QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic Reward seats?

[ChrisMars]

I called up this morning to request YVR-SYD-CBR or YVR-SYD-BNE in J. YVR-SYD was approved but not the domestic connections. Ended up just booking YVR-SYD, which I was still happy with. 108,400 Qantas points and just over CAD300 in taxes & charges.

I managed to book this in on the first call, which was picked up by a "Qantas premium" agent in Cape Town. Was put on hold for a bit, but the guy seemed to know what he was doing and my ticket arrived soon after the call ended.

I believe if you keep calling until you get Hobart they will easily add the domestic flight. If you then explain the agent that in the initial booking the other agent didn't manage to add that flight, chances are they will waive the change fee. At least my experience more than 4 separate booking.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I called up this morning to request YVR-SYD-CBR or YVR-SYD-BNE in J. YVR-SYD was approved but not the domestic connections. Ended up just booking YVR-SYD, which I was still happy with. 108,400 Qantas points and just over CAD300 in taxes & charges.

I managed to book this in on the first call, which was picked up by a "Qantas premium" agent in Cape Town. Was put on hold for a bit, but the guy seemed to know what he was doing and my ticket arrived soon after the call ended.

How to do this was answered in this post #2697 by @madrooster

 

[Mattg]

I believe if you keep calling until you get Hobart they will easily add the domestic flight. If you then explain the agent that in the initial booking the other agent didn't manage to add that flight, chances are they will waive the change fee. At least my experience more than 4 separate booking.

Will keep that in mind, thanks. Unfortunately it's not that easy to "just" get Hobart. Not sure I can be bothered calling repeatedly until I get to the right person.

I wish Qantas would give the option to wait longer on hold in exchange for guaranteeing that you get through to Hobart.

I do still find it problematic that the Hobart agents can do things that others can't, while the customer has no control over which call centre they get.

 

[RichardMEL]

A "wait on hold for HBA" option mot only would swamp HBA, but also tacitly admit the other call centers are not up to it. Customer service/reputation suicide (which they already manage very well at)

Imo

 

[Mattg]

A "wait on hold for HBA" option mot only would swamp HBA, but also tacitly admit the other call centers are not up to it. Customer service/reputation suicide (which they already manage very well at)

Imo

Agree they probably won't do this, but the fact remains (as is evidenced by this thread) that the Hobart agents can do things that people in other call centres can't. I would rather Qantas just admits this and does something about it, rather than just pretending this isn't the case.

 

[SYD]

Agree they probably won't do this, but the fact remains (as is evidenced by this thread) that the Hobart agents can do things that people in other call centres can't. I would rather Qantas just admits this and does something about it, rather than just pretending this isn't the case.

Slightly OT but I rang a few weeks ago trying to find out what’s happening with MU CRs (they’ve been MIA for months).

The offshore agent said there were no CRs because QF doesn’t fly that route…this was a domestic China sector…

 

[levelnine]

I called up this morning to request YVR-SYD-CBR or YVR-SYD-BNE in J. YVR-SYD was approved but not the domestic connections. Ended up just booking YVR-SYD, which I was still happy with. 108,400 Qantas points and just over CAD300 in taxes & charges.

I managed to book this in on the first call, which was picked up by a "Qantas premium" agent in Cape Town. Was put on hold for a bit, but the guy seemed to know what he was doing and my ticket arrived soon after the call ended.

Had the exact same thing happen to me today. Was speaking with Cape Town and they couldn't see any award availability on the domestic connection. I used Madrooster's language, basically saying 'I believe there is award availability, but it is only possible for it to be added manually by a team coach'. They put me on hold for 3 minutes and were able to successfully add the domestic connection flights.

 

[Mattg]

Had the exact same thing happen to me today. Was speaking with Cape Town and they couldn't see any award availability on the domestic connection. I used Madrooster's language, basically saying 'I believe there is award availability, but it is only possible for it to be added manually by a team coach'. They put me on hold for 3 minutes and were able to successfully add the domestic connection flights.

Good to know for next time! The things you learn on AFF.

 

[im.daniel]

How to do this was answered in this post #2697 by @madrooster

So I just tried this and quoted exactly what @madrooster wrote in that post. My flight loading was J3C3D0I0.

Insisted they speak to team coach, which they did, but came back negative saying that it needed I availability .....

 

[RichardMEL]

Agree they probably won't do this, but the fact remains (as is evidenced by this thread) that the Hobart agents can do things that people in other call centres can't. I would rather Qantas just admits this and does something about it, rather than just pretending this isn't the case.

I don't dusagree with you.

Thevibvious answer, as always, is QF invest in providing the tools and training to all the agents, not just HBA to provide the same level of service.

No doubt VIP have higher levels of authority to apprive certain things and that is probably good as is, but tge biggest issue, I feel, is the poor training and tools for offshore call centres(inc AKL) to actually provide HBA level service.

(I also wonder about possible high turnover rates in some places potentially affectibg such efforts)


Will QF do it?

Unlikely

 

[madrooster]

Insisted they speak to team coach, which they did, but came back negative saying that it needed I availability .....

I is not correct for domestic. It's D class normally, and C if a long haul seat release is involved.

 

[fletty]

Does anyone know if it's possible to request a release as WP with a non-family member travelling with the WP on the same booking?
I know that it's clear that WP can only request on behalf of family if the WP is not travelling.

 

[muppet]

Does anyone know if it's possible to request a release as WP with a non-family member travelling with the WP on the same booking?
I know that it's clear that WP can only request on behalf of family if the WP is not travelling.

i’m not sure I get what you mean? I have often requested for a family member when I have been traveling.

Re: non-family member - T&Cs say you can only spend your points on family members, and given WP request points will come out of your account, unless you lie, you are unable to make a request for a non-family member.

 

[fletty]

Re: non-family member - T&Cs say you can only spend your points on family members, .

The way you phrased this answers my question thanks!

 

[equus]

Successfully requested release on an extra U award on an E190 - 2 March ADL-BNE. Was already 1 U, but needed two. Was showing J9 C9, D9, I7 (so no J bookings at all) and the second U was released. Now showing J7, C7, D7, I5. Is the 20:40 departure, but is a Sunday evening.

Fares on this route are crazy as well J is ridiculous at $700 one way, but unless taking the real red-eye (only $249 in Y), the Y fares are either "cheap" at $349 or $409 one way, It was those Y fares that pushed me to forking out the points for U class - could redeem U one way, and pay revenue the other way in J, and basically the same cost as revenue Y return (and add a DSC on the paid fare, and a positive status outcome as well).

 

[Highway23]

I have to report an incredible experience with a CR booking involving this perk:

I was using the multi-city tool to book a J itinerary including AY HEL-NRT then NRT-BNE, but having issues when I got to the payment.

Called to see what could be done and first agent basically told me computer says no, too bad so sad.

HUACA, and the second agent looked at the itinerary, and said “aha, there’s no availability on the NRT-BNE leg, even though it’s showing on the multi-city. However, there are some sale fares available on that flight, and you are WP so… we can request release of that as a J reward and we’ll know the outcome while you’re on the phone.”

And it did! A little QFF holiday miracle finding an agent who can identify a problem and then think laterally to fix it because they actually *want* to help!