Flight Change costs

[Randel]

Just wondering how flight changes work (or don't work.). Sorry for the rant.

I booked return J class from Per to Syd late last year, and got good deals via Adelaide. 2 people was around $4800k. So about $1200per person each way. They changed the Per to Syd to a direct flight earlier this year - all good.

Got to Syd last Thursday, and was due to fly back to Per Wednesday. One of my staff members had his father pass away, so need to come back Tuesday instead of Wednesday.

Monday morning I had a look online and could see 3 different business class flights at different times Tues arvo/evening - $2881, $3460ish and $4000ish. But couldn't change flight via app - had to call.

So in my mind - I thought I would get some sort of credit for the Wednesday trip that we were changing - now that originally cost around $1200 - I thought maybe I could get on the $2881 flight for around $2000 due to change fees or something. So thought it might have cost me $4000 for wife and I. Bit rich, but oh well that's life.

I am WP and wife is SG - so called up and got through fairly quickly. I am gathering overseas call centre. Got put on hold 3 times whilst they tried to calculate the cost of change. After about 20 minutes - they came back @ around $4200. Wife and I discussed for a minute or two - about to proceed and then the agent reminds me that is PER PERSON. WTF. I said that is dearer than any of the 3 flights I could just book outright, and that I could see in front of me. Said don't worry about it - and hung up (after the survey)


Tried again a couple times until I got an Aussie sounding person, so I assumed maybe I had gotten Hobart and asked him to confirm what I had been quoted- explained it all - and the best he could offer me was $3500 per person to change. Due to it being busy the next day. But I could book there and then and get a cheaper price outright than a Qantas flight change. They kept saying oh you got your flights cheap, the next day is busy etc etc.

Like I can see cheaper Qantas flights in front of me and Virgin are $1900 for J flights.

So booked Virgin and cancelled the Qantas flights via the app. Who knows if there will be any value in the flight credit they say I will get - but apparently I have to call when I want to use the flight credits.

Currently in 2C with Virgin - and pleasantly surprised. May use them more often.

 

[opusman]

In general changes on business class fares should be fee free - just pay the fare difference.

Business fares should also be fully refundable if you cancel, you don't have to accept a flight credit.

 

[Randel]

To be honest - that was what I was hoping - just fare difference.

But how the hell they couldnt understand that I was seeing outright Qantas flights cheaper than what they were quoting for a 'change' was laughable.

And I have to say - the Virgin Experience on the way home was superior to the Qantas trip Per to Syd. Maybe I need to give up on the loyalty!

 

[AIRwin]

And I have to say - the Virgin Experience on the way home was superior to the Qantas trip Per to Syd. Maybe I need to give up on the loyalty!

Did you fly A330 with Qantas?

 

[encryptededdy]

Bit late, but I assume it'd be possible to ask for a Compassionate Airfare in this circumstance (from both Qantas and Virgin)

 

[CaptJCool]

Two things to mention
1. Each flight on the outbound and return are separately cancellable
I’m pretty sure @RichardMEL can confirm this as from memory he mentioned it

2. When cancelled you got two options - here’s an example

Even on the cheap business fares
I would have claimed a refund and it’s BS QF telling you “but you got cheap fares”
So what ?
That’s market conditions where they are drowning cause VA & Rex J fares are lower so since August 2023 they have “permanently” lowered these cheaper J fares

I ran into the same issue trying to change a week before the travel time so I’m just leaving as is

 

[RichardMEL]

Sorry, not one for me to comment on specifically - though I agree.

 

[Randel]

Did you fly A330 with Qantas?

No Boeing both ways, however the Qantas one was older, todays Virgin was a lot newer

 

[CaptJCool]

Sorry, not one for me to comment on specifically - though I agree.

Couldn’t recall who exactly had mentioned that on domestic fares and a return ticket that each one leg is treated independently so if for example the first was skipped or cancelled, the second leg was still able to be flown. (Unlike international fares where if you miss an earlier sector you do the rest of the tic)

 

[RichardMEL]

Couldn’t recall who exactly had mentioned that on domestic fares and a return ticket that each one leg is treated independently so if for example the first was skipped or cancelled, the second leg was still able to be flown. (Unlike international fares where if you miss an earlier sector you do the rest of the tic)

No worries. I was definitely in that conversation i am thinking it was probably @madrooster or @TheInsider who clarified the differences between domestuc and int treatment of fares.

 

[Randel]

Finally had a reply on why my costs were so high to change flights:

"Dear Randel,

Thank you for contacting the Qantas Customer Care team.
We do apologise for the inconvenience and for the time it took us to respond. It was never our intention to make things difficult for you.

I appreciate you informing us about this. I understand that you need to change your flight due to personal reasons. When making changes to a ticket, please be advised that terms and conditions apply, one being that when you rebook, an equal, lower or higher fare should be booked, and a possible fare difference and rebooking fees apply. We have once again reviewed your case and have considered all the circumstances carefully.

I regret your unhappiness with the fare you were quoted. For us to maintain our services, particularly to regional destinations, we must balance the demands of customers travelling to and from these locations with the operational costs involved. Upon further checking, I can confirm that your unused flights were changed into a flight credit under booking reference number xx_xx_. For further assistance with eh flight credit, you may contact our Reservation Team on 131313.

We value your feedback, and it plays an important part in our continuous improvement process, so that we may provide you with exceptional service each time you fly with us.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us and we look forward to welcoming you onboard soon."


What a lot of bloated generic standard reply rubbish.... 3 weeks to come up with that gold!