QF J class anti-downgrade strategy

[russ]

Hi Red Roo,

I am worried about booking QF J class and being downgraded like some people have been reporting.

What can I do to minimise the risk of being downgraded by QF?

Do you downgrade "business saver" ticket holders before "business" tickets, etc?

Is there an additional fee I can pay so that I will not be downgraded by QF?

Thanks
russ

 

[Standby]

The best method to reduce the risk is to checkin on line as soon as the flight is available to do so. I'm sure that wont solve all the permutations but it helps. Especially ex the US. You don't want to leave it until the airport when half the premium load will have connected in from other ports. They may not be tiered FFs but trying to find & fish their checked bags out of a full A380 hold is too much effort.

 

[opusman]

This is not the type of question that Red Roo will answer.

 

[madrooster]

They may not be tiered FFs but trying to find & fish their checked bags out of a full A380 hold is too much effort.

It's actually not hard at all. The load sheets and manifests for each ULD show what's in it. It's actually quite easy to find a bag for the purposes of an offload.

 

[Spongbob]

Now I am getting confused. Most AFF activists have an upgrade strategy, now you also need a downgrade strategy?

 

[Pushka]

Now I am getting confused. Most AFF activities have an upgrade strategy, now you also need a downgrade strategy?

It's another enhancement and a Fairer and Simpler system.

 

[amaroo]

Hi Red Roo,

I am worried about booking QF J class and being downgraded like some people have been reporting.

What can I do to minimise the risk of being downgraded by QF?

Do you downgrade "business saver" ticket holders before "business" tickets, etc?

Is there an additional fee I can pay so that I will not be downgraded by QF?

Thanks
russ

Book with another airline...

 

[Standby]

Book with another airline...

to suggest QF is the only carrier overselling premiums cabins would be naive .Where ever there is a consistant pattern of Noshos
they would be crazy not to oversell against it. To do otherwise is throwing Revenue away.
Obviously they should recompense those impacted appropriately. If bumped from J to Y its not unreasonable IMO to get a full refund for the downgraded sector and be carried in Y for free as an option
rather than some partial refund of base bases of their choosing from J to Y.Also getting it right who to downgrade should be a given.

 

[drron]

So maybe it should be book on another airline on their first flight of the day as especially to Asia there are other airlines with more frequency than QF.
Also if flying SYD-NRT if overbooking on the JAL flight there are other options on other carriers to get you there that day all be it a little late.

 

[GalaxyNexus]

One obvious way is to book Y only.

 

[williamsf1]

One obvious way is to book Y only.

I know this is a J anti downgrade thread ... but getting bumped from Y ( ie not fly at all) is just as common or even more common

 

[JohnK]

Business class anti-downgrade strategy!

Good for a laugh on a boring Tuesday afternoon in the office.

 

[TomVexille]

I know this is a J anti downgrade thread ... but getting bumped from Y ( ie not fly at all) is just as common or even more common

But it does seem like the compo for being bumped from Y is better than the compensation for J to Y :shock:

 

[eastwest101]

So maybe it should be book on another airline on their first flight of the day as especially to Asia there are other airlines with more frequency than QF.
Also if flying SYD-NRT if overbooking on the JAL flight there are other options on other carriers to get you there that day all be it a little late.

Actually - I can go one better - if its possible book a fully refundable fare to the same destination on another carrier (ensuring a cash refund is possible upon cancellation on day of flight - which I think is the tough part), then normally you would cancel the fully refundable fare in the usual situation that QF does not downgrade you. But in the unlikely even that you do get an operational downgrade, whats to stop you flying the other carrier (i.e. JL or say SQ or CX) to your destination? Obviously calling your credit card company immediately and launching a disputed transaction "service not provided" for the amount of the QF fare? A sort of "self insurance" policy. Return flights could be structured the same way with the added bonus that an operational downgrade by QF on the return flight back into Australia would have QF in the hole for the entire return airfare if the disputed transaction sticks - I wonder if QF would be more willing to negotiate a fair outcome if they didn't have your money?

Now why do airlines oversell seats again??

 

[samh004]

I would say the optimal solution to this problem is to allow for flexibility in long-haul trips. By giving yourself a day either side of arrival/departure, if you are downgraded for the flight you'll usually get the option to be put up in a hotel and take the premium seat the next day.

Other than that, have you considered becoming a Platinum One member?

 

[yohy?!]

buy full fare J? seriously there's not much in it, people who pay more get treated better

 

[eastwest101]

I would say the optimal solution to this problem is to allow for flexibility in long-haul trips. By giving yourself a day either side of arrival/departure, if you are downgraded for the flight you'll usually get the option to be put up in a hotel and take the premium seat the next day.

Other than that, have you considered becoming a Platinum One member?

Oh I agree with that - certainly when it comes to long distance leisure/discretionary travel, then building in a buffer of time at home and at destination is wise. But for people whom are flying to scheduled meetings/rosters or have tighter work related timeframes/schedules dictated to them, then sometimes flexibility is not really what the passenger wants.

 

[williamsf1]

Hi Red Roo,

I am worried about booking QF J class and being downgraded like some people have been reporting.

What can I do to minimise the risk of being downgraded by QF?

Do you downgrade "business saver" ticket holders before "business" tickets, etc?

Is there an additional fee I can pay so that I will not be downgraded by QF?

Thanks
russ

Chances of being downgraded are low, however the following things help
1- have a seat selected
2- check in as soon as possible
3- Select your meals via Q-eat ( if on your route) 7 days before travel
4- If you have status that will help ( ie a silver would be kicked off before a Gold if all other things are the same like fare type)

Things they look for when downgrading a passenger - It is a combination of one or some of the below
1- have they checked in ?
2- are they on a connecting flight inbound ? ( often flights can be delayed resulting in miss connect )
3- TCP - They do not like to change travelling parties
4- fare type - a full J fare will have preference over a discount or reward fare
5- Airline status - the higher you are the less chance of getting downgraded
6- booking date

 

[JohnK]

I would say the optimal solution to this problem is to allow for flexibility in long-haul trips. By giving yourself a day either side of arrival/departure, if you are downgraded for the flight you'll usually get the option to be put up in a hotel and take the premium seat the next day.

Easily done if you travel once a year or less frequently.

Not so easy to do if you are doing 8-10 day trips to stretch out your annual leave as much as possible.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

TBH I just cannot believe that you guys are now seriously considering factoring in extra day before / after your scheduled flts just in case QF boots you out of your confirmed / ticketed seat - mind boggling.