Qantas Premium Economy

[Max78]

I am wondering if anyone out there has flow from MEL - HKG or vice versa lately and was due to fly in premium economy.

I am due to fly to LHR next week via HKG in premium economy. I recently flew from HKK to MEL in a plane that was supposed to have premium economy but didn't.

I am guessing a substitution was done due to defective plane being grounded a few weeks ago resulting from the blow out in the fuselage.

I suspect there may be others out there who have had problems with their premium economy booking so I am interested in how qantas are handling this situation.

Cheers Max.

 

[opusman]

One would expect either an upgrade to J or compensation would be in order.

 

[MelUser]

Did HKG-MEL last weekend went into the Prem Eco cabin to check it out.

It is a small cabin which is completely curtained off. There are no toilets within the cabin itself so one would have to either illegally go into the 2 J toilets directly infront or share the econ toilets behind and we all know what they are like half way into a long haul flight!

I didn't see cabin service so don't know what they were given to eat and drink.

The cabin was fairly empty - perhaps 9 out of 30 pax? But, the seats didn't seem to recline much when I observed the sleeping pax - from a discreet distance.

I think the main difference seems to be a less cluttered cabin not filled with 100s of people and kids etc.

So, it may be good for those who after a bit more space, peace and quiet and a smaller more intimate cabin.

 

[Mal]

Qantas has had a lot of issues with PE seating recently, because they are short one plane that was PE equipped.

From other reports around the place, one of the following will happen:

Upgrade to Business. Seems to depend on your Frequent Flyer status, available seats etc.
Downgrade to Economy. A fairly common option. Compensation should be payable, but not sure of the amount.
A phonecall from Qantas to advise of the change, and an offer to re-route onto another flight that has PE. (Could be the next day).
You arrive at the airport and basically get told there that you're in economy.

Qantas has been pretty slack at times in informing customers.

Welcome to AFF.

 

[Platy]

...I recently flew from HKK to MEL in a plane that was supposed to have premium economy but didn't...

Welcome, Max78!

May I ask were you supposed to be in Premium Economy yourself on that flight? If so, how did QF handle the situation?

 

[Max78]

No - Wasn't due to fly that leg of the flight in premium economy.

 

[MelUser]

As is the case now, Premium Economy passengers on the 747 are not allowed to use the business toilets directly in front of them - they are required to use the ones behind them in economy.

On the A380, the premium economy section will be upstairs with its own 2 toilets. Presumably this means that the economy passengers will not be allowed upstairs to use those 2 toilets as they have 8 downstairs for themselves - mind you 8 per 332 passengers is something like 41 passengers to 1 toilet!

 

[Platy]

- mind you 8 per 332 passengers is something like 41 passengers to 1 toilet!

Just make sure you don't need to pay a visit just after a movie finishes, or at the end of dinner or on top of descent!

( or drive the sh**T truck to service a 15 hr MEL-LAX flight...)...

 

[MelUser]

Yes, the toilet ratio seems "difficult" in economy. Mind you PEc is better than Business i think (in the A380).

I can't remember the farecode for Full Premium Economy compared to Discount Premium Economy. I know one is W and one is T but can't remember which is which. Can someone help?

Also, other than the $100 change fee (vs 0 for date/time) (or $330 for a no show (vs 0 for a no show)), what are the advantages of booking the full fare Premium Economy ticket versus the discount Premium Economy?

Both seem to offer the same status credits, same points multiplier (1.1) and the same amount of points are needed to upgrade to business.

 

[JohnK]

I can't remember the farecode for Full Premium Economy compared to Discount Premium Economy. I know one is W and one is T but can't remember which is which. Can someone help?

Full Premium economy is W class and discount premium is T class.

 

[Anna]

From other reports around the place, one of the following will happen:
Downgrade to Economy. A fairly common option.

Could you please tell me where I can see these other reports.

Qantas has been pretty slack at times in informing customers.

Customers have been pretty slack at times in informing Qantas of their contact details, particularly their contact details while away from home.

My experience of this issue has been to be upgraded to J and to be informed of this by Qantas 3 days in advance.

 

[Shano]

Full Premium economy is T class.

T is the discount Y+ code - W is full Y+

 

[JohnK]

Yes you are right. I got the premium economy codes the wrong way around.

 

[medhead]

( or drive the sh**T truck to service a 15 hr MEL-LAX flight...)...

After being delayed for 6 hours in SIN, so someone could get in the tank and unclog the nice cloth hand wipe things from a number of the "J" toilets and unclog some Y toilets (that clogged after the J were put O/S), I whole heartedly agree.

 

[Platy]

When the Q400s were new, one of them was being flown with an unserviceable loo! (Bravo I think). We took the bird from BNE-ROK, so no problem, short flight.

Anyway, on the ROK-CNS hops a couple of days later one or two folk needed the facilities and were offered a hand torch!

It turned out that the problem was just a light bulb!

It amused me that it hadn't been fixed after several days...:shock:

 

[NM]

It turned out that the problem was just a light bulb!

It amused me that it hadn't been fixed after several days...:shock:

Perhaps they had not completed the discussion process?

 

[oz_mark]

After being delayed for 6 hours in SIN, so someone could get in the tank and unclog the nice cloth hand wipe things from a number of the "J" toilets and unclog some Y toilets (that clogged after the J were put O/S), I whole heartedly agree.

I oft wonder why some people feel the need to stuff toilets full of paper and hand wipes and stuff.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Customers have been pretty slack at times in informing Qantas of their contact details, particularly their contact details while away from home.

QANTAS have my details, and I'm a WP

My experience of this issue has been to be upgraded to J and to be informed of this by Qantas 3 days in advance.

I turned up to SIN, and was told I was in economy. Took about 15 minutes to convince the checkin lady I was booked in PE. Waited another 20 minutes to the lone customer service woman who explained that there was no PE. Waited another 20 minutes for her manager to turn up, who said that J was currently full but if a seat came up, I could have it. After an hour of standing around, with no coffee or breakfast, I didn't feel very pleasantly disposed towards QANTAS. The people at checkin really didn't seem to know how to handle the situation and just kept people waiting around.

I did eventually ended up in J, just before boarding along with another PAX who was in the F lounge.

 

[spj709]

I am due to fly SYD/HK Premium Economy mid October. This trip was booked and paid for in May. Qantas accepted the booking and banked the money. In late August Qantas phoned to say the return trip from HK didn't have Premium seats in it and they upgraded me to business ( the right thing to do ). Then a week or so ago my travel agent ( not Qantas ) phoned to say my booking had been changed from SYD to HK downgraded to economy.

Rang Qantas carfeully worded my discussion with them, went from the tele person to a supervisor. Same thing still downgraded flight. Asked her if she would have been happy with the treatment, she replied no. I informed her the reason Qantas is behind in it's seatout/ fitout is that it wouldn't sit down with the engineers to discuss their pay issue for many weeks. So it is really Qantas's fault there is the delay. Still no luck. Was told there would be compensation given. From what my travel agent can find out it it the difference in the economy and premium flights.

I'd call that a refund - how can they call it compensation.

Very poor show once again Qantas when you couldn't say your being seen in a good light by the public with all that has been going on recently. If you couldn't supply you shouldn't have accepted the booking. Anyone else would have been charged with false advertising, but I'm sure there a clause or two in the fine print to cover any imaginamble thing you could possible do to the flying public.

 

[Anna]

I turned up to SIN, and was told I was in economy.

Ouch. Bad luck. I'm surprised they would treat you like that, as a WP.