Fully flexible fares classified as "Discount Economy"?

[MiLK_MaN]

I'm just looking at the fare rules for a possible upcoming work trip to NZ, and puzzled as to why a Fully Flexible trans tasman route is classified as Discount Economy when Points or Status Credits are earned?

This seems to be in contrast to QF domestic routes where Flexi Saver and Full Flex are both classified as full Economy.

Is there a reason for this, or is this an error?

 

[docjames]

The fare class allowing full/discount SCs is different for international flights to domestic flights. Note that there can be the occasional anomoly - you need to be in a Y fare class to get full SCs internationally. Each of the qantas listed fares (red e-deal, fully flex, flexi-saver) can have multiple different "codes" and can differ frequently. it wont change the conditions qantas allows in terms of refund rules etc, but can upset the SC earn.

This will help

https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/classTypes

There's also a SC calculator on the qf website.

https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/do/dyns/initialPointsEarned

 

[oz_mark]

I'm just looking at the fare rules for a possible upcoming work trip to NZ, and puzzled as to why a Fully Flexible trans tasman route is classified as Discount Economy when Points or Status Credits are earned?

This seems to be in contrast to QF domestic routes where Flexi Saver and Full Flex are both classified as full Economy.

For international routes, the only fare class that will earn at the Full Economy rate is 'Y'

For domestic routes it is Y,B,H,K,W are full economy.

 

[MiLK_MaN]

So when booking a ticket, how do you actually confirm which class you are being booked in as?

 

[anat0l]

If you can dissect HTML code, you can view the page source of the flight selection matrix(ces) and find (read: deduce) the fare codes that way.

For example, I did a dummy booking for a SYD-WLG return flight later this month. The Fully Flexible fares booked into K.

 

[MiLK_MaN]

Ahh yep, just did a AKL-MEL and also Fully Flexible booked into K

 

[Flashback]

I believe it's been mentioned that it's near on impossible to book Y international fares through the QF website and that it needs to be done via a TA.

 

[opusman]

For international routes, the only fare class that will earn at the Full Economy rate is 'Y'

Not strictly true, as 'R' earns at Full Economy rate as well.

 

[oz_mark]

Not strictly true, as 'R' earns at Full Economy rate as well.

ok. THe Premium economy classes will also earn full economy.

 

[samh004]

Sounds a lot like QF are trying to screw over frequent flyers by making them pay for the top fare yet still not giving them full SC's as I'm sure many would expect.

Maybe Red Roo would care to comment on this. Pretty pathetic...

 

[oz_mark]

Sounds a lot like QF are trying to screw over frequent flyers by making them pay for the top fare yet still not giving them full SC's as I'm sure many would expect.

Maybe Red Roo would care to comment on this. Pretty pathetic...

It has been that way for some time. In the past it was 'Y' only on domestic as well, but that was extended at one point to include some other classes.

 

[anat0l]

Sounds a lot like QF are trying to screw over frequent flyers by making them pay for the top fare yet still not giving them full SC's as I'm sure many would expect.

Maybe Red Roo would care to comment on this. Pretty pathetic...

Guess that's QF's way of "limiting" on the Trans-Tasman (basically a necessary but loss-making market). Just like NZ doesn't give any points (only NZ status) on Smart Savers, and even harder to determine or earn anything on Seats to Suit. Guess DJ and the others are the only "honest" ones.

One way to get Y class I would assume is to either wait until most of the plane is sold out, i.e. the Fully Flexible "low" bucket (presumably K) is sold out. Yeah, dumb idea, but it's a way. Or you could go to a TA. Or WPs could invoke their rather esoteric benefit of Priority Economy Seat Purchase (which must book into Y, IIRC).

The irony is that you could fly JQ JetFlex for - I would assume - a comparable amount compared to a QF Fully Flexible. You wouldn't get food, entertainment or preferential seating for free, but you'd get full Economy status credits.

 

[samh004]

It has been that way for some time. In the past it was 'Y' only on domestic as well, but that was extended at one point to include some other classes.

I appreciate that, it just seems for an airline that thinks so highly of itself it's a glaring issue. Pretty BS that the most expensive Y fare isn't Y, and you may as well buy J.

The irony is that you could fly JQ JetFlex for - I would assume - a comparable amount compared to a QF Fully Flexible. You wouldn't get food, entertainment or preferential seating for free, but you'd get full Economy status credits.

Haha true.

P.s. Hard to multi quote on an iPhone.

 

[anat0l]

I appreciate that, it just seems for an airline that thinks so highly of itself it's a glaring issue. Pretty BS that the most expensive Y fare isn't Y, and you may as well buy J.

Very good, grasshopper. You learn quickly.

 

[oz_mark]

I appreciate that, it just seems for an airline that thinks so highly of itself it's a glaring issue. Pretty BS that the most expensive Y fare isn't Y, and you may as well buy J.

Or even better - business saver.

 

[samh004]

Or even better - business saver.

Still reeks of BS on their part

 

[drron]

I really do wish QF would let you see the booking class when you buy online.I am not tech savvy so I end up asking the agent at checkin.If not an AA earning class I get them to switch to my QFF number.
another area where AA has it all over QF.

 

[pauly7]

I really do wish QF would let you see the booking class when you buy online.I am not tech savvy so I end up asking the agent at checkin.If not an AA earning class I get them to switch to my QFF number.
another area where AA has it all over QF.

Why don't you try asking Red Roo nicely? Seems like a reasonable request.

Hopefully she/he hasn't been driven away by some of the rabid members still going on and on in the anytime WP access thread!!

 

[medhead]

I really do wish QF would let you see the booking class when you buy online.

What and let the customer know exactly what they're buying before they pay?

Hopefully she/he hasn't been driven away by some of the rabid members still going on and on in the anytime WP access thread!!

Can we mention this comment when they remove a benefit you like and start going on and on about it?

P.s. Hard to multi quote on an iPhone.

Might be easy for young whippersnappers. But some of us are slowing down in old age.

 

[anat0l]

I really do wish QF would let you see the booking class when you buy online.I am not tech savvy so I end up asking the agent at checkin.If not an AA earning class I get them to switch to my QFF number.
another area where AA has it all over QF.

To be fair, not many airlines allow you to see this at all. Sometimes you need to use tricks (like above), and other times it's just plain impossible.

I think the USA based airlines - being in a much, much bigger market and thus an easily higher concentration of people who want to know fare class - are ahead of the curve in this respect. USA airlines even let you view the raw fare rules, which ironically might be OK for some of us but can be hell to read for others.