Double Status Credits (book by 5/2/18, fly 12/2/18 to 20/1/19)

[Leoz]

So am I correct in saying that is the consensus of this forum that buying vouchers now in the DSC window will allow me to redeem them for QF flights in the window period and get DSC for that QF flight ??

 

[RichardMEL]

I am not sure if anyone realise but Qantas have bumped up some of their fares since they announced DSC. A return flight ticket to China was $530 at the sale rate and today is $701. Likewise I was looking at business class seat and it is almost a 30% premium of what I would normally pay when I travel for work.

So you essentially you are paying for the DSC (unless you are one of the few lucky ones where work is paying) so don't think it is freebie because it does cost money.

If you are only flying for SC then you are not getting "double" but instead around 150% more because you are paying 30% more for the ticket.

I think you're equating two different parts of QF here as working in cahoots when I don't quite see it that way. Yes, some sales ended, as they naturally do, but other sales are still on (for example MEL-SIN has a sale fare in all cabins that is ongoing, as are LHR sales till Feb 14th or something)...

you can't just suggest that QF has raised ALL fares BECQAUSE of the DSC offer being there. I don't think that's true. Some markets yes, other markets no.. but I see revenue management and what QF loyalty do as not being always connected in that respect.

No doubt the timing has taken some things into consideration in terms of available fares in various markets - no doubt - but it's definitely not blanket.

IMHO.

 

[Isolar]

Question for the brains trust - would it be correct that fares booked originating outside of Aus (e.g. SIN, BKK) etc would still be eligible even though my QFFF account is Aus based?

I've looked through the T's & C's but nothing jumped out that indicated otherwise.

 

[RichardMEL]

Question for the brains trust - would it be correct that fares booked originating outside of Aus (e.g. SIN, BKK) etc would still be eligible even though my QFFF account is Aus based?

I've looked through the T's & C's but nothing jumped out that indicated otherwise.

Should be fine for sectors involving QF operated sectors with QF flight numbers. Origin is not important

 

[Sdtravel]

So i bit the bullet and booked by DSC flights SYD - JFK in J via BNE on the way back. Should be able to do some sampling of the new Dreamliners. Ive gone with 10K based on PaulST's youtube review. Should requal for WP with this DSC.
I was looking forward to doing my CHC status run. I guess i went for the more expensive longer holiday option. Now to find the money to pay for all this.

 

[JFi]

I think you're equating two different parts of QF here as working in cahoots when I don't quite see it that way. Yes, some sales ended, as they naturally do, but other sales are still on (for example MEL-SIN has a sale fare in all cabins that is ongoing, as are LHR sales till Feb 14th or something)...

you can't just suggest that QF has raised ALL fares BECQAUSE of the DSC offer being there. I don't think that's true. Some markets yes, other markets no.. but I see revenue management and what QF loyalty do as not being always connected in that respect.

No doubt the timing has taken some things into consideration in terms of available fares in various markets - no doubt - but it's definitely not blanket.

IMHO.

I don't think QF raised fares just because of this promotion but I think they may have limited some seats. I was checking the MEL - SIN fares in F the night (around 11.30pm) before this promotion started. Was thinking how nice it would be if there was a DSC offer lol

Next morning, got into work before 9am and decided to check again, saw the promotion, registered and started looking but then all MEL - SIN via SYD sale F fares were gone. I never saw the 5 or fewer seats (not sure how accurate that is) on any of the dates I was looking at so if there really were more than 5 seats, I find it hard to believe all those seats were gone over night...unless maybe everyone was just really quick that morning snapping them up

The more expensive fares are still available, otherwise only direct if looking for the sale fare. This is true for all the different dates I had marked as possible travel dates and some other random dates. Managed to find only one day coming back to MEL via SYD so far. Under this promo, it would have been an additional 180 SC for maybe $30ish more so am a little sad. I guess you win some and you lose some haha

 

[RichardMEL]

Look it may well be that some manipulation is going on, but also note the change over to a new month which may or may not affect some things (for example, some AP timelines for certain markets may resitrct available fares).

It just seems a bit cynical to me to be on the one hand putting out a promotion designed to ncrese bookings and thus revenue, but then at the same time remove all the cheap seats for sale which would tend to DISCOURAGE those purchases.

Maybe it's true. I did some searching on some routes and had no issues with finding fares and seats that looked just as appealing as they did before. clearly others have had different results.

Only QF (and only a few within QF I daresay) would really know what is going on.

re MEL-SIN in F - were the direct flights available for the sale fare vs the MEL-SYD-SIN in F?

 

[AisleSeat]

So if I'm the one getting the GV, I only need to register first or register everyone?
I'm looking at this bit:

Simply register below for this offer (all passengers in the booking must register separately to earn double Status Credits).

 

[blackcat20]

I was looking at direct MEL-SIN in J and all the sale fares are unavailable around the dates we wanted.

 

[RichardMEL]

So if I'm the one getting the GV, I only need to register first or register everyone?
I'm looking at this bit:

QF are very explicit. All passengers travelling must register for the promo and have their FF# in the booking.

 

[RichardMEL]

I was looking at direct MEL-SIN in J and all the sale fares are unavailable around the dates we wanted.

But what about other dates?

Would QF go and, for example, nuke some availability for big sale periods like Easter or something? That would not surprise me.

Would they do it for all markets in all dates? That WOULD surprise me.

 

[AisleSeat]

Dumb question, but for a future booking with 2 adults and 1 infant should I buy a voucher for 3 pax?

From my recollection, infants (under 2 years of age), don't require a seat thus not considered a pax as they are on adult laps or in bassinet. Then again, it's been 6 years since I was in that position

You may need to buy a 2 pax voucher and then ring QF CSC to add the infant, is my best guess?

I've just been on QF chat and this is what they said. Note they needed to go away for 5 minutes to find out the answer.

 

[JFi]

re MEL-SIN in F - were the direct flights available for the sale fare vs the MEL-SYD-SIN in F?

Yeah, F sale fares are still available but only for direct or maybe very limited dates via SYD. Only found one day SIN-SYD-MEL but still haven't been able to find a sale fare MEL-SYD-SIN. Were available all days I checked prior to the promo. Perhaps they don't want to give out 180SC for only a little bit more? No idea...

 

[cwphoto]

I've just been on QF chat and this is what they said. Note they needed to go away for 5 minutes to find out the answer.

View attachment 117444

I don't think that's right...

 

[Pushka]

I think you're equating two different parts of QF here as working in cahoots when I don't quite see it that way. Yes, some sales ended, as they naturally do, but other sales are still on (for example MEL-SIN has a sale fare in all cabins that is ongoing, as are LHR sales till Feb 14th or something)...

you can't just suggest that QF has raised ALL fares BECQAUSE of the DSC offer being there. I don't think that's true. Some markets yes, other markets no.. but I see revenue management and what QF loyalty do as not being always connected in that respect.

No doubt the timing has taken some things into consideration in terms of available fares in various markets - no doubt - but it's definitely not blanket.

IMHO.

Maybe so but all I can say is that the three different flights I looked at pre DSC have now all lost their Sale fare and only Flex is available. Not during any school or PH timing. All gone in less than 24 hours? Me think not.

 

[cwphoto]

Maybe so but all I can say is that the three different flights I looked at pre DSC have now all lost their Sale fare and only Flex is available. Not during any school or PH timing. All gone in less than 24 hours? Me think not.

That's coincidence.

 

[Pushka]

That's coincidence.

Well, we shall see when the DSC period is over if suddenly the cheaper flights return. I took screen captures of the earlier flights so I know the exact details and can post.

 

[jpp42]

I've noticed there's not a single sale fare available in May 2018, for any date I checked, to any AA destination in the US. For example I can see a sale fare SYD-DFW, but if I connect it to an AA flight to make it e.g. SYD-DFW-CLT or SYD-DFW-ATL, there's nothing available for the whole month; adding about $500 AUD per direction. Same applies to all LAX and JFK connections. There are sale fares available on UA interline flights connecting through SFO (again with SYD origin on the itinerary), but they of course get zero SC's at all.

The thing is, checking aa.com directly, there are plenty of fares available in cheap buckets for the same dates when purchased domestically. I am looking at buying my AA ticket separately from DFW to final destination, and taking a chance on a misconnect, this will save about $800 AUD.

I recognise that pricing is based on final destination and not intermediate ones, but I couldn't find a single destination for the whole month with a sale fare on any day - I tried about a half dozen and used the weekly view. As long as it was AA codeshares, no sale fares.

I don't know if this is connected to the DSC promotion or not - it doesn't seem it should be as the AA codeshares wouldn't count anyway, but it's definitely frustrating. But I guess it makes sense, given the DSC is essentially a sale, so it makes sense that it might replace other sales. I wouldn't call it a trick, just something that a buyer should beware of...

 

[epicpilgrim]

I've tried to skim this whole thread but may have missed this so apologies if I did. In the T&C's is this:

"If you change or cancel your initial qualifying booking and/or travel is completed outside the promotional period, this bonus offer will not apply."

I then asked on live chat if I can change the booking later and the response was:

"Thank you for waiting. The promotion will not apply if you change your booking outside the promotional period. The Double Status Credit promotion is valid for bookings made from 1 February to 5 February. If you are to change your booking within these days, you will still earn the double status credit. If outside these days, it will no longer apply."

It sounds like, even with my flex ticket I've just booked as part of the promotion, if I change dates after Monday, I lose the DSC promotion. Is that everyone else's take? That's the way I read the above two statements!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Question for the brains trust - would it be correct that fares booked originating outside of Aus (e.g. SIN, BKK) etc would still be eligible even though my QFFF account is Aus based?

I've looked through the T's & C's but nothing jumped out that indicated otherwise.

No. The T&C say the DSC is only available on QF ticketed QF operated flights in or originating in Australia.

Most annoying since we always buy Europe-Australia returns. (Much cheaper.)