Qantas Accused of Price Gouging

[docjames]

I'm at a loss as to why QF have made a business decision to reintroduce this rule. Is it because they're worried people will cancel and rebook during sales?

100% this. If they allow a travel credit to be used on a lower fare, they forgo revenue.

Buy SYD-MEL for $200 in February.

In March, a sale comes on. Put $200 in to travel credit, then buy two flights for the new sale fare of $100ea.

I think from the airline standpoint, the “no lower fare” rule makes sense.

 

[Lynda2475]

Even by your reasoning it would be better to keep doing free changes until 30th April. If you are still concerned then request your credit on 30th April, maximising its life.

State border closures (WA aside) are history, if you simply change your mind and decide to not travel when there are no smart traveller warnings and the flight runs I dont think that the airline owes you anything. If you are easily spooked you should buy a fully flexible ticket.

In the case where catching covid means you cant fly travel insurance will cover the cost difference for rebooking (assuming you chose your policy wisely). And domestically I think you will find even beyond 30th April if you show proof that you are covid positive and therefore cant fly there will be some discretion exercised.

 

[Lynda2475]

We cancelled our flights.

An option would have been to firstly changed the name on the two tickets for your parents to other local family members or friends, then cancel. That way the credits are usable by locals.

That said i have never ever been asked to show any ID for a domestic flight. So what is stopping you from using the credit to book two separate returns flights for you and your partner, and travel on one of them under your parents name? Only glitch would be lounge access, which is no big deal on a domestic flight.

 

[NM]

An option would have been to firstly changed the name on the two tickets for your parents to other local family members or friends, then cancel. That way the credits are usable by locals.

That said i have never ever been asked to show any ID for a domestic flight. So what is stopping you from using the credit to book two separate returns flights for you and your partner, and travel on one of them under your parents name? Only glitch would be lounge access, which is no big deal on a domestic flight.

Name changes are not normally permitted on bookings, except for things like misspelling or adding a middle name to match a passport etc.

 

[Lynda2475]

Poorly worded but QFF website indicates that names on travel vouchers can be changed.

https://help.qantas.com/support/s/article/Name-changes-on-Customer-Care-travel-vouchers

 

[dylarr]

Poorly worded but QFF website indicates that names on travel vouchers can be changed.

https://help.qantas.com/support/s/article/Name-changes-on-Customer-Care-travel-vouchers

These are Customer Care travel vouchers which are different to flight credits (which are issued in the name of the original traveller(s) and can't be changed).

 

[Franky]

These are Customer Care travel vouchers which are different to flight credits (which are issued in the name of the original traveller(s) and can't be changed).

Boy - no wonder confusion reigns in a number of QF products...

 

[dylarr]

Boy - no wonder confusion reigns in a number of QF products...

Yep! There are Customer Care travel vouchers, flight credits, Qantas Pass (formally Travel Pass), layerings of rules for if your booking was created before 30 Sept 21, another layering of rules if you book before 30 Apr 22 (which was previously 28 Feb 22, 31 July 21, 30 April 21, 28 Feb 21...), options if you cancel your flight, options if Qantas cancels your flight, a set of rules for Classic Flight Rewards and another set for cash fares and so on...

The average punter would have a great degree of difficulty navigating these rules on their own.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

...

If you get a credit now you are guaranteeing the equal or higher fare limitation when you go to use it later.

...

Unfortunately this should read... you are guaranteeing the equal or higher fare limitation when you go to use it later.

If 'equal' was truly an option, perhaps not so much angst.

 

[NM]

Poorly worded but QFF website indicates that names on travel vouchers can be changed.

https://help.qantas.com/support/s/article/Name-changes-on-Customer-Care-travel-vouchers

When the "voucher" is tied back to a PNR, then the rules that apply to a PNR booking generally apply to the use of the voucher. As others have noted, there are several different things that can be called vouchers. Name changes are generally not permitted (except for a small number of reasons that don't actually change the person intended to travel) on a PNR booking. Changing names on a booking normally requires the cancellation of the PNR and start again creating a new one. With many of the "cancellation vouchers", the credit is held by modifying the PNR with dummy details for flight origin, destination, dates etc.

 

[anthracen]

Extremely disappointed with Qantas' policy re Travel Pass and the expiry date of 12/21 when Qantas were cancelling domestic flights, interstate travel required quarantine and there was no meaningful domestic destination to book to. Compared to SIA and even Lufthansa/Eurowings where I got very reasonable timeframes to spend flight credit, Qantas have now lost my loyalty - family's been gold for a long time

 

[jrfsp]

Pretty much every intl carrier flying into AU has greater flexibility with tickets and credits at the moment, i don't know why people are continuing to book with QF. Loyalty works both ways.

 

[Lynda2475]

Yet when i was flying for work regularly, we used to cancel QF SYD-MEL trips all the time, and the credit was then available to any member of our team. So QF do allow different people to use the credit when the booking is for corporate travel (in Y).

Also a few years ago a friend had 2 domestic QF fares booked and then her travel buddy got sick and she asked me if I wanted to come instead. There may have been a fee but QF definitely changed the name on the ticket to my name, as I was then able to link to my QFF account and earn points. I understand name changes aren't free (except where QF or agent makes an error) but I always understood they could be made for a fee as a change.

So I still think if you changed the name on the ticket before cancelling, the credit could be used by someone else. Or had the booking split, before cancelling, so you end up with 2 credits, and because domestic and no ID checks, could just fly under another name on the second redemption.

For me personally I would always be looking to reschedule over cancelling, so as not to lose $.

 

[AIRwin]

Name change depends on the fare rules:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/book-a-trip/flights/fare-types/fare-guide-information.html/australia/australia.html

 

[Franky]

Yep! There are Customer Care travel vouchers, flight credits, Qantas Pass (formally Travel Pass), layerings of rules for if your booking was created before 30 Sept 21, another layering of rules if you book before 30 Apr 22 (which was previously 28 Feb 22, 31 July 21, 30 April 21, 28 Feb 21...), options if you cancel your flight, options if Qantas cancels your flight, a set of rules for Classic Flight Rewards and another set for cash fares and so on...

The average punter would have a great degree of difficulty navigating these rules on their own.

I would be so bold as to say even some smarter than the average punter would have difficulty trying to work their wau thru the above...

 

[dylarr]

Yet when i was flying for work regularly, we used to cancel QF SYD-MEL trips all the time, and the credit was then available to any member of our team. So QF do allow different people to use the credit when the booking is for corporate travel (in Y).

Yep spot on. The negotiated / private fares available at the company I work for allow for name changes when flights are put into credit so it's probably a common thing for a lot of corporate accounts. Ultimately will come down to the original fare rules as to whether or not it is permissible.

 

[anthracen]

Looking through many of these comments I think there's a huge difference between someone's employer booking Flexi fares corporately and your privately funded holiday flights! If the company pays the (flexible) flight you don't have skin in the game! However: Are Qantas price-gouging? Yes , even in the corporate space Qantas have lost the contract for QLD regional flights against Rex, which was foreseeable: Qantas can't get away with e.g., charging AUD500 one way for a 1h flight BNE-RMA, which had been going on for years...

 

[Lynda2475]

FYI we were never allowed to book fully flex fares when travelling for work, always had to choose lowest price bucket akin to red e deals and name changes happened all the time on the credits.

I had many self funded non flexible flights cancelled by QF in 2020 and 2021 and have not been out of pocket once, either travel pass was given or points and taxes refunded.

You need to read T&Cs when booking,.

 

[anthracen]

I see what you're saying but you do realise that the T&C of a Qantas travel pass is not something I can chose!? From a fair trade point, it is something imposed on the traveller. I originally booked a product (international flights), and was offered a replacement TravelPass that had severe restrictions placed upon it (use by date, destinations) although the print on the travel pass states "treat it like cash". It's a bit like ordering your new car, but instead getting a voucher that within its limited validity, can only be used on buying tires.

 

[Lynda2475]

You must have a flight credit and not a travel pass. TPs do not restrict the destinations or the passenger that they can be used for. Only restrictions are 2 year expiry and that needs to be used to book via QF (although can be on a partner operated flight).

I used one of my TPs on a completely different route than that which it was issued for, no drama at all.