VALIDITY VEXATION

I recently booked a return business class flight with Qantas from London to Dhaka, Bangladesh via Dubai on emirates.com to boost my Qantas frequent flyer programme (FFP) status credits. [Editor’s note: the carriers operate joint venture services between Europe and Australia. The reader had to book the flights on emirates.com rather than qantas.com.au because the latter does not list Dhaka on its destination listing].

However, I discovered that Qantas does not award status credits if a flight is booked through Emirates’ website. Qantas will award credits when I fly Emirates booked through Qantas, but not the other way round.

I checked in at Heathrow as a Qantas passenger, took Qantas flights QF10 and QF1 and used the Emirates business lounge in Dubai as a Qantas Club member. If Emirates offers Qantas services as part of its partnership with Qantas, then Qantas FFP credits ought to apply.

Also, recently I purchased a SriLankan Airlines discounted business class ticket online. The rules allowed me to change the date free of charge. When I subsequently called the airline for a change of date, I was surprised to learn that because the fare had risen, I had to pay the new, higher, price. As the ticket had been paid for already, how could the airline demand additional payment?

QANTAS REPLIES:

There appears to be some confusion as it is not possible that Mr Chim Wai Chong was on Qantas to Dhaka. Qantas does not fly there, or codeshare with Emirates there. QF1 and Q10 operate the following flights: QF1: Sydney-Dubai-London, QF10: London-Dubai-Melbourne. Status Credits are only earned on flights with a Qantas flight number (including partner airline flights with a QF flight number). Qantas is currently in contact with Mr Chim Wai Chong regarding the matter.

SRILANKAN AIRLINES REPLIES:

Generally the ticket purchased is valid only for the flights and/or dates shown on the ticket based on the fare applicable on the date of purchase. In the event the ticket is not fully utilised and the passenger wishes to make any changes, the fare applicable for the new date will apply. As such, if the fare has been revised, the difference will have to be paid by the passenger.

In the event the ticket is partially utilised and if the passenger wishes to change his return journey within the validity of the ticket, he may do so on payment of the date change fee only. This is an industry norm practised by most airlines worldwide.