Pecking order in business

[Kate76]

Apologies if this is covered elsewhere (I'm new to AFF). We have business sale tickets to LAX for September, and are wondering where we fit in the pecking order with reward flights. Seems to me we'd be between reward and full fare J - is this the case? Just doing some advance worrying given cancellation talk.

 

[justinbrett]

Apologies if this is covered elsewhere (I'm new to AFF). We have business sale tickets to LAX for September, and are wondering where we fit in the pecking order with reward flights. Seems to me we'd be between reward and full fare J - is this the case? Just doing some advance worrying given cancellation talk.

What cancellation talk? If you have a revenue J seat you don't need to be worried at all.

 

[Kate76]

That's encouraging. No cancellation talk about that particular flight obviously - just general chat that you can't rely on too much at the moment

 

[Scr77]

Welcome to AFF. If you have a revenue ticket on Qantas metal, I wouldn’t be concerned at all. Most of the issues you will be reading of on AFF will be reward based flights and usually on partner aircraft.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @Kate76 . If your flight happens to be cancelled, you are no-where near replacement Reward seat problems. However, to get the next replacement flight, it will have to have seats in the discount 'fare bucket' that you purchased, (unless the airline decides to waive that and put you in any available J seat. Or they may 'offer' you an economy seat. EDIT: see below

But no need to worry now!

 

[justinbrett]

Welcome to AFF @Kate76 . If your flight happens to be cancelled, you are no-where near replacement Reward seat problems. However, to get the next replacement flight, it will have to have seats in the discount 'fare bucket' that you purchased, (unless the airline decides to waive that and put you in any available J seat. Or they may 'offer' you an economy seat.

But no need to worry now!

No that's not correct. If QF cancels the flight, OP will be reaccomodated on the next best available flight regardless of fare class.

 

[RooFlyer]

OK, apologies to the OP for wrong info. - but they could be re-accommodated in economy, as others have been (including me!!)

 

[justinbrett]

OK, apologies to the OP for wrong info. - but they could be re-accommodated in economy, as others have been (including me!!)

I thought you didn't fly QFi?

There is nothing to worry about and LAX is QF's best served international port so plenty of flights and plenty of J seats. Honestly it's not worth worrying about.

 

[RooFlyer]

I thought you didn't fly QFi?

Who said that? Not me. Check my AFF name - I used to fly them from a lot say 1985 to abt 2015!! I've been plat for the past 15 years bar one year. Then I started migrating to other choices, VA domestic and QR and SQ international, where practicable. Only recently I've actively been avoiding them, for obvious reasons.

The risk of being re-accommodated in economy to get a flight soon after the hypothetical cancellation is quite real - flights to LAX in J are congested at the best of times.

 

[Melburnian1]

Apologies if this is covered elsewhere (I'm new to AFF). We have business sale tickets to LAX for September, and are wondering where we fit in the pecking order with reward flights. Seems to me we'd be between reward and full fare J - is this the case? Just doing some advance worrying given cancellation talk.

The SYD - SIN - LHR flights using A380s (of which only three are in service, and as Flyerqf points out, there's an expectation of 100 per cent utilisation so QFi as he says desperately requires a spare) are chaotic at present,but MEL/SYD - LAX flights are generally only experiencing a spot of arrivals > half an hour late on occasion, such as QF11 today ex SYd (a B789 aircraft).

That may have been what you were worried about, not that I am a mind reader.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Apologies if this is covered elsewhere (I'm new to AFF). We have business sale tickets to LAX for September, and are wondering where we fit in the pecking order with reward flights. Seems to me we'd be between reward and full fare J - is this the case? Just doing some advance worrying given cancellation talk.

Status is king with Qantas. Doesn’t matter if you are on an award, sale or fully flex ticket (any class), the pecking order will usually be by status.

But, as others have said, if your flight is cancelled they will accommodate you on another QF service. Just if you have higher status you might get the better seats (first preference) on your new flight, or a better connection (eg non-stop to LAX or wherever instead of via SFO or DFW).

 

[RichardMEL]

Welcome to AFF, @Kate76 !

Agree with the others... if your flight is cancelled ahead of time (VERY unlikely for LAX flying tbh as it is super high demand) QF is responsible to give you reasonable options on other flights and with a revenue ticket it isn't going to really matter that much about fare class bought (though status and a higher fare paid for may slightly impact what options one is offered)

You're in a very different situation to those people redeeming awards on partner airlines and having shockers.. so I would not worry too much about that tbh.

If there are issues on day of departure, well things happen, but QF will reaccom as best they can. LAX can be difficult, but they could potentially rebook customers on UA or DL flights if there are seats available.

Really though I think your chances are pretty good that you'll go. The A380 situation is of some concern (and I have a September SYD-LAX-SYD myself so am following how they are going) - reality is that QF will be wanting to do everything they can to get LAX flights off for a number of reasons.

While travel is extra difficult these days with issues from staffing and delays I think you should feel reasonably confident you will be OK with your journey. I sure hope so - specially if I see you on board!!

 

[encryptededdy]

Welcome to AFF! Everyone else has left their advice, but my only comment would be in the very rare case you find yourself accepting a downgrade to Economy (e.g. if you must get out on that day etc.), ensure you clarify what refund/compensation you will get. There's stories in the past of involuntary downgrades (including quite a famous AFF thread from a few years ago of somebody's parents getting downgraded) where the refund was lower than expected. It's usually better to have them put you in a hotel and fly out the next day in Business.

Qantas Downgrade Compensation is Woefully Inadequate

When you've booked a Business Class ticket, it's extremely frustrating to turn up to the airport and find out you've been involuntarily downgraded to Economy Class.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Welcome to AFF! Everyone else has left their advice, but my only comment would be in the very rare case you find yourself accepting a downgrade to Economy (e.g. if you must get out on that day etc.), ensure you clarify what refund/compensation you will get. There's stories in the past of involuntary downgrades (including quite a famous AFF thread from a few years ago of somebody's parents getting downgraded) where the refund was lower than expected. It's usually better to have them put you in a hotel and fly out the next day in Business.

Qantas Downgrade Compensation is Woefully Inadequate

When you've booked a Business Class ticket, it's extremely frustrating to turn up to the airport and find out you've been involuntarily downgraded to Economy Class.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Agree… hotel + confirmed business class would be better. The airport staff will have no idea about the level of compensation… and qantas has biased tables in their favour offering a paltry ‘predetermined’ amount rather than anything that reflects the actual price of the ticket you paid, or how much money they made off selling the seat a second time

EU261 provides 75% of the ticket price as a refund/compensation. While I wouldn’t do that for business to a lower class, i would take it for first to business!

 

[UP4014]

And backing up everyone else, you'll be fine if have a QF ticket on a QF aircraft. Transpacific is one of QF's strongest high demand routes and a cancellation would result in you going on the next available.