"fly ahead" with Qantas?

[danielt25]

Hi, does Qantas offer a "fly ahead" option for Qantas frequent flyers? And if so what level do you have to be? I'm thinking of switching to Qantas but that's one thing I use quite a lot with virgin velocity.

 

[medhead]

Not officially. Very hit and miss. Obviously flexis are flexible but don't expect a non-flexi fare to be changed.

 

[bismarck]

When I was doing the SYD-MEL shuttle in peak times I generally had no problem turning up at the airport early and getting switched to an earlier flight. Typically I would book the cheapest flexible fare (i.e. not red e-deal but not fully flex) and was never asked to pay a fare difference or anything. They were generally very keen to move you forward to open up seats on the flights between 6 and 7pm (which is what I would have typically booked).

Have never really tried outside peak times though when there would be less operational imperative to move people forward.

 

[JohnK]

Fly ahead is hit and miss. It doesn't hurt to ask.

Qantas does flow forwarding some evenings. If I feel like getting on earlier flight I ask if they are flow forwarding and more often than not they put me on earlier flight.

 

[Kefci2000]

I always fly the cheapest ticket and would be around 70% successful getting on an earlier flight as WP

They went through a period last year where it was "no you are flying on a non flexible ticket" every week for a few months!

As suggested prior, just ask politely if they are flying forward tonight, usually works.....

 

[wooley]

I might have to start asking more often as I'm at 100% negative responses at the moment (for red e deals), even when the next available flight is almost empty and mine is packed with people wanting in.
Although I've never asked in the QP, only at regional airports.

To me it just makes sense, as once a flight is flown there is no more money to be made, at least freeing up a seat on a later flight potentially allows for an extra sale.

 

[UP4014]

I have had an almost perfect success rate except when full of course even when on red-e tickets, and often they will ask me do I want to go earlier, i have even declined so I could have a few quiet ales in the lounge.

I think the trick for QF is to not promote it, just do it and it's a bonus. The moment they promote it and there are failures in the system it will be considered an 'enhancement' by AFFers.


Matt

 

[danielt25]

Thanks...So for those who have had success are you gold or platinum?

 

[cambriamarsh]

Thanks...So for those who have had success are you gold or platinum?

Had a fair bit of success as gold

 

[medhead]

Thanks...So for those who have had success are you gold or platinum?

Platinum with about 70% success as well. My fly ahead success is about 100%

I always fly the cheapest ticket and would be around 70% successful getting on an earlier flight as WP

They went through a period last year where it was "no you are flying on a non flexible ticket" every week for a few months!
...

I think this is the key point, unlike virgin fly ahead, you're at the whim of corporate policy and to a lesser extent the CSA mood at the time.

 

[bismarck]

Was gold when I was doing it regularly. Haven't tried since I slipped to Silver.

Anecdotally, I understand it's easier to achieve in the QP rather than at check-in.

I've also had the kiosks offer it to me quite a few times.

 

[boomy]

It's a relatively new benefit given to P1s but TBH, anyone can ask for it and more often then not the lounge Angels will approve.

 

[wooley]

It's a relatively new benefit given to P1s but TBH, anyone can ask for it and more often then not the lounge Angels will approve.

I think that's it, the lounge is the key.

But in regional airports, which a lot of my desired fly forwards are, it just doesn't happen.

 

[raleyoz]

Wow, I'm disappointed, I have tried last 4 trips and a prompt no your ticket won't allow, as a WP

 

[anat0l]

This question seems to be asked quite often here.

The simple answer is, "No". Qantas doesn't have a "fly ahead" feature for any members, with one exception noted below.

If you are Gold or Platinum (latter is better), you can sometimes ask at the lounge or service counter to see if you can shift to an earlier flight. This works better in peak travel times (when "flow forwarding" is used) rather than quiet ones, but others have been lucky. A flexible fare also helps, but again there is much success experienced even with the cheapest Red e-Deals. At check-in, checked bags won't make it more complicated, but if you are checked in with bags and ask at the lounge, there won't be much chance at all that your request will be accepted.

Note that shifting on a Flexi fare more or less sometimes is equivalent to a fare change, hopefully with no fare difference.

Ask nicely, don't expect a "Yes". When I used to be a Platinum and requested an earlier flight, my success rate was approximately 90%. During the evening peak, this was close to 100%, viz. I was only rejected once of all the times I tried to do so. Take that as a data point, not a precedent. It was reported here for a long time that this whole "fly ahead" freedom was being screwed down; not sure if the screws have loosened or tightened since then.


The only kind of 'sure' "fly ahead" is offered to Platinum One members on Flexi fares. Essentially, a Platinum One member on a flexible fare can be moved to an earlier domestic flight in the same class of service. Normally, a member may be charged the fare differential to make a change (especially if there are no seats left in that booking class, e.g. you booked a V fare but there are now only B and Y seats left), but for Platinum One members, any fare differential is waived.

 

[scwappy]

My better half was WP with QF and we were turned down for fly ahead every time ( generally with attitude).

Appreciate its not a published benefit, so moved all domestic business to Virgin where it is and have never looked back.

 

[vantage03]

In Business (whether paid or on points), if the flight beforehand isn't full in J I've had 100% success rate at any time of day between SYD/MEL/BNE. In fact, it's unusual for me to fly domestically and not asked to be moved up to the next flight..!

Catering not assured, obviously.

 

[Pleb Status]

It's a relatively new benefit given to P1s but TBH, anyone can ask for it and more often then not the lounge Angels will approve.

When I was a WP, I had a 100% rejection rate at the QP when travelling on a red e-deal with no baggage. When asking at the gate of the flight I wanted to get onto, I had more success (about 30%).

 

[boomy]

When I was a WP, I had a 100% rejection rate at the QP when travelling on a red e-deal with no baggage. When asking at the gate of the flight I wanted to get onto, I had more success (about 30%).

That is disappointing to hear. I had almost the opposite experience as WP (when it still was the top tier). Most of my flying is in the east coast, maybe PER angels are more strict about the rules, that's the only way I can explain this.

 

[medhead]

In Business (whether paid or on points), if the flight beforehand isn't full in J I've had 100% success rate at any time of day between SYD/MEL/BNE. In fact, it's unusual for me to fly domestically and not asked to be moved up to the next flight..!

Catering not assured, obviously.

That is part of the ticket price for business class. The OP is asking about economy.