2500 change fee I don't have! What can I do?

[kaspardeane]

Hi I'll try and keep this as brief as possible!
I am currently on the halfway through my round trip from Brisbane and Ho Chi Minh City, now due to unforeseen circumstances I can not make the return trip on the date that's booked. I have found a seat available 5 days earlier which would just work out perfect! So I called Qantas to confirm the flight change and they said they need 2500 points from me to change the flight.
Now the dilemma here is that I don't have 2500 points I only have 498, I tried a view different ways that I thought were fairly feasible that we could then try to fix the situation i.e me getting the points required.
The first thing I suggested was buying some points, this they said they could not do because of rules and regulations they said I could only buy 'top-up' points!
I then said my family members are Frequent Flyers and could they not just give me 2500 points which they were willing to do? However they have already made a transfer in the past 12 months so they said they wouldn't be allowed to do this.
I am quite distraught and spent over an hour in a very upsetting phone call as it dawned on me what would happen if they don't let me change this flight!! I don't see this query inconveniencing Qantas at all and would just like some common sense on their behalf! I am now trying absolutely anything to get this done, the flight leaves on the 22nd of November so if anyone has ANY suggestions or ways to solve this problem I would really appreciate it!
Thanks in advance guys, cheers.

Kaspar

 

[Dave Noble]

The 2500 change fee is a standard fee.

If your relatives do not have the points , perhaps you may be able to cancel the inbound flight for a 5000 penalty and then buy a ticket home

Purchasing points does have restrictions; if you cancel the return leg, would you then be in a legitimate position to then purchase 5000 points and book a new award flight

Dave

 

[BlueAU]

You should be able to pay a fee instead of the points. IIRC it is $50 or $60 in lieu of 2,500 points?

 

[Dave Noble]

Looking at the fee schedule ( Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions ) there is a cash equivalent to the assisted booking fee but not for the change fee from what I can see

Dave

 

[BlueAU]

Looking at the fee schedule ( Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions ) there is a cash equivalent to the assisted booking fee but not for the change fee from what I can see

Dave

If that is the case, I would ring up and ask, and if told no, ring up again and ask again. You might get a different answer. I made a change once and was asked how I wanted to pay, I used points, maybe the assistant didn't know you can't use cash, or, they gave an unpublished option :!: Let us know how you go.

 

[albatross710]

now due to unforeseen circumstances I can not make the return trip on the date that's booked.

Is this caused by an event that might trigger a claim on travel insurance? Perhaps the taxes on the award booking were paid on a CC with travel insurance included.

One idea - your relative could make you a new family award for the complete cost of the one way flight. You cancel you flight and family transfer them your resulting and remaining points. Of course, this assumes they have enough puts to loan you in the interim.

 

[Dave Noble]

If you cannot get the points and this is not a situation which is covered by insurance, I would suggest just cancelling and then buying a ticket on JQ

Cost for a one way on JQ is $465 plus $50 tax so not too painful. Will then have 25,000 points to use another time. Should also get about $96 in tax refund on the QF booking leaving $409 approx to pay

Dave