Qantas Revenue booking cancellations (under covid19)

[MEL_Traveller]

This is all about whether or not there are sale fares at the same fare level as what you paid. Do you know the fare class code? I don't agree that you'll have to pay more, it just depends on the pricing and availability of your previous fare class.
I just did a quick search, Sydney to LA, and business is as low as $3000 one way.
But here is the great thing First class for $6500 one way. There is no reason you can't use your voucher for first class seats at an extra cost of $500.

For sure. But that’s not the product people bought originally. QF’s facebook page is heavy with folk who seem to assume that their $1200 QF fare SYD-LHR will be swapped like for like when it comes time for them to resume travel. A fare bought when QF was trying to fill an A380, and with intense competition from other airlines flying A380s.

When flying resumes we might be lucky to have a handful of 787s. And fares could easily be double (QF was advertising $2500 economy fares to london just a day ago on their specials deals’ page)

 

[Vic]

For sure. But that’s not the product people bought originally. QF’s facebook page is heavy with folk who seem to assume that their $1200 QF fare SYD-LHR will be swapped like for like when it comes time for them to resume travel. A fare bought when QF was trying to fill an A380, and with intense competition from other airlines flying A380s.

When flying resumes we might be lucky to have a handful of 787s. And fares could easily be double (QF was advertising $2500 economy fares to london just a day ago on their specials deals’ page)

I think it is unrealistic to think Qantas should carry the entire cost of the virus. Even if that fits the selfish sense of entitlement that has developed in most Australians, or I should say lack of self responsibility. This virus is going to cost everyone, the soon people accept this fact the soon they can move on.

I see nothing to support the claim that Qantas a price gouging. But if the posters with the business class fares to the US doesn't like it, take the refund pay the $800 fee and rebook on the flights that are not $3000 (in business) each way.

Comparing economy with business conditions isn't exactly valid, i think.

 

[justinbrett]

So if you still want to travel, if you just change your dates - it’s just a matter of the same fare class being available right? Eg, if you have business class booked in I class, and the fare has since increased by a few thousand - as long as there is still I class on your new dates you don’t pay extra?

 

[serfty]

So if you still want to travel, if you just change your dates - it’s just a matter of the same fare class being available right? Eg, if you have business class booked in I class, and the fare has since increased by a few thousand - as long as there is still I class on your new dates you don’t pay extra?

The "Fare Difference" clause is the killer here.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think it is unrealistic to think Qantas should carry the entire cost of the virus. Even if that fits the selfish sense of entitlement that has developed in most Australians, or I should say lack of self responsibility. This virus is going to cost everyone, the soon people accept this fact the soon they can move on.

I see nothing to support the claim that Qantas a price gouging. But if the posters with the business class fares to the US doesn't like it, take the refund pay the $800 fee and rebook on the flights that are not $3000 (in business) each way.

Comparing economy with business conditions isn't exactly valid, i think.

Well... I would be willing to agree with you IF Qantas came to the party and offered, as an option, a like-for-like for the fare they wished to convert to a voucher!

So your $5999 J class to LAX could be swapped, like for like, for a J class seat once QF starts flying again.

The unfair component is that the fare must be of equal or higher value, without guaranteeing the fare of equal value will be available.

Totally easy for QF to be 100% fair, keep the money now, and the passenger has no chance of being unfairly out of pocket later.

 

[justinbrett]

The "Fare Difference" clause is the killer here.

I mean if you don't accept a voucher - if your flight is cancelled can't you just ask to fly on different dates?

 

[serfty]

if your flight is cancelled can't you just ask to fly on different dates?

Oh. sorry. There are policies for that - general policy is +/- one day and they can book in the lowest available class if the cabin of original class is not available. More here: Qantas and Other Airline Schedule Change Policy

 

[justinbrett]

Oh. sorry. There are policies for that - general policy is +/- one day and they can book in the lowest available class if the cabin of original class is not available. More here: Qantas and Other Airline Schedule Change Policy

Well yeah - but for example if you're booked SYD-LHR in Apr you're not going to get anything +/- one day. I would assume they'd let you rebook for different dates rather than give you a refund (they want to hang on to as much cash as they can).

I've got SYD-SCL-GIG//HNL-SYD booked in Aug so still a long way away, but if this continues like the PM is saying it will I might have to rebook the trip for 2021. It is refundable (J booking) but I've also got a GIG-LHR-ORD BA J booking that's not refundable. Hopefully I can go as planned but if not my hope was to just slide the whole trip by a few months.

 

[Vic]

Well... I would be willing to agree with you IF Qantas came to the party and offered, as an option, a like-for-like for the fare they wished to convert to a voucher!

So your $5999 J class to LAX could be swapped, like for like, for a J class seat once QF starts flying again.

The unfair component is that the fare must be of equal or higher value, without guaranteeing the fare of equal value will be available.

Totally easy for QF to be 100% fair, keep the money now, and the passenger has no chance of being unfairly out of pocket later.

The equal of high requirement has always existed. There are plenty of ways to deal with that requirement. For a start the requirement is based on fare class not dollar cost.

Waiving the change fees is pretty generous, as those are the killers for any non-flexible fare.

I'm just not seeing anything to suggest the equal fare will not be available besides speculation in this thread.
The poster I replied to could go into First class for an extra $500, a higher fare. For my vouchers I've had the option to move to business class for $33, a higher fare class.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The equal of high requirement has always existed. There are plenty of ways to deal with that requirement. For a start the requirement is based on fare class not dollar cost.

Waiving the change fees is pretty generous, as those are the killers for any non-flexible fare.

I'm just not seeing anything to suggest the equal fare will not be available besides speculation in this thread.
The poster I replied to could go into First class for an extra $500, a higher fare. For my vouchers I've had the option to move to business class for $33, a higher fare class.

The $33 is from one business class fare to the next?

For you it's just $33... but multiply that by 1 million vouchers and that's a profit of $33 million to the airline in new revenue.

Why not match like for like? Why not allow vouchers to be split, or part redeemed like BA does?

If this was a genuine attempt to work with passengers I'd be far less cynical.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

Why not match like for like?

I can see circumstances when this approach could be problematic for Qantas, once travel resumes. For instance, if you want to move your cancelled flight from shoulder or off-peak season (March to May) to peak season (towards the end of the year) Qantas would be exchanging a cheap flight for a more justifiably more expensive one, one that wouldn't truly be "like for like".

Why not allow vouchers to be split, or part redeemed like BA does?

This looks like a sensible compromise. I'm not sure what reason for the "must pay the same or more" requirement is, other than to force people to buy the same or more expensive fare.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can see circumstances when this approach could be problematic for Qantas, once travel resumes. For instance, if you want to move your cancelled flight from shoulder or off-peak season (March to May) to peak season (towards the end of the year) Qantas would be exchanging a cheap flight for a more justifiably more expensive one, one that wouldn't truly be "like for like".

But by the same token, all those that purchased 'peak fares' are going to lose out when it comes to them travelling off peak? They'll be paying for a higher fare class when fares in lower fare buckets might be readily available.

The whole notion of peak vs off-peak fares is nothing more than a way to make money. Fuel, wages, crew hotels... they don't cost any more because it's January 14 rather than January 15. The airline just wants to sell seats for as much as it can.

If QF is asking passengers to suspend commercial reality (ignore contractual rights to a refund), why can't airlines suspend their need to make more money off peak fares?

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

But by the same token, all those that purchased 'peak fares' are going to lose out when it comes to them travelling off peak? They'll be paying for a higher fare class when fares in lower fare buckets might be readily available.

Sure, which is why I agree that it would be good if the voucher could be split.

The whole notion of peak vs off-peak fares is nothing more than a way to make money. Fuel, wages, crew hotels... they don't cost any more because it's January 14 rather than January 15. The airline just wants to sell seats for as much as it can.

It's a question of demand. More people want to fly during peak season, so the price goes up to meet the supply. Fewer people want to travel during off-peak months, so airlines drop the price to encourage people to fly.

 

[Vic]

The $33 is from one business class fare to the next?

For you it's just $33... but multiply that by 1 million vouchers and that's a profit of $33 million to the airline in new revenue.

Why not match like for like? Why not allow vouchers to be split, or part redeemed like BA does?

If this was a genuine attempt to work with passengers I'd be far less cynical.

No, $33 from economy (Flex) to business.

Minimal cost, better class of service and more status credits. A good solution if the flex fares are more expensive, likely since the voucher was purchased via QBR and the discount doesn't always get applied when redeeming a voucher.

Just did a dummy booking, selected a one way fare in the same fare class (flex) that was lower cost than the original booking. The accept screen stated I'd get a refund of the extra $18 back to the original payment method.

I'm not seeing anything to justify being cynical.

 

[Vic]

This looks like a sensible compromise. I'm not sure what reason for the "must pay the same or more" requirement is, other than to force people to buy the same or more expensive fare.

They don't have to pay the same or more. It has to be the same or higher fare class. There is a subtle but important difference between cost and fare class.

 

[QF4L]

Qantas has cancelled my flights, booked through Amex, and I'm being told the only option is to get a voucher. Amex staff member told me that this is the instruction coming from Qantas, that Amex is bound by Qantas' instructions, and that Qantas are not offering refunds.

Has anyone been able to get a refund on airline-initiated cancellations? Specifically on a flight booked through a third party? Wondering what my next move is...

 

[kpro]

Amex tried the same with me too - it's very clear that Qantas allow refunds for cancelled flights even in this current situation. Not sure how to get them to understand the QF written policy.

Commercial Policy for Qantas Customers Impacted by Qantas International Flight Cancellations Due to Demand Impact of Coronavirus

Commercial Policy for Qantas Customers Impacted by Qantas International Flight Cancellations Due to Demand Impact of Coronavirus

www.qantas.com

Refund
If the above alternative options are not suitable, customers are entitled to a refund. Customers who have commenced their journey are entitled to a refund of the impacted sector/s. Customers who have not commenced their journey are entitled to a full refund.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They don't have to pay the same or more. It has to be the same or higher fare class. There is a subtle but important difference between cost and fare class.

Serfty posted the terms and conditions of his voucher in a previous post:

This credit voucher is valid for travel until xx February 2023, after which your booking will be cancelled and the credit voucher value will be forfeited (unless your original fare permits a refund).​

* This credit voucher can only be used for a fare of equal or higher value than your original fare and for travel on Qantas operated flights from or within Australia. This credit voucher is non-transferable and name changes are not permitted.​

* To redeem this credit voucher, please visit qantas.com/yourbooking​

* Please check the fare conditions of your original booking to find out what fees may apply when you redeem your credit voucher.​

* Further information about credit vouchers and when they can be used is available at Credit Vouchers.​

​

So I don't follow your point about fare class vs fare. It is clear from serfty's post that at least some vouchers have the condition that it must be a higher '$ value' fare.

As an aside I note from today that QF is not offering vouchers anymore but a 'flight credit'

 

[leaving on a jet plane]

This is all about whether or not there are sale fares at the same fare level as what you paid. Do you know the fare class code? I don't agree that you'll have to pay more, it just depends on the pricing and availability of your previous fare class.
I just did a quick search, Sydney to LA, and business is as low as $3000 one way.
But here is the great thing First class for $6500 one way. There is no reason you can't use your voucher for first class seats at an extra cost of $500.

The prices you quoted are One Way NOT return. My ticket is from Melbourne to New York return for $6,000.
If you go to QANTAS.COM and look up DEALS and look up Business return MEL to JFK you will see it is $8,640 at very best!

 

[Prof Henry]

I just got 2 email mesages from QF – 13 minutes apart:
1. "Cancellation of your upcoming Qantas Flight"
2. "Prepare for your upcoming flight"

And the App Message service is currently unavailable

I sympathise