Fiji airlines changing planes

[Telezacski]

Flying to the US in December we did our research (or so we thought) and selected a Fiji Airways flight SYD-NAN-SFO on an A350. We choose to fly a day early to get the A350 over the a330 which has an outdated business class.

When Fiji Airlines announced their new Dallas leg they reallocated the A350 to this route sadly leaving us on an a330. A tad frustrating.

my question, I have checked the Nadi to Dallas flights and they have sold about 11 tickets. Obviously there is some time but this is clearly not commercially viable. If their is no great change what is the chance Fiji will cancel the Dallas flight and reallocate the plane to the original leg.

 

[I love to travel]

Flying to the US in December we did our research (or so we thought) and selected a Fiji Airways flight SYD-NAN-SFO on an A350. We choose to fly a day early to get the A350 over the a330 which has an outdated business class.

When Fiji Airlines announced their new Dallas leg they reallocated the A350 to this route sadly leaving us on an a330. A tad frustrating.

my question, I have checked the Nadi to Dallas flights and they have sold about 11 tickets. Obviously there is some time but this is clearly not commercially viable. If their is no great change what is the chance Fiji will cancel the Dallas flight and reallocate the plane to the original leg.

I think there is still lots of time between now and December so too early to know.

 

[Warragul]

Ultimately its a bit of a guess, I don't think it likely. The route commences in December and was announced not long ago, so not that long for sales. Generally speaking airlines give a new route some time to 'settle in' before making schedule/ equipment changes. It could also be quite full on the return leg.

 

[Telezacski]

Looking across the three flights from Nadi that day (Dallas LA and San Fran) you could merge all 3 and not fill a plane.

I guess my question was, how much time do they give for the flight to “settle in”?

 

[Warragul]

Given that you're flying the same month as which the route starts, probably longer than what you would like for your desired equipment change.

The A330 may not have the legs to get to DFW as well. I don't know.

No one here can say with any certainty though, so you never know.

 

[antycbr]

Looking across the three flights from Nadi that day (Dallas LA and San Fran) you could merge all 3 and not fill a plane.

I guess my question was, how much time do they give for the flight to “settle in”?

Are you looking at seat maps? Typically, not all passengers will have been assigned seats.

 

[Telezacski]

Given that you're flying the same month as which the route starts, probably longer than what you would like for your desired equipment change.

The A330 may not have the legs to get to DFW as well. I don't know.

No one here can say with any certainty though, so you never know.

Going to be interesting to see how this plays out, one option would be to route through LA but that would cause issues with return legs unless they get a plane there or use American metal.

Post automatically merged: Sep 1, 2024

Are you looking at seat maps? Typically, not all passengers will have been assigned seats.

Fair

 

[MELso]

FJ swapped my NAN-SFO flight out from an A350 to an A330 on the day, so you probably won't know until the day of departure what metal you'll be flying on. It's a big risk flying to SFO on FJ.

(I was a bit annoyed as I'd managed to snag the seat behind the exit row with no seat in front, but they ended up putting me in a row of two with no neighbour so it wasn't too bad. Would've been spewing if I'd paid for an upgrade to J though.)

 

[readerr0r]

The same thing happened to me, booked a350 for both syd-nan and nan-sfo J but the sfo leg got bumped to a330. I'm holding onto it for now but will be keeping an eye out for reward seating popping up about a month out for both QFF and Velocity. Last minute United Polaris direct can be had on Velocity about a month to two weeks out

 

[SeatBackForward]

You're never guaranteed any type of aircraft anyhow, it'll be in the conditions of carriage.

 

[DC3]

.. booked a350 for both syd-nan and nan-sfo J but the sfo leg got bumped to a330 ..

Welcome to AFF

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You're never guaranteed any type of aircraft anyhow, it'll be in the conditions of carriage.

Correct.

But… it will be getting harder for airlines to strictly rely on that clause these days given the ‘standard’ long haul business class is now full flat.

Perhaps 5-10 years ago they could argue angled flats/full flats were ‘same cabin’. But now days, people should be able to rely on new aircraft = full flats. And if that’s what’s advertised, i think you’d have a potential case under consumer law.

Would you have bought the product or service knowing it was angled rather than full flat as advertised?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Correct.
...

Would you have bought the product or service knowing it was angled rather than full flat as advertised?

The hard product offered is always a factor on choosing routes/carriers etc. But my perspective on this that ultimately the obligation for the airline to get you from A to B (or C via B etc), and the rest is, as you rightly point out a matter of consumer law - was it as advertised - scenario.

For example Qantas' CoC say:

5.6 Seating Selection and Allocation​

(a) Although we will try to accommodate your seating need or choice, we do not guarantee you any particular seat.
(b) We may need to change your seat at any time, even after you have boarded the aircraft, for operational, safety or security reasons

5.7 Class Downgrades​

(a) If we ask you to downgrade from the class of travel in your booking for any reason, at your option we will:
(i) provide you with an appropriate refund for the difference in fares (or an appropriate credit of Qantas Points in the event that you are travelling on a Qantas Frequent Flyer Award); or
(ii) accommodate you in the class of travel shown on your Ticket on an alternative flight on our service which is reasonably available.
(b) This does not affect any of the rights you have under any Convention or law, such as the Australian Consumer Law the New Zealand Consumer Law and/or the Civial Avaiation <sp> Act 1990 (NZ).
(c) In addition, in the event of a downgrade you may also have rights under a passenger or consumer law in the relevant jurisdiction.

But of course airlines do all those sneaky tricks like Refunding you the difference between your discount J and a Fully Y fare, which is where we need better regulation!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The hard product offered is always a factor on choosing routes/carriers etc. But my perspective on this that ultimately the obligation for the airline to get you from A to B (or C via B etc), and the rest is, as you rightly point out a matter of consumer law - was it as advertised - scenario.

For example Qantas' CoC say:



But of course airlines do all those sneaky tricks like Refunding you the difference between your discount J and a Fully Y fare, which is where we need better regulation!

True, but consumer law and other legislation overrules the airline CoC.

While the downgrade scenario is unfortunate, the passenger is always entitled to wait for another flight where a seat in their ticketed cabin is available, or accept a full refund.

If FJ was denying a change of date to an a350 service, or denying a full refund, i think that’s a matter that could be potentially pursued under ACL.

 

[AIRwin]

And if that’s what’s advertised, i think you’d have a potential case under consumer law.

Reminds me of this:

Emirates Ordered To Pay $8468 USD For Failing To Deliver Advertised Quality Of Business Class

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/131468446/emirates-pays-tauranga-man-13555-over-misleading-and-deceptive-advertising-of-business-class-seats

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[readerr0r]

I'm at peace with aircraft changes, especially with reward seats which usually have good value redemption rates and low cancelation penalties. So for this case I'll keep this in my back pocket and if I find something better as a last minute, even better. I think thats just how you need to approach these things

 

[encryptededdy]

Are you looking at seat maps? Typically, not all passengers will have been assigned seats.

Especially if they're (presumably) codesharing with AA and customers are booking through AA

 

[Telezacski]

The same thing happened to me, booked a350 for both syd-nan and nan-sfo J but the sfo leg got bumped to a330. I'm holding onto it for now but will be keeping an eye out for reward seating popping up about a month out for both QFF and Velocity. Last minute United Polaris direct can be had on Velocity about a month to two weeks out

That’s my plan as well, I might pick up an AA flight to LA then SFO

 

[Telezacski]

Especially if they're (presumably) codesharing with AA and customers are booking through AA

Probably more an issue with Fiji as cheaper tickets don’t get to select seats. So yes it was probably a poor choice of methods to work out what Fiji may do.

 

[Telezacski]

Correct.

But… it will be getting harder for airlines to strictly rely on that clause these days given the ‘standard’ long haul business class is now full flat.

Perhaps 5-10 years ago they could argue angled flats/full flats were ‘same cabin’. But now days, people should be able to rely on new aircraft = full flats. And if that’s what’s advertised, i think you’d have a potential case under consumer law.

Would you have bought the product or service knowing it was angled rather than full flat as advertised?

I acknowledge their is no guarantee on metal but I tend to agree 100% with your points above.

Especially in this case as Fiji were advertising the a350 on the SFO route whilst applying to the US to add the Dallas route knowing full well they didn’t have the planes to service both.

I have no issue with airlines changing planes due to operational issues but this was planning.