Contacting Qantas while overseas

[anchew]

I'm sure all the seasoned international travelers already know this but I thought I might share a tip with everyone.

I'm in Singapore at the moment. Expert Flyer showed seat 16A free for my SIN-SYD flight tomorrow but couldn't change seats online - it showed no free seats available. I'm guessing because it's so close to departure. So I decided to call Qantas to request the seat.

Firstly, I tried Australia direct reverse charges (8000 610 610 in Singapore) to +61 3 9658 5302 shown on the back of the QFF/QC card, but after getting to the Qantas operator (after entering the QFF number and everything), she said that they don't accept reverse charges.

Oh well... now to Plan B. So I rang the local Qantas number found on the Qantas Contact US page (6415 7373 in Singapore) and to my surprise, I got put through to a Qantas operator in Australia! [On drafting this, I checked the 'contact us' page again and there's a footnote that says: Singapore - All calls are diverted to Australia. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Local call costs apply]

So the tip - if you need to contact Qantas, call the local number and save on the cost of an international call (which was going to be my Plan C if Plan B didn't work).

And as for my seat allocation... I was successfully allocated 16A

 

[anat0l]

If you are a QF Platinum, there are specific numbers you can call which are freephone numbers. The number you called doesn't match the one in my pocket priority phone numbers guide for Singapore.

QF does advise that if for some reason or rather you are unsuccessful in using the freephone numbers then you can call the +61 3 .... number, but the call will not be free of charge.

I don't think SGs and lower have access to the same phone numbers and must call the local (or nearest) QF operator phone line which may be diverted to Australia.