Classic Reward - likely same day seat release?

[Lynda2475]

So I have a domestic classic reward booked for this weekend (departing Friday morning and returning Sunday evening), but due to the friend I was going to spend time with being unexpectedly admitted to hospital, Im now wanting to fly back on Sunday morning.

Despite there being heaps of reward availability last week, now there are no reward seats available on earlier flights; but there are still revenue seats.

If the revenue seats aren't sold in next few days is it likely if I check on Saturday or Sunday morning they may make more classic rewards available? Or will they just likely fly with empty seats?

 

[henrus]

If the revenue seats aren't sold in next few days is it likely if I check on Saturday or Sunday morning they may make more classic rewards available?

QF (and VA for that matter) hardly ever release last-minute award seats.

Typically the people who need to travel last minute need to get somewhere urgently and are willing to pay top dollar to do so. From a revenue management perspective, it doesn't make sense to get rid of the remaining seats cheaply (or as award seats) when people will pay big $$$ for them.

Or will they just likely fly with empty seats?

Yep, happens all the time, likewise, you don't see discounted last-minute seats.

As an example, Qantas might have 10 seats left on the day of travel... they could potentially discount them to $100 each and likely sell them all meaning $1000 revenue. The alternative is to bump them up to $400 each but only sell three meaning $1200 revenue. They've made more money and perhaps very last minute someone may still show up at the airport and buy a seat on the spot meaning even more revenue.

You didn't say the route but you could potentially show up early at the airport and ask if they could move you forward however don't expect this to happen and instead you may just end up being at the airport hours early. On weekends they typically don't bother but on weekdays flow forward is still somewhat common as they move people to earlier flights and can sell the seats on later flights at more expensive last-minute fares.

 

[Lynda2475]

I suspected this might be the case particularly as the flight I want to change is CBR-SYD, which is essentially a route for business travelers.

I only asked because about a decade ago I had a classic reward flight SYD-BME return, and a friend decided she wanted to tag along a few weeks out but there was no reward availability, however suddenly 4 days or so out reward seats became available and she was able to fly on points.

 

[henrus]

I suspected this might the case particularly as the flight I want to change is CBR-SYD, which is essentially a route for business travelers.

Yep, CBR flights seem to be the least likely for last-minute award seats. I assume you paid ~8,000 points and $60 taxes?

If you're in no hurry on Sunday morning then you could cancel the award booking (no fees right now) and book a train instead saving your self $20 in the process:

 

[Matt_01]

Out of curiosity can you fly forward on the day of travel when travelling on rewards seats.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Unlikely but not impossible for more to become available.

Cancelling the return, saving the points and taking the train seems like a pretty good idea if you're going to be at a loose end.

 

[henrus]

Out of curiosity can you fly forward on the day of travel when travelling on rewards seats.

I've done it a few times on reward flights, a few times on a point to point flights when they were flow forwarding, and a different time when I was on a BNE-SYD-NZ flight and the BNE-SYD flight was delayed by about 15 minutes I decided I'd ask if the flight leaving earlier had free seats and they were happy to switch, I already had a long layover in SYD so it wasn't as if my connection was at risk.

 

[Lynda2475]

TBH Id rather spend an extra few hours in Canberra and in the lounge than 4 hours on the train.

FYI the bus is quicker and more frequent than the train, so if I dont fly back I'll probably opt for the bus.

Its not a huge issue, its just Id originally picked an evening flight because of a long lunch that wont happen now.

 

[RichardMEL]

You'd think someone wanting to fly earlier on a Sunday morning (specially ANZAC day?) would have a better chance to get moved to fly forward - although the CBR workers tend to fly IN to CBR on the Sunday arvo/evening rather than fly out so it may not be the case. It might be worth trying. I mean not too many like to fly on Sunday morning a the best of times so there are usually lots of seats on most routes (IMO)

 

[Lynda2475]

Very few flights on Sunday, 5 hours between last morning flight and first arvo one. So if cant change online, i wont go to airport that early.

I'll keep checking just in case something changes.

 

[RichardMEL]

I hope your friend's condition improves quickly!

 

[sudoer]

the flight I want to change is CBR-SYD

Rex just started flying the route on Monday and have some very good pricing (not much more than the taxes on a Qantas award) - worth checking them out as an alternative.

EDIT: 9:30am departure is $99.



They've also just opened a lounge area accessible to all passengers for the next 3 months with complimentary non-alcoholic drinks.

Here is Rex’s new Canberra Airport lounge

Canberra's former international departures lounge will host all Rex passengers for the next three months.

www.executivetraveller.com