Earlier flight on a Qantas red e-deal?

[MiLK_MaN]

Hi all,

I've previously booked flexi saver fares with Qantas, and arrived at the airport earlier to find that checking in at the computer terminals has allowed me to choose an earlier flight.

Is this applicable for red e-deal booked flights as well? I'm currently in Perth, and have a 00:30 flight out to Melbourne tomorrow, but can see there are a few seats left on the 18:20 flight tonight. I either see if I can get on the earlier flight, or spend 6 hours drinking in the city

 

[gilby08]

Only depends if they need to get people out on earlier flights, like due to weather, overbooking (due to an a/c downgrade), and other things...
But there will be a 1% chance that any of these will be the case.

 

[oz_mark]

In my experience, one of three things will happen:

1) It won't offer the option
2) It will offer and allow you to change
3) It will offer and then fail with a message about not being available on your fare type.

Mind you I have never tried checking in 6 hours early.

 

[anat0l]

+1 above.

For Red e-Deals QF will normally stick to the rules unless they really, really need to be fluid.

The more 'fluid' arrangements tend to be the peak traffic flights in the golden triangle; i.e. QF "sees" - for example - 400 seats rather than 3 flights of 133 seats. In such cases, requests for flight changes can be successful (i.e. without charge). Even then, a request is asking for the Gods to smile on you, much like hoping for an op-up.

 

[MiLK_MaN]

I don't mind taking the risk ... providing there is a decent bar to drink at the airport if I don't get the earlier flight.

I don't have QP access until I hit SG, which I expect to happen in Oct/Nov this year.

 

[gilby08]

Personally really wouldn't bother about trying, it rearly happens on SYD-MEL vv flights, so the chances of it happening on a PER-MEL are very very slim. Generally the CSA's cannot do anything either as they don't have the permissions to change the person on a 'force transfer'.

 

[david870mdg]

I don't mind taking the risk ... providing there is a decent bar to drink at the airport if I don't get the earlier flight.

I don't have QP access until I hit SG, which I expect to happen in Oct/Nov this year.

mmmmph, can't really speak wonders for the PER domestic terminal. Search this forum for Meetings & Social events and someone may be able to guest you into QP if this is allowed at PER?(or you can wait outside the door)..

Ive only had red e-deals changed when:
1) severe delays on inbound operating aircraft
2) cancellation of flight(s) due to low flight load
3) checking in at INTL to DOM transfer desk landside SYD T1 INTL
4) severe forecast weather disruptions affecting the outbound flight.


GOod luck, and report back

 

[JohnK]

From memory I have been offered an earlier flight on a red e-deal 2-3 times in the last few years and each time was due to either cancellations or possible weather intervention.

I don't remember PER domestic that well but from memory there is only one place to drink outside the Qantas Lounge and the beers there in September 2009 were relatively expensive.

 

[kpc]

When we come back from the AFF meet in October, my flight from Bne to Syd leaves at 515pm; my +1 leaves 1/2 hr later as her flight was booked later, and there were no longer cheap seats on mine. Any chance of being placed on the same flight if we ask nicely at the QF J lounge (both are red e deals) when we are there?

 

[medhead]

As mentioned unless there is some extraordinary situation there is very little chance of having a red-e-deal fare changed. I've taken to asking recently on my weekly flights and I've got 1 change out of 3 requests. This is for SYD-ADL. That one change happen when 2 of the earlier ADL flights were delayed and there was maybe another 1 or 2 flights delayed. One of the unsuccessful requests also had one earlier ADL flight delayed and a few other flights delayed as well.

Basically I got very lucky once.

 

[JohnK]

Any chance of being placed on the same flight if we ask nicely at the QF J lounge (both are red e deals) when we are there?

I does not hurt to ask but unless something bad is happening that day I would say you have very little chance of being on the same flight unless you go to the sales desk and pay the $50 change fee to move the earlier flight to the later one. But then there is no guarantee you will be seated together in preferred seats.

Generally I find QF check-in staff to be very helpful but everything they do is being scrutinised so they do not have the power to simply change flights without flexibility such as red e-deals.

P.S I am sure both of you will be able to survive being apart for ~120 minutes.

 

[kpc]

P.S I am sure both of you will be able to survive being apart for ~120 minutes.

It's OK if they won't change...I'll wait patiently in the QF J lounge in Syd

 

[docjames]

Just adding my experience is similar, red e-deals moved only in event of major delays or weather.

I had one exception where I arrived at SYD at ~5pm for an 8pm flight to BNE and simply asked. They moved it. Loadings were very light. This was July 2008, which I cant recall but may have been before the new reservations system which now monitors the staff more closely in terms of passenger shifting etc.

Basically, dont expect it, but the odd surprise does happen.

 

[serfty]

Traveling Peak periods such as Friday afternoon/eveing, Monday Morning and Sunday night does increase your chances ...

 

[MiLK_MaN]

I had to choose between risking 6 hours at an airport with expensive beer, or average priced beer in the city. You can imagine which won

Now, to find a power point to charge my laptop.

 

[Voyages]

I've tried asking 3 times (2 in SYD and once in MEL). Successful both times in SYD (though they did emphasise that it's not their normal practice), but not in MEL.

 

[JohnK]

I had one exception where I arrived at SYD at ~5pm for an 8pm flight to BNE and simply asked. They moved it. Loadings were very light. This was July 2008, which I cant recall but may have been before the new reservations system which now monitors the staff more closely in terms of passenger shifting etc.

That would have been around the time where QF implemented their new system but also had a lot of issues with on time performance and cancelled flights. It was also when I first started commuting SYD-BNE and it was about the same time where I was offered an earlier flight as well.

Traveling Peak periods such as Friday afternoon/eveing, Monday Morning and Sunday night does increase your chances ...

May increase your chances....

 

[BensAdventures]

For most domestic flights I fly the cheapest fares normally and I've also even been successful once (due to family illness) and never out of Perth. I'd strongly recommend spending a few hours in a Perth bar than Perth Airport.

 

[straitman]

When we come back from the AFF meet in October, my flight from Bne to Syd leaves at 515pm; my +1 leaves 1/2 hr later as her flight was booked later, and there were no longer cheap seats on mine. Any chance of being placed on the same flight if we ask nicely at the QF J lounge (both are red e deals) when we are there?

kpc,

I would ask as the worst that can happen is that they say NO.

 

[Bill Gillespie]

Hi, I have been a Gold FF member for ten years and flown about 70 QF flights a year. I am often asked at the auto check-in kiosk if I want an earlier flight on a busy route such as MELB-SYD-MELB, but never if I am on a Red-E fare. I have to be at least on a Flexifare of some kind for that to trigger an earlier offer. I have sat in the lounge for 3+ hours on a Red-E ticket and there's not much you can do about it, as far as I can tell, other than paying the difference if you are mad keen to get home.

cheers,
BG