Higher price when logged into Qantas FF account

[Mac502]

Today was making a return domestic booking and noticed my prices quoted were up to double when logged into my frequent flyer account. Using a private browser or a cleared cache brought the prices back down again.
I wonder how many times I have paid a higher rate without noticing this thinking it was a popular time to fly?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Today was making a return domestic booking and noticed my prices quoted were up to double when logged into my frequent flyer account. Using a private browser or a cleared cache brought the prices back down again.
I wonder how many times I have paid a higher rate without noticing this thinking it was a popular time to fly?

IME, used to be quite common! Very naughty behaviour by QF. Same as if you login to the Business portal, I've seen prices and availability are different than when logged in as FF and not logged in.

 

[VPS]

Is that legal?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Is that legal?

It's quite common for web sites to detect location and other factors from cookies to give you differential pricing so while probably no, AFAIK there's no law that requires everyone to be given the same price for the same product. And it's QF so nothing would ever be done.

 

[Hvr]

It's why when I book flights I have different browsers open, i.e. Firefox, and Chrome. In one I'll log into my QFF account and check the fare, and in the other I'll just use the QFF site to check the fare. I'll buy from whichever site is cheapest. After all you can always add your QFF number later.

Another trap is when you're using a gift voucher (GV), sometimes the price is different and often there isn't the same availability of flights. Very important if you have to transit, especially on an international trip.

Again same thing, use two browsers to check everything. However, if the price is different or the flights I want aren't available using the GV then I ring Qantas and get them to book it. Never had a problem, nor have I been charged the manual booking fee.

 

[Guvner]

It's quite common for web sites to detect location and other factors from cookies to give you differential pricing so while probably no, AFAIK there's no law that requires everyone to be given the same price for the same product. And it's QF so nothing would ever be done.

I'm sure if Qantas did implement pricing equilibrium, the higher fare wouldn't become cheaper..

 

[dylarr]

It's why when I book flights I have different browsers open, i.e. Firefox, and Chrome. In one I'll log into my QFF account and check the fare, and in the other I'll just use the QFF site to check the fare. I'll buy from whichever site is cheapest. After all you can always add your QFF number later.

Do you find there is often a difference in price by doing this? I also do it quite regularly but have never seen a difference in price myself so I've always assumed that Qantas don't use discriminatory pricing as much as some other airlines (such as QR who discriminate against device, as highlighted in this AFF article).

 

[jakeseven7]

It's why when I book flights I have different browsers open, i.e. Firefox, and Chrome. In one I'll log into my QFF account and check the fare, and in the other I'll just use the QFF site to check the fare. I'll buy from whichever site is cheapest. After all you can always add your QFF number later.

Another trap is when you're using a gift voucher (GV), sometimes the price is different and often there isn't the same availability of flights. Very important if you have to transit, especially on an international trip.

Again same thing, use two browsers to check everything. However, if the price is different or the flights I want aren't available using the GV then I ring Qantas and get them to book it. Never had a problem, nor have I been charged the manual booking fee.

Do you go incognito on Chrome as well?

 

[justinbrett]

Logical explanation is the last of the fare bucket was used for one browser and so the second browser picked up the next bucket.

Or, when launching your first browser, someone else had seats on hold and by the time you launched the second browser they time expired.

Fairly certain QF holds seats once you select a flight until you pay for the ticket or they time expire, to prevent the "your fare is no longer available" error you sometimes get on 3rd party website. If there's only two seats left and you select that flight, the next person will be quoted the next highest fare.

From what I've seen, experimenting with VPNs etc, Qantas don't do differential pricing. (Unless they started doing it during covid).

As the saying goes, if it's between a stuff up and a conspiracy, it's a stuff up every time. I think this is quite valid when it comes to QF and websites.

 

[Mac502]

Logical explanation is the last of the fare bucket was used for one browser and so the second browser picked up the next bucket.

Or, when launching your first browser, someone else had seats on hold and by the time you launched the second browser they time expired.

Fairly certain QF holds seats once you select a flight until you pay for the ticket or they time expire, to prevent the "your fare is no longer available" error you sometimes get on 3rd party website. If there's only two seats left and you select that flight, the next person will be quoted the next highest fare.

From what I've seen, experimenting with VPNs etc, Qantas don't do differential pricing. (Unless they started doing it during covid).

As the saying goes, if it's between a stuff up and a conspiracy, it's a stuff up every time. I think this is quite valid when it comes to QF and websites.

Tried multiple different times and orders on different browsers and same computer as I couldn’t believe it- it kept happening when logged in.

 

[RichardMEL]

QF do tend to hold a seat for 15mins or so before released back if a purchase is not completed....
but yes there is definitely some cookie tracking and the like.

By the way remember with credit vouchers (as opposed to gift vouchers) that fare types must be higher than originally purchased(or equal to) which can inflate prices.. but that is laid out in the T&C)

 

[TheRealTMA]

Logical explanation is the last of the fare bucket was used for one browser and so the second browser picked up the next bucket.

Or, when launching your first browser, someone else had seats on hold and by the time you launched the second browser they time expired.

Fairly certain QF holds seats once you select a flight until you pay for the ticket or they time expire, to prevent the "your fare is no longer available" error you sometimes get on 3rd party website. If there's only two seats left and you select that flight, the next person will be quoted the next highest fare.

From what I've seen, experimenting with VPNs etc, Qantas don't do differential pricing. (Unless they started doing it during covid).

As the saying goes, if it's between a stuff up and a conspiracy, it's a stuff up every time. I think this is quite valid when it comes to QF and websites.

YMMV As the saying goes, when money is involved, go for conspiracy before stuff up, unless dealing with the ATO.

 

[TomVexille]

There was an article a while back that suggested that an airline (possibly QF) who was showing higher fares to people using iDevices since they're clearly willing to pay more for less

 

[justinbrett]

Tried multiple different times and orders on different browsers and same computer as I couldn’t believe it- it kept happening when logged in.

What was the route? I'm curious now

Post automatically merged: Feb 4, 2021

There was an article a while back that suggested that an airline (possibly QF) who was showing higher fares to people using iDevices since they're clearly willing to pay more for less

Considering they can't even get their Apple Watch app to be even remotely functional, I very much doubt the work experience IT kids have the tech for this.

 

[Mac502]

There was an article a while back that suggested that an airline (possibly QF) who was showing higher fares to people using iDevices since they're clearly willing to pay more for less

Strangely enough the iDevice went back to cheaper price even when logged in - I tried multiple ways.

Post automatically merged: Feb 4, 2021

What was the route? I'm curious now

Post automatically merged: Feb 4, 2021

Considering they can't even get their Apple Watch app to be even remotely functional, I very much doubt the work experience IT kids have the tech for this.

Route giving higher price was Safari - already logged into FF account..

 

[trippin_the_rift]

You'd have to be daft to think airlines and many, many, many other companies DON'T show different prices depending on who is viewing the price.

Similar to how you see different news depending on which sites you consume media.

 

[justinbrett]

Strangely enough the iDevice went back to cheaper price even when logged in - I tried multiple ways.

Post automatically merged: Feb 4, 2021

Route giving higher price was Safari - already logged into FF account..

What was the route - give it to me in cities. Let's see if it happens to others.

 

[Guvner]

Logical explanation is the last of the fare bucket was used for one browser and so the second browser picked up the next bucket.

Or, when launching your first browser, someone else had seats on hold and by the time you launched the second browser they time expired.

Fairly certain QF holds seats once you select a flight until you pay for the ticket or they time expire, to prevent the "your fare is no longer available" error you sometimes get on 3rd party website. If there's only two seats left and you select that flight, the next person will be quoted the next highest fare.

From what I've seen, experimenting with VPNs etc, Qantas don't do differential pricing. (Unless they started doing it during covid).

As the saying goes, if it's between a stuff up and a conspiracy, it's a stuff up every time. I think this is quite valid when it comes to QF and websites.

With your first example, the OP did not specify they got to hold or checkout stage. I read it as the pricing "quote" which is just a displayed fare on search results. There wouldn't be any hold until you selected a fare and added it your "itinerary'. So both browsers should have the same fares displayed.
Your second example would seem unlikely as it would not always be the FF account fare that is higher. It would be random.

 

[Mac502]

What was the route - give it to me in cities. Let's see if it happens to others.

Sorry, my bad. Brisbane to Adelaide.

 

[Guvner]

You'd have to be daft to think airlines and many, many, many other companies DON'T show different prices depending on who is viewing the price.

Similar to how you see different news depending on which sites you consume media.

I've seen the same behavior on hotel booking sites. For example, I received a 25% discount code for a hotel chain which applied if I logged in and booked directly. I checked the price on the booking engine, then logged in.
Mysteriously... the price had gone up 25% and then came back down to the advertised rate after applying the code.