Less SCs on OW Discount Y [Only Y class posts as Economy for international Flights]

[SYD]

Apologies if this has been posted already, but did anyone notice the subtle changes to SCs for OW Y flights?

[Edit] Consensus is that there was no change to QFF rules and OW international Economy and Discount Economy SC rules - unless of course someone has info otherwise! [SYD]

I just got back from a trip to Argentina and did four sectors on 4M (LAN Argentina) -AEP-COR-AEP-FTE-AEP. At the time of booking, I worked out that this should be 120 SCs (40 AEP-COR return and 80 AEP-FTE return) based on the QANTAS earning rules. Not too bad for about A$600 and 8 hrs flying. Noting that BA, AA and others were already only giving 25% to 50% miles and 50% SCs. Whereas LAN and Mexicana :?: were good for SCs. Last year I got 40 SCs doing the short hop from CUN to HAV - all of 300 miles each way in discount Y.

Anyway, when the flights were credited, the SCs were only 50% (discount Y). I went back to check the QANTAS rules and the SCs earning table has been changed to:

"For international flights, Qantas Economy is class Y. For travel on oneworld Alliance airlines or Air Pacific, Economy is class Y."

So now, unless you are on full fare Y ticket, it's only 50% SCs... At least LAN still gave 100% miles for each sector.

It makes those AA YUP fares now even more attractive for SC runs. At least I got those across America on our way to Argentina (the long way).

 

[drewbles]

Apologies if this has been posted already, but did anyone notice the subtle changes to SCs for OW Y flights?

I just got back from a trip to Argentina and did four sectors on 4M (LAN Argentina) -AEP-COR-AEP-FTE-AEP. At the time of booking, I worked out that this should be 120 SCs (40 AEP-COR return and 80 AEP-FTE return) based on the QANTAS earning rules. Not too bad for about A$600 and 8 hrs flying. Noting that BA, AA and others were already only giving 25% to 50% miles and 50% SCs. Whereas LAN and Mexicana :?: were good for SCs. Last year I got 40 SCs doing the short hop from CUN to HAV - all of 300 miles each way in discount Y.

Anyway, when the flights were credited, the SCs were only 50% (discount Y). I went back to check the QANTAS rules and the SCs earning table has been changed to:

"For international flights, Qantas Economy is class Y. For travel on oneworld Alliance airlines or Air Pacific, Economy is class Y."

So now, unless you are on full fare Y ticket, it's only 50% SCs... At least LAN still gave 100% miles for each sector.

It makes those AA YUP fares now even more attractive for SC runs. At least I got those across America on our way to Argentina (the long way).

These haven't changed anytime recently as far as I know. It's long been that international Y only credits on QF as full fare Y in Y/B/H and on OW partners they are usually similarly restrictive.

As someone that never flies full fare Y (except 2-3 times due to work commitments), it's never bothered me (and YUPP/KUPP fares are usually very good for where I need to travel in the USA so I find the most creative permissible routing for these to maximise SC's).

It's just a good idea to check the earning table before booking if SC's are important. The number of people booking in full fare Y is definitely less than it used to be thanks to the prevalence of sales and competition in most markets.

 

[casanovawa]

SYD

When you took these flights on LAN, did you book them as a LAN South American Airpass or just as 4 seperate flights, cheapest that were available???

SCs aren't a huge issue for me, but just not sure which class the air pass books into...

 

[Sprucegoose]

These haven't changed anytime recently as far as I know. It's long been that international Y only credits on QF as full fare Y in Y/B/H and on OW partners they are usually similarly restrictive.

As someone that never flies full fare Y (except 2-3 times due to work commitments), it's never bothered me (and YUPP/KUPP fares are usually very good for where I need to travel in the USA so I find the most creative permissible routing for these to maximise SC's).

It's just a good idea to check the earning table before booking if SC's are important. The number of people booking in full fare Y is definitely less than it used to be thanks to the prevalence of sales and competition in most markets.

There are many different price levels of full Y fares. Mine to Asia are just a little more money than the next level down. At least that's what QF told me.

The other advantage is half upgrade points required.

 

[JohnK]

For as long as I can remember full "Y" class was the only one offering Economy and not Discount Economy SCs on international flights.

P.S Can the thread title please be changed as it is very very misleading....

 

[NM]

Nothing has changed here. Its always been that for international flights (whether QF or OneWorld) only full Y fares earn at the Economy rate. Any fare class less than Y earns as discount economy for SC earning.

 

[serfty]

Yes, definitely the case for International flights ... and for many years. Y class posts as "Economy", ANY other eligible coach class will post as "Discount Economy".

Not this is different from Domestic flights on QF where B, H & K post as "Economy".

This is noted here: Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

The table is somewhat clearer than it has been in the past. Note the description under "Cabin Class"; this is indicative of SC earn.

 

[SYD]

Re: Less SCs on OW Discount Y [Only Y class posts as Economy for international Flight

Yes, definitely the case for International flights ... and for many years. Y class posts as "Economy", ANY other eligible coach class will post as "Discount Economy".

Not this is different from Domestic flights on QF where B, H & K post as "Economy".

This is noted here: Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

Note the description under "Cabin Class" - It's somewhat clearer than it has been in the past.

Yep, that's what the rules say and so be it. My point was that only 12 mths ago, I recieved Full Economy status credits on Mexicana booked in "O" class (these were online cheapest available fares out of Cancun with MX flight numbers, operated by Mexicana Click). 318 miles each way, 20 SCs each way awarded.

I was expecting discount economy SCs and was surprised to receive double. So I went back to look at the rules at the time and they seem to suggest that SCs were given based on the respective airline fare definitions for Discount Econ, Econ, PE etc etc. Similar to what they have for earning points. Mexicana and couple of others seemed more generous (certainly better than AA and BA).

When booking these recent trips on LAN using the LAN Sth America Pass ("H" class I think), I checked the rules sround the time of booking to see what SCs we should get. I do not recall seeing the overarching statement that only "Y" counted as "Economy" for status credits on ALL international OW flights.

Hence the question if this had changed recently. If it hasn't, then I guess I must have been lucky with Mexicana last year. More lucky than Mexicana it would seem.

Cheers

 

[serfty]

...
Hence the question if this had changed recently. If it hasn't, then I guess I must have been lucky with Mexicana last year. More lucky than Mexicana it would seem.
...

... such things can happen from time to time, especially with oneworld partners.

 

[NM]

Re: Less SCs on OW Discount Y [Only Y class posts as Economy for international Flight

Yep, that's what the rules say and so be it. My point was that only 12 mths ago, I recieved Full Economy status credits on Mexicana booked in "O" class (these were online cheapest available fares out of Cancun with MX flight numbers, operated by Mexicana Click). 318 miles each way, 20 SCs each way awarded.

If you received full Y status credits for a discount economy fare, then it was a mistake posting. The rules have not changed in that time and it has always been that an O class fare should earn discount economy status credits.

 

[Aus ATC]

Re: Less SCs on OW Discount Y [Only Y class posts as Economy for international Flight

How do you actually purchase a Y class fare? Only via a TA or QFA phone sales? On most international flight searches via the QFA website, the most flexible (expensive!) fare that can be purchased is a Flexisaver, which is discount economy.

(Not that I would ever do so unless for company travel)

 

[JohnK]

Re: Less SCs on OW Discount Y [Only Y class posts as Economy for international Flight

Yep, that's what the rules say and so be it. My point was that only 12 mths ago, I recieved Full Economy status credits on Mexicana booked in "O" class (these were online cheapest available fares out of Cancun with MX flight numbers, operated by Mexicana Click). 318 miles each way, 20 SCs each way awarded.

Mistakes do happen from time to time.

I know it is not related to your question/issue but I have had times where CX and AY economy has not posted as the class returned from CX and AY was 'inelegible First Class'. It has also happened to some CX business class legs. I have had to put in an online claim to QFF with the relevant proof of travel and the SCS have been adjusted manually.

I guess what can happen from time to time is the partner airline sends back to QFF the wrong booking class. In your case that booking class was 'Y' where as in my case the booking class was ineligible.

 

[NM]

Re: Less SCs on OW Discount Y [Only Y class posts as Economy for international Flight

How do you actually purchase a Y class fare? Only via a TA or QFA phone sales? On most international flight searches via the QFA website, the most flexible (expensive!) fare that can be purchased is a Flexisaver, which is discount economy.

(Not that I would ever do so unless for company travel)

I have only every purchased Y fares through a TA. There are sometimes Y international Y fares that are reasonable value. For international flights there can be multiple Y fares available, with some being significantly less than others. By way of example, a random check on a SYD-HKG flight shows the following Y class fares available:
YOW = $4129
YLFAOW = $1441

Both are classed as full economy. Note also that W ($2412) fares fall between these two, with B fare being about $1234, K is $1077, and M is $929. Interesting that, pending availability and restrictions, R comes in cheaper than Y at $1261.

Similarly for a return trip:

YRT = $6351
YLFFA1 = $2217

 

[drewbles]

Re: Less SCs on OW Discount Y [Only Y class posts as Economy for international Flight

I was opup'd from Y to F on AA last year, and the re-ticketed fare class credited as full fare Y on QF, even though the fare bucket didn't exist on the FF page. I wasn't complaining and said nothing of course.

As serfty et al say, sometimes, mistakes in your favour are made. What happened with your O class crediting wasn't the norm and you just won the SC lottery for the year