Downgrade from nonstop to 1 stop; compensation?

[travs]

Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm booked on a MEL-HKG flight direct (QF29) in PE. I got a notification today of an equipment change to the A330 on that day, so they routed me via SYD to keep me in PE. Obviously, this sucks, with stop, the much earlier start (I have to leave a 7am instead of a leisurely 10 AM,) and have to clear security 2x, etc.

First call to QF was basically met with "stuff it". Any ideas on what I can reasonably get? I'd prefer to stay on my original date. In a similar case w/ AA, I've gotten a credit, but don't know what QF does in this regard.

And I'm platinum, if that matters.

Thanks in advance!

 

[deejo77]

Accept the equipment change and fly Y if you would like non-stop

Or thank Qantas for being proactive and shifting you to same class with a stop over

All they have to do is get you from location A to B - which they are doing - I don't think compensation is required in this situation

 

[Pleb Status]

Cancel and fly CX in PE.

 

[docjames]

Well you could seek a refund (in full) and then purchase Y+ on Cathay for the same date. No idea of the price difference(s).

You're not going to have much luck getting them to "compensate" you in any meaningful way.

Stike it up to the joys of travel.

 

[travs]

Accept the equipment change and fly Y if you would like non-stop

Or thank Qantas for being proactive and shifting you to same class with a stop over

All they have to do is get you from location A to B - which they are doing - I don't think compensation is required in this situation

Proactive? LOL. I don't think that's "proactive" to meet a minimum requirement of what I purchased. While I agree they don't *have* to provide more than they did, it seems silly to just accept it.

I paid a bit more to fly non stop (this other option was already there and cheaper, so at the very least, shouldn't i get a fare difference?) In addition, it's adding 3+ hours of transit and significantly more hassle. Instead of a leisurely morning in the MEL QF F lounge, I have to get up before dawn, fly to SYD and risk missing a connection, switch terminals, clear security again etc.

I hardly call this "like for like". If this is what QF considers "like for like" and ok for a platinum, I'm disappointed.

I'd take a downgrade to Y if there was a credit above and beyond the fare difference. I'd also pay for the upgrade to J if it came to that if they discounted it.

Has anyone run into this before?

 

[RooFlyer]

If I got some small compensation offered, (10-20,000 points) I'd appreciate it, but personally I wouldn't be chasing anything although like you I would be annoyed at the inconvenience. As it doesn't involve an involuntary overnight stay, or a cabin downgrade I'd put it down to one of the hassles that will come up if you fly enough.

 

[opusman]

You'll get extra SCs at least.

 

[dajop]

If you do want downgrade to Y on the nonstop service, at least request free exit row.... but don't expect anything much in terms of compensation, or anything at all as they have offered an alternative. Even without alternative it's probably only $100 or so based on difference between the fare you paid and full economy fare:!:

 

[Quickstatus]

You'll get extra SCs at least.

And another entry into SYD Flounge makes for nice compo.
Equipment changes occur and that's part of travel.

I suspect if you travel Y then there will not be much change left over after QF's famous accounting practice re downgrades.
J upgrade possible but would be pricey

W via SYD is best bet I think.

 

[travs]

And another entry into SYD Flounge makes for nice compo.
Equipment changes occur and that's part of travel.

I suspect if you travel Y then there will not be much change left over after QF's famous accounting practice re downgrades.
J upgrade possible but would be pricey

W via SYD is best bet I think.

MEL F lounge is fine for me. I find the restaurant service to be better in MEL; less walking for the servers makes for quicker service in my experience. and given that I have less time (I now have an ~80 min stop vs. as much time as I need before and I still have to switch terminals and clear security) it's hardly an upgrade in this regard.

SCs could be useful; I'll have to check my flight plans until end of my year (August) but I requalify for Platinum this weekend. If the SCs could push me over to get the loyalty bonus, it's more interesting, but I doubt it. 10-20k points would satisfy me.

Anyone ever gotten points for something like this?

 

[timster]

I'm assuming that this is far enough ahead in time to not be due to an airplane going tech. So QF have changed the aircraft to suit themselves and expect you to wear the inconvenience. That's airlines for you these days. So it's pretty much up to you to figure out how you're going to penalize them (or not) ... by re-routing your business.

BTW, I think everyone should be compensated for having to do a DOM-INT transfer in SYD. It's one of the reasons I avoid QF if I can, as too much goes through SYD and it's a collossal PITA.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes the CPITA of a Dom to INT at SYD would negate to some degree doing W via SYD.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm booked on a MEL-HKG flight direct (QF29) in PE. I got a notification today of an equipment change to the A330 on that day, so they routed me via SYD to keep me in PE. Obviously, this sucks, with stop, the much earlier start (I have to leave a 7am instead of a leisurely 10 AM,) and have to clear security 2x, etc.

First call to QF was basically met with "stuff it". Any ideas on what I can reasonably get? I'd prefer to stay on my original date. In a similar case w/ AA, I've gotten a credit, but don't know what QF does in this regard.

And I'm platinum, if that matters.

Thanks in advance!

We don't have consumer protections here for aviation in the same way they do in the EU. But even then, if this is a change more than two weeks before departure you might not be covered anyway (the 'downgrade' might be covered).

You would have the choice to cancel and rebook on CX. Still get PE, and the QF F lounge. Plus triple daily frequencies - so you can leave at a time that suits you.

Otherwise QF probably thinks it has done you a favour. For non platinums they've probably accommodated them in economy class on the non-stop.

 

[Airbumps]

Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm booked on a MEL-HKG flight direct (QF29) in PE. I got a notification today of an equipment change to the A330 on that day, so they routed me via SYD to keep me in PE. Obviously, this sucks, with stop, the much earlier start (I have to leave a 7am instead of a leisurely 10 AM,) and have to clear security 2x, etc.

First call to QF was basically met with "stuff it". Any ideas on what I can reasonably get? I'd prefer to stay on my original date. In a similar case w/ AA, I've gotten a credit, but don't know what QF does in this regard.

And I'm platinum, if that matters.

Thanks in advance!

I personally don't think compensation is warranted. You've got a number of options open to you (downgrade to Y, transit or cancel/refund) its up to you what you want to do.

I agree it's a PITA but sometimes these things happen and people aren't always 'entitled' to something.

 

[JohnK]

I wouldn't expect compensation. If you really want to stay on direct flight then ask them to cancel for full refund and look at your options again.

 

[Altair]

If you want to fly non-stop on that day in PE the only option is to cancel and get a refund and fly CX, as the only airline with non-stop PE between MEL-HKG on that day.
Of course this may cost you more and you will get fewer SC and QFFP but that is the price you pay for that option.
I would not accept a downgrade to Y and hope QF provide some form of refund, it just does not happen to your expectations IME.

 

[Anna]

In the early days of QF PE I was asked a couple of days ahead if I would mind travelling in J when an aircraft went tech and they couldn't offer PE. I didn't mind.

Why not try politely asking QF if there is J availability and if not then cancel.

 

[RichardMEL]

It may well be that upgrade options be better on QF127 than on QF29 as well, so perhaps a (better) chance to end up in J would be nice.

I'd also comment that yes, the connection in SYD is sucky, but extra SC's can help a little (one presumes you'd be popped into flex-Y on MEL-SYD, so 20 extra)

Agree with all the other comments on this.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Compensation is probably the wrong word you're looking to use because it makes you seem like a money hungry DYKWIA.
However - essentially QF has downgraded you for 1 hour of the 9 hour journey so I don't think it's unresonable to expect something - especially given it's their change.

Personally I see zero value in extra status credits and 'free' Sydney FLounge visit purely because you booked direct - to go direct. If you had wanted extra SC/lounge visits you would have booked via SYD/BNE.

But in saying all this - except from a full refund and rebooking on CX (which has a higher chance of OP-UP to business than QF does IMO) - what could you reasonably expect? Let's break down the value

PE is what - $2k return?
$1000 each way @ 9 hours per flight = lets round it up to $100/hour

Economy is about $1000 return or $50/hour

So your claim is worth $50 + extra love for having to go through dramas in Sydney.
I'd say your best possible option in total credit/compensation would be $100 in value.

Rebook CX.

 

[travs]

I think you broke it down quite well Trippin. I think you nailed it; if I had wanted to fly via SYD, I would have booked it and saved a few $$. Now, I have to be up significantly earlier and deal with a good amount more hassle.

I'll ring them up this week and see what can be done. IMO, this is absolutely not DYKWIA; I'll admit though that I'm far more used to flying US carriers would have many times have offered my compensation for the inconveniences that they generate. The latest was bumping me from F to Y from LAX to SFO (a 45 min flight) but still netted me $300 USD each (more than the flight cost actually.) In the past, I've always managed to at least a few miles in my account for an inconvenience like this.

We'll see!