Are Qantas Taking The Mickey?

[RSDonovan]

I’m going to NZ next month and I booked my air ticket at Hay’s travel agent.

My outbound flight route is LGW-DXB-SYD-CHC with Emirates to Sydney then Qantas for the last leg. The inbound flight route is exactly the reverse.

Subsequently I found I would be in Wellington on my return date, so I went to Hay’s to change the flight. I was aghast when I was quoted £380 to do so.

I said “Ok, I’ll scrap the CHC-SYD leg of my ticket and buy a cheap flight WEL-SYD to catch the Dubai flight”. Oh no, was the reply, if you don’t catch the first leg, Qantas will scrap your entire ticket!

This seems preposterous and wholly unfair. Is there anything I can do?

Thanks!

[piggynose]

https://www.abta.com/
Try these. Or how about contacting consumer advice.

[Zacs-Master]

Caveat Emptor
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/holidays/article-7003117/No-way-airlines-cancel-return-ticket-miss-flight-out.html

[Ellipsis]

You could try having a chat with Emirates Airline:

https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/help/ask-emirates/

Your entire return journey SYD-DBX-LGW is with Emirates so they may be able to issue you a ticket to turn up at Sydney and check your bags in, rather than the present situation where they're expecting you and your bags to come through transit.

Other than that, is there really no way you could get yourself to Christchurch when you needed to be, given that it would cost £380 otherwise?

[237SJ]

I don't think there is much you can do. I saw that Qantas charge $200 for a no show in OZ. Now that is harsh..

[jno]

looks like there are various ways of getting from Christchurch to Wellington, including flying, all cheaper than £380,

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Christchurch-New-Zealand/Wellington

[237SJ]

^but the OP's flight will be cancelled because he/she didn't complete the first sector.