Redemption Seat Downgrade

[JFi]

Hi all,

Long time lurking, first time poster. Please excuse me if this is not the right place. I've tried searching but couldn't find anything here or on the Asia Miles terms.

Thanks to all the amazing people here, I was finally able to get enough points and made a redemption a while back with Asia Miles for JAL F between SYD - NRT in mid March returning in Mid April.

It seems JAL just announced changes to the plane used meaning there will be no more F from March 26th JAL Group - PRESS RELEASES - The JAL Group Announces Flight Frequency and Fleet Plans for FY2017

I'm assuming I'll still be able to fly to NRT in F but coming back in April is out of the question.

Has anyone had experience with this? Will I be automatically allocated to J and get a refund in points? I assume I'll get the difference between F and J 120,000/2 = 60,00 80,000/2 = 40,000 so a refund of 20,000?

Just wondering if anyone has had experience with this before I contact Cathay. Just my luck that I came across this discussion on FT yesterday. If I knew they did a change same time every year, I would've tried booking for a time earlier. Was really looking forward to it

Thank you in advance.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I hope they don't calculate it as two one ways - that would give a refund of just 5K (45K one way business and 70K one way first).

 

[JFi]

So I contacted them and their response was they are not going to refund any points at all. The only thing they will do is provide a reschedule fee-free. Not much use since I now won't be able to complete my travel before JAL changes planes. If I knew there was a re-evaluation every year, I would've tried to complete my trip earlier. Perhaps they should have even a one liner saying that planes might change due to a reschedule etc if the booking includes a date past March the following year in their reservation system? Since I also logged into JMB but found no such warning. Guess that's a lesson learnt - research, research, research. 20,000 points down the drain.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So I contacted them and their response was they are not going to refund any points at all. The only thing they will do is provide a reschedule fee-free. Not much use since I now won't be able to complete my travel before JAL changes planes. If I knew there was a re-evaluation every year, I would've tried to complete my trip earlier. Perhaps they should have even a one liner saying that planes might change due to a reschedule etc if the booking includes a date past March the following year in their reservation system? Since I also logged into JMB but found no such warning. Guess that's a lesson learnt - research, research, research. 20,000 points down the drain.

not a waste of 20k because the figures you quote are based on return travel only. One way is considerably more expensive... 45k and 70k for business card first respectively.

you our should have been given a refund of 5,000 points however.

airlines traditionally change schedules twice a year... summer and winter, and aircraft changes can happen outside that time anyway.

 

[JFi]

So just to close this issue off, Cathay wouldn’t give any points back. If you fly one sector on a higher class, the points for the entire trip will be based on that class. I tried to request to book one way to get 5000 points back but unfortunately JAL doesn’t allow partners to book one way award tickets. My last resort, requested to change my Tokyo flight from F to J and they checked but it was all booked out. So I guess I was destined not to get anything back lol This is all ok I guess but my biggest gripe is that Cathay needed to refund me the taxes and surcharges I paid for my original ticket, and then charge me the same amount again to issue the new ticket. It’s already in their bank account! That’s a very silly system. I could’ve used a card that charges no fees, but since I wanted to use the insurance from a card that charges 3% for foreign transactions, I got hit twice and since AUD has gone up, the refunded amount was a lot less so I ended up paying over $10 AUD for them to refund and charge again. Not a lot I know, but I assume for a family of 5 that could add another $50 or so? Maybe people already know about this but this is my first time using Asia Miles so just wanted to point that out. I know it’s a little late, but thought this might be useful for someone for future reference.

 

[Spongbob]

So just to close this issue off, Cathay wouldn’t give any points back. If you fly one sector on a higher class, the points for the entire trip will be based on that class.

Qantas (and other airlines) do exactly the same thing. So CX has not treated you in an unusual way. If you fly J on a QF domestic flight, and then Y on a connecting international flight, the entire award booking is deemed to be the J points rate.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Qantas (and other airlines) do exactly the same thing. So CX has not treated you in an unusual way. If you fly J on a QF domestic flight, and then Y on a connecting international flight, the entire award booking is deemed to be the J points rate.

Actually QF will price at either the full J rate, or the combined individual rates if that is lower. I believe that's a change from a couple years ago.