Not able to travel Mel-Beijing with JS - any ideas on best way round this

[DontGetMeStarted]

Hi All..looking for some best advice - last year purchased 2 really cheap sales fares to Beijing departing 9/5 - ret 17/5 (with luggage & Meals $825.00) now find that husbands work load wont permit us to fly at that time..by the way our plan was to take the fast train to Shanghai and fly home from there on points due to the long layover in Singapore. Just called JS and yes we can change flights to another date ( maybe Sept) but with change fees @$90.00 pp plus fare difference that bit is OK but when I asked about just booking one way flights to Beijing in place of the above apparently this is not allowed and would have to pay the full return fare from Beijing thereby effectively more than doubling the cost. I know these are the rules and I bought these in my excitement in haste but looks like they will go to waste. Name changes can be made too for a change fee but also plus the fare difference so cannot even give them away....Not sure if anyone has any comments or info other than the above but thought I would try. Next time won't be so quick to book without checking....

 

[ozbeachbabe]

AFAIK JQ can put the residual value of the booking (after change fees etc) into a credit shell which can be used for travel to any other JQ destination domestic or international but double check with JQ anyway.

It may be more convenient to holiday somewhere else if China isn't an option.

Ask them whether the credit shell reference number is the same as your original booking number or whether they will allocate a new reference number to you which you need to quote when you call up to make the new booking.

Also note the expiry date of the credit shell & most importantly once booked, what is the last day for all travel to be completed. You need to know these details so you can get leave approved so you can make new bookings that will fall within the validity.

 

[munitalP]

AFAIK JQ can put the residual value of the booking (after change fees etc) into a credit shell which can be used for travel to any other JQ destination domestic or international but double check with JQ anyway.

It may be more convenient to holiday somewhere else if China isn't an option.

Ask them whether the credit shell reference number is the same as your original booking number or whether they will allocate a new reference number to you which you need to quote when you call up to make the new booking.

Also note the expiry date of the credit shell & most importantly once booked, what is the last day for all travel to be completed. You need to know these details so you can get leave approved so you can make new bookings that will fall within the validity.

Quality reply!

 

[dk4]

AFAIK JQ can put the residual value of the booking (after change fees etc) into a credit shell which can be used for travel to any other JQ destination domestic or international but double check with JQ anyway.

Is this something new? I was under the impression that Jetstar didn't function in this manner?

Two very different and important things about Jetstar (the ticketless airline) and flight changes, are -
1/ any rebooking must be changed immediately onto an available flight, and can't be held open.
2/ a booking doesn’t expire (i.e. no "one year validity" rule) so long as you always rebook (before the change date disallowed terms of the fare) onto a future flight, thus you could continually extend you booking indefinitely!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Is this something new? I was under the impression that Jetstar didn't function in this manner?

Two very different and important things about Jetstar (the ticketless airline) and flight changes, are -
1/ any rebooking must be changed immediately onto an available flight, and can't be held open.
2/ a booking doesn’t expire (i.e. no "one year validity" rule) so long as you always rebook (before the change date disallowed terms of the fare) onto a future flight, thus you could continually extend you booking indefinitely!

I have only done this on DJ & QF not JQ but I was under the impression they did also. DJ is also ticketless so I don't think that's a valid reason for JQ not doing it.

Noreen
Do you still have the original confirmation email that would have the full fare conditions?

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

I have only done this on DJ & QF not JQ but I was under the impression they did also. DJ is also ticketless so I don't think that's a valid reason for JQ not doing it.

Hi Thanks for the responses, seems dk4 is correct...just called them again the only way that I can receive a credit on this is on compassionate grounds after submitting a medical certificate for either one of the travellers or if an immediate family members is ill stating that that traveller cannot fly on those grounds...now my Mum is just in her 3rd month of recovery from open heart surgery..wonder whether her Dr would do something ?? Guessing not and probably is not the right thing to do so seems I have no options.....

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hi Thanks for the responses, seems dk4 is correct...just called them again the only way that I can receive a credit on this is on compassionate grounds after submitting a medical certificate for either one of the travellers or if an immediate family members is ill stating that that traveller cannot fly on those grounds...now my Mum is just in her 3rd month of recovery from open heart surgery..wonder whether her Dr would do something ?? Guessing not and probably is not the right thing to do so seems I have no options.....

Well you could always ask the Doctor if it would be beneficial for you, as your mother's carer to not travel to China in May.

When can your husband get his annual leave? You would need to know this before your outbound date of 09 May so you can change your flights beforehand.

I would scan the availability on JQ to find out what the most economical time of year is & somehow try to co-ordinate these dates with your husbands annual leave seeing as though your're committed to travelling to BJS. That way when you do go to rebook your flights besides the change fee, you would be minimising the additional collection required between the sale fare already paid for vs the new fare applicable for the new dates of travel.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Thanks Oz. will explore the Dr option if not may have to forfeit as fares later with change fees make it much less viable option. Was such a good deal originally But not that return journey. Never mind will put it all down to experience and think a bit more clearly on cheap fare offers before pressing the button