Classic Upgrade Cancellation Fee Waiver?

[encryptededdy]

I requested a Classic Upgrade Award for an A330 SYD - CNS flight, however unfortunately the flight's been swapped out for a 737 (I guess I probably should've seen this coming). This was confirmed instantly since there was Business award space remaining on the flight.

Anyway, instinctively my first reaction was to go ahead and cancel the upgrade, however it's just occurred to me now that maybe the 5000 points fee isn't currently waived. Does anyone know if it is? I know there's no documentation to suggest it's waived, although the website also didn't give me a warning that I would be charged for the cancellation.

Also the cancellation is still pending, does anyone know how long that usually takes?

 

[AIRwin]

Also the cancellation is still pending, does anyone know how long that usually takes?

Varies from days to weeks:

Australian Frequent Flyer

Tips, Tricks & Chat for the Australian Frequent Flyer

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[encryptededdy]

Varies from days to weeks:

Australian Frequent Flyer

Tips, Tricks & Chat for the Australian Frequent Flyer

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Mmm... I am aware of that (still wondering what causes the difference) although I'm wondering about Upgrades not Award Flights. It would be funny if it isn't processed prior to my flight (in 11 days) though. I do wonder if they have to do some manual processing though (to allocate me a Y seat in my original fare class and cancel my U seat)

 

[AIRwin]

Apologies I confused upgrades and reward flights... Waiver of cancellation fee is specifically mentioned for reward but not upgrade:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/discover-and-join/terms-and-conditions.html#jump24

 

[encryptededdy]

Apologies I confused upgrades and reward flights... Waiver of cancellation fee is specifically mentioned for reward but not upgrade:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/discover-and-join/terms-and-conditions.html#jump24

Ah yep, I did see that page but I didn't see that it explicitly calls out the cancellation fee waiver. Given it was updated to add the cancellation fee waiver, I'm pretty sure there's no waiver for the upgrade cancellation fee then.

Oh well, I guess that's a 5000 point lesson learned.

I suppose that's the downside of classic upgrade rewards that confirm instantly when there's award space available. It didn't occur to me that the fee would apply since I've only cancelled in the past before the upgrade was confirmed (also there's unfortunately no note on the website about this).

 

[Port Power]

Ah yep, I did see that page but I didn't see that it explicitly calls out the cancellation fee waiver. Given it was updated to add the cancellation fee waiver, I'm pretty sure there's no waiver for the upgrade cancellation fee then.

Oh well, I guess that's a 5000 point lesson learned.

I suppose that's the downside of classic upgrade rewards that confirm instantly when there's award space available. It didn't occur to me that the fee would apply since I've only cancelled in the past before the upgrade was confirmed (also there's unfortunately no note on the website about this).

I think part of your confusion was calling this a “classic upgrade award”. I don’t think there is any such thing. A classic reward is a seat on the flight, specifically allocate for a set number of points. An upgrade request, also a set number of points, can be request on both classic reward bookings and paid bookings. It’s just an a plain upgrade request. (And unlike changing flight schedules, this is just a change of mind about where you want to sit. I can’t see QF ever waiving this change of mind fee!)

 

[encryptededdy]

I think part of your confusion was calling this a “classic upgrade award”. I don’t think there is any such thing. A classic reward is a seat on the flight, specifically allocate for a set number of points.

Sorry, you're right. Qantas calls it a "Classic Upgrade Reward", and I just kind of use Award and Reward interchangeably in my head. However, it's probably easier to just call it a Classic Upgrade.

And unlike changing flight schedules, this is just a change of mind about where you want to sit. I can’t see QF ever waiving this change of mind fee!

Yep, agreed here (although I still blame QF a bit for swapping out the A330 )

However, if I changed my flight schedule to a different day, as far as I know it will trigger this 5000 point fee too? Since by changing to a different flight, I'm now returning this unused Classic Upgrade. So in that sense, a Classic Upgrade is one of the only "add-ons" not covered by the Fly Flexible policy.