Name change on Qantas classic reward ticket

[Per_Travels]

Hi all,

I've got some Qantas domestic classic reward flights coming up. One of our group can't fly and I was looking to change to another friend. My understanding (that I'd like confirming before I phone Qantas) is that, whilst they can change the name, the process is that the booking get's cancelled and then they create a new booking with the new name in it.

My worry is that these seats had to be released on request and both flights are currently showing as completely sold out on expertflyer - ie if the process is that the original booking gets cancelled, then it's unlikely that seats will be available (or be made available) for the new classic reward booking.

If the process is that they can simply change the name on the original booking then it should be fairly straightforward and I'll give then a call.

 

[fletty]

There's a 'name correction' for typos and name changes like marriage etc. which retains the same booking (if the CR is for a QF flight and not a partner redemption). AFAIK 'name changes' where the ticket is now for a new person require it to be split and cancelled, then re-book for the new person.
Personally I think you will struggle to get a CR seat issued for them, but you could try.

 

[Ade]

Hi all,

I've got some Qantas domestic classic reward flights coming up. One of our group can't fly and I was looking to change to another friend. My understanding (that I'd like confirming before I phone Qantas) is that, whilst they can change the name, the process is that the booking get's cancelled and then they create a new booking with the new name in it.

My worry is that these seats had to be released on request and both flights are currently showing as completely sold out on expertflyer - ie if the process is that the original booking gets cancelled, then it's unlikely that seats will be available (or be made available) for the new classic reward booking.

If the process is that they can simply change the name on the original booking then it should be fairly straightforward and I'll give then a call.

I'm unable to tell from your post if your trip is Domestic or International.

If it is International - name changes are not permitted, according to https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/policies/service/service-request-policies/name-correction-and-name-change.html

Assuming For Domestic, as @fletty mentioned, the *old_name* pax need to be removed from the ticket, new PNR created for the *new_name* pax. You can ask for the 2 PNRs to be linked (linking doesn't provide the same features as all pax being on same PNR).

Given that your seats are CR and given that you'd have to call QF to do this change anyways, why not explain to the agent on the phone to make sure that the CR seats that I think goes back into the inventory to be booked immediately for your use? Depending on which CC you get (assuming you are WP or above, as you mentioned that the seats had been released on request), you may get to talk to someone from HBA or AKL and they can help you out without any issues.

Good luck and do keep us posted on how you go.

 

[AIRwin]

I'm unable to tell from your post if your trip is Domestic or International.

"I've got some Qantas domestic classic reward flights coming up. "

 

[Ade]

"I've got some Qantas domestic classic reward flights coming up. "

Ah man! my bad. Gots to improve my reading! I will update my post.

OT: I seem to be missing a lot of key details - not just here, even at work and at home ... somethings that might seem obviously there, I seem to miss.

 

[Per_Travels]

I'm unable to tell from your post if your trip is Domestic or International.

If it is International - name changes are not permitted, according to https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/policies/service/service-request-policies/name-correction-and-name-change.html

Assuming For Domestic, as @fletty mentioned, the *old_name* pax need to be removed from the ticket, new PNR created for the *new_name* pax. You can ask for the 2 PNRs to be linked (linking doesn't provide the same features as all pax being on same PNR).

Given that your seats are CR and given that you'd have to call QF to do this change anyways, why not explain to the agent on the phone to make sure that the CR seats that I think goes back into the inventory to be booked immediately for your use? Depending on which CC you get (assuming you are WP or above, as you mentioned that the seats had been released on request), you may get to talk to someone from HBA or AKL and they can help you out without any issues.

Good luck and do keep us posted on how you go.

Thanks for the reply - just bolded what I think is the relevant point here. Given the flight is sold out - would the seats actually go back into classic reward inventory and hence be available to immediately rebook and does the agent get any choice in this? My concern is that if they don't go into the classic reward fare bucket then, given the flight is completely full, there's no way that QF would release them straight back to me. Probably the agent wouldn't even have the choice of re-requesting them as they wouldn't be in a 'requestable' fare bucket

 

[Ade]

Given the flight is sold out - would the seats actually go back into classic reward inventory and hence be available to immediately rebook and does the agent get any choice in this?

I don't know the answer to this. May be someone more experience can help/provide their insight here? But I'd think that the agent on the phone would be able to provide some details BEFORE making any changes to the existing booking.

Is there a backup plan you have in mind if things don't go your way? Better to have one ready so that you can ask to see if your plan B will work, with the agent on the phone.

 

[CaptJCool]

I think you could be sailin too close to the wind on this one




13.1.4 Reward Flights are available only to Members and their Eligible Family Members. Members will be required to provide Membership details prior to obtaining a Reward Flight. Eligible Family Members may use the Reward Flight whether the Member travels with them or not. A Reward Flight issued for an Eligible Family Member must be redeemed in the name of the Eligible Family Member as shown on their passport or any other identification acceptable to Qantas Loyalty.

Hi all,

I've got some Qantas domestic classic reward flights coming up. One of our group can't fly and I was looking to change to another friend.

Secondly
CR fare rules exclude change of name and do allow “change to name”

 

[equus]

But I'd think that the agent on the phone would be able to provide some details BEFORE making any changes to the existing booking.

I would be amazed if a typical phone agent could ever be trusted to provide reliable advice on this. For what its worth, I don't believe a cancellation causes the same fare bucket to "go back into inventory". As far as I understand, the available fare buckets are determined somewhat dynamically based on the mysterious yield management rules.

In cases were flights are not sold out, then some of those rules make CR buckets available up to a certain number (according to the algorithm) total CR fares on the flight. As the total number per flight comes into it, all other things remaining equal, this is what causes it to appear as if the CR bucket goes back into inventory - it is not really, it is just that the drop in the number now allocated to the flight triggers the availability of a new CR fare provided that other parts of the yield management have not kicked in to say "only make expensive fares available, this flight is nearly sold out, we think we can get good money for any more sales".

If there are no revenue seats left on a flight, I would be extremely surprised if cancelling a CR made a new X/U fare available - more likely to see a J/Y pop up.

 

[madrooster]

If it's a purely QF domestic itinerary, then changing to another cousin is easy. They will maintain the existing PNR and just change the name then send the PNR to manual ticketing to reissue the ticket.

 

[Brissy1]

If it's a purely QF domestic itinerary, then changing to another cousin is easy. They will maintain the existing PNR and just change the name then send the PNR to manual ticketing to reissue the ticket

Cousin? "She's my niece" is the standard euphemism that's been used for centuries

 

[Flyfrequently]

Hi all,

I've got some Qantas domestic classic reward flights coming up. One of our group can't fly and I was looking to change to another friend. My understanding (that I'd like confirming before I phone Qantas) is that, whilst they can change the name, the process is that the booking get's cancelled and then they create a new booking with the new name in it.

My worry is that these seats had to be released on request and both flights are currently showing as completely sold out on expertflyer - ie if the process is that the original booking gets cancelled, then it's unlikely that seats will be available (or be made available) for the new classic reward booking.

If the process is that they can simply change the name on the original booking then it should be fairly straightforward and I'll give then a call.

There is also a thread from August 2022 called "Domestic classic reward-name/passenger changes"
You might like to read other AFFer's experiences @Per_Travels
Let us know how you go- good luck!

 

[Ade]

If it's a purely QF domestic itinerary, then changing to another cousin is easy. They will maintain the existing PNR and just change the name then send the PNR to manual ticketing to reissue the ticket.

Thanks for this info @madrooster - when this change to another cousin is done, is there any fee/extra charge involved?

 

[Per_Travels]

If it's a purely QF domestic itinerary, then changing to another cousin is easy. They will maintain the existing PNR and just change the name then send the PNR to manual ticketing to reissue the ticket.

Just to close this out for people's benefit - it was as @madrooster describes. I called Qantas (I'm WP1 so this may have helped) and made the name change from my cousin to my niece - all was very straightforward and no risk of them releasing the seats back to inventory as I'd been worried about.

The process, as described to me, was that they don't directly make the change, they put in the request to the team that deals with these changes and it's then prioritized based on when you're flying. Hence the name change wasn't actually actioned until yesterday (approx 24 hours before the flight) when a new ticket was emailed to me with the name change (and the update appeared on the app).

 

[WLGFlyer]

@madrooster is it as straight forward for an international QF only itinerary?

 

[p--and--t]

Just pondering.

If it's a domestic flight where no ID is required to check-in and board and the replacement passenger presents as the same gender..... who would know/care about the name?

 

[fletty]

Just pondering.

If it's a domestic flight where no ID is required to check-in and board and the replacement passenger presents as the same gender..... who would know/care about the name?

It's possible no-one would notice, but I believe it's a criminal act to fly under someone else's name.

Using False Identification Information to Obtain an Air Passenger Ticket for a Constitutional Flight | Section 376.4(1) Criminal Code Act 1995

Going to Court for a Criminal Code Act Offence? Call (02) 9261 8881 to arrange a Free Consult with an Experienced Criminal Defence Lawyer

www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au

 

[BriarFlyer]

@madrooster is it as straight forward for an international QF only itinerary?

Not @madrooster nor do I have their immense knowledge base, however I have name-changed a QF Classic Reward ticket and it was straight forward once I connected with an agent who knew this was possible. Took a few calls, however, as some agents told me this wasn't possible. I persisted until I found someone who could do it.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Just pondering.

If it's a domestic flight where no ID is required to check-in and board and the replacement passenger presents as the same gender..... who would know/care about the name?

Slightly OT, but yesterday flying JQ OOL to MEL, our daughter travelling with her 14 year old daughter (on separate PNR's) were both asked for ID.
Fortunately our daughter had a copy of Missy's passport on her phone.

 

[p--and--t]

Slightly OT, but yesterday flying JQ OOL to MEL, our daughter travelling with her 14 year old daughter (on separate PNR's) were both asked for ID.
Fortunately our daughter had a copy of Missy's passport on her phone.

Possiibly because a minor was involved