Downgraded from Business Class.

[Powerballsam]

Calm down people, after reading most of the posts all I can think of is First World Problems.

to quote...."let it go, let it go, can't hold it back anymore...."

 

[Claudius]

I had an involuntary downgrade to Y on a trip to NRT, the flight was overbooked (I frankly don't understand how this is remotely possible in a wold where the Internet exists) but I must say my experience was not so bad.
Im relatively young and in good health, the Qantas staff handled the situation very well, with the staff at the lounge and onboard apologising many times over and bringing me things from the pointy end during the trip.

I was compensated to the tune of $400 and the difference in price between J and Y with the crew manager personally giving me the cheque during my flight.

I don't count this as a bad experience towards Qantas staff, but I do question the IT systems failures that led to it happening and hope those will be reviewed and fixed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm going by my own experience and the lack of similar reports on here, FT, MP and other Social Media.

I have formed my opinion based on that. Many here appear to be forming opinions based on post #1

I have already provided a link in this thread to the same situation. The passenger in that link says they were unable to get a satisfactory refund calculation from Qantas, and the Airline Consumer Advocate advised them to go to Consumer Affairs.

If your fare is being paid by the company, perhaps you're not going to splash your situation on social media. Perhaps some are not on restricted business class fares and can easily take their ticket to another airline and fly home (problem solved). Perhaps if you are in a position where you can comfortably afford business class fares for personal travel, you may be at an age where you're not competent or familiar with social media avenues.

Plenty of reasons why these things may not come to wide attention.

 

[BD1959]

Calm down people, after reading most of the posts all I can think of is First World Problems.

True ... but that's why this is a Qantas forum and NOT a Korongo Airlines forum.

Regards,

BD

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was compensated to the tune of $400 and the difference in price between J and Y with the crew manager personally giving me the cheque during my flight.

Could you elaborate on the fare difference between J and Y? Was it between your business class and the full economy, or discount economy rate?

 

[BD1959]

Tier status would have been considered in the early stages, and as per our internal procedures and guidelines for managing such situations (e.g. during the initial call out period etc...).

Thanks for the follow-up, Red Roo, appreciated especially given the time of night.

Regards,

BD

 

[BD1959]

I had an involuntary downgrade to Y on a trip to NRT, the flight was overbooked (I frankly don't understand how this is remotely possible in a wold where the Internet exists) but I must say my experience was not so bad.
Im relatively young and in good health, the Qantas staff handled the situation very well, with the staff at the lounge and onboard apologising many times over and bringing me things from the pointy end during the trip.

I was compensated to the tune of $400 and the difference in price between J and Y with the crew manager personally giving me the cheque during my flight.

I don't count this as a bad experience towards Qantas staff, but I do question the IT systems failures that led to it happening and hope those will be reviewed and fixed.

Hi Claudius (there's a TV series title in there somewhere!),

Were you also WP when this occurred?

Regards,

BD

 

[Thorkel]

Been following this thread with interest, as I was doing LAX to SYD in business the day before the OP.

In the 'Similar Threads' at the bottom of each page of this thread on AFF, I've been seeing another AFF post entitled 'Velocity Gold - Downgraded from Business Class - VA8 LAX to BNE - Compensation???' (can't post the link as haven't posted enough)

I can't help but think that if the Qantas compensation was closer to the level in the above thread, this thread might have closed down after 10 replies as well.....

 

[amaroo]

Been following this thread with interest, as I was doing LAX to SYD in business the day before the OP.

In the 'Similar Threads' at the bottom of each page of this thread on AFF, I've been seeing another AFF post entitled 'Velocity Gold - Downgraded from Business Class - VA8 LAX to BNE - Compensation???' (can't post the link as haven't posted enough)

I can't help but think that if the Qantas compensation was closer to the level in the above thread, this thread might have closed down after 10 replies as well.....

Indeed. Good pickup! QF Are the clear loser in that comparison....

 

[JohnK]

Indeed. Good pickup! QF Are the clear loser in that comparison....

The compensation offered was the actual fare difference which would be adequate compensation.

Reading that thread again reminds me that Bundy Bear had similar issue around that time. I forget the exact circumstances and the outcome. Qantas gave his business class seat away as they did not think he will make the connection?

 

[Claudius]

Hi Claudius (there's a TV series title in there somewhere!),

Were you also WP when this occurred?

Regards,

BD

Also happens to be the name of a Roman emperor which sadly is famous for all the wrong reasons! Not quite as bad as Caligula or Nero but I guess that's like saying my flight was not as bad as Ryanair

I was SG at the time, and the refund was equivalent to J down to Full Y, not discounted.

 

[Moody]

So the biggest remaining gripe (now that a reasonably balanced story is available) is the level of compensation for an involuntary downgrade. Might I suggest the difference should not be based on the "rack rate" of the lower class, but on a similar discount to the originally booked fare.

For example if the pax bought a J fare at 50% discount, then they should expect their Y seat to be priced at a similar relative value when calculating the refund due. That would provide a more balanced value comparison for each instance, and be simple to calculate and understand. It would also remove the virtual profiteering that seems to be the case under the current scheme.

 

[BD1959]

Also happens to be the name of a Roman emperor which sadly is famous for all the wrong reasons!

I realise the source of the name, you're obviously too young to identify with the BBC TV Series to which I referred!

Regards,

BD

 

[RAM]

There goes my comprehension skills.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So the biggest remaining gripe (now that a reasonably balanced story is available) is the level of compensation for an involuntary downgrade. Might I suggest the difference should not be based on the "rack rate" of the lower class, but on a similar discount to the originally booked fare.

For example if the pax bought a J fare at 50% discount, then they should expect their Y seat to be priced at a similar relative value when calculating the refund due. That would provide a more balanced value comparison for each instance, and be simple to calculate and understand. It would also remove the virtual profiteering that seems to be the case under the current scheme.

why wouldn't you just compare the fare with the lowest economy fare the passenger would have bought had they intended to fly economy from the outset? 50% off full Y may still be much higher than the cheapest that was available.

 

[Caversham04]

why wouldn't you just compare the fare with the lowest economy fare the passenger would have bought had they intended to fly economy from the outset? 50% off full Y may still be much higher than the cheapest that was available.

Agreed - I posted early on in the thread that in the (admittedly relatively rare) case that I book a personal business class flight in future, I'll immediately also be making and printing off a dummy booking for the cheapest available economy ticket for the same day and flight. This would be the basis for any necessary discussions on compensation if downgraded and would form the basis for any claim in court ...........

 

[Claudius]

I realise the source of the name, you're obviously too young to identify with the to which I referred!

Regards,

BD

Yes, that is from before my time, but I may watch it I was aware of the book by the same title.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was SG at the time, and the refund was equivalent to J down to Full Y, not discounted.

do you calculate that all up, the $400 cash, plus refund of J to full Y would have been equal to or greater than the fare difference from J to discount Y?

 

[maninblack]

People keep talking about the compo. I couldn't really care less about it. They couldn't pay me enough to fly LAX-MEL in Y. It's being bumped from the seat that i would care about.

 

[farstar]

Our internal guidelines are beyond the minimum IATA requirements to allow individual, overall experiences to be considered by way of discretionary goodwill gestures.

Correct me if I am wrong but IATA is a industry body for Airlines so I would think airlines would think it is fair. It would be best if a third party such as the government setup guidelines that ensure when the airlines overbooking gamble means they are short of seats the passenger affected gets a fair compensation similar to EU regulations.