Can I get an earlier flight?

[Warks]

In the good old days I used to occasionally finish work interstate an hour or two early and when I got to the airport I used to get an earlier flight home if there was space on board. I assume back then I was booked on flexible fares as it was never a problem if space available.

Fast forward some years and I find I can never do it, I am booking my own flights as I'm self-employed now but I was wondering at what level of fare is it possible to change flights? Or does status make a difference? I'm a QP PS so not much status but would a SG or WP have a chance even on a cheap fare?

Am typing this following an unsuccessful attempt to get home earlier in ADL QP (where all the beers are now on tap except Crown Lager)

 

[Dave Noble]

If you have a flexi-saver or higher then that enables you to get on an earlier flight

If not wanting to hang around at end of trip plus keep costs down a bit, getting the cheapest fare outbound and getting a flexi saver on the inbound can be good

Dave

 

[munitalP]

I was in a situation a year or so ago where I didn't want to hang around in BNE for a home flight, I think I had a 4+ hour wait - the check in lady wouldn't change my flight however suggested I speak with sales (the counter near valet) where they charged me $35 (I think) and put me on the next flight - in that case it was worth the change fee - I cannot comment on whether or not Qantas still do this though, sorry for the non event post!


Mr!
:shock:

 

[estate]

I've always wondered what the rules for this are.
I was on a red-e-deal flight SYD-BNE (I don't know the actual fare class but I paid under $100 for it) and asked to be moved to the earlier flight and they were happy to do it. I was only a QF NB then too. Perhaps the later flight was over-booked? Don't know, but I can tell you it is at least possible with no status and the cheapest fare!

 

[markis10]

Qantas will put you on an earlier flight regardless of your fare if they are "forward loading", usually this happens when they are expecting lots of pax later or storms to come into play, a good example is out of Melbourne or Adelaide after the grand prix/clipsal 500.

 

[MrHyde]

I've found Qantas are pretty good at putting you on earlier flights if there is space irrespective of your booking class. I used to fly WLG - SYD - MEL and there was normally a 4 hour wait between WLG -SYD and the last SYD - MEL flight (cause that was cheapest when booking as compared to smaller connection). Almost always, while checking in again at the QF Transfer desk in SYD, I could get on an earlier flight.

My only experience with an airline other than QF is NZ and they said no to moving to an earlier AKL - WLG flight due to booking class.

Edit: I should mention all my attempts with QF have been as Gold or Platinum.

 

[Voyages]

I've always wondered what the rules for this are.
I was on a red-e-deal flight SYD-BNE (I don't know the actual fare class but I paid under $100 for it) and asked to be moved to the earlier flight and they were happy to do it. I was only a QF NB then too. Perhaps the later flight was over-booked? Don't know, but I can tell you it is at least possible with no status and the cheapest fare!

I was able to change to an earlier flight (3 hours before) in SYD QP for a flight to ADL in August last year, and I was on a red e-deal ticket. They said that they didn't normally do it, but was happy to do so for that one time.

 

[Warks]

I was able to change to an earlier flight (3 hours before) in SYD QP for a flight to ADL in August last year, and I was on a red e-deal ticket. They said that they didn't normally do it, but was happy to do so for that one time.

Same place but different result. She tried but said "it wouldn't allow me to do it on that fare". I think it might depend on how well they know their way around the system as I've been put on a later flight (no charge) out of SYD on a Red-E ticket when I needed to check a box but was too late for the 30 minute cut-off.

 

[JohnK]

I have been offered earlier flights on the cheap red e-deals a few times in the last couple of years but I think that had more to do with QF wanting to get passengers onto earlier flights.

Around 6 months ago I missed check-in by about 3 minutes and was offered a seat on the next flight and pay $44 chnage fee, so I guess you could always try to change to an earlier flight and pay the change fee. You never know they may even waive the charge.

 

[dajop]

Had experience recently (last Friday) of my partner bringing forward a restricted fare .... but travelling MEL-SYD-SIN, one assumes that QF are happy to get pax into SYD as early as possible, so probably have less a problem with that than just a straight MEL-SYD fare.

 

[Dave Noble]

I've found Qantas are pretty good at putting you on earlier flights if there is space irrespective of your booking class. I used to fly WLG - SYD - MEL and there was normally a 4 hour wait between WLG -SYD and the last SYD - MEL flight (cause that was cheapest when booking as compared to smaller connection). Almost always, while checking in again at the QF Transfer desk in SYD, I could get on an earlier flight.

My only experience with an airline other than QF is NZ and they said no to moving to an earlier AKL - WLG flight due to booking class.

Edit: I should mention all my attempts with QF have been as Gold or Platinum.

When connecting to or from an international flight the policy is different and is generally permitted

If travelling purely domestically within Australia, anything less than flexi saver should not be allowed to travel earlier , though sometimes they make exceptions; typically if there are problems expected

If wanting a domestic ticket where departing earlier is permitted as a matter of course, then flexi savers or higher

Dave

 

[Warks]

Yes the red e-deal out and flexi-saver back is a good policy. When my former company finally started to cut costs that is what we were allowed to do except I think we went with the next one up from flexi-saver. You are pretty much always going to make your outward flight barring some disaster in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel (which is what I always fear!) but your return is more likely to need a change with early (or late) finishes. In the days of fully flexible tickets I used to check in on my outward flight and be offered an earlier flight. Not much use when getting picked up at the other end though.

 

[serfty]

On Friday, I was able to request and jump onto an earlier flight to SYD (MEL-xSYD)-LAX on a Q class fare. I have done this quite a few times on restricted fares.

In the SYD transfer desk they seem to automatically look for an earlier flight when presenting yourself.

This concurs with Dave Noble's posting.

As for domestic travel, travelling in the "golden triangle" (MEL/SYD/BNE) it is often quite simple to get earlier flights on red e-deals, especially during peak periods. In this respect, Qantas see 10 Friday evening MEL-SYD flights as ~2000 seats, not ten flights.

 

[harvyk]

I've been able to get earlier flights on red-e-deals both domestic and international (only twice I have been unable to change flights was once when the earlier flight was full, and the second time when I had checked bags which where already loaded ready to go for the later flight).

That said I have also been willing to take earlier or later flights which have helped out QF with their loadings, so maybe they record such things in their system and then work on swings and roundabouts. (as I've also been able to get full refunds on sale and red-e-deal fares)

 

[Warks]

The actual ADL-SYD flight (QF774) I left on was only about 50% full if that so it may have been to stop it emptying completely. Last flight of the night at 1850.

 

[MarcB]

I have had various forms of success getting moved to earlier flights even on non-changeable fares. I've missed a flight and been moved to the next for free, and once I was moved for $33 (old change fee). As for jumping earlier flights, apart from 'flow forward' situations, I found this was far more common pre-GFC. I think what may have happened was that QF cottoned on to the fact that people with any sort of status knew that they could book a cheap fare and QF would still move them to an earlier flight without much trouble. In more difficult financial times, in order to protect revenue and force those who wanted flexibility onto changeable fares, they closed ranks and got tough. A QF rep at the Business Lounge effectively said as much in not so many words. It will be interesting to see if this policy relaxes again as revenue returns. In any event, I do think status counts when it comes to how nice they will be. Anyone with any sort of status will be peeved if QF take a hard line (esp. on missed flights) - regardless of the fare conditions.

 

[Anna]

I have always been allowed to move to an earlier QF flight if there was space, whatever ticket class I was on.

The last time I asked for an earlier flight but there was no space, the QC counter staff upgraded me on the original flight by way of apology that I couldn't go earlier.

 

[JohnK]

As for domestic travel, travelling in the "golden triangle" (MEL/SYD/BNE) it is often quite simple to get earlier flights on red e-deals, especially during peak periods. In this respect, Qantas see 10 Friday evening MEL-SYD flights as ~2000 seats, not ten flights.

Early on when I started commuting I was offered an earlier flight one week and I then asked for earlier flights a number of times over the next few weeks and was refused so I stopped asking.

So I don't know how simple it is to get earlier flights on cheap red e-deals but I am not prepared to spend 2-3 hours at the airport before my scheduled flight and getting sloshed if not possible to get on earlier flight. So now I try to get to the airport as close as possible to my scheduled flight and take it from there.

 

[anat0l]

Yes you can, if you have a Flexi Saver fare or better.

It's odd because if you read the fare conditions of Flexi Saver, Fully Flexible and Business fares, it says that you'll still be liable for change fees (i.e. in the event that your bucket doesn't have any seats on the flight you want to change to), not to mention fees if you change over the phone, or your ticket was booked over the phone. Yet if you read about Flexible Fares on the Business Solutions section of the QF website, they talk about "Free unlimited flight changes before departure".

Other than that, all other requests are purely at QF's discretion, but the anecdotal evidence here suggests that at the right time, it might well be possible.

I've successfully changed flights before (Red e-Deal). I was checking in at SYD T1 domestic transfers with an original flight time of midday; I was instead offered the next flight (about three hours earlier). Note that this was an offer, not that I asked for it.

Additionally, last May when I booked the milk run to CNS, I was offered at check-in to transfer for free to the direct BNE-CNS flight. Naturally, I declined

I've also just booked a set of flights that routes me through two stops. When I received my itinerary (it was one of those monospace ones that are issued from non-Australian centres), there was a comment to email someone if I would like to (without any charge) change to the direct flight rather than my two-stop routing. No prizes for guessing which option I picked Hint: why fly direct when you can connect?

I've only asked QF to be put on an earlier flight once; I approached the BNE QP service desk for this. They refused. (It was an early Saturday morning, rather than a busy Friday afternoon, though.)

One thing I'm weary about when requesting or accepting a flight change is getting a coughpy seat. Sure, putting up with a less-than-optimal seat is probably better than waiting out your time, but then there are other cases.

Status probably doesn't make a huge difference (although ability to access the QP is a good start).

Finally, NZ once offered me to change me to an earlier flight, even though my fare was a Smart Saver (the lovely lady at the CHC KC said since I was GE they would try). Although in that case they wanted me to pay the fare difference (since there were obviously no Smart Savers left); once she saw how big the difference was, she conceded that it wasn't worth my while.

 

[straitman]

When connecting to or from an international flight the policy is different and is generally permitted

Is this actually documented anywhere Dave :?:

If travelling purely domestically within Australia, anything less than flexi saver should not be allowed to travel earlier , though sometimes they make exceptions; typically if there are problems expected

Whilst this is the letter of the law changes are often allowed and is even part of a yield management strategy. There is no point, particularly during busy periods, in letting aircraft depart with empty seats as they are described (within the industry) as a perishable commodity.

If wanting a domestic ticket where departing earlier is permitted as a matter of course, then flexi savers or higher

Dave

Absolutely.