Qantas Flight Voucher Promo - earn 10x points [Expired 26DEC11]

[evangelionpunk]

ah cheers serfty! didnt notice that it was a hyperlink.

 

[JohnK]

Just curious, what do you guys do with your travel insurance? if you use vouchers?

Are you referring to credit card complimentary travel insurance?

I dont see any issues with my QBE annual policy.

 

[JohnK]

I have just completed purchasing $3,000 worth of vouchers and overall should earn me 36,000 QFF points valued at ~$900.

 

[kpc]

I have just completed purchasing $3,000 worth of vouchers and overall should earn me 36,000 QFF points valued at ~$900.

I like the irony of the purchase tho...

 

[Cassowary]

First post of a forum fan, who hasn't travelled much this year, but that's about to change with the onset of 2012.

<Waves hello>

And Ooh how I wished I'd followed this thread a bit more closely.

Priced out 2 x rtn CNS-MEL for March a little earlier - $184 per person each way (both ways) = $736.

So bought a $700 voucher (2 x $350 per pax)

But of course this doesn't equate in QF Land, and so the same flights via the voucher redemption are now $392 more expensive all up! Something to do with base fares, taxes, backhanders to public servants in Canberra and champagne for the board - usual stuff...

But there's nothing to be done now except scratch my head and flick the bird at Qantas as a gesture of seasonal goodwill.

You know, all I end up thinking is this yet another example of how Qantas just doesn't get it. They just can't "give". They just can't appreciate continued loyalty, let alone having the brains to figure out how to develop it... I might not have travelled much this year but I'm still a QF PS - I still try to "give" to QF, but why do I bother?

(A bit like the other half baked offer I received - something like 25 or 50% more points for flights booked and undertaken before the end of the year blah blah. Having been stung by QF last Christmas for $7,500 for two Y returns to the UK I was in no rush to buy flights at this time of year off them again. Actually, make that two Discounted Economy returns - so I didn't even get full SC's.

Only in QF Land could they think that $7,500 equals "discounted economy".)

Sooo, good news is it looks like I can take alternative flights and gain more SC for a little more time and money to get to Melbourne, but really...?

I know this reads a tad glum as a first post, and I apologise for the poverty of Christmas spirit, but it really is quite depressing.

So anyway, stop the press, gist of the message is to anyone who is considering a last minute dash to the QF website to buy a voucher:

If you buy a $700 voucher, be acutely aware that apparently it's not enough to cover $700 of a $736 fare.

I think maybe my next complaint will be in an altogether more official direction. I'm good at that...

Paul
Deep in the Daintree

Actually as an afterthought, isn't this debacle akin to buying someone a $100 Myers card, and then them finding at out at the checkout that it doesn't cover GST?!?! WTF?!?

 

[wilco]

Priced out 2 x rtn CNS-MEL for March a little earlier - $184 per person each way (both ways) = $736.

So bought a $700 voucher (2 x $350 per pax)

But of course this doesn't equate in QF Land, and so the same flights via the voucher redemption are now $392 more expensive all up!
You know, all I end up thinking is this yet another example of how Qantas just doesn't get it. They just can't "give".

So anyway, stop the press, gist of the message is to anyone who is considering a last minute dash to the QF website to buy a voucher:

If you buy a $700 voucher, be acutely aware that apparently it's not enough to cover a $736 fare.

Firstly, welcome, and secondly, you need to read the not so fine print. The T&C's of the voucher spell out quite clearly that the voucher only covers the base fare and not the fees and taxes that are collected in addition to the base fare. Granted, things could be a lot simpler, but I suspect QF don't want to be out of pocket for the 10x bonus point offer and are banking on the fact that many vouchers will remain unused and simply expire.
In Victoria, you will find that VCAT will make findings against such prohibitive restrictions because it enables unlawful enrichment, so you can seek recourse, if you can be bothered.

As for your situation, the $392 increase in fare is based on the fact that the booking engine locates the nearest base fare that exceeds the value of the voucher as it will assume you do not want to "forfeit" any value, despite the next lowest fare potentially being only a few dollars less. Id call telesales, explain the situation, and you may get a cheaper fare and forfeit a small amount. Otherwise, and don't quote me on this, you could try buying a return J fare between mel and syd, cancel it and put the value into (regular) credit and then use this credit for your CNS-MEL purchase, as I don't THINK QF would credit the value back to a voucher. Wouldn't hurt to ask them the question I suppose.

 

[straitman]

First post of a forum fan, who hasn't travelled much this year, but that's about to change with the onset of 2012.

<Waves hello>

Hi Cassowary,

Welcome to AFF.

 

[serfty]

First post of a forum fan, who hasn't travelled much this year, but that's about to change with the onset of 2012.

<Waves hello>...

G'day and welcome to AFF.

...

And Ooh how I wished I'd followed this thread a bit more closely.
...

Oh dear ... I think I knew what was coming.:-|

...

If you buy a $700 voucher, be acutely aware that apparently it's not enough to cover $700 of a $736 fare.

...

Given your pre-amble, I'm sure you are now aware that that fare is actually $584 with $148 in taxes/levies/charges being added ($292 per PAX for the return with $74 in T/L/C).

What you needed was a $500 "voucher" for 2 PAX @ $250 to cover the "adult base fares".

...

I think maybe my next complaint will be in an altogether more official direction. I'm good at that...
...

Good luck with that, I hope you are successful.

 

[Cassowary]

[/B]Firstly, welcome, and secondly, you need to read the not so fine print. The T&C's of the voucher spell out quite clearly that the voucher only covers the base fare and not the fees and taxes that are collected in addition to the base fare. Granted, things could be a lot simpler, but I suspect QF don't want to be out of pocket for the 10x bonus point offer and are banking on the fact that many vouchers will remain unused and simply expire.
In Victoria, you will find that VCAT will make findings against such prohibitive restrictions because it enables unlawful enrichment, so you can seek recourse, if you can be bothered.

As for your situation, the $392 increase in fare is based on the fact that the booking engine locates the nearest base fare that exceeds the value of the voucher as it will assume you do not want to "forfeit" any value, despite the next lowest fare potentially being only a few dollars less. Id call telesales, explain the situation, and you may get a cheaper fare and forfeit a small amount. Otherwise, and don't quote me on this, you could try buying a return J fare between mel and syd, cancel it and put the value into (regular) credit and then use this credit for your CNS-MEL purchase, as I don't THINK QF would credit the value back to a voucher. Wouldn't hurt to ask them the question I suppose.

Thanks for the welcome and taking the time to respond. "Unlawful Enrichment" just sounds too sexy not to investigate.

No doubt I should never have trusted QF to make things simple :shock:

I will take up your advice to call them - see what falls out of the tree; but the thought of giving QF any more money for a J fare to be honest is totally out of the question! Giving the dropkicks any more money seems counter-intuitive at the moment.

 

[Cassowary]

Hi Cassowary,

Welcome to AFF.

Thank you Sir!

If my cunning plan comes together I'll be a top poster with my travel in 2012. Else I'll be a NB by October <--yet to be decided!

And apologies to the mods for still having no idea how to multi quote multi users on a response.

Sadly my teeth shine more brightly than my brain...

(Same brain that's just been done out of $700! Doh!)

 

[wilco]

I will take up your advice to call them - see what falls out of the tree; but the thought of giving QF any more money for a J fare to be honest is totally out of the question! Giving the dropkicks any more money seems counter-intuitive at the moment.

I get where you're coming from but the key would be to buy a fully refundable base fare that exceeds the $700 voucher, otherwise you'll be slugged change fees when you rebook.
Just don't let it go to waste and make sure you get the best bang for your buck!!

 

[Cassowary]

G'day and welcome to AFF. Oh dear ... I think I knew what was coming.:-|
Given your pre-amble, I'm sure you are now aware that that fare is actually $584 with $148 in taxes/levies/charges being added ($292 per PAX for the return with $74 in T/L/C).

What you needed was a $500 "voucher" for 2 PAX @ $250 to cover the "adult base fares".
Good luck with that, I hope you are successful.

Thanks for the welcome Serfty!

Well yes, of course I now realise that I needed a $500 voucher not a $700 one to buy a $736 fare - who could be fooled by that...

Not I...

Oh, hang on...

Thus, I think an examination of reasonability, interpretation and presentation is in order. Probably enticement too. Throw in a few legalese and you have a delightful headache for QF. Maybe not so great for some of the members here (of whom I am not in the slightest bit envious!), but when considering broader principles, it's worth whatever tiny ripples I can cause - there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for the limitations they've imposed. A voucher is like giving cash... unless QF think they can rewrite the rules - in which case sound the media horn...

 

[Cassowary]

I get where you're coming from but the key would be to buy a fully refundable base fare that exceeds the $700 voucher, otherwise you'll be slugged change fees when you rebook.
Just don't let it go to waste and make sure you get the best bang for your buck!!

Gotcha!

Maybe I'll try the simple approach first, and if that fails, go the more circumspect route.

That or just run with the solatium angle, which is just tickling me into action... Deservedly so I hasten to add...

 

[wilco]

Thus, I think an examination of reasonability, interpretation and presentation is in order. Throw in a few legalese and you have a delightful headache for QF. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever for the limitations they've imposed. A voucher is like giving cash... unless QF think they can rewrite the rules.

I fully agree, and think that when push comes to shove, QF will give in The effort and cost in fighting a person are just not worth it.

Its not like stores make you pay the GST component of your gift voucher purchases separately!!

 

[medhead]

antas Re: Qantas Flight Voucher Promo - earn 10x points

Otherwise, and don't quote me on this, you could try buying a return J fare between mel and syd, cancel it and put the value into (regular) credit and then use this credit for your CNS-MEL purchase, as I don't THINK QF would credit the value back to a voucher. Wouldn't hurt to ask them the question I suppose.

I would expect Qantas very much to credit the value baack to a voucher, that would have the same expiry and conditions as the original voucher. Why? Because the vouchers all have a unique voucher reference that becomes your booking reference, and is thus tracable. If if they just put it back to a credit voucher, with credit voucher conditions, I'm pretty sure the credit will only be useable for an equal or higher fare. If J was booked for the flexibility and lack of fees, that the credit who probably be only usable towards a J fare.

 

[evangelionpunk]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned.

But why is it that qantas is not offering the same red deal fare via voucher redemption that they do when ordinarily purchasing the fare?

There is a $229 perth to melb flight but the same flight only shows up as a $279 flight (the pricing for it when I checked it yesterday)?

The voucher I would like to redeem is $200 and fare component would be $196 or so whilst under the $279 pricing the fare shows as $246 odd dollars..

 

[markis10]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned.

But why is it that qantas is not offering the same red deal fare via voucher redemption that they do when ordinarily purchasing the fare?

There is a $229 perth to melb flight but the same flight only shows up as a $279 flight (the pricing for it when I checked it yesterday)?

The voucher I would like to redeem is $200 and fare component would be $196 or so whilst under the $279 pricing the fare shows as $246 odd dollars..

The voucher must be used in full for the amount before taxes, so if the fare ex is $196 you cannot use a $200 voucher!

 

[evangelionpunk]

The voucher must be used in full fro the amount before taxes, so if the fare ex is $196 you cannot use a $200 voucher!

Cheers matey!

Now to pay the full fare $229 thereby saving $50 and use the voucher later or pay the $50 extra and fly a different time.....hmmm

 

[markis10]

You have a year to make a booking, I am sure you will find better uses for it over time!

 

[JohnK]

I like the irony of the purchase tho...

Yes it was a good compromise in the end. Trying to think if I feel any guilt but there is nothing there.