For those of you not up to date on the saga, see the previous posts:
Continue reading: Conclusion To My (Almost Private) Qatar Airways A350 Flight Saga
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
What a fascinating read, thanks Lucky! Quick question, AA redemption chart sounds so much more generous compared to BA Avios (on some routes)... I generally collect Avios and fly BA, but i am seriously considering buying bulk of AA miles in case i need them in the future! Recommend it?
@ Jake -- All depends what you're looking to redeem for. For example, Avios are invaluable for shorthaul awards, be they within Europe or the US, while American miles for great for longhaul premium cabin awards. So don't think there's a "best" currency necessarily, though I do value AAdvantage miles more than Avios.
I'm sure you're aware by now about the drama that took place at QR HQ on Sunday over the accidental listing of QR 3352 for pax bookings. From what I hear, at least one person has been summoned to HE's office to "show cause" today and I would expect that poor soul to be either fired or disciplined. And HE will probably be looking for you for a chat on Thursday's flight (time permitting) - good stuff judging by what my source tells me.
Good to know you enjoyed the EY flight. When you say it had a lot more food, was that in terms of courses and meal choices, or they just didn't run out no matter how much you ordered?
@ Richard -- All of the above. Hugely expansive menu with literally dozens of options to choose from, and they had more than enough (though I only had one meal after takeoff).
Sounds like they're investing a lot more on LHR as the flagship route. Will you be putting up a full review of the EY flight?
@ @mrsoaroundtheworld -- They do codeshare, but beyond that they have near full reciprocity on award redemptions as well, so it's one of my favorite uses of American miles.
So if yo placed just a little 'fight' just to get upgraded to 1st. as compensation (as a reader commented/suggested).. Well, maybe you could have really chatted with him about.. How great Etihad apartments are LOL!
That's a rather benevolent attitude that you've taken towards EU comp. An attitude that I could understand if airlines shared that view. Unfortunately, they do absolutely everything in their power to avoid paying it. They (particularly QR) don't deserve any favours. You had a confirmed ticket on a flight that operated and were denied boarding. Clear cut.
If Sean M's sources is correct, I'd be expecting some serious generosity from Ali Baker on the inaugural. Actually, it's Ali Baker....so probably best to expect nothing!
As SeanM comments.. Cool double dip!, they've learned the lesson (they have to clear ALL inventory in those cases), and you can have a cool chat with HE, surely you have constructive suggestions for the company as he takes his job so seriously (as it should be).
@Lucky Thanks! That's the impression I got too. Europe shorthaul with a flat fee with Avios is a great way to burn their miles but the 40k EU-MiddleEast in F with AA just sounds too good to pass up! I think I will go buy some AA miles, especially with their 35% bonus miles offer on at the moment! Thanks Lucky.
And now you have to spend an hour on hold with BA and pay their cancellation fee to get your miles back? That would have weighed in on the side of taking the A380 for me 🙂
Great conclusion Ben. Question: what's the process for re-instating the miles after you decide not to fly on points so close to departure? Does it happen automatically, do you have to call and beg...? I've noticed that you make a lot of fairly last minute changes to points bookings and I'm interesting how painful that is to do, in general, and what happened here, specifically, given that you even had a boarding pass.
I do hope the poor soul who made the points inventory seats available doesn't suffer too badly, though based on what I've read it will likely not end well for him/her.
Hi Ben, somehow glad now that I didn't jump on the bus and book this as well. After all I'm flying the QR A380 to BKK in June anyways.
Since you booked the QR flight with avios, how where you able to get a refund? Since it is my understanding that avios bookings are not refundable less than 24h before the flight, or am I wrong here?
For those asking about refunding BA redemptions on QR cancelled flights, you have to call BA. They investigate and contact QR. QR inform BA that you did travel on the cancelled flight. Then it's fun and games trying to get QR to accept that you didn't travel on a cancelled flight. Eventually, they realise that you didn't travel and allow BA to refund the ticket. No apology for delay and incompetence given.
Well, that's my experience anyway!
Hi Lucky. Am an avid reader of your blog for several years.
Quick question - where do you book/find availability for the flight you mention here (40KAAmiles from London-Doha-Cairo).
I can't seem to get the BA or AA websites to show this.
Thanks
@ JM2468 -- For Etihad, you have to use their site to search space:
https://onemileatatime.com/search-etihad-award-space/
Then you can call American to actually book.
@Lucky: Thank you for acknowledging some others' perception of your previous post. Respect++
Maybe some CS contact may be coming to Lucky on this error? Especially is reprimands are being handed out internally.
Lucky, since it's possible you'll be meeting HE soon, perhaps you should compile a list of questions for an impromptu interview? You could poll your readers for avenues of inquiry . . .
Interesting, a Jan 13 BBC article says this:
But on Monday it was put through its final paces with a flight from Heathrow over Broughton and Airbus's other plant at Filton near Bristol, with passengers on board.
BBC Wales business correspondent Brian Meechan was one of the first on board the plane and also talked to Elliott Donnelly, a Flintshire worker who was picked to be among those joining the first in the cabin.
So this thing departed Heathrow with passengers aboard? Media plus and Airbus employees? Did Qatar benefit in some way by listing this flight as bookable by the public?
Add me to the list of those who want more details about the cancellation process and getting your BA avios back.
I'd be interested how easy it is to cancel AA bookings. I tried once (a booking on QF) and basically got nowhere. I gave up and took the flight. They said they could only refund the money in person so I had to go to an AA ticket desk.
Man finds himself alone on Delta flight
http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/13/travel/man-alone-delta-flight-feat/index.html
@tara - No expert here, but I would assume that this is the noise testing that was mentioned. I would guess that because flying over Bristol would allow Airbus employees and others to hear the plane, which would give it a more human perspective, and not just one from a computer. Also quite possible they let a few media on board.
@tara - The noise testing was around the Great Britain area, and then the plane was moved back to Doha for the inaugural flight in two days
Isn't two days before an inaugural flight a bit late for any type of "testing?"
Parker, the article says that the aircraft departed Heathrow on Monday. With passengers. The noise test was on a prior day, wasn't it ?
dmodemd says "@Lucky: Thank you for acknowledging some others’ perception of your previous post."
Agreed.
I'm not sure where the reference to a six year old comes from but I did appreciate the acknowledgement.
@ UnLuCkY -- Heh, it's noise testing. So it's not aircraft testing, but rather they're trying to convince Heathrow to lift the curfew long term due to how quiet the A350 is.
@ Pat Butcher -- If you phone them up it should be quite easy. I've never had issues.
@ M -- Turning out to be a bit more pain than I had hoped. Will write a post about it once it's done.
Is there any way of upgrading Ethiad flights without their points. I have a paid (cheap) ticket from Chicago to Abu Dhabi in economy, but hear that is not too comfortable.