10 pts / $ for Qantas Vouchers - Back for Xmas 2014

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Maybe they would sell more if they were more flexible and easy to use?

Agreed.

Maybe overall the airline would do much better if they had a customer focus, but as they opine, it's all about profitability. What they don't realise is with customer focus comes profitability, but they want a shortcut.

 

[medhead]

Personally, i start all of my Qantas bookings by buying a voucher, at any time of year. I have been stocking up during the promo period, but will always start from a voucher when buying flights. Anyone who can also do so, but doesn't is misguided in the extreme.

Those suggesting changing from the current QF voucher system need to get some time up. All I can say is that changing the current system would be a major disadvantage.

 

[astrosly]

Personally, i start all of my Qantas bookings by buying a voucher, at any time of year. I have been stocking up during the promo period, but will always start from a voucher when buying flights. Anyone who can also do so, but doesn't is misguided in the extreme.

Those suggesting changing from the current QF voucher system need to get some time up. All I can say is that changing the current system would be a major disadvantage.

Personally I don't start all my QF bookings with a voucher and it is not that I am extremely misguided, it is simply that most of my bookings are openjaw or mixed class and so must use multicity or are award bookings which rules out a voucher. If I need point-to-point then yes I will use a voucher - the last booking I made doing it this way was two weeks ago and used the last residual of a voucher I bought 11 months ago!

Changing the voucher system to include multicity bookings would be a major advantage, and since you are given a PNR as your voucher reference from a systematic view should not be that difficult. Changing the current voucher system to allow this is not a major disadvantage as the vouchers as they currently are have limited appeal.

 

[medhead]

Personally I don't start all my QF bookings with a voucher and it is not that I am extremely misguided, it is simply that most of my bookings are openjaw or mixed class and so must use multicity or are award bookings which rules out a voucher. If I need point-to-point then yes I will use a voucher - the last booking I made doing it this way was two weeks ago and used the last residual of a voucher I bought 11 months ago!

Changing the voucher system to include multicity bookings would be a major advantage, and since you are given a PNR as your voucher reference from a systematic view should not be that difficult. Changing the current voucher system to allow this is not a major disadvantage as the vouchers as they currently are have limited appeal.

Nothing substantial stops you from using vouchers for open jaw bookings, or even multi city. but clearly my comment applies to situations where vouchers can be used, so not award bookings.

As changing the vouchers system, that comment should be taken in context of the previous discussion, which did not mention adding multi city at all. You will see that I clearly mentioned those suggesting changes. In the context of the thread it is a serious disadvantage to suggest the changes that have been suggested.

 

[opusman]

In the context of the thread it is a serious disadvantage to suggest the changes that have been suggested.

Why is that? All I suggested was that vouchers be a general payment mechanism rather than a dummy booking. Nothing about that change would imply the loss of the other advantages (no CC fees and bonus points) - although QF could obviously remove them, they could also choose to retain them just as easily. What else about the current voucher system is so special?

 

[astrosly]

Nothing substantial stops you from using vouchers for open jaw bookings, or even multi city. but clearly my comment applies to situations where vouchers can be used, so not award bookings.

As changing the vouchers system, that comment should be taken in context of the previous discussion, which did not mention adding multi city at all. You will see that I clearly mentioned those suggesting changes. In the context of the thread it is a serious disadvantage to suggest the changes that have been suggested.

Nothing substantial? Such as the terms and conditions? I'm very interested to know an example of a multicity where you can use a voucher since you think it is possible. Fact is you are unable to purchase multicity bookings using a voucher, as per the T&Cs and the redemption mechanism itself, and this includes an openjaw in international bookings (of course domestic is OK by booking separate sectors on separate bookings which still is pretty much point-to-point). And just to clarify, when I and QF say a multicity I mean picking which city routing and days, and not say SYD-PER where an option is via ADL as this is simply a return booking and not a multicity booking.

This thread is about the current voucher system and its issues with bookings using vouchers, I don't see why I cannot contribute to the discussion on such disadvantages and why certain changes won't be advantageous for voucher sales in the future. Unable to use vouchers for multicity bookings does limit this currently. Your argument comes across as "it works for me and my booking habits, so why change it" and I am simply stating that it is not the case for others who do not have the same booking habits as you, and thus would like to see some changes to broaden the appeal of vouchers. As opusman has said, making certain changes could do that and it is good business sense to do so.

 

[geordieladinoz]

Just stocked up on $3000 worth of vouchers. Not as much travel planned next year but this should suffice for most of our domestic travel. International travel will be Classic Awards and vouchers not valid unfortunately, these bonus points will help with these Classic Awards though!

Only issues encountered in the last 2 years were the residual vouchers so hopefully this gets resolved to avoid some of the minor hassles. Have always kept a spreadsheet and been on the phone to QF if the residual vouchers have not materialised quickly. Not ideal but a phone call when sat on the sofa is a much better outcome than just throwing money away and forgetting about them.

 

[RAM]

Can I have an intro to your accountant as long as he can also reverse that from profit to loss. ie on paper

It is a bit how it looks like Q books the 'value' of its As or Bs planes at "list price" not purchase price in their balance sheet. Going through their Financial Statements and recent write-down suggests this innovative accounting is how Q works. So just like the profits from selling Ffer points to other companies, selling giftcards generates immediate profits.

PS: Possibly Q company A registered in the Cayman Islands buys the planes direct from EADS with a 47.25% discount on list price and on-sells them to Q company registered in Australia at list price. Anything Peach can do we can do better...

 

[RAM]

Nothing substantial stops you from using vouchers for open jaw bookings, or even multi city. but clearly my comment applies to situations where vouchers can be used, so not award bookings.

As changing the vouchers system, that comment should be taken in context of the previous discussion, which did not mention adding multi city at all. You will see that I clearly mentioned those suggesting changes. In the context of the thread it is a serious disadvantage to suggest the changes that have been suggested.

Nothing substantial stops you....

other than the Terms and Conditions which specifically rule it out. I call that quite substantial.

Also note the sting in the tail (also highlighted in red) - names listed on vouchers MUST match names listed in booking - not part thereof. So single name vouchers and multiple bookings unless every redemption is for the same people every time by my reading - correct?

General Terms for both Qantas Gift Vouchers and Qantas Customer Care Vouchers

• Additional specific terms apply to each voucher, please see below.
• Redeemable for one-way or return Qantas domestic or international flights departing Australia only.
• Non-refundable and cannot be used for multi-city, Classic Award or Any Seat Award bookings, points plus pay bookings or redeemed for cash or other goods or services such as additional baggage or seat selection.
• Only one voucher can be redeemed per booking.
• Amounts are in Australian dollars and are valid for bookings made on or before the expiry date stated on your voucher.
• If the total of the booking is more than the value of the voucher, immediate payment of the balance will be required at the time of booking.
• The names of voucher recipients may be changed when you redeem the voucher.
• The Qantas Conditions of Carriage and relevant fare conditions apply to all bookings made with a voucher.

Qantas Customer Care Vouchers - additional terms

• If the full balance of the voucher is not redeemed in one transaction and the balance of the voucher is $2 or more, a new voucher with the same expiry date will be issued for the unused portion. Subsequent vouchers will be sent to the email address supplied. No subsequent voucher will be issued for amounts less than $2.
• Only one person can be booked at a time.
• Vouchers can be redeemed online at qantas.com/yourbooking or through Qantas Contact Centres on 13 13 13. A booking fee applies to redemptions through Qantas Contact Centres.

Qantas Gift Voucher - additional terms

• Vouchers will be valid for 12 months from date of issue.
• If the full balance of the voucher is not redeemed in one transaction, a new voucher with the same expiry date will be issued for the unused portion of that voucher. Subsequent vouchers will be sent to the email address supplied for the first adult listed on the voucher. If no email address is supplied for the first adult listed on the voucher, subsequent vouchers will be sent to the email address of the person who purchased the voucher.
• The number of people on a booking redeeming the voucher must be equal to the number of voucher recipients. The number of recipients listed cannot be changed.
• Vouchers can be redeemed online at qantas.com/giftvouchers or through Qantas Contact Centres on 13 13 13. A booking fee applies to redemptions through Qantas Contact Centres.

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Even you, Medhead, would have trouble arguing SUCCESSFULLY with Q that you were allowed to do multi-city...

 

[defurax]

Nothing substantial stops you....

names listed on vouchers MUST match names listed in booking - not part thereof. So single name vouchers and multiple bookings unless every redemption is for the same people every time by my reading - correct?

• The names of voucher recipients may be changed when you redeem the voucher.

You can change names, but you can't change the number of recipients on a given voucher

 

[RAM]

[/LIST]

You can change names, but you can't change the number of recipients on a given voucher

So if two listed on voucher can only be redeemed for two travelling together etc. Cannot redeem for one traveller if have more than that on voucher or vice versa. Seems designed to decrease voucher redemption by those less skilled in booking (95% of travellers?).

 

[defurax]

So if two listed on voucher can only be redeemed for two travelling together etc. Cannot redeem for one traveller if have more than that on voucher or vice versa. Seems designed to decrease voucher redemption by those less skilled in booking (95% of travellers?).

Exactly, I know some people have been caught last year when purchasing vouchers and selecting the number of passengers from the drop down list thinking they were actually selecting the number of vouchers they wanted to buy.

So I only buy vouchers for a single passenger and if I travel with SWMBO I simply make two separate bookings. I'd rather do that then being stuck with vouchers for multiple passengers.

 

[RAM]

So should be able to use as Q code-share then?

 

[medhead]

Nothing substantial? Such as the terms and conditions? I'm very interested to know an example of a multicity where you can use a voucher since you think it is possible. Fact is you are unable to purchase multicity bookings using a voucher, as per the T&Cs and the redemption mechanism itself, and this includes an openjaw in international bookings (of course domestic is OK by booking separate sectors on separate bookings which still is pretty much point-to-point). And just to clarify, when I and QF say a multicity I mean picking which city routing and days, and not say SYD-PER where an option is via ADL as this is simply a return booking and not a multicity booking.

This thread is about the current voucher system and its issues with bookings using vouchers, I don't see why I cannot contribute to the discussion on such disadvantages and why certain changes won't be advantageous for voucher sales in the future. Unable to use vouchers for multicity bookings does limit this currently. Your argument comes across as "it works for me and my booking habits, so why change it" and I am simply stating that it is not the case for others who do not have the same booking habits as you, and thus would like to see some changes to broaden the appeal of vouchers. As opusman has said, making certain changes could do that and it is good business sense to do so.

Oh you're adding conditions now. First multi city and now international multi city.

Here is an example booked using vouchers ADL-SYD-CNS-ADL. It really isn't that hard. Guess what the terms and conditions do not stop booking multi city trips.

As for opusman as he has already indicated he does not know the advantages of the current system. Despite that he should be able to work it out.

You can certainly express your opinion. I just don't see there is a need to do that in reply to my opinion which doesn't even involve the points you've raised.

 

[medhead]

Nothing substantial stops you....

other than the Terms and Conditions which specifically rule it out. I call that quite substantial.

Also note the sting in the tail (also highlighted in red) - names listed on vouchers MUST match names listed in booking - not part thereof. So single name vouchers and multiple bookings unless every redemption is for the same people every time by my reading - correct?

General Terms for both Qantas Gift Vouchers and Qantas Customer Care Vouchers

• Additional specific terms apply to each voucher, please see below.
• Redeemable for one-way or return Qantas domestic or international flights departing Australia only.
• Non-refundable and cannot be used for multi-city, Classic Award or Any Seat Award bookings, points plus pay bookings or redeemed for cash or other goods or services such as additional baggage or seat selection.
• Only one voucher can be redeemed per booking.
• Amounts are in Australian dollars and are valid for bookings made on or before the expiry date stated on your voucher.
• If the total of the booking is more than the value of the voucher, immediate payment of the balance will be required at the time of booking.
• The names of voucher recipients may be changed when you redeem the voucher.
• The Qantas Conditions of Carriage and relevant fare conditions apply to all bookings made with a voucher.

Qantas Customer Care Vouchers - additional terms

• If the full balance of the voucher is not redeemed in one transaction and the balance of the voucher is $2 or more, a new voucher with the same expiry date will be issued for the unused portion. Subsequent vouchers will be sent to the email address supplied. No subsequent voucher will be issued for amounts less than $2.
• Only one person can be booked at a time.
• Vouchers can be redeemed online at qantas.com/yourbooking or through Qantas Contact Centres on 13 13 13. A booking fee applies to redemptions through Qantas Contact Centres.

Qantas Gift Voucher - additional terms

• Vouchers will be valid for 12 months from date of issue.
• If the full balance of the voucher is not redeemed in one transaction, a new voucher with the same expiry date will be issued for the unused portion of that voucher. Subsequent vouchers will be sent to the email address supplied for the first adult listed on the voucher. If no email address is supplied for the first adult listed on the voucher, subsequent vouchers will be sent to the email address of the person who purchased the voucher.
• The number of people on a booking redeeming the voucher must be equal to the number of voucher recipients. The number of recipients listed cannot be changed.
• Vouchers can be redeemed online at qantas.com/giftvouchers or through Qantas Contact Centres on 13 13 13. A booking fee applies to redemptions through Qantas Contact Centres.

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Even you, Medhead, would have trouble arguing SUCCESSFULLY with Q that you were allowed to do multi-city...

I wouldn't need to argue anything with qantas. Very very easy to use multiple vouchers to achieve a multicity and/or open jaw booking. ...

 

[RAM]

I wouldn't need to argue anything with qantas. Very very easy to use multiple vouchers to achieve a multicity and/or open jaw booking.
...

If someone wants to book a twelve city journey one leg at a time in 11 separate bookings each way then you would be correct.

Going by the booking choices (and terminology) offered on the Q booking page - single, return or multi-city - you are clearly mistaken. With this offer it is not possible to make a single multi-city booking as defined by the Q web site T&Cs.

To suggest otherwise and risk misleading less experienced browsers of this thread is unworthy of the AFF fraternity.

These threads are supposed to improve, resolve issues, or inform not to confuse and potentially cause hours of lost time and potentially lost funds. Please respect that aim.

 

[eminere]

So should be able to use as Q code-share then?

Would love to hear if anyone has successfully booked a QF codeshare flight using a voucher.

 

[medhead]

Glass houses and stones.

If someone wants to book a twelve city journey one leg at a time in 11 separate bookings each way then you would be correct.

Going by the booking choices (and terminology) offered on the Q booking page - single, return or multi-city - you are clearly mistaken. With this offer it is not possible to make a single multi-city booking as defined by the Q web site T&Cs.

To suggest otherwise and risk misleading less experienced browsers of this thread is unworthy of the AFF fraternity.

These threads are supposed to improve, resolve issues, or inform not to confuse and potentially cause hours of lost time and potentially lost funds. Please respect that aim.

I have checked my post and I wrote vouchers, not a voucher. I also did not write anything about a single multi city booking.

Nope I am not mistaken. I have made no such suggestion.
...

 

[astrosly]

Oh you're adding conditions now. First multi city and now international multi city.

Here is an example booked using vouchers ADL-SYD-CNS-ADL.

I clarified international in my lastest post because I just knew you would give a domestic example of a "multicity" routing which of course you did. Sure you can book ADL-SYD-CNS-ADL individually or some other sub-combination but try booking this on one voucher booking - you cannot. This is my point. These are effectively point-to-point or one-way (ADL-CNS via SYD as a one way booking) bookings and not a multicity booking. Or, what if you want to book ADL-SYD as discount E and SYD-CNS as flex E, on the same booking with a voucher? - again, you cannot.

I spend thousands of dollars each year on flights, mostly with QF, but I struggle to use $500 of vouchers in a 12 month period because my flying patterns are not yours. Therefore in their current form they are not of particular value to me (and I guess many others) so if QF want to sell more vouchers they should consider makings changes to make them more appealing which can start by allowing them to be redeemed on more booking types.

Multicity is not a one-way or return booking and on the one PNR. You cannot do this with a voucher, end of story. Please see T&Cs as posted before.

 

[medhead]

I clarified international in my lastest post because I just knew you would give a domestic example of a "multicity" routing which of course you did. Sure you can book ADL-SYD-CNS-ADL individually or some other sub-combination but try booking this on one voucher booking - you cannot. This is my point. These are effectively point-to-point or one-way (ADL-CNS via SYD as a one way booking) bookings and not a multicity booking. Or, what if you want to book ADL-SYD as discount E and SYD-CNS as flex E, on the same booking with a voucher? - again, you cannot.

I spend thousands of dollars each year on flights, mostly with QF, but I struggle to use $500 of vouchers in a 12 month period because my flying patterns are not yours. Therefore in their current form they are not of particular value to me (and I guess many others) so if QF want to sell more vouchers they should consider makings changes to make them more appealing which can start by allowing them to be redeemed on more booking types.

Multicity is not a one-way or return booking and on the one PNR. You cannot do this with a voucher, end of story. Please see T&Cs as posted before.

I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT USING ONE VOUCHER. That is your entirely false assumption. I wrote vouchers. Plural!!!! Not a voucher.

As I wrote open jaw and multi city trips can be done using vouchers. All entirely within the terms and conditions. Whether you as an individual can get value does not change anything about my point.

I also spend many thousands of dollars a year on flights and can use easily use many $500 vouchers. If you lack the imagination to move beyond a definition of multi city to see that a given trip can be achieved by a number of means that is your problem.

I'd also say you changed your post by including international because you realised the error of your previous post.