QF zeroing flights - cancellation impending?

[dajop]

It is the limbo waiting that is annoying, and costly for the passenger.

As mine was an award ticket I ended up cancelling my QF ticket (can do so free of charge at the moment) and paying for a fare on SQ, which is better value anyway @$584 return, Even though my QF was only one way, I’ll probably use the return sector and if I don’t still OK. SQ have been pretty reliably operating services to MEL for the last 22 months so barring an aircraft going out of service I expect they will operate their full achedule.

 

[AndyC1970]

I stupidly booked a paid return flight in J class to Japan MEL-Haneda for late May QF 79. Due to the article I checked online and Qantas.com - it is now showing that there is no QF79 available for new bookings - only MEL-SYD-Haneda on the day/surrounding dates. Even though it is still showing up in my bookings as QF79 it is evident that it has been cancelled/wiped. How long do you think it will be before QF notifies me of the cancellation/ re-routing? It will be interesting to see if they offer a refund as this would be my preferred option- although reluctant to cancel myself now as I don't want to fall in the trap of getting a flight credit. Overlaying all this is the fact that Japan hasn't even announced when it is opening to tourists. Fingers crossed on all fronts EDIT: Even the QF website where are we flying lists that Australia Japan is not starting until 'Late July".

 

[woodyren]

Can someone please check if QF35 on Monday 18th April is zeroed out.

I do not know how to check but would really like a heads up if this flight is no likely to occur.

Thanks in advance.

 

[aus_flyer]

Can someone please check if QF35 on Monday 18th April is zeroed out.

I do not know how to check but would really like a heads up if this flight is no likely to occur.

Thanks in advance.

No, it's not.

 

[RichardMEL]

Can someone please check if QF35 on Monday 18th April is zeroed out.

I do not know how to check but would really like a heads up if this flight is no likely to occur.

Thanks in advance.

nope. quite a bit of availability showing

 

[peterl]

I'm booked an award MEL-SIN on QF35 during April. I've noticed that the both QF35 and 36 (SIN-MEL) are showing as no availability on expertflyer on the day I am travelling (a Tuesday). I've also just noticed that this is the same every Tuesday during April (i.e. no availability in any booking class on either QF35 or QF36). Would this suggest a cancellation is impending? If so, how long do you think they will take to actually cancel the flight and move pax?

I know they'd probably move me via SYD, but that would mean a 6:30am flight out of MEL instead of midday, which means a night in Melbourne (I'd be happy to rebook out of BXG ... but no award availability BXG-SYD) , and having to go to the airport the night before to get supervised RAT test, as HIstopath only open at 6am.

If it really looks like they are going to cancel, I'll just cancel it myslef and book a return commercial fare ex-SIN on SQ.

Book Qantas or Jetstar as your last choice. With Singapore Airlines, you get cash refund with cancellation. Only standard cancellation fee of $150.

 

[peterl]

Book with Qantas or Jetstar last. You get cash refund with Singapore airlines minus $150 cancellation cost within 4 weeks.

 

[Revenge]

Qantas's behaviour here as described in @Mattg's article is bordering on misleading and deceptive conduct. Really the ACCC should be focussing on this kind of thing rather than loyalty programmes.

 

[peterl]

I would have just said under their own Fly Flexible policy that a cancel by QF entitles one to a refund. No need for contract of carriage stuff imo.

Seems like you got a bum agent (sigh). I would absolutely agree a refund should have been provided in this instance.

yes, agreed. A refund only - no voucher. Use Qantas last, book with Singapore Airlines, you get a full cash refund on cancellation (minus $150 cancellation fees) within 4 weeks.

 

[jrfsp]

Are flights sometimes zero'd before adding them? Trying to find a reward seat for a domestic, MEL-PER, only 4 flights available that day on QF but EF shows a lot more, potentially yet to be released?

 

[RichardMEL]

Are flights sometimes zero'd before adding them? Trying to find a reward seat for a domestic, MEL-PER, only 4 flights available that day on QF but EF shows a lot more, potentially yet to be released?

It's more likely the initial allocation has been taken already.

Sure they may add more later but you can't bank on it. Best to grab the best award seat you can and keep an eye on it and move if something you like better (eg on an A330) opens up.

 

[chodo]

Howdy,

Watching this with interest and have only just signed up for the freebie version of Expert Flyer and trying to understand this zero'd out scam being run by Qantas.



Does this mean the flight for 16/03 from Sydney to Bkk is still going ahead at this stage because 9 economy fares are still available? Or is it an option for them to cancel last minute?

Our situation is this; we want to head to Thailand for a month (up to 6 weeks but no time to send off for a 60 day visa). I have booked with Qantas in economy using points (at least that way we can cancel without penalty), although hoped for some J seats to become available although it's looking like a no. Before we book and pay for the PCR test, the 1st night's accommodation, the insurance and all the rest - just want to be clear in my understanding.

Can anybody suggest a better way of going about this?

I have a feeling that any day now, south east Asian countries will change requirements for tourists and make it easier, and these changes will occur the day after we pay ad commit to everything in Thailand. Saying that, time is running out and we are due to fly in 9 days time!

 

[RichardMEL]

Howdy,

Watching this with interest and have only just signed up for the freebie version of Expert Flyer and trying to understand this zero'd out scam being run by Qantas.

View attachment 273017

Does this mean the flight for 16/03 from Sydney to Bkk is still going ahead at this stage because 9 economy fares are still available? Or is it an option for them to cancel last minute?

Probably not. And in this case I feel the use of the word "scam" is inappropriate.

Our situation is this; we want to head to Thailand for a month (up to 6 weeks but no time to send off for a 60 day visa). I have booked with Qantas in economy using points (at least that way we can cancel without penalty), although hoped for some J seats to become available although it's looking like a no. Before we book and pay for the PCR test, the 1st night's accommodation, the insurance and all the rest - just want to be clear in my understanding.

Can anybody suggest a better way of going about this?

I have a feeling that any day now, south east Asian countries will change requirements for tourists and make it easier, and these changes will occur the day after we pay ad commit to everything in Thailand. Saying that, time is running out and we are due to fly in 9 days time!

First, you're looking at the wrong thing.

You should look at flight availability not award availability. That can say zero for many flights that are just fine.

It's under 10 days to go. if QF cancel QF23 it will be for some other reason (operational). it is almost full in Business(J1) for one, and there's no obvious reason for it to be cancelled unless Thailand close borders and deny flights with a few days notice, which is unlikely in the extreme.

I would not panic about the outbound. The return? who knows what can happen in 6+ weeks given hoe volatile the world is.. though I would suggest BKK-SYD is a pretty safe bet as it is VERY popular and .th have opened up so there is zero reason(see what I did there?) to cancel it in the way this thread is discussing.

 

[peterl]

Yes it does mean this.

This has been Qantas' modus operandi for the past couple of years when cancelling blocks of flights months in advance. It first zeroes out availability so nobody can book new seats, but it doesn't actually cancel the flights for several more weeks or sometimes months. I can only assume this is so they can hold onto passengers' money for longer, since the flights aren't technically cancelled yet.

It's highly inconvenient for the affected passengers and I wish Qantas would stop doing this. If they're going to cancel a flight, just cancel it!



If you can cancel the booking yourself with no penalty, you might as well. The Qantas flight you booked will more than likely not operate.

However, some people have fallen into the trap of cancelling (revenue tickets) before Qantas formally cancels, meaning they are stuck with a credit voucher instead of the refund they would have been entitled to.

yes, Japan is still closed to tourists and no Qantas or Jetstar flights going to Japan. My flight on Jetstar is still open and booked on March 28.......no cancellation from Qantas or Jetstar..........knowingly that flights will not resume for Japan for sometime.........So, book Qantas and Jetstar last.......use Singapore airlines........full cash refund on cancellation after 4 weeks!

 

[peterl]

I stupidly booked a paid return flight in J class to Japan MEL-Haneda for late May QF 79. Due to the article I checked online and Qantas.com - it is now showing that there is no QF79 available for new bookings - only MEL-SYD-Haneda on the day/surrounding dates. Even though it is still showing up in my bookings as QF79 it is evident that it has been cancelled/wiped. How long do you think it will be before QF notifies me of the cancellation/ re-routing? It will be interesting to see if they offer a refund as this would be my preferred option- although reluctant to cancel myself now as I don't want to fall in the trap of getting a flight credit. Overlaying all this is the fact that Japan hasn't even announced when it is opening to tourists. Fingers crossed on all fronts EDIT: Even the QF website where are we flying lists that Australia Japan is not starting until 'Late July".

yes, similar experience, my booking with Jetstar on 28 March is still current but knowingly that there will be no flights going till July.........why Jetstar is reluctant to come clean and do the cancellation and refund early!!! There is no trust and good will and will not book them in future.

 

[redwoodw]

I stupidly booked a paid return flight in J class to Japan MEL-Haneda for late May QF 79. Due to the article I checked online and Qantas.com - it is now showing that there is no QF79 available for new bookings - only MEL-SYD-Haneda on the day/surrounding dates. Even though it is still showing up in my bookings as QF79 it is evident that it has been cancelled/wiped. How long do you think it will be before QF notifies me of the cancellation/ re-routing? It will be interesting to see if they offer a refund as this would be my preferred option- although reluctant to cancel myself now as I don't want to fall in the trap of getting a flight credit. Overlaying all this is the fact that Japan hasn't even announced when it is opening to tourists. Fingers crossed on all fronts EDIT: Even the QF website where are we flying lists that Australia Japan is not starting until 'Late July".

Appears QF has now also zeroed out the QF25 SYD-HND flights till 31/5. No cancellation received though.

 

[Ktan89]

Well this is scary.
Can someone help me check if SYD - MNL QF19 is running during April 9th or 13th.

And return flight QF20 return 2nd May is active?

 

[dajop]

Well this is scary.
Can someone help me check if SYD - MNL QF19 is running during April 9th or 13th.

And return flight QF20 return 2nd May is active?

Yes these flights seem to be operating.

For those without access to ExpertFlyer or who don't know how to use it, the starting point is to look for a one way economy fare on the Qantas website. If there are none available (which is unlikely at the moment, as planes aren't that full), then perhaps do some more investigating to try and work out if it is a full flight or a "zeroed out" flight. The clue to the latter, if you do the same search - on the same day of the week - a week later and/or a week earlier and also getting no results then the probability is it is a "zeroed out" flight rather than a full flight.

 

[RichardMEL]

Well this is scary.
Can someone help me check if SYD - MNL QF19 is running during April 9th or 13th.

And return flight QF20 return 2nd May is active?

yes they all show as fine.

I caution folks against thinking this is a big issue. I do not think it is.. and just because flights show availability now does not mean things might not change in volatile times.

Remember if you can see it for sale AND in the online timetable then you can presume it is operating.. until it isn't.

 

[dajop]

I caution folks against thinking this is a big issue. I do not think it is.. and just because flights show availability now does not mean things might not change in volatile times.

It's not a big issue, if you're not booked on a flight that is zeroed out

And I don't have a problem with QF cancelling flights in volatile times, the main problem is they're not cancelling flights that they have no intention of operating, which may mean less options are available for people to make alternative arrangements when they eventually get around to cancelling the flight.