Earlier flight on a Qantas red e-deal?

[Rono]

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.

Milman, could you explain the last sentence to me please?

regards

Paul R

 

[serfty]

Milman, could you explain the last sentence to me please? ...

Until MiLK_MaN reaches a status of Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold, they will not have access to the Qantas Clubs.

See here for more: Abbreviations and Explanantions

 

[JohnK]

I was just thinking that it would not be so easy to get on a later flight either (avoiding the $50 change fee) on a red e-deal. I have a 14:15 flight BNE-SYD tomorrow which I would really like to change to ~17:00 flight as I have not been feeling well all week.

Milman, could you explain the last sentence to me please?

I know serfty has explained it but that sentence would read much easier to most people if it said

"I don't have Qantas Lounge access until I attain Qantas Gold status, which I expect to happen in Oct/Nov this year."

 

[Rono]

Until MiLK_MaN reaches a status of Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold, they will not have access to the Qantas Clubs.

See here for more: Abbreviations and Explanantions

Serfty, thankyou for leading me out of the dark and into the light!

regards

Paul R

 

[Aenveigh]

My e-deal experiences:
I tend not to use the self checkin terminals, but have been offered earlier flights probably about 25% of the times I have. For whatever reason this has nearly always happened in Sydney.
I usually get on an 'earlier' flight in the event of delays just by asking at the Qantas Club desk, and have sometimes at other times - nearly always lightly-loaded kind of flights. I have never been shifted to an earlier flight at peak times (Mon AM/Fri PM) when things are running normally.
I've also sometimes got better routings (ie direct) even after having initially booked non-direct (for SC, or timing/convenience) but then needed/preferred the direct flight on the travel date. Sometimes it's just been offered, other times I've asked.

My experience has basically told me, treat it as a gift if you get it, but NEVER expect it - buy flexi if that's what you need : )

 

[TonyHancock]

Hi all,

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.

My experience almost exactly last week. I hope you get sorted. I spent nearly seven hours in the QP. What joy to listen to the vacuuming and floor cleaner!

edit: and i only had carry on too!

 

[Keith009]

Red e-deal means no changes unless the flight you're booked on is delayed/cancelled. However, I have found that QF lounge staff are sometimes willing to help out those with status (I have experienced this as SG and WP, as well as when I had AA EXP in another life). I have managed to get on an earlier flight approx 90% of the time. The only times I got denied were at the CBR J lounge.

 

[pauly7]

My e-deal experiences:
I tend not to use the self checkin terminals, but have been offered earlier flights probably about 25% of the times I have.

My experience has basically told me, treat it as a gift if you get it, but NEVER expect it - buy flexi if that's what you need : )

I'm at about 60% unprompted 100% prompted (have only asked once though!. All as a SG and WP though.

 

[mikew]

Managed once in Adelaide on a Sunday night when I found out my flight (and last of night) was delayed 1.5hrs and the previous one was currently boarding. After a bit of persuasion at the city flyer desk (and them telling me there is no such thing as standby) I snagged the last seat on the plane (it was a middle seat something like 10E). I was only QC Silver at the time with the persistence paying off.

 

[JohnK]

I'm at about 60% unprompted

Offered earlier flights on red e-deals? Wow! That is very impressive.

 

[pauly7]

Offered earlier flights on red e-deals? Wow! That is very impressive.

Is it?!

Or are you joking...? By unprompted I mean via the kiosk btw. And I do fly pretty busy routes mostly with heaps of flights that QF proactively forward load on....

 

[JohnK]

Is it?!

Yes it is very impressive. We have been discussing how it is a rarity and you say it happens to you regularly.

Or are you joking...? By unprompted I mean via the kiosk btw. And I do fly pretty busy routes mostly with heaps of flights that QF proactively forward load on....

I was not joking and I do understand exactly what you meant by unprompted.

 

[pauly7]

Yes it is very impressive. We have been discussing how it is a rarity and you say it happens to you regularly.


I was not joking and I do understand exactly what you meant by unprompted.

Right ok! Well I think its because I frequent the golden triangle and fly at popular times (when I'm on the e-deals which are personal travel)...

QF seem to want to bring people fwd on these routes in order to sell more seats later I guess.

 

[Flying Uke]

I regularly get earlier flights when booked on Red e deals with Qantaslink from Townsville to Cairns. In my experience if you turn up to check in and there are seats available on an earlier flight they will let you take them no matter what fare class they are.

 

[TonyHancock]

I regularly get earlier flights when booked on Red e deals with Qantaslink from Townsville to Cairns. In my experience if you turn up to check in and there are seats available on an earlier flight they will let you take them no matter what fare class they are.

I have only ever got an earlier flight on Red e deal when the later flights have been oversold or canceled.

It has got to the stage where I specifically avoid red deals on my return legs. Maybe i need to smile more!!!

 

[JohnK]

I regularly get earlier flights when booked on Red e deals with Qantaslink from Townsville to Cairns. In my experience if you turn up to check in and there are seats available on an earlier flight they will let you take them no matter what fare class they are.

Do you have to ask or do they actually offer??

It has got to the stage where I specifically avoid red deals on my return legs. Maybe i need to smile more!!!

I had some luck in 2008 but I gave up quickly when it was apparent that they would not offer earlier flights unless there were scheduling issues.

These days I do not bother turning up to the airport early enough to be offered earlier flights.

 

[docjames]

Do you have to ask or do they actually offer??


I had some luck in 2008 but I gave up quickly when it was apparent that they would not offer earlier flights unless there were scheduling issues.

These days I do not bother turning up to the airport early enough to be offered earlier flights.

It's no coincidence we both found 2008 the switch point.

It is much harder to do with the new system that was introduced in late 2008 as all movements can be tracked back to the individual who has to give a reason etc why the move. The idea presumably to stop staff moving friends / all and sundry onto sooner flights and to enforce the red e-deal rules etc.

They will still move CLs (and CL guests) on red e-deals, although again it is "not always possible so dont always expect to be moved" or some such similar response.

 

[JohnK]

It's no coincidence we both found 2008 the switch point.

It is much harder to do with the new system that was introduced in late 2008 as all movements can be tracked back to the individual who has to give a reason etc why the move. The idea presumably to stop staff moving friends / all and sundry onto sooner flights and to enforce the red e-deal rules etc.

I totally understand which is why I find hard to comprehend how people are still getting away with getting on earlier flights on cheap red e-deals. Which must mean that some Qantas check-in staff are taking risks or that it is not really an issue but most check-in staff do not want to have to answer questions down the track.

I have asked a number of times and I was told outright "no, it is not possible". Now why turn up to the airport early just in case they offer? I know what I have booked and as long as they get me to SYD that night then I have no issue.

Now saying that there have been times where in the Qantas Lounge there has been a page for people to move to earlier flights if they do not have checked luggage. This does not happen very often though.

 

[oz_mark]

I have asked a number of times and I was told outright "no, it is not possible". Now why turn up to the airport early just in case they offer? I know what I have booked and as long as they get me to SYD that night then I have no issue.

Bear in mind that the original question, and my original response, was around whether or not the kiosks would make such an offer. My experience is that, yes they will, sometimes. I am not sure how Qantas manage or track those kiosks making the offer, or how they reprimand ornery kiosks offering them up on red-e-deals.

 

[JohnK]

Bear in mind that the original question, and my original response, was around whether or not the kiosks would make such an offer. My experience is that, yes they will, sometimes.

Yes I did keep that in mind and I was offered an earlier flight a couple of times but again that was only when there were known issues and last time was around July 2008 before the new system.

My main response has been to people who ask for it and get it regularly. A Platinum should be a Platinum but obviously not....