QANTAS special offers, is it right?

[kristo]

I recently used 110,000 QFF points to book a flight overseas.
The next day Qantas started a special offer for the same desto at 88,000 points, same period etc.
I rang Qantas, the only way I can take advantage of the offer is to cancel my 110,000 booking, pay the 5000 point penalty wait 4 weeks for them to recredit the points and book at 88,000 points, if its still available.
Otherwise, get another 88,000 points into my QFF account ASAP and book at 88,000 first then cancel the other.
Seems like a lot of paperwork for us both.
Has anyone else a suggestion on what to do,or past experience in this type of situation?

 

[arun]

I once cancelled my award ticket, but they credited the points fairly quickly in a couple of days. I don't think they took 4 weeks. But you are better of checking with them. If you already have 88K points in QF or in a credit card program, you should probably use those points to book a new ticket and then cancel the old. If you do that the savings would be 17K. I do not think there is any "paperwork" for you. It is a matter of a phone call, isn't it? The major hassle would be to make sure FF seats are still available in the original sector. I do not think that you are guaranteed to get confirmed seats even if you are the one cancelling your own original seats. I would be very careful about it.

 

[Rick93]

I was once in a similar situation.

Qantas allowed me to 'borrow' the points I needed to rebook, and they took 'hold' over the points I was to recieve from the points refund.

Thus, I could gain the benefit of the 'special' that was being offered at the time. I don't think QFF status had anything to do with it, because I was 'bronze' at the time.

Perhaps each case is assessed on it's merits at the time of enquiry. Ring them and ask.

regards,

 

[kristo]

Thanks Gordon, I will keep that in mind.
I managed to get a further 88,000 points and rebook on the same flight.
I have a couple more questions for you or someone else in the know:-
1.Is there a way to get the 5,000 point penalty for cancelling my original booking back?
2. Do you have any good tips, as for example, I would like to get a window seat with 2 seats vacant beside me? So I can sleep properly or can I sneak into Business Class?( A friend of mine at Qantas advises there is currently 106 vacant seats, at this stage, on the flght which is in 3 weeks, the aircraft seats 366 I think)
3. That brings forward another point, how many FF seats are allocated to each flight.
With my flight there are 106 vacant seats but only 1 more QFF seat!
4. Any other tips?

 

[Rick93]

Strewth! You may as well be asking for a seat next to the captain!

The only way I know how to get a vacant seat next to you is... to claim you are travelling with an infant or todler under two, but this is usually with your partner, who would occupy the other seat in a row of three.

You could try claiming you weigh in at around 150 kilos plus, and you need the extra room just to survive the flight! They might just want to 'look you over' when you check in though....

Hell, we all want to have vacant seats beside us.... good luck !!!

regards,

 

[arun]

A friend of mine told me that you could book three seats! and I did that!!
On a HK to SYD Cathay flight, when I checked in at the Airport Express counter at Kowloon, I asked them to keep two seats beside me free. They happily obliged and in the plane which was only half-full (depature at HK at 11 pm), I had a great sleep. They did not even have an issue with me sleeping through slight turbulence!!
But that is Cathay. Though my friend says all the airlines would do, I have my doubts re: QF. But try it anyway. QF gives the seat number for the trip only during the last 24 hours. You may want to try then.

 

[Rossmurdoch]

Last year returning on QF from London my partner and I had 4 seats between us all the way to Sydney, we had been wait listed for an upgrade but when this didn't come through on check in they promised to give us the extra room if at all possible, which they did.

 

[Rick93]

Qantas is quite particular about seating on take off.

You can't change seats into a row that has vacant seats prior to take off. This is just in case the coroner wants to know who was / or was supposed to be sitting there in the event of a crash!

I've always had trouble trying to work out why QF don't send any QFF up to business class, when the whole section is virtually empty on a long haul flight?

Spacing people out in economy is fine, but why not space their FF out into business class if the space is there? Would the J catering already be ordered for a reduced number of J passengers, or would they be carrying a full load of J class food / drinks?

regards,

 

[thadocta]

I've always had trouble trying to work out why QF don't send any QFF up to business class, when the whole section is virtually empty on a long haul flight?

Because who would then pay for a J ticket if it is looking wide open? Nobody, that's who.

Spacing people out in economy is fine, but why not space their FF out into business class if the space is there? Would the J catering already be ordered for a reduced number of J passengers, or would they be carrying a full load of J class food / drinks?

They cater based on the load, plus one or two extras for last minute sales.

Dave