Qantas Christmas Cancellation Fees

[HSB44]

Hi there,
So I was looking to book a Flex ticket on Qantas (QF codeshare on EK metal) over Christmas period, and when checking the terms and conditions... I noticed a nice little Xmas gift from AJ - $500 cancellation fee.

"Cancellation (including no show)
Before departure:
Except where no show fee applies:

• Full refund, except: for travel 1 December 2022 to 31 January 2023 and 21 June to 31 July 2023, a fee of A$500 applies."

..But... being a flex ticket, changes are free.....


So - if I ended up not being able to fly, do you think I could change to another flight on another date (at the same or similar price), and then cancel that for a lower cancellation fee?
Or would the terms of the original booking date remain? (i.e. because the original booking was over Xmas, then the same $500 cancellation fee applies regardless of what date I change the flight to).

What do you think?

 

[MrJetset]

Hi there,
So I was looking to book a Flex ticket on Qantas (QF codeshare on EK metal) over Christmas period, and when checking the terms and conditions... I noticed a nice little Xmas gift from AJ - $500 cancellation fee.

"Cancellation (including no show)
Before departure:
Except where no show fee applies:

• Full refund, except: for travel 1 December 2022 to 31 January 2023 and 21 June to 31 July 2023, a fee of A$500 applies."

..But... being a flex ticket, changes are free.....


So - if I ended up not being able to fly, do you think I could change to another flight on another date (at the same or similar price), and then cancel that for a lower cancellation fee?
Or would the terms of the original booking date remain? (i.e. because the original booking was over Xmas, then the same $500 cancellation fee applies regardless of what date I change the flight to).

What do you think?

1) AJ doesn't decide fare rules, it's far below his pay level.

2) Fare rules are there for you to accept or not. If you don't want to pay the refund fee then you could probably book Flex for the same price with EK direct.

3) The original fare rules always apply. If you change dates but then cancel, you'll be charged the $500 fee based on the original date.

 

[HSB44]

1) AJ doesn't decide fare rules, it's far below his pay level.

2) Fare rules are there for you to accept or not. If you don't want to pay the refund fee then you could probably book Flex for the same price with EK direct.

3) The original fare rules always apply. If you change dates but then cancel, you'll be charged the $500 fee based on the original date.

Re: #2 - I would love to book direct through EK, and will likely do so in future after my most recent terrible QF booking experiences. Unfortunately I am stuck trying to use up a difficult QF flight credit and need to make an urgent booking.

Thanks for #3 . Ill assume the worst case scenario if Im unable to complete the booking.

 

[CaptJCool]

The house always wins...,

travel insurance covers loss ?

 

[TheInsider]

Sorry, but this is normal for ANY airline. AJ does not decide the fare rules.

 

[CaptJCool]

That said, my parents will cop a change fee of $99 per person -that’s a whopping $198 on a $458 credit.....

what for the inconvenience that my mother pre-emptied a covid cancellation and then must herself re-book, all for the privilege of handing over $198 for a (well she’s a little slower than I) 15-20 minute cancellation and rebook!

 

[MrJetset]

That said, my parents will cop a change fee of $99 per person -that’s a whopping $198 on a $458 credit.....

what for the inconvenience that my mother pre-emptied a covid cancellation and then must herself re-book, all for the privilege of handing over $198 for a (well she’s a little slower than I) 15-20 minute cancellation and rebook!

The credit is irrelevant to the $99 change fee.

 

[CaptJCool]

The credit is irrelevant to the $99 change fee.

And if the credit was $199 ? She’d be left with a dollar.

it’s called “breakage”

 

[dylarr]

And if the credit was $199 ? She’d be left with a dollar.

it’s called “breakage”

Was the original booking Flex like the OP's or Sale/Saver/Red e-Deal?

If it was originally Flex, no change fee is charged for putting the booking into credit and subsequently redeeming it. For Flex, the $99 fee is only charged if you opt for a refund back to original form of payment.

 

[CaptJCool]

Was the original booking Flex like the OP's or Sale/Saver/Red e-Deal?

If it was originally Flex, no change fee is charged for putting the booking into credit and subsequently redeeming it. For Flex, the $99 fee is only charged if you opt for a refund back to original form of payment.

Red-E deal

 

[dylarr]

Red-E deal

Bugger. Yep, they've got you backed into a corner there in that case.

 

[lovestotravel]

Qantas is just the gift that keeps on giving, but the profits show people will pay to fly with them still and while that happens they will just keep the race to the the bottom continuing.

Pleased to say that as a previous Plat QF my spend is now all SQ/VA and no intention of setting foot on a QF plane anytime soon.

The A320's for domestic will be the final nail in the coffin for the "premium airline" with the poor wages on offer for crew.

Happy to pay and expect a bit less on VA as you know what you are getting