QF Fully Flexible Y Fares and SCs

[fjc]

I've noticed over the past few months that there is a difference in the calculation of SCs for fully flexible Y fares.

If domestic, then the fare rule states:
Classed as Economy when Points or Status Credits are earned.

However, if international, then the fare rule states:

Classed as Discount Economy when Points or Status Credits are earned.
From my research, it would appear that the only way to earn full SCs for an economy fare is to fly Premium Economy.

Has anyone else noticed this? Has it ever been thus or something new in the past few months?

 

[oz_mark]

It's been this way for quite some time.

Supersavers used to earn discount economy on domestic, but when they restructures the fares, the buckets that went to red-e-deal (S) stayed as discount SC's, while those that moved into flexi saver became full SC.

Actually a full economy 'Y' fare will earn full economy SC's as well internationally, they're not so easy to come by on the QF website.

 

[eosphoros]

The only booking class for international flights that earn full economy SCs is Y. Choosing fully flexible doesn't guarantee booking into Y. The only way to do that is through a travel agent (or if you're lucky as oz_mark has said, on the QF website).

But at the price of full Y, you would be better off going Y+.

 

[richie9x]

That doesn't sound right. Fully flexible fares should earn SC at the Economy rate no matter if they are international or domestic. Are you sure it really is a fully flexible fare? As these fare are sometimes not shown on some international searches. Can you give an example?

Although flexi saver fares are treated differently domestic where they earn SCs at economy rate vs international where they earn SCs at discount economy rate. That change was made earlier this year (April?)

Domestic
Discount Economy: Red eDeal
Economy: Flexi Saver, Fully Flexible

International
Discount Economy: Sale, Red e-Deal, Super Saver, Flexi Saver
Economy: Fully Flexible

 

[richie9x]

Digging further there might me a lot more to this, it looks like Qantas have done away with fully flexible fare on a lot of their international routes. At least it does not come up in booking searches and when you choose compare fares it is not listed.

For a few test bookings I could only find fully flexible fares on trans-tasman and domestic flights.

For example if you search BNE-LAX and then click show the different fare types. Flexi Saver is the highest economy class.
Bookings - Fare Types

To get SCs at the economy rate for a lot of international routes it looks like you would have to book premium economy.

This does seem to be something new. If this is a change then it doesn't seem very good.

 

[Mal]

Qf website rarely if ever displayed full y intl. You have to call or go through a ta.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[fjc]

That doesn't sound right. Fully flexible fares should earn SC at the Economy rate no matter if they are international or domestic. Are you sure it really is a fully flexible fare? As these fare are sometimes not shown on some international searches. Can you give an example?

Although flexi saver fares are treated differently domestic where they earn SCs at economy rate vs international where they earn SCs at discount economy rate. That change was made earlier this year (April?)

Domestic
Discount Economy: Red eDeal
Economy: Flexi Saver, Fully Flexible

International
Discount Economy: Sale, Red e-Deal, Super Saver, Flexi Saver
Economy: Fully Flexible

Very quick test chosen at random with economy chosen on the search engine
Syd - WLG Mon 28 Nov, return Wed 30 Nov (fully flexible) Classed as Discount Economy when Points or Status Credits are earned.
Ditto Tues 20 Mar, return 27 Mar (fully flexible) Classed as Discount Economy when Points or Status Credits are earned.

Syd - NAN - Sun 27 Nov return wed 30 Nov (flexi-saver) Classed as Discount Economy when Points or Status Credits are earned.

 

[Aus ATC]

I think it has been this way for quite a while. Maybe Qantas are too embarrassed at the cost to promote a "Y" fare on line.....

 

[Henk]

I was looking forward to earning Y SC points for my return Fully Flexible SYD-WLG and only learned about the disappointing reality when my points appeared in my account.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I was looking forward to earning Y SC points for my return Fully Flexible SYD-WLG and only learned about the disappointing reality when my points appeared in my account.

I always call to get the full Y fare. It's rarely on the net and not much more than the highest Y quote.its also half the points to upgrade than a discount Y on international routes.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I was looking forward to earning Y SC points for my return Fully Flexible SYD-WLG and only learned about the disappointing reality when my points appeared in my account.

My experience is that the Y fare for Trans Tasman will show up online when the next highest booking class (B) is full. Otherwise call a TA or QANTAS to book the Y fare. It's, usually, not much more than the B fare.

On the other hand, the Y fare to other destinations is much more expensive (e.g. SYD-SIN). Yet discount Y SYD-SIN only nets 30SCs - the same as most fares MEL-BNE.