change the second leg to the later flight?
The QR website should show that option.
Jul 10, 2021, 6:59 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: LAX & TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Silver, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 168
Yes, however I am making the booking through the Amex travel portal in order to use points for the booking. And unfortunately, the portal only shows that one flight option.
Jul 10, 2021, 8:44 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
You could try to book the long layover with points through the phone or you could book the shorter one online and call AMEX to change it to the later flight.
A reminder that calling QR would be useless for this case, nor the QR online website would work for changes as you will be booking through AMEX and you must handle all future changes with them.
Jul 15, 2021, 9:33 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: BA Gold/OW Emerald
Posts: 6
I have never used the Amex portal/points for any bookings, but in this environment I only want to be buying tickets/dealing directly with the airline and it's policy, in case of changes/cancellation/refunds etc. which I have faced a lot in the past year.
Jul 16, 2021, 7:37 am
#6
Join Date: May 2020
Location: USA
Programs: Qatar Airways Platinum Tier
Posts: 83
Agree with the above. Always better to book directly with the airline.
OP: Ive done the same flight (IAD - MLE) on Qatar before and doing it again in December. The layover in DOH is easy - just get a room at the Oryx airpot hotel and chill... Unless you have a good reason for staying longer in Doha (city break perhaps?) the 1AM departure to MLE is always better because you get into MLE at a perfect time to catch the various transfers (sea plane, airline, etc) - otherwise you get into Male too late and have to transfer the next day. I dont know about you, but Id rather slog it thru the looong flight and get to my resort quicker haha. :-)
f.
OP: Ive done the same flight (IAD - MLE) on Qatar before and doing it again in December. The layover in DOH is easy - just get a room at the Oryx airpot hotel and chill... Unless you have a good reason for staying longer in Doha (city break perhaps?) the 1AM departure to MLE is always better because you get into MLE at a perfect time to catch the various transfers (sea plane, airline, etc) - otherwise you get into Male too late and have to transfer the next day. I dont know about you, but Id rather slog it thru the looong flight and get to my resort quicker haha. :-)
f.
Last edited by friskygeek; Jul 16, 2021 at 7:43 am