Change to QF Phone Change Fee

[dajop]

My partner noticed this tonight on the QF website

Service Fee:
To change an Economy bookings through Qantas Telephone Sales, Airports or Qantas Travel outlets, a service fee applies:
- Until or on 16 February 2009: A$10 per passenger for all bookings.
- On or after 17 February 2009: A$10 per passenger for bookings made through Qantas Telephone Sales, A$30 per passenger for all other bookings.

So now if you book online and want change a K->Y class over the phone it will now cost $30 for the privilege. Given that most of these changes take probably 2-3 minutes, that's now getting into Lawyer-esque charge out rates of $600-$900/hour!

 

[Mal]

That's not the only change. Noticed this the other night, but forgot to post:

For bookings made through Qantas Telephone Sales, Airports and Qantas Travel outlets, a booking fee of A$27.50 per passenger applies for bookings made until or on 16 February 2009, and A$30 per pasenger on or after 17 February 2009.

 

[wandering_fred]

I wonder if Skype calls to the SIN office for my SIN-PER-SIN tickets will suddenly become useful.....

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Evan]

I wonder if Skype calls to the SIN office for my SIN-PER-SIN tickets will suddenly become useful.....

Happy wandering

Fred

Which gets re-directed back to Oz anyway lovley isn't it.
E

 

[Mal]

The International charges also are set to change:

Booking Fee: For bookings made through Qantas Telephone Sales, Airports and Qantas Travel outlets, a booking fee of A$50 per passenger applies for bookings made until or on 16 February 2009, and A$60 per passenger on or after 17 February 2009.

There are no booking fees for online bookings.

Service Fee: For changes made to Economy bookings through Qantas Telephone Sales, Airports and Qantas Travel outlets, a service fee applies:

- Until or on 16 February 2009: A$75 per passenger for all itinerary changes. No service fee applies to time and date changes.

- On or after 17 February 2009: A$60 per passenger for all changes.

There are no service fees for changes made online.

Note the careful wording!

 

[Evan]

hmmm, i would not object if it was actually possible to make a change to a booking that had been made by a travel agent and not originally booked via the QF website.

$60 all changes ! ouch, what is 'all changes' is adding an info segment a change ? is linking 2 peoples booking a change ? hmmmmm.....
Also date/time changes cost ! another reason to book your OWE's via AA.

And how will this all work with things broken like bookings involving other airlines that are not so compatible with the QF systems.

E

 

[Mal]

hmmm, i would not object if it was actually possible to make a change to a booking that had been made by a travel agent and not originally booked via the QF website.

In this case, Qantas will argue (unless you get a nice Qantas staffer) that you must go through the Travel Agent for the change.

But generally, I agree. Money hungry <insert word> comes to mind.

 

[dajop]

Aaah, gotta replace those lost fuel surcharges somehow.

Qantas are probably well and truly aware that many TA's charge similar change fees. Not to mention after hours fees (or no after hours facility at all).

What gets to me, if you're paying a reasonable fare for a Y class or similar fare that supposedly offers flexibility now you're slugged $30 for calling up on the way to the airport to change it to an earlier flight. All for a few keystrokes. I imagine it will also make call centre staff job's more stressful. Hope they're on commission for this.

With the wording "To change an Economy bookings through .... Airports or ....", I assume this only means changes made at airport ticket counters. What about changes, such as moving to an earlier flight, made upon checkin?

 

[Platy]

This is becoming absolutely farcical.

Even before these increases my Brasilian friend wanted to change her supposedly flexible ticket home to GRU by adding a stop (which was allowable on the ticket). This cost something like $275 in fees and charges through the CNS QF travel centre. It would have been cheaper to buy two new JQ sectors (but not practical with their differential luggage allowances between QF international itinerary and JQ).

To add two stops was going to cost about $330 so she gave that away.

For some reason the phrases media tarts and mugging passers by come to mind when I think about QF .

 

[nlagalle]

In this case, Qantas will argue (unless you get a nice Qantas staffer) that you must go through the Travel Agent for the change.

But generally, I agree. Money hungry <insert word> comes to mind.

I've had that happen before, but i was told that once the journey had commenced QF could change the flight...

I'm annoyed that you can't change tickets online unless they are booked through QF. At least then you could change the flight and avoid the $$$ fee

 

[Mal]

I've had that happen before, but i was told that once the journey had commenced QF could change the flight...

I'm annoyed that you can't change tickets online unless they are booked through QF. At least then you could change the flight and avoid the $$$ fee

Yeah, good point. Another case of Qantas penalising users for their technology failings.

 

[Evan]

I've had that happen before, but i was told that once the journey had commenced QF could change the flight...

<..>

Thats correct, once the first flight has been taken QF can change it, actually QF can change it before the first flight they just cant confirm it, i have done this before, ring QF as WP to get a first flight changed and then get the travel agent to re-validate/issue the ticket.

E