Qantas Introduces New Domestic Fares and Further Frequent Flyer Enhancements

[simongr]

Thanks - that is really useful. I am just now moving all my domestic flights to flexi saver...

 

[anat0l]

Hmm.... the name change request may not be as great a benefit as first billed. OTOH it can be great but it has a big caveat.

From Qantas Flights | New Domestic Fare Rules for Australian Flights .... at the bottom of the page.

~ Name change: The value of an unused ticket may, at the request of the passenger named on the ticket, be used as credit towards payment for a new ticket in another person’s name. The original booking is cancelled and flights for the new passenger must be in a new booking from available inventory. This policy does not allow passengers to hold the original inventory seat. The original issuing office is the only office with the authority to reissue the ticket.

In other words, it's not a simple case of sign the name on the ticket over to the new person. You must have inventory available to book the new person into, with the old ticket used as credit towards the purchase. It means that if you cancel on a fairly full flight, you may have to fork out a lot more than just your name change fee (where applicable).

I'm a little concerned too with the clause "The original issuing office is the only office with the authority to reissue the ticket". Anyone know why that may need to be there?

Essentially it boils down to the process that is already in place, except now you can use credit against someone else's purchase. What also doesn't appear is how can name changes be requested? If it means a phone call (and only a phone call), well, isn't that an instant $40 (or whatever it is) for the Assistance Fee?

 

[markis10]

DJ have been allowing name changes for credits for quite some time, which I was not aware of until I asked my work to rebook a credit and they said it had already been used!

 

[williamsf1]

I'm a little concerned too with the clause "The original issuing office is the only office with the authority to reissue the ticket". Anyone know why that may need to be there?

This is to ensure that you go back to the original place where the ticket was bought . ie if you bought via Flight Center , you could not go to Harvey word to have the ticket reissued

 

[dfcatch]

OK - so if I understand this correctly.....

If say Mrs DF bought a domestic ticket - then cancels it, gets the credit voucher, but doesn't intend to use before it expires.... She can change the voucher into my name and I can use it at another time?

I assume this only applies to tix issued from this point on..??

 

[oz_mark]

Hmm.... the name change request may not be as great a benefit as first billed. OTOH it can be great but it has a big caveat.

From Qantas Flights | New Domestic Fare Rules for Australian Flights .... at the bottom of the page.



In other words, it's not a simple case of sign the name on the ticket over to the new person. You must have inventory available to book the new person into, with the old ticket used as credit towards the purchase. It means that if you cancel on a fairly full flight, you may have to fork out a lot more than just your name change fee (where applicable).

Way back in post 89 (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....es-new-domestic-fares-31004-9.html#post453074) I mentioned the sting in the tail of this. Qantas have a clue card describing the process: http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/policies/RetailNameChangeClueCard230611.pdf

As the booking needs to be cancelled, you will need to consider the rules around cancelling as well (red-e-deals can't be cancelled on day of departure etc)

 

[medhead]

Well maybe....

We're talking domestic here....

Unless upgrading at time of booking (and thus selecting a higher fare so that you can upgrade immediately), I'm not convinced that people are buying a higher (upgradeable) fare over a red e-deal on the "chance" that they may be able to snag an ODU.

I believe that (which the upgrade-at-booking exception), those who purchase a higher fare do so because they want more flexible conditions/lower change penalties. Therefore folks flying on red e-deals can now be milked for at least some additional spend for the ODU.

However - if red e-deals are eligible for upgrade-at-booking, then yes, there will be a small revenue hit - somewhat padded by the points redemption revenue. And additionally padded by more ODU revenue.

No doubt that YM will control U inventory like the masters that they are.

Well I have purchased a super saver to be able to upgrade and if I'm thinking of doing an upgrade I check for U availability, thanks AFF.

Given the way domestic upgrades work I'm not sure how it can't be an upgrade at booking system. Requested upgrades at >T-24 are a separate matter from ODUs.

 

[dfcatch]

Well I have purchased a super saver to be able to upgrade and if I'm thinking of doing an upgrade I check for U availability, thanks AFF.

Given the way domestic upgrades work I'm not sure how it can't be an upgrade at booking system. Requested upgrades at >T-24 are a separate matter from ODUs.

Exactly - so my view is in relation to ODU's.

I'm in agreement with you on upgrades-at-booking.

 

[medhead]

Exactly - so my view is in relation to ODU's.

I'm in agreement with you on upgrades-at-booking.

Yep and my problem is a lack of detail knowledge if the financial aspect. How to balance the rate of ODUs versus prepurchased upgrades. I suspect there are many more prepurhased upgrade than ODUs. As these changes apply to all upgrades, it is hard to consider only one type in isolation.

 

[dk4]

Worth noting (for those possibly wanting to make changes to flights) is the insidious cancel fee for pre-purchased (confirmed) upgrades;

• refund minus 5000 points if more than 24hours notice,
• or forfeiture of all points if less than 24 hours notice.

So I think that those buying flexible tickets (due to their changeable nature) may tend to be less likely to lock in upgrades before the airport.

 

[medhead]

Worth noting (for those possibly wanting to make changes to flights) is the insidious cancel fee for pre-purchased (confirmed) upgrades;

• refund minus 5000 points if more than 24hours notice,
• or forfeiture of all points if less than 24 hours notice.

So I think that those buying flexible tickets (due to their changeable nature) may tend to be less likely to lock in upgrades before the airport.

Maybe now under the new system. But previously you had to have supersaver or better to upgrade. So people who wanted to get the confirmed upgrade had to buy the more expensive fare regardless of whether it was flexible or not. We shouldn't forget that just because most of the supersaver fares have been moved to flexible.

 

[steveda]

Haven't read through all 24 pages of this thread, but for an ADL-SYD itinerary leaving on 10/07 red e-deal price is $249, Flexi Saver is $280.

Anybody would think that QF wants me to get full economy status credits!

Cheers

Steve

 

[medhead]

Haven't read through all 24 pages of this thread, but for an ADL-SYD itinerary leaving on 10/07 red e-deal price is $249, Flexi Saver is $280.

Anybody would think that QF wants me to get full economy status credits!

Cheers

Steve

Look at QF730 on 29 august. The difference is about $6 IIRC.

 

[GCC]

Haven't read through all 24 pages of this thread, but for an ADL-SYD itinerary leaving on 10/07 red e-deal price is $249, Flexi Saver is $280.

Anybody would think that QF wants me to get full economy status credits!

Perhaps they do! This change seems to offer benefits for both the leisure traveler and the savvy FF'er.
Plenty of pleasure travelers will be happy to save the $30 as they aren't really focused on their SC's the way we are. I also suspect that not many frequent flyers are looking to upgrade until you get to flights of 3 + hours - as we'd rather save the points for bigger and better value upgrades. But for the leisure traveler it might be a nice treat to get a J upgrade MEL - BNE or similar.
The real benefit of a flexi-saver is flexibility - the option to grab an earlier flight if a meeting finishes early or change flight if my plans change on the day. Getting that at a cheaper price with the bonus of additional SC's is a great result for those of us who earn their QF status mainly by flying Y around the country on a regular basis.

 

[markis10]

The real benefit of a flexi-saver is flexibility - the option to grab an earlier flight if a meeting finishes early or change flight if my plans change on the day. Getting that at a cheaper price with the bonus of additional SC's is a great result for those of us who earn their QF status mainly by flying Y around the country on a regular basis.

Just remember you still have to pay the fare difference if you change and thats where they will make their money, say I wanted to go home earlier than the 8.05PM flight tonight during what is normally a quiet night for business travel, they are asking $200+ for most options:

Now if I was to try and do the same thing Friday, I am going to be hit harder, $400 more for a flexi at 7 even though its 3 days away:

 

[simongr]

I was finding on average that a semi flex return to MEL was between $450 and $500 - now it seems that with enough notice that price is $400.

 

[GCC]

Good point re having to pay the fare differential. I generally get the benefit of the flexisaver when I'm already at the airport and I think I have always been able to change flights so long as there is a seat available.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I was finding on average that a semi flex return to MEL was between $450 and $500 - now it seems that with enough notice that price is $400.

where are you flying from?

 

[simongr]

SYD - red-e-deals are about $117.

 

[Zippy7]

Another email in the inbox....

Pretty sure this is not restricted to WP, more likely to be people with existing bookings (MrsZippy also got the email, and she is NB)

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Subject : Limited offer - treat yourself to an upgrade

From 7 July 2011 we are making changes to Qantas Frequent Flyer benefits including the ability to use points to upgrade to Business Class on all Qantas domestic Australian Economy fares (excluding Qantas and Partner Classic Awards)+.

Get in early!
To give you a taste of things to come, we have waived the restriction on upgrading your upcoming domestic Economy trip from Destination to Home to Business using your Qantas Frequent Flyer points#. Simply request your upgrade online at qantas.com by 1 July 2011.
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