Flight changed to before I arrive!

[ramboflyer]

I received an email today regarding a flight change in August. I originally booked reward seats from Townsville to Hobart. Leg from Townsville to Brisbane on Qantas and Brisbane to Hobart on Jetstar (direct flight). Problem is the new Jetstar flight from Brisbane to Hobart departs before we get there! Not only that the direct Jeststar flight was 2 hours 45 and now via Melbourne 7 hours 50 minutes. Why don't changes ever for the better? After detrimental changes to flights made for next week I am definitely giving Qantas a miss as I build up my Krisflyer miles which will be used for Singapore Airlines and Virgin flights going forward.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

What do the rebooking options look like online? Generally when QF adjusts flights like that your ticket becomes fully flexible meaning you can either get a free refund or better yet, request to be booked on the QF flights of your choice (supposing there is any availability in your cabin on those date). For my experience a date change within 7 days of your originally scheduled flight should also be possible too. Then again, you may need to call QF to get some of these options since QF's website is hardly a bastion for self-service and choice!

-RooFlyer88

 

[MrJetset]

I received an email today regarding a flight change in August. I originally booked reward seats from Townsville to Hobart. Leg from Townsville to Brisbane on Qantas and Brisbane to Hobart on Jetstar (direct flight). Problem is the new Jetstar flight from Brisbane to Hobart departs before we get there! Not only that the direct Jeststar flight was 2 hours 45 and now via Melbourne 7 hours 50 minutes. Why don't changes ever for the better? After detrimental changes to flights made for next week I am definitely giving Qantas a miss as I build up my Krisflyer miles which will be used for Singapore Airlines and Virgin flights going forward.

As reported many times before, the system (unintelligently) only looks at rebooking the affected flight and not connections. This scenario is extremely common.

The good news is that when you call you can essentially get revenue seats opened as awards so look at what is available and ask for that.

 

[ramboflyer]

To be fair I did receive a later e-mail saying they are monitoring my flights so I'll wait a few days and see what they come up with. If unsatisfactory I will have to call (my heads still spinning from Tuesday when I had to call Qantas about other flights) and ask for my best option based on paid fares.
There is a pretty good reward option from Townsville to Hobart on Jeststar with a 4 hour stopover in Sydney but as I want to use the Qantas Club lounge I don't want to move between terminals to do that.

Edit: on checking for Change options an error message appeared. May be too soon.

We know you have a connecting flight JQ571 to Melbourne departing at 12:05PM on 18 August 2022.

We'll keep you updated​

We’re monitoring your booking and will send an email with your new flight details if we need to make changes. To view your flight details and options (including a Flight Credit or refund) go to Manage Booking or the Qantas App.

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

I had similar yesterday with VA, so avoiding Qantas won't help!

I had a flight booked in September, and they put it back by an hour. That won't work for me, so I opted to go the next day. Luckily I could happily stay with friends another night.

Of course, the only options on the email are 'accept' or phone em. I phone using the standard line. 'unusually high call volumes'. How can it be unusually high when it happens ALL THE TIME? Why not 'usually high call volumes' eh?

Looked to change online. Can't do. Called the dedicated awards line instead listed there, because it was booked with miles. Put in info, got answered, gave details, got transferred to the original line FFS! Eventually got answered. "There is a charge for changing your booking" "Oh, really? You want to argue about that, mate? YOU changed my flight!"

Anyway, after much heel-digging-in, I got a much better flight the next day, which when I looked it up was significantly more expensive, but got no charge. I may have intimidated the guy slightly...

 

[ramboflyer]

I had similar yesterday with VA, so avoiding Qantas won't help!

I had a flight booked in September, and they put it back by an hour. That won't work for me, so I opted to go the next day. Luckily I could happily stay with friends another night.

Of course, the only options on the email are 'accept' or phone em. I phone using the standard line. 'unusually high call volumes'. How can it be unusually high when it happens ALL THE TIME? Why not 'usually high call volumes' eh?

Looked to change online. Can't do. Called the dedicated awards line instead listed there, because it was booked with miles. Put in info, got answered, gave details, got transferred to the original line FFS! Eventually got answered. "There is a charge for changing your booking" "Oh, really? You want to argue about that, mate? YOU changed my flight!"

Anyway, after much heel-digging-in, I got a much better flight the next day, which when I looked it up was significantly more expensive, but got no charge. I may have intimidated the guy slightly...

My experience with Virgin call centre in recent times has been pretty good. Got answered in quick time and issue resolved although it was not particularly complex, just something I was unable to do online. Maybe I got lucky

 

[Bundy Bear]

At least Virgin answer the phone in a reasonable time, Qantas you might be lucky.