QF zeroing flights - cancellation impending?

[dajop]

I'm booked an award MEL-SIN on QF35 during April. I've noticed that the both QF35 and 36 (SIN-MEL) are showing as no availability on expertflyer on the day I am travelling (a Tuesday). I've also just noticed that this is the same every Tuesday during April (i.e. no availability in any booking class on either QF35 or QF36). Would this suggest a cancellation is impending? If so, how long do you think they will take to actually cancel the flight and move pax?

I know they'd probably move me via SYD, but that would mean a 6:30am flight out of MEL instead of midday, which means a night in Melbourne (I'd be happy to rebook out of BXG ... but no award availability BXG-SYD) , and having to go to the airport the night before to get supervised RAT test, as HIstopath only open at 6am.

If it really looks like they are going to cancel, I'll just cancel it myslef and book a return commercial fare ex-SIN on SQ.

 

[Mattg]

I'm booked an award MEL-SIN on QF35 during April. I've noticed that the both QF35 and 36 (SIN-MEL) are showing as no availability on expertflyer on the day I am travelling (a Tuesday). I've also just noticed that this is the same every Tuesday during April (i.e. no availability in any booking class on either QF35 or QF36). Would this suggest a cancellation is impending?

Yes it does mean this.

This has been Qantas' modus operandi for the past couple of years when cancelling blocks of flights months in advance. It first zeroes out availability so nobody can book new seats, but it doesn't actually cancel the flights for several more weeks or sometimes months. I can only assume this is so they can hold onto passengers' money for longer, since the flights aren't technically cancelled yet.

It's highly inconvenient for the affected passengers and I wish Qantas would stop doing this. If they're going to cancel a flight, just cancel it!

If it really looks like they are going to cancel, I'll just cancel it myslef and book a return commercial fare ex-SIN on SQ.

If you can cancel the booking yourself with no penalty, you might as well. The Qantas flight you booked will more than likely not operate.

However, some people have fallen into the trap of cancelling (revenue tickets) before Qantas formally cancels, meaning they are stuck with a credit voucher instead of the refund they would have been entitled to.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Annoying. I'm on QF35 MEL-SIN on 14/4, also zeroed out.

I'm hoping to call them up and change to MEL-SYD-SIN, but there's no award J availability. Does anyone know how if they'll let me change in advance of the cancellation, and if they'll make J award space available for me?

 

[Mattg]

Does anyone know how if they'll let me change in advance of the cancellation, and if they'll make J award space available for me?

Highly unlikely unless you're Platinum/P1 and able to get a new reward seat released.

If you call at this point, the call centre will almost certainly just tell you the flight is still running and there is nothing they can do. Especially if you get an offshore call centre, the staff aren't empowered to actually help you. (This is what happened to another AFF member who recently tried to call about a "zeroed out" flight and found that it was a huge waste of time - Future of QF27/28 travel post covid)

 

[Virgin Bart]

Thanks. I'll have a read of the thread now.

So I wonder, if they cancel the flight what will they actually offer me....

 

[dajop]

If you can cancel the booking yourself with no penalty, you might as well. The Qantas flight you booked will more than likely not operate.

Thanks Matt, confirmed my suspicions. Will definitely cancel at look at SQ or Scoot instead. Scoot upfront seats (with extra leg room) are $350, with the free catering from Cafe Sol (thanks to priority pass), sort of makes the 25K QF pts + $160 hardly worth it anyway ...

 

[Melburnian1]

Thanks. I'll have a read of the thread now.

So I wonder, if they cancel the flight what will they actually offer me....

In theory, a refund should be one option.

 

[dajop]

In theory, a refund should be one option.

Of course refund is an option, it's an award ticket and these can be changed or refunded for no charge at the moment anyway. But somehow I don't think that's what @Virgin Bart is really after..... for business class awards you really want them to make it right.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Of course refund is an option, it's an award ticket and these can be changed or refunded for no charge at the moment anyway. But somehow I don't think that's what @Virgin Bart is really after..... for business class awards you really want them to make it right.

Exactly. Not worried about the refund, that's a guarantee. But I do wonder as far as J alternatives, or even Y alternatives..

 

[dajop]

Exactly. Not worried about the refund, that's a guarantee. But I do wonder as far as J alternatives, or even Y alternatives..

There's another Qanstar flight leaving only 5 minutes earlier than QF35 (and arriving 25 mins earlier), I am sure they can arrange for you to be transferred to that

 

[mbell1510]

I'm looking at flights to Honolulu (HNL) in late April with Qantas and having the same sort of problem. Sydney to HNL showing "no results found" on any date despite listing prices. Been like this all this week, except for a few times when they do show. Irony is that if you try book MEL-HNL, or BNE-HNL, QF103/QF104 show.

We've got friends already booked onto those flights, but kind of makes us a little hesitant to book at the moment if the route is not really showing flights. Wonder if another round of cancelations is looming.

 

[RichardMEL]

I'm looking at flights to Honolulu (HNL) in late April with Qantas and having the same sort of problem. Sydney to HNL showing "no results found" on any date despite listing prices. Been like this all this week, except for a few times when they do show. Irony is that if you try book MEL-HNL, or BNE-HNL, QF103/QF104 show.

We've got friends already booked onto those flights, but kind of makes us a little hesitant to book at the moment if the route is not really showing flights. Wonder if another round of cancelations is looming.

Interestingly, and weirdly, per EF on random date of 24 Apr QF103 SYD-HNL is showing availability in J and Y classes
but
AS5003, the codeshare flight simply has "Flight Cancelled"

which could just mean that AS aare cancelling their codeshare on the flight, or something else is going on.

This does seem a slightly different issue though.

I see the same situation on Apr 25, and 27 (does not fly on 26/4, but JQ3 shows)

 

[FlyFreeFaster]

Why is Qantas able to get away with these unscrupulous actions. My partner (lifetime Gold Status) is currently the only person on the seat map for QF122 ZQN to SYD in three weeks. And then we are the only passengers on the return flight from Sydney direct into Queenstown. I am Platinum and unable to get any adequate response from Qantas as to why we cannot get a refund when the flight has not been bookable for over 3 weeks. Stuck in limbo and very unhappy with Qantas. Some comfort in knowing that we are not the only ones in this frustrating situation but feel for some re their stories

 

[aikman]

Prevention is better than cure as they say. We should all start booking our trips at the last minute and make the airlines sweat over whether they can fill their planes or not.

In the current environment there should be no reason to book so early anyway unless you are getting a really good deal or there is a popular event.

 

[siri]

Yes it does mean this.

This has been Qantas' modus operandi for the past couple of years when cancelling blocks of flights months in advance. It first zeroes out availability so nobody can book new seats, but it doesn't actually cancel the flights for several more weeks or sometimes months. I can only assume this is so they can hold onto passengers' money for longer, since the flights aren't technically cancelled yet.

It's highly inconvenient for the affected passengers and I wish Qantas would stop doing this. If they're going to cancel a flight, just cancel it!



If you can cancel the booking yourself with no penalty, you might as well. The Qantas flight you booked will more than likely not operate.

However, some people have fallen into the trap of cancelling (revenue tickets) before Qantas formally cancels, meaning they are stuck with a credit voucher instead of the refund they would have been entitled to.

Is this legal ?

 

[Zanzara]

Why is Qantas able to get away with these unscrupulous actions. My partner (lifetime Gold Status) is currently the only person on the seat map for QF122 ZQN to SYD in three weeks. And then we are the only passengers on the return flight from Sydney direct into Queenstown. I am Platinum and unable to get any adequate response from Qantas as to why we cannot get a refund when the flight has not been bookable for over 3 weeks. Stuck in limbo and very unhappy with Qantas. Some comfort in knowing that we are not the only ones in this frustrating situation but feel for some re their stories

QF can get away with this because people with airline status (aka golden handcuffs) complain bitterly but still give end up giving them lots of revenue...

 

[astrosly]

I'm booked an award MEL-SIN on QF35 during April. I've noticed that the both QF35 and 36 (SIN-MEL) are showing as no availability on expertflyer on the day I am travelling (a Tuesday). I've also just noticed that this is the same every Tuesday during April (i.e. no availability in any booking class on either QF35 or QF36). Would this suggest a cancellation is impending? If so, how long do you think they will take to actually cancel the flight and move pax?

Not just April, to June and beyond. I am booked on QF35 on Thursday 9 June for the SIN lounge crawl 12 June 2022 but this has been zeroed about two weeks ago and removed from the schedule. They appear to have gone from daily to 3/week.

It is the limbo waiting that is annoying, and costly for the passenger. If they've adjusted their schedule already then please let the passengers know ASAP so they can make alternative arrangements. Delaying many weeks to confirm, say, moving to the flight the day before has meant hotel rates that night are $80+ more thank if been given sufficient notice.

 

[RichardMEL]

I actually agree. I'd love to see a reasonable reason why this is a thing. I cannot off the top of my head think of a good reason to do this when the intent is to cancel. I think they should just cancel it and be done with it then everyone knows. It seems odd to keep it in limbo for weeks.. so if anyone has an explanation for why this would make sense to do I'd love to know.

 

[Gary T]

In theory, a refund should be one option.

I had a problem with QF ( who hasn’t) when they canceled my flight at the last moment day before departure. I was told I couldn’t get a refund but a travel credit. I explained to the person on the other end that I entered into a contract with QF to fly me from A to B, they couldn’t honour that contract therefore they have to refund my monies. I explained to the agent that I didn’t enter into a contract with QF for and interest free load to the repaid on their terms. I received a refund to my CC three days later..UP yours QF.

 

[RichardMEL]

I had a problem with QF ( who hasn’t) when they canceled my flight at the last moment day before departure. I was told I couldn’t get a refund but a travel credit. I explained to the person on the other end that I entered into a contract with QF to fly me from A to B, they couldn’t honour that contract therefore they have to refund my monies. I explained to the agent that I didn’t enter into a contract with QF for and interest free load to the repaid on their terms. I received a refund to my CC three days later..UP yours QF.

I would have just said under their own Fly Flexible policy that a cancel by QF entitles one to a refund. No need for contract of carriage stuff imo.

Seems like you got a bum agent (sigh). I would absolutely agree a refund should have been provided in this instance.