Qantas to allow free changes, cancellations to Classic Flight Reward bookings to 30 September 2022

[sudoer]

Excellent news, thanks for sharing.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Looks like Qantas have had a change of heart.

Or Qantas hoping we'd forgotten in a day so they can market flexible rewards as a new thing:

Flexible Classic Flight Rewards​

We’ve also added flexibility on eligible Classic Fight Rewards. When you use Qantas Points to book a Classic Flight Reward by 30 June 2022, you’ll be able to change your travel dates or cancel your booking free of charge.* Visit Flexible Classic Flight Rewards for more information.

 

[Formal Hall]

Still a strong selling point compared to virgin - as far as I can tell, only international revenue fares still have free changes and cancellations - nothing on Velocity website for international awards.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Still a strong selling point compared to virgin - as far as I can tell, only international revenue fares still have free changes and cancellations - nothing on Velocity website for international awards.

Fee waiver for Velocity redemptions applies to 31 December for international travel

Velocity Help and Support

We've got your back with frequently asked questions, how to guides and details to get in contact with us.

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

Just noticed Virgin have also committed to offering fee free changes on an ongoing basis for passengers impacted via covid 19.

COVID-19 travel exemption

www.virginaustralia.com

 

[Formal Hall]

Well spotted! The link to Velocity on Virgin's flexible flying page was silent on international redemptions: Changes and refunds so great to hear there is more clarity elsewhere on the website.

 

[AVV]

Does that include bookings nade before as I have a Class reward to Haneda that I do not know if I will be able to travel.

 

[Danger]

Does that include bookings nade before as I have a Class reward to Haneda that I do not know if I will be able to travel.

Yes, it would.

 

[Mattg]

This is now extended for bookings made until 30 September 2022.

Flexible Classic Flight Rewards | Qantas.com

Simply book:

• an Australian domestic Classic Flight Reward before 30 September 2022 and you can change or cancel your booking fee-free until 30 September 2022
• a Trans-Tasman or International Classic Flight Reward before 30 September 2022 and you can change or cancel fee-free until 31 December 2022

 

[GrahamBRI]

Just re-reading some of the recent threads and recent article from MattG, I notice some subtle differences in interpretation of the rules……. My read is that; Virgin’s rule book is talking about travel must be for dates before expiry of the flexible rules…..Qantas can be for travel after expiry of the flexible rules, but the cancellation must be by the expiry date.
ie you can book a speculative international trip with Qantas in Jan 2023, but if you decided not to go ahead with it you must cancel by Dec 31, 2022. Virgin your travel plans must also be before Dec 2023. Not sure if others picked up this subtle difference (or if i have misread something?).

 

[Mattg]

Just re-reading some of the recent threads and recent article from MattG, I notice some subtle differences in interpretation of the rules……. My read is that; Virgin’s rule book is talking about travel must be for dates before expiry of the flexible rules…..Qantas can be for travel after expiry of the flexible rules, but the cancellation must be by the expiry date.
ie you can book a speculative international trip with Qantas in Jan 2023, but if you decided not to go ahead with it you must cancel by Dec 31, 2022. Virgin your travel plans must also be before Dec 2023. Not sure if others picked up this subtle difference (or if i have misread something?).

This is correct.

 

[AVV]

Great

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking to book a QF classic award for travel this weekend. I know it has free cancellation, but is there a time limit, like for changes? QFFF says changes must be made more than 24 hours prior to departure. But if I read it right, cancellation is simply ‘prior to travel’… so I could do it on line like 2 hours before scheduled departure?

 

[serfty]

Looking to book a QF classic award for travel this weekend. I know it has free cancellation, but is there a time limit, like for changes? QFFF says changes must be made more than 24 hours prior to departure. But if I read it right, cancellation is simply ‘prior to travel’… so I could do it on line like 2 hours before scheduled departure?

I have had to do this, even after checking in. Points and +++ were refunded eventually without further intervention.

 

[aus_flyer]

Looking to book a QF classic award for travel this weekend. I know it has free cancellation, but is there a time limit, like for changes? QFFF says changes must be made more than 24 hours prior to departure. But if I read it right, cancellation is simply ‘prior to travel’… so I could do it on line like 2 hours before scheduled departure?

From my experience you can make changes and cancel on the day or departure - but the change can't be for a flight on the same day. Fine to cancel.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

From my experience you can make changes and cancel on the day or departure - but the change can't be for a flight on the same day. Fine to cancel.

Thanks! It will be a straight-out cancel. I think the weather in SYD is going to seek a lot of delays or cancellations on sunday anyway

 

[theblank]

Classic Awards can be cancelled up until departure, this policy merely waives the cancellation fee, so unless there has been a change in the Classic Award T&Cs ... if an agents says no, HUACA or cancel online (which is what I did - computer didn't argue).

are we confident that a Classic Award on British Airways or Qatar Airways can be cancelled for full refund on departure day?

I got a tricky scenario and two flights booked, i dont want to cancel one of them until as late as possible.
The call centre told me up to checkin close would be fine, but gee, she wasnt very confident.

 

[justinbrett]

are we confident that a Classic Award on British Airways or Qatar Airways can be cancelled for full refund on departure day?

I got a tricky scenario and two flights booked, i dont want to cancel one of them until as late as possible.
The call centre told me up to checkin close would be fine, but gee, she wasnt very confident.

I cancelled a Finnair flight over a week ago, but the points weren't refunded until today (and received an email at 4am saying the refund had been processed).

I would not be confident cancelling the day of departure - I had some BA flights that refunded instantly, but it seems this one needed manual intervention - I'd be cancelling the day before at the latest. Worst case scenario website breaks and you can't cancel, then you're stuck on the phone queue.

 

[andye]

are we confident that a Classic Award on British Airways or Qatar Airways can be cancelled for full refund on departure day?

I got a tricky scenario and two flights booked, i dont want to cancel one of them until as late as possible.
The call centre told me up to checkin close would be fine, but gee, she wasnt very confident.

Not your question but can't cancel a BA Avios redemption on departure day and get a refund (the one time I tried was when accompanying my wife to the CX J lounge in LHR; I was leaving a week later)

 

[SydneySwan]

Not your question but can't cancel a BA Avios redemption on departure day and get a refund (the one time I tried was when accompanying my wife to the CX J lounge in LHR; I was leaving a week later)

So you made a dummy booking so as to get your wife in J lounge????

 

[andye]

So you made a dummy booking so as to get your wife in J lounge????

It was round about 2018. She was in J but I fancied seeing her off.
Booked an award LHR-LYS, waved her off, visited a couple of other lounges, then cancelled my flight.
Did get questioned at immigration. Think I said that something had come up at short notice and needed to stay in London