Did Qantas lied to me ?

[FL360]

and luckly I did not back down....

Last Friday I booked 6pm flight SYD=>MEL,
busy times because of the coming long weekend,
the flight was suppose to be on a 767.

About 4 hours before departure Qantas called me:

QAN: There has been a technical issue, and we have to change
the flight to a smaller plane, (I thought it will be from the 767 to 737), as a result, we are asking if you like to switch to another time.. you can switch to earlier or later... we have 4:30 or 7:30

Me: How about 5:30 or 6:30 ? (I know there are flights every 30 mins, given the date and the time)

QAN: No, all other flights near that time was full, you can only pick the 4:30 or the 7:30.

(at that moment I suspect something's wrong, and they are lying to get me to give up my seat to someone else, and also I have booked early, how come I have to move, so I lied as well)

Me: Do you know when I book this flight I pay $xx_ more to book this time ?
what is the purpose of me paying more to get this time when you are going to move me to another cheaper time ? Are you going to compensate me ?

QAN: It is OK, we are only asking around at the moment, but be sure to check in early..

Me: OK, Bye

and guess what ? the flight was a fully packed 767, full of business people, and I guess someone on fully flexible did not get my seat

 

[serfty]

Probably an oversold situation and they were trying to lighten the load.

I have had it a few times; that is the "standard" lie.

The one I stood firm most on was when once had them try to get me to move off a MEL-PER evening flight in J I knew to be a 333 - "tech issues = big delay!" was the reason. I said I could not make the earlier flight offered and that was it. (The 333 had been subbed for a millennium 332 = 5 less J seats on a Friday evening)

My flight did depart 20 minutes late due to a late inbound with a necessary connecting passenger - not a tech issue to be seen.

 

[oz_mark]

My guess is that what happened is that they susbstituted a lower capacity 767 than they were planning to operate.

The thing with 767's is that there are multiple seating configurations, and it is quite possible they have had to substitute an aircraft with less seats than they sold.

I have had this happen once before to me and did make the change.

 

[oz_mark]

Probably an oversold situation and they were trying to lighten the load.

I have had it a few times; that is the "standard" lie.

The one I stood firm most on was when once had them try to get me to move off a MEL-PER evening flight in J I knew to be a 333 - "tech issues = big delay!" was the reason. I said I could not make the earlier flight offered and that was it. (The 333 had been subbed for a millennium 332 = 5 less J seats on a Friday evening)

My flight did depart 20 minutes late due to a late inbound with a necessary connecting passenger - not a tech issue to be seen.

Although the 332 that had more capacity may have had a tech issue - hence the sub?

 

[Mal]

Maybe they lied. Here's a few scenarios where they would have been accurate:

* Your plane had mech issues, but they managed to resolve them in time for the flight.
* They found a spare 767 and subb'd it onto your flight.
* They changed another flight to a 737 instead of a 767.

 

[serfty]

Although the 332 that had more capacity may have had a tech issue - hence the sub?

The call was the day before (And I have access to info others don't) - the reason was most definitely "Operational"!

 

[docjames]

(And I have access to info others don't)

Care to elaborate? Generically if not specifically?

 

[serfty]

Care to elaborate? Generically if not specifically?

It's rather technical ...

(if I reveal any more I shall have to shoot you ...)

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I had this happen to my a few months ago to.
SYD to PER.

Qantas called me the day before my flight asking to see if l could change flights. No problem l said, as long as l get some sort of compensation. I tried the old, "l help u, u help me" line.
Never heard back. But, they lady on the other end did say it was a over booked flight.

 

[JohnK]

My guess is that what happened is that they susbstituted a lower capacity 767 than they were planning to operate.

The thing with 767's is that there are multiple seating configurations, and it is quite possible they have had to substitute an aircraft with less seats than they sold.

Interesting to see the criteria they use to bump people from the flight. Do they start calling lower status travellers until enough people have volunteered to move to other flights? Apart from cancelled flights I have never been called to move to another flight.

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting to see the criteria they use to bump people from the flight. Do they start calling lower status travellers until enough people have volunteered to move to other flights? Apart from cancelled flights I have never been called to move to another flight.

I was a platinum when I got the call, so I suspect contactibility is one aspect of their selection criteria. There was certainly no coercion or anything, was basically they had to change the aircraft, not so many seats was I prepared to change flights. I am sure if I said no that would have been the end of it.