Avoiding QF change fees

[justinbrett]

Apologies if this is already widely known, I certainly wasn’t aware.

You can avoid the $99 change fee by cancelling your flight and getting a credit voucher, and then rebooking.

This method doesn’t charge the change fee (just increase in fare, if any). It’s a nice hack if you want to change your flight but don’t want to pay the fees.

 

[CaptJCool]

Is this original booking date dependant ?
or perhaps now is a result of the new double option available upon cancellation ?


but in re-reading it my $109 fare was non-refundable so hence The $24 refund of eligible taxes....

In the past my understanding was change fees were charged either at the time or upon rebooking ?

 

[encryptededdy]

You can avoid the $99 change fee by cancelling your flight and getting a credit voucher, and then rebooking.

Would the credit voucher have the "same or higher base fare" limitation? If so, I think this may result in you paying more to change to some fares?

i.e. You're currently booked on a fare with $200 base. The one you want to change to has $150 base.

If you use change flight -> fare difference is calculated as $0 (I don't think it does refunds)
If you cancel and use credit -> You can't book the $150 base fare. You'll have to book the next ticket class with a base fare >=$200, which may be more than the change fee

Am I correct in this assumption, or was that just something unique to Fly Flexible waiver credits?

 

[justinbrett]

View attachment 283692
Is this original booking date dependant ?
or perhaps now is a result of the new double option available upon cancellation ?
View attachment 283693

but in re-reading it my $109 fare was non-refundable so hence The $24 refund of eligible taxes....

In the past my understanding was change fees were charged either at the time or upon rebooking ?
View attachment 283694

I thought so too but I’ve done this twice in the last week and both times the credit was for the full value. No change fees charged when I redeemed the credit.

 

[encryptededdy]

I thought so too but I’ve done this twice in the last week and both times the credit was for the full value. No change fees charged when I redeemed the credit.

What fare class? I thought so the credit option usually carries a fee too (if not under Fly Flexible). Perhaps IT didn't finish removing the fly flexible stuff and accidentally left the fee waiver in for credits?

 

[justinbrett]

Would the credit voucher have the "same or higher base fare" limitation? If so, I think this may result in you paying more to change to some fares?

i.e. You're currently booked on a fare with $200 base. The one you want to change to has $150 base.

If you use change flight -> fare difference is calculated as $0 (I don't think it does refunds)
If you cancel and use credit -> You can't book the $150 base fare. You'll have to book the next ticket class with a base fare >=$200, which may be more than the change fee

Am I correct in this assumption, or was that just something unique to Fly Flexible waiver credits?

No. I just tried and I can convert my one way credit to a return journey using cheaper fares on a later date.

 

[encryptededdy]

No. I just tried and I can convert my one way credit to a return journey using cheaper fares on a later date.

I guess those restrictions are gone now that fly flexible is gone. This is domestic, right?

I assume you just forfeit the rest of the credit? Or do you get a new credit for the remaining amount?

 

[justinbrett]

I guess those restrictions are gone now that fly flexible is gone. This is domestic, right?

I assume you just forfeit the rest of the credit? Or do you get a new credit for the remaining amount?

Yep, domestic. Not red edeal but not flex either.

You would forfeit, but the return journey is slightly more than the credit for the one way, so no refund required.

 

[CaptJCool]

What fare class? I thought so the credit option usually carries a fee too (if not under Fly Flexible). Perhaps IT didn't finish removing the fly flexible stuff and accidentally left the fee waiver in for credits?

What he said... is probably the reason