Qantas cuts points, status; hikes upgrades on some domestic fares

[SydneySwan]

I think "misleading and dishonest" is excessive - for Qantas FFs it makes virtually no difference what the booking class is for Qantas operated flights?

There are some fringe exceptions where it can make a difference, e.g. FFs using partner programs, and itineraries including non Qantas coded flights, but for the vast majority of cases there's no disadvantage.

You can always take a booking all the way to the payment page, not complete payment, then go find the booking in MMB to check the booking class if it's critical before making payment.

I disagree. SCs and points are awarded by the fare class yet when you book you shouldn't need to jump through hoops to find this out. My wife once booked a cheap business class domestic ticket to qualify for another year of gold but then found the fare class was discount economy. Unfortunately she didn't find out until after she had taken the flight.

 

[sudoer]

My wife once booked a cheap business class domestic ticket to qualify for another year of gold but then found the fare class was discount economy. Unfortunately she didn't find out until after she had taken the flight.

For another year of gold with QFF? How long ago was this?

I can't think of any possible scenario where a Qantas operated domestic business class ticket credits as discount economy to Qantas Frequent Flyer.

 

[SydneySwan]

My mistake not discount economy but economy. It was about 3 years ago. She has slipped down to bronze since.

 

[mannej]

I disagree. SCs and points are awarded by the fare class yet when you book you shouldn't need to jump through hoops to find this out. My wife once booked a cheap business class domestic ticket to qualify for another year of gold but then found the fare class was discount economy. Unfortunately she didn't find out until after she had taken the flight.

This would have been flying on a QFF Partner right?

 

[oz_mark]

I disagree. SCs and points are awarded by the fare class yet when you book you shouldn't need to jump through hoops to find this out. My wife once booked a cheap business class domestic ticket to qualify for another year of gold but then found the fare class was discount economy. Unfortunately she didn't find out until after she had taken the flight.

I can't imagine this was a Qanta flight. And if it is who I think it is, it has nothing to do with what is presented in the booking process.

 

[sudoer]

This would have been flying on a QFF Partner right?

That was my thought, or crediting the Qantas flight to another FFP.

 

[calmelb]

I disagree. SCs and points are awarded by the fare class yet when you book you shouldn't need to jump through hoops to find this out.

On Qantas they are aligned with the booking names (eg Red-E-Deal) and so if it was a miscredit then she should've contacted Qantas (business class ticket = business class status/ points). If she was flying Malaysian Airlines for example all flights credit at max of economy from memory which could lead to that

 

[sudoer]

Malaysian Airlines for example all flights credit at max of economy from memory which could lead to that

Flights to/from Aus and UK. Flights within Asia credit at full Business rates. (RIP possibly ..)

 

[aikman]

I am looking at a couple of routes popular for status runs and the starting Flex prices have definitely increased. How unfortunate.

 

[RichardMEL]

Can you blame QF for trying to get more $$$ from flex fares, usually bought at last minute and/or by (the few) business pax? Leisure is a far different market segment. With VA in disarray it's no surprise. Not saying I think it's great, but I'm in no way shocked. Remember QF needs as much $$ as they can get and if people are buying these then the fares will stick.. if not they will probably retreat a little. Maybe. OK Probably not

 

[dylarr]

I am looking at a couple of routes popular for status runs and the starting Flex prices have definitely increased. How unfortunate.

SYD-CNS via BNE used to be ~$393 Flex o/w. Now the price is $510.

The price increase seems to impact flights with multiple segments? Non-stop Flex pricing appears to have not changed significantly from what I can see.

 

[sudoer]

I am looking at a couple of routes popular for status runs and the starting Flex prices have definitely increased. How unfortunate.

This doesn't surprise me - some of the best domestic status runs involved QLD and WA. Given how impacted (and generally unpredictable) load factors would be to those states, I'm not at all surprised Qantas have built in more of a margin. I imagine that for those who *need* to fly to QLD and WA right now, price factors less in their choice to fly QF than it did pre-covid.

Seems more likely this is good yield management rather than the M class recategorisation..

 

[ozflier]

This doesn't surprise me - some of the best domestic status runs involved QLD and WA. Given how impacted (and generally unpredictable) load factors would be to those states, I'm not at all surprised Qantas have built in more of a margin. I imagine that for those who *need* to fly to QLD and WA right now, price factors less in their choice to fly QF than it did pre-covid.

Seems more likely this is good yield management rather than the M class recategorisation..

Is there an easy way to find out the fare class for economy flights- ie discount or flexible ?
I usually look up Expertflyer and go to their fare search and match class with the published fare.

 

[sudoer]

Is there an easy way to find out the fare class for economy flights- ie discount or flexible ?

When booking through the qantas.com the booking class isn't displayed, however for Qantas marketed flights crediting to Qantas Frequent Flyer it generally does not matter. For QF flights crediting to QFF, the SC and points earn for entire fare categories is consistent. For example all domestic Flex classes (BHKY) earn at exactly the same rate.

Two common instances where the lack of booking class information becomes an issue is:
- if an itinerary booked through the qantas.com includes a non QF marketed flight, for example SYD-SIN-KUL in economy where SIN-KUL has an MH flight number. The booking class is needed to determine whether the MH flight will earn or not, as not all MH economy fare classes will earn when crediting to QFF.
- if the itinerary is being credited to a partner FF program instead of QFF.

I usually look up Expertflyer and go to their fare search and match class with the published fare.

Is this what you are after?

Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas and Partner Airlines - Flying with Qantas & Jetstar - Earning Qantas Points

www.qantas.com

 

[ozflier]

When booking through the Qantas site the exact booking class isn't displayed, however for Qantas marketed flights crediting to Qantas Frequent Flyer, it generally does not matter. For QF flights crediting to QFF, the SC and points earn for entire fare categories is consistent. For example all domestic Flex classes (BHKY) earn the exactly the same.

Two common instances where the lack of booking class information becomes an issue is:
- if an itinerary booked through the qantas.com includes a non QF marketed flight, for example SYD-SIN-KUL in economy where SIN-KUL is an MH flight number. The booking class is needed to determine whether the MH fare will earn or not, as not all MH economy classes will earn when crediting to QFF.
- if the itinerary is being credited to a partner FF program instead of QFF.



Is this what you are after?

Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas and Partner Airlines - Flying with Qantas & Jetstar - Earning Qantas Points

www.qantas.com

View attachment 233803

Very helpful,ta

 

[Vic]

Which I also regard as quite a misleading and dishonest business practice.

I think "misleading and dishonest" is excessive - for Qantas FFs it makes virtually no difference what the booking class is for Qantas operated flights?

Here is the misleading and deceptive part of this little change, discovered when reviewing a booking I've got in December. Contrary to the quote attributed to a Qantas spokesperson that bookings made before 4 November in 'M' will still be treated a flexible economy.

Qantas has confirmed to Executive Traveller that M class fares purchased prior to November 4 will continue to be treated as 'flexible economy' even after that date: including when it comes to earning points and status credits, and upgrading flights.

What we actually see on the earning table is that after 3 November ALL 'M' class bookings will be treated as discount and will earn at discount economy. This is shown in the screenshot in post #34 in this thread.

~ Qantas flight segments booked in Economy Flex M class for travel on or before 3 November 2020 will earn at the base rate of Flexible Economy

Segments booked before 3 November for travel after 3 November earn as Discount Economy and this is reflected in the earning being quoted for my flights in December.

In terms of pricing, I can change my current bookings (in 'M') to Discount Economy for -$6. As there is a Qantas rule that you can't change to a lower fare bucket than means I can change my 'M' fare to an 'M' fare for -$6. I can change to Flex for +$25, who knows if that is 'K' or a higher fare. If I assume K then it's not at the same price point as the old M. Or Business for +$390

Of course, the earning may vary in the end and come out based on what I purchased. But that certainly isn't what the earning table tells me. And given I'm most likely going to upgrade to business... I may never know.

booking made in February 2020.

Also misleading that the earning table heading is earning from 24 October 2017 not 4 November 2020

 

[sudoer]

When we actually see on the earning table is that after 3 November ALL 'M' class booking will be treated as discount and will earn at discount economy.

Of course, the earning may vary in the end and come out based on what I purchased. But that certainly isn't what the earning table tells me. And given I'm most likely going to upgrade to business... I may never know.

It'd save you the anxiety, but it'd be a shame if we never found out!

In any case I think you could lodge a claim for Flex SC if that's not what comes through, but I don't know if you'd request this as ORC or if that would just confuse the rep given there's no route change.

That quote of mine re the change not being misleading/dishonest was obviously based on the assumption that what Qantas PR told Exec Traveller was correct - that prior bookings would not get caught out by the change.

 

[Vic]

That quote of mine re the change not being misleading/dishonest was obviously based on the assumption that what Qantas PR told Exec Traveller was correct - that prior bookings would not get caught out by the change.

Of course. It's probably a good assumption as well. Just typical qantas that the marketing doesn't match the strict T&Cs as written.

 

[Vic]

This is going to be a learning experience. Managed to upgrade one of the flights, by changing the booking and paying for the difference for business. No change fee, so it was treated as flex.
However, when I tried to change the second leg to business, that's when things got weird. there was a message that I had to change both legs of the booking, with an additional payment to stay in business on the flight that was already in business. That was strange, but possibly due to me taking the last 'I' fare, so that when I'm forced to change the flight that doesn't need to change a higher fare is the only option.

But strange that I've been forces to change both flights. I bet the change to the first flight has reset the conditions on the second flight to new 'M'

 

[Vic]

flexible credit came in on my 'M' fare flight





plus Monopoly chance card - bank error in my favour...