Qantas refund of ticket cost from other carriers

[Snowmoo]

Hi All

Had a scenario last Friday at CBR. My daughter was flying up to Sydney for an awards ceremony that was beginning at 6pm at Sydney Uni. She was booked onto a Qantas flight departing CBR at 2:40pm. More than enough time to get up to Sydney and to the venue.

I got a call at 4pm from her saying that she was still at CBR airport in the terminal as the plane had engineering issues.

So I went over to the airport to sort out the mess.

Departures was extremely busy with parliament ending, the Friday afternoon rush and school groups heading off on holidays. She was in tears as they had put her onto a 7pm flight. This was simply not good enough as it meant she would have missed the event she was heading up to Sydney for.

I spoke to Dennis at the sales desk and managed to get a refund of the points I had used to purchase her ticket with. Unfortunately due to the cancelled flight and the other factors there was no other flight available for her to make it to Sydney. No-ones fault really as these things happen.

Anyway, I tried Virgin Blue and paid $350 to get her onto a flight departing at 5pm which meant by the time she got to Sydney Uni she was going to be 30 mins late. Just enough time to make it.

My question is whether Qantas should/might pay for the cost of the Virgin Blue fare? I have heard of instances where this has happened, but don't the circumstances surrounding each individual case.

But on the face of things, considering the circumstances do you think it would be an unreasonable request? Unsure of the T&C's as well.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to submit a claim and see what they say. Even just a credit for a Qantas ticket would suffice.

Wondering anyone's thoughts on this.

 

[Lucky_man]

Hi All

I spoke to Dennis at the sales desk and managed to get a refund of the points I had used to purchase her ticket with.

Sounds like you have the refund already. The best you could have dreamed for is for them to arrange the alternate carrier flight but there would have been many in the list before they started to do this for points funded flight - given they seldom do it for cash funded flight in case of a delay.

 

[NM]

No, Qantas will not pay for the DJ flight. You had an award ticket and the terms and conditions of that fare mean you have to have wait for the next available flight to be carried. You chose not to wait for the next available flight and Qantas refunded the points (which they were not required to do).

 

[lovestotravel]

No, Qantas will not pay for the DJ flight. You had an award ticket and the terms and conditions of that fare mean you have to have wait for the next available flight to be carried. You chose not to wait for the next available flight and Qantas refunded the points (which they were not required to do).

What he said!

 

[Evan]

If you had any chance at all of alternate arrangements it would have been before refunding your flight, you may have been able to ask to get on another flight, if they would do it would depend a lot on how you approach and how your status was. But generally no chance in this situation at all.
Sometimes thats life. Been there done that, got the expensive ticket to prove it

 

[harvyk]

The best you can do is ask, but usually if a carrier chooses to place you with another carrier they will do it at their own expense. Not charge you for it and then make you claim back the cost. (I also expect they can do it at a cheaper rate than you or I)

You should have taken up the issue with QF prior to booking with DJ...

 

[mannej]

Departures was extremely busy with parliament ending, the Friday afternoon rush and school groups heading off on holidays. She was in tears as they had put her onto a 7pm flight. This was simply not good enough as it meant she would have missed the event she was heading up to Sydney for.

For me, I would think that reasons like this you would leave extra time to get to your destination.

It is unlucky that the plane went tech. However most airlines won't compensate for occasions like this. Most travel insurance policies will not cover mechanical delays at all. There are some that will cover mech delays of over 6 hours.

It may be worth contacting Qantas, but don't hold your breath. It would seem that you got a refund of their points, and due to this anything after this you would be out on your own.

Unfortunately there is buckleys chance of getting a refund of the DJ fare.