Flexi Meal on a Sale or Saver airfare

[JohnK]

I received a flexi meal and drink on last nights OOL-SYD flight. It was a $79 fare and forget whether it was Sale or Saver but something tells me it was Saver.

The FA called me by name and asked if I wanted a meal. I mentioned to her that I was not on a Flexible airfare but she read my name out again from her sheet. So I accepted the cold pasta salad, some dessert and a can of Pure Blonde. A couple of minutes later with the cart still there the other FA asked if I wanted another can of Pure Blonde as she had opened it by mistake. :shock:

Did the check-in agent make a mistake when she switched my flight to an earlier flight? She did print off 4 boarding with some sort of coded information on them when she was trying to change flights.

 

[LiamR]

Did you fly ahead? It's a system glitch.

Check on your BP for the fare bucket, I guarantee you it'll be a flexi fare. (YBHKL)

Side note easiest way to remember which fares are flexi.... Your best Hong Kong Layover... YBHKL!

 

[JohnK]

Did you fly ahead? It's a system glitch.

I have flown ahead the past 2 flights. It would appear yesterday's flight has been processed as a Flexi! :shock:

 

[aupirate]

Another fly ahead bonus I received was extra status credits as my original direct flight became indirect but was worth taking as i still arrived a couple of hours earlier than the direct flight. Nice welcome surprise.

 

[ash.1111]

Perhaps she read your name off the top half of the page... which is easy to do if you have a lot of platinums flying.

The Flexi codes are currently: Your Best Hong Kong Layover - or "YBHKL". (whoops, already stated here...)

 

[LiamR]

I have flown ahead the past 2 flights. It would appear yesterday's flight has been processed as a Flexi! :shock:

Okay, so.

When you fly ahead sabre puts you into the lowest available fare bucket. If you fly ahead and the flight is completely empty you'll stay on a saver fare, however if the flight is full and only flexi fares are available for purchase then sabre will put you into a flexi fare bucket as it's the only way the system can compute it (It can't move somebody into a fare bucket that is exhaused aka 0). Even if saver fares are still available you may find yourself moved to a higher fare bucket then what's originally purchased.

The only exception to this is if you are already on a flexi, you'll stay on a flexi if you fly ahead, your fare bucket may change however.

 

[JohnK]

Perhaps she read your name off the top half of the page... which is easy to do if you have a lot of platinums flying.

Not this time. It was in the middle of the page as I was in exit row.

When you fly ahead sabre puts you into the lowest available fare bucket. If you fly ahead and the flight is completely empty you'll stay on a saver fare, however if the flight is full and only flexi fares are available for purchase then sabre will put you into a flexi fare bucket as it's the only way the system can compute it (It can't move somebody into a fare bucket that is exhaused aka 0). Even if saver fares are still available you may find yourself moved to a higher fare bucket then what's originally purchased.

Thanks. Useful information to know.

And I am not complaining. Just surprised....

 

[LiamR]

Perhaps she read your name off the top half of the page... which is easy to do if you have a lot of platinums flying.

I thought this too the first time it happened too me, but then the crew pointed me out on the manifest and it was true, later I confirmed this by looking at my bp.

After chatting to some people I found out what's really going on (written above).

 

[MarkD]

Flew ahead tonight, and no flex treatment for me. Absolutely chocker block full flight - Fixed glitch?

 

[serfty]

Flew ahead tonight, and no flex treatment for me. Absolutely chocker block full flight - Fixed glitch?

I reckon it's a YMMV situation - what class on yon BP?

 

[MarkD]

I reckon it's a YMMV situation - what class on yon BP?

Not sure mate, its in the bin at gate 43 BNE. generally just chuck the things out, I should be more observant lol

 

[bubblyguy]

As Liam said this is a common occourance when a 'fly ahead' occours.

They can keep it as a Saver fare if they do a fare override and oversell the fare bucket but it is a much more complicated task.

At least you should also see that you have gained a few extra Velocity points out of the trip along with the Flexi fare onboard inclusions.

 

[JohnK]

At least you should also see that you have gained a few extra Velocity points out of the trip along with the Flexi fare onboard inclusions.

I didn't take any notice of the Velocity points. Is there supposed to be extra? I shall check later.

 

[MarkD]

Points should be the same