QANTAS generosity!

[sng1971]

My partner and I returned to MEL on QF086 from HKG on Sep 27 flying J. Unfortunately, when we got to the airport, there had been a change of aircraft and we had a domestic B767 instead of the A330. While disappointed we didn't have the skybed, we were still happy as this was a points upgrade from a paid economy ticket. The service was excellent, and the staff very apologetic. I did consider contacting Qantas to express my "disappointment" but thought it unlikely that I'd even get a response, never mind some form of compensation.

But yesterday to my amazement, my partner and I received Qantas coupons totalling $2000 valid for 1 year, with a letter of apology. I was just wondering if this is common practice? Even if I was told about the aircraft change, I would have still taken the upgrade. And apart from the lack of the skybed, I did receive a "business" class flight. I figure spending 80,000 points to get $2000 and still have the semi-upgrade was awesome. Just wondering if this has happened to many others. I'm also wondering why my coupon was for $400, and my partners' was for $1600? Not complaining at all, just wondering if they gave us too much by mistake.

Looking forward to hearing other peoples experiences.

 

[bambbbam2]

Seems QF are being quite generous currently, I'm sure completely unrelated to any negative press coverage.. :mrgreen:

 

[QF WP]

Ignoring the differences between the compensation (which I agree is strange), if I got $2K compensation I'd be really happy!!

Probably the issue with the A330's was the reason for the change of aircraft.

 

[Evan]

Just smile and enjoy
As you say you got what you paid for but never say no to a nice gift.
And no i would say very unusual, Maybe bambbbam2 has a point.
E

 

[Flashback]

I've still not even had a reply in regards to my QF594 that returned back to PER, midflight.

What annoyed me was that we were rebooked onto redeye flights, thus negating any "J class experience" I would have got as opposed to my original flight.

Poor form on QF's behalf to not even reply, and I have decided in future that I will no longer be putting business QF's way, even though our work policy dictates paid J on QF.

 

[NYCguy]

HKG-MEL in a Millennium seat?

Jeez!

I think you deserve every cent of that $2000. After all, you parted with hard-earned points for that upgrade.

 

[NM]

Qantas certainly has been providing compensation in the form of vouchers when substituting non-Skybed aircraft. However, the amount you quote is significantly higher than others have reported for subs such as 743 for 744 trans-Pacific. However, you said it was a domestic 763 which means a double downgrade from Skybeds to Millennium seats bypassing the intermediate downgrade to Dreamtime seats.

 

[serfty]

... we had a domestic B767 instead of the A330 ...

Just a clarification here (as others have posted).

Was the configuration of the J cabin on this 767 either:

• 1x2x2 (1 seat - aisle - 2 seats - aisle - 2 seats, or
• 2x2x2?

 

[Wunala Dreaming]

I am almost certain that QF86 HKG-MEL (arriving MEL 28SEP) was operated by Dreamtime configured 767-300 VH-OGR.

It is highly unlikely that a domestic 767-300 operated the flight in question and you can definitely rule out a ZX series 767-300 as they are not equipped with the necessary equipment to operate a longer haul flight (certain galley equipment I understand).

I think you'd see a domestic 767 on a route such as SYD-MNL or CGK before MEL-HKG, however even then, it would only been under special circumstances.

The only scheduled international services for the domestic 767-300s are SYD-AKL, SYD-CHC and SYD-NOU (NOU sees alot of Dreamtime equipped 767-300s now though).

Cheers

 

[medhead]

But yesterday to my amazement, my partner and I received Qantas coupons totalling $2000 valid for 1 year, with a letter of apology. I was just wondering if this is common practice? Even if I was told about the aircraft change, I would have still taken the upgrade. And apart from the lack of the skybed, I did receive a "business" class flight. I figure spending 80,000 points to get $2000 and still have the semi-upgrade was awesome. Just wondering if this has happened to many others. I'm also wondering why my coupon was for $400, and my partners' was for $1600? Not complaining at all, just wondering if they gave us too much by mistake.

Looking forward to hearing other peoples experiences.

I had an almost similiar experience last year for a 6 hours delay in Singapore. Based on that experience compensation is related to status. Mum had a $300 voucher waiting when we got back to Oz. However, I didn't, which didn't really worry me. However, mum rang up and asked why I didn't get a voucher. Turns out she got it because she was PS, whereas I was NB, but as we were booked together I should have also got compensated. Not long afterwards a $400 voucher appears.

Now, 1 adult PS got $300 and 2 adult/2 kids NBs got $400 to share. So higher status = more compensation.

Perhaps you got different value vouchers because of having difference status. Is that possible?

 

[Myrna]

Well, it is good that you got the coupons. But, wait until you try to use them! We got some coupons moons ago, and could not use them on "any" flight. They can only be used against the high fare codes and not the discounted ones. So, by the time you do that, there is no benefit really. And, the coupons can only be redeemed for flights and not anything else.

 

[Flashback]

Well, it is good that you got the coupons. But, wait until you try to use them! We got some coupons moons ago, and could not use them on "any" flight. They can only be used against the high fare codes and not the discounted ones. So, by the time you do that, there is no benefit really. And, the coupons can only be redeemed for flights and not anything else.

Um, many times I've used mine on discount whY, and never had a problem.

 

[sng1971]

The reason I thought it was a domestic B767 was because the flight attendant said that the aircraft was taken off a domestic run in Australia to replace the faulty aircraft. I'm not really up to date with the aircraft types so I'm probably mistaken. The seating configuration was 1-2-2 (does that mean it was the dreamtime seats?)

As for status, both my partner and I are both PS. Maybe it only showed as an upgrade for me as I used my points to upgrade both of us? Either way we're really happy with $2000 worth of vouchers.

 

[NM]

The reason I thought it was a domestic B767 was because the flight attendant said that the aircraft was taken off a domestic run in Australia to replace the faulty aircraft. I'm not really up to date with the aircraft types so I'm probably mistaken. The seating configuration was 1-2-2 (does that mean it was the dreamtime seats?)

Yes, that dramtime seats and an international config 763.

 

[JohnK]

But, wait until you try to use them! We got some coupons moons ago, and could not use them on "any" flight. They can only be used against the high fare codes and not the discounted ones.

Unless the terms and conditions have changed you should be able to redeem the vouchers for any airfare excluding airfares on sale which I think is reasonable to expect. I used a $100 voucher a couple of years ago on a one-way SYD-AKL. They also waive the booking fee if the voucher was for any form of compensation.

 

[medhead]

Um, many times I've used mine on discount whY, and never had a problem.

Yep, I used my voucher for a red-e deal for the whole family and still had change.