QF changing SYD-LAX flights without notice?

[awkwardpaws]

Good to hear!!!

The crepuscular critter is on a role atm

simply a testament to good customer service, really!

 

[SeatBackForward]

simply a testament to good customer service, really!

I'm interested in how Red Roo figured out who you were!

 

[Katy]

I'm interested in how Red Roo figured out who you were!

There were quite a few details that would narrow it down:

- Exact flights given
- Booking made a few days before the first change notification
- Booked via Orbitz
- Bronze QFF with number added to booking

I can't imagine there'd be too many bookings that fit that profile!

 

[SeatBackForward]

There were quite a few details that would narrow it down:

- Exact flights given
- Booking made a few days before the first change notification
- Booked via Orbitz
- Bronze QFF with number added to booking

I can't imagine there'd be too many bookings that fit that profile!

It also shows a level of detail to attention by Red Roo!

Better go back and check what nasty things I've written about

 

[kermatu]

Great outcome from Red Roo and good service recovery.

But yet another communications failure of some sort when flights were changed. Unclear which of the parties is most 'responsible', recognizing mistakes happen and emails can get lost.

I always book direct with Qantas but still have a hit and miss approach when it comes to communication of flight changes (and I am P1 so in theory there's a team watching out for my travel). I use external apps and subscriptions to be safe(r).

Family and friends sometimes book through agents and I always suggest entering contact details on the airline's site as an extra avenue of notification.

Anyway, glad your issue is resolved and good work RR!

 

[Flying mermaid]

opusman - I booked on Orbitz since it was much cheaper than the QF engine that day, plus no booking fee and I needed the easy 24 hour cancellation policy of Orbitz. Do you think if I booked it on QF engine it would be less !

I always book directly with Qantas, even if it costs a little more, so as to cut out the middle person if things go wrong. If you have a very personal TA, I am sure that could work well, but the online TAs are often low service as well. Last year I was on a round the world flight. In Italy I noticed I had been downgraded from F to J for the lax-SYD leg due to an equipment change. I was able to get it changed back to F by rerouting through DFW, within a few hours. At the time it was all mega stressful, but I think you could have multiplied that by 10 if I had been trying to communicate with say Flight Centre to get it fixed up. I tend to obsessively check my bookings and don't trust anyone to communicate changes to me, but I am probably paranoid after all these years of flying.....

 

[Capricornus]

...

opusman - I booked on Orbitz since it was much cheaper than the QF engine that day, plus no booking fee and I needed the easy 24 hour cancellation policy of Orbitz. Do you think if I booked it on QF engine it would be less hairy?

Glad it is all resolved satisfactory for you!

after a bad personal experience being slugged with $700 change fees to make a simple date change on a fare that was $1700 a few years back, I avoid OTA at all costs.

When a price given by OTA is cheaper than what qf online is quoting for the same itinerary, you can try the Qantas Price Match that worked for me on two occasions. But the OTA must be registered in Oz, so not sure if it will work with Orbitz. Anyhow, I now consider the additional cost booking thought Qantas as an insurance cost to be able to deal directly with the airline in case something goes haywire.

 

[serfty]

I agree with book direct when you can. Earlier last year I booked some QF travel though Orbitz as it was rather cheaper. Soon after Qantas adjusted flight times by several hours - they did publish a re-accommodation policy. It took a lot of effort to get the various people I spoke to at Orbitz to understand the issue and the possibility of 'free' changes - even after that they they still wanted to charge me fees (theirs) to make the changes.

In the end it was too hard - I simply readjusted my travel plans and am now wary of OTA's and issues that can happen.

 

[awkwardpaws]

Great outcome from Red Roo and good service recovery.

But yet another communications failure of some sort when flights were changed. Unclear which of the parties is most 'responsible', recognizing mistakes happen and emails can get lost.

I always book direct with Qantas but still have a hit and miss approach when it comes to communication of flight changes (and I am P1 so in theory there's a team watching out for my travel). I use external apps and subscriptions to be safe(r).

Family and friends sometimes book through agents and I always suggest entering contact details on the airline's site as an extra avenue of notification.

Anyway, glad your issue is resolved and good work RR!

I hit you the issue right there kermatu! these things happen, both the flight change and emails not being sent, but its a matter of someone putting their hand up to say yep, im going to try and solve this asap. Lucky for me, my 2016 aim was to get involved in for flight community in AFF and it certainly paid off!

But yes - agree with all the comments here about booking on TAs and OTAs. Seems like the added price is just insurance not to deal with a middleman!

PS - gotta love how some members here compulsively check their bookings before their flight - clearly i am not the only one!

 

[cjd600]

To update everyone, before I managed to call Orbitz, RedRoo has taken the initiative and managed to track down my reservation from this forum (note that I haven't actually added any personal details here) and Lisa from Qantas gave me a call about 5 minutes ago to confirm that she has changed the booking for me such that my flight is now on Jan 13 QF17 flight (which is the best case scenario!)!

I'd like to thank RedRoo and Lisa from Qantas for taking the initiative for changing my flight booking and making sure I didn't need to do the run-around and contact Orbitz (who in turn would've needed to contact Qantas)!

+1 for QF customer service!

Note: Just to clarify to everyone, bookings made by TAs and OTAs will be owned by the TAs until the actual flight has commenced (so changes have to go through TAs), so to avoid hassles such as this, I would recommend booking directly with the airline - so much easier to solve!

Again, thanks RedRoo (and this confirms the power of AFF to me!)

I'd still call Orbitz back if I was you (to confirm you have actioned the change)

I had the same scenario with the 'mistake' USD445 QF fares to LAX (booked through orbitz)
Original flight cancelled due to the SFO scheduling.
Rebooked on early morning flight same day.
Managed to call QF myself and have them change the booking to morning flight the following day (using the "24hr clause").
Orbitz subsequently changed the booking back (without contacting me) to the same day early flight I had changed away from.
I only knew of this due to myflights.com notification.
Qantas changed it again for me.Orbitz changed it back, again myflights.com notification.
Called QF and had them hold my required change, and seat selection (QF very helpful), and had to call Orbitz USA and have them action the required change as they 'held' the booking....all good now

Wouldn't use Orbitz again....well, maybe if they are selling USD445 fares again I might..

 

[awkwardpaws]

I'd still call Orbitz back if I was you (to confirm you have actioned the change)

Thats helpful - thanks for that.

My last conversation with Orbitz was that they were going to defer me to their offline international flights team (whatever that means) to help me negotiate with qantas about the flight change, and they said they'll give me a call back.

But yes, based on your suggestion, I'm going to follow RedRoo's lead, be proactive and reach out to Orbitz when they come online later tonight & make sure Orbitz doesn't tamper with my booking.

 

[opusman]

I needed the easy 24 hour cancellation policy of Orbitz.

Don't forget QF do let you hold international bookings for 72 (iirc) hours for a small fee (which is refunded if you then go ahead with the booking).