Refunding Qantas tickets - unused return portion

[peter_g]

I have a QF ticket SYD-BKK-HEL and return, unfortunately can't travel back to SYD before the 12 month expiry date. The travel agent says that Qantas charges a $600 cancellation fee, so the nett effect is that there is no refund.
Is this really so? What are other's experiences with getting a refund from Qantas for the unused return portion of a return ticket? Alternatively, has anyone been able to extend the validity beyond 12 months, or get a credit for the purchase of another ticket?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Mal]

Hi Peter_G. Welcome to AFF!!

We would need to know the fare basis code before being able to give better advice on the refundability of a ticket. The fare basis code is normally something like SJBB1Y or QJPX1Y2 or LJBB1Y. (Don't confuse this with your Amadeus/booking reference though).

As a general rule, the cheaper the ticket the less chance of being able to get a refund on any unused sector (or sometimes a refund at all).

I think the Travel Agent is slightly incorrect, but I don't believe that will change the situation. You need to see the complete rules for the ticket before being able to tell what the penalties are for cancelling.

I doubt you'll get an extension past 1 year for the ticket. I have once with a ticket, but that was definately an exception, not something I would expect ever again.

Something to keep in mind - although you are losing $ on the ticket by cancelling the return portion, the price of booking a one way ticket would probably be much higher.

 

[peter_g]

Thanks for your reply - the fare basis code is S-/M-/L-BB1Y. All the ticket says (it's an e-ticket, so it's an email from amadeus) is to consult qantas.com for the terms & conditions, however I can't find anything specific there.

 

[Dave Noble]

Fare basis code SLBB1Y

CHANGES CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REVALIDATION. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. CHANGES PERMITTED SUBJECT TO BOOKING CLASS AVAILABILITY --- LOCAL SERVICE FEES MAY APPLY CHARGE AUD 100.00 FOR REISSUE. WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. PENALTY MUST BE SHOWN AS A YR TAX CODE ON THE TICKET --- NO DISCOUNT FOR CHILD / INFANT --- LOCAL SERVICE FEES MAY APPLY --- WHEN FARES ARE COMBINED TO CREATE A RT/CT/OJ JOURNEY THE CHANGE PENALTY MAY BE APPLIED INDIVIDUALLY TO EACH FARE COMPONENT IN THE JOURNEY ACCORDING TO THE FARE TYPES USED --- EXCEPTION- WHEN MORE THAN ONE FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED IN A SINGLE TRANSACTION THE SINGLE MOST RESTRICTIVE CHANGE PENALTY APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE TRANSACTION --- WAIVER OF PENALTY ALSO APPLIES TO ACCOMPANYING PASSENGER/WARD/GUARDIAN AS EVIDENCED BY A DEATH/ MEDICAL CERTIFICATE --- PENALTIES AS DESCRIBED ARE WAIVERED FOR DEATH OF A PASSENGER/AN ACCOMPANYING PASSENGER/IMMEDIATE RELATIVE AS DEFINED IN PAT GENERAL RULES/LEGAL GUARDIAN OR WARD AS VALIDATED BY A DEATH OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE --- CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME CHARGE AUD 550.00 FOR CANCEL/REFUND. WAIVED FOR UPGRADE TO A HIGHER FARE/DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. PENALTY IS INCLUSIVE OF AUSTRALIAN GST --- WAIVER ALSO APPLIES TO ACCOMPANYING PASSENGER/WARD OR GUARDIAN AS EVIDENCED BY A DEATH CERTIFICATE --- AT ANY TIME THE FARE MAY BE USED AS CREDIT TOWARDS THE PAYMENT OF ANY FARE OF EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE ASSESSED FROM POINT OF ORIGIN PROVIDED THE CONDITIONS OF THE NEW FARE HAVE BEEN MET. A FEE OF AUD100 APPLIES AT THE TIME OF EXCHANGE. --- LOCAL SERVICE FEES MAY APPLY --- AFTER DEPARTURE - THE REFUND IF ANY WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FARE PAID AND THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR THE JOURNEY COMPLETED LESS AUD550 -AUSTRALIAN GST INCLUSIVE. --- THE RE-ISSUED TICKET MUST BE ENDORSED NONREF/ AND THE FARE BASIS CODE.THE ORGINAL NON- REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE AT ALL TIMES. IF THE UPGRADED TICKET IS SUBSEQUENTLY CANCELLED THE ORIGINAL REFUND PENALTY WILL BE RETAINED BY THE AIRLINE. WHEN FARES ARE COMBINED ON THE ONE TICKET THE REFUND PENALTY MAY BE APPLIED INDIVIDUALLY TO EACH FARE COMPONENT IN THE JOURNEY ACCORDING TO THE FARE TYPE USED. EXCEPTION- FOR FULLY UNUSED TICKETS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE REFUND PENALTY APPLIES. --- PENALTIES AS DESCRIBED ARE WAIVERED FOR DEATH OF A PASSENGER/AN ACCOMPANYING PASSENGER/IMMEDIATE RELATIVE AS DEFINED IN PAT GENERAL RULES/LEGAL GUARDIAN OR WARD AS VALIDATED BY A DEATH OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE --- ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF NO-SHOW. WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. UPGRADE IS PERMITTED FOR NO SHOW. AT ANY TIME THIS FARE MAY BE USED AS CREDIT TOWARDS THE PAYMENT OF ANY FARE OF EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE ASSESSED FROM POINT OF ORIGIN PROVIDED THE CONDITIONS OF THE NEW FARE HAVE BEEN MET.A FEE OF AUD100 APPLIES AT TIME OF EXCHANGE. --- LOCAL SERVICE FEES MAY APPLY --- PENALTIES AS DESCRIBED ARE WAIVERED FOR DEATH OF A PASSENGER/AN ACCOMPANYING PASSENGER/IMMEDIATE RELATIVE AS DEFINED IN PAT GENERAL RULES/LEGAL GUARDIAN OR WARD AS VALIDATED BY A DEATH OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE

 

[serfty]

... CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME CHARGE AUD 550.00 FOR CANCEL/REFUND ...

Seems your TA wants an extra $50 for themselves.

 

[Mal]

I'm assuming you've already flown the SYD-HEL portion?

The part from the rules which covers your situation if you have:

"AFTER DEPARTURE - THE REFUND IF ANY WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FARE PAID AND THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR THE JOURNEY COMPLETED LESS AUD550 -AUSTRALIAN GST INCLUSIVE."

So basically Qantas prices out your outbound journey (and as a single journey, not a return, it may be more than half of the actual return price) then tacks on a $550 fee, then your TA (I think) tacks on another $50 fee.

I doubt there would be much left out of the original return journey to refund.

The ticket is only valid for one year (like most/if not all tickets), and I doubt you would be able to get it extended. Even if you could you would still be up for the $100 (plus TA's fee) change fee.

There looks to be some scope for changes to the ticket for a $100 change fee, may be best to talk to your TA as to whether it could apply.

 

[peter_g]

Thanks for your answers!

The SYD-HEL sector is already flown. Where did you find the information on the cancellation charge? There was nothing with my ticket & I couldn't find it on the Qantas web site.

You are right, there would be nothing left from the ticket price - $1666 return, $1210 one way plus taxes & charges ($445), $550 cancelation charge.

Does Qantas refund unused taxes and/or fuel surcharges, or does the cancellation charge eat these as well?

Thanks!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Thanks for your answers!

The SYD-HEL sector is already flown. Where did you find the information on the cancellation charge? There was nothing with my ticket & I couldn't find it on the Qantas web site.

You are right, there would be nothing left from the ticket price - $1666 return, $1210 one way plus taxes & charges ($445), $550 cancelation charge.

Does Qantas refund unused taxes and/or fuel surcharges, or does the cancellation charge eat these as well?

Thanks!

Dave Noble looked the rules up in Expert Flyer.

Real taxes unused should be refunded upon request. Not sure about fuel surcharges.

Note you'll need to prove the taxes are unused by either the ticket expiring or cancelling the relevant flights.

 

[peter_g]

Wow - what a fast reply! Thank you!

Another thought - The Qantas web site mentions using unused ticket credit for another fare, so does this mean it's possible rather than wear the $550 cancellation charge but use this towards a ticket to a different destination (eg HEL - LHR - HEL) but within the validity date of the original ticket?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Nope. You need to cancel first before you can refund or use as credit.

 

[Danger]

On the broader issue of cancelling tickets with QF, I booked a LONE4 on Saturday (just in time to include Aer Lingus) and enquired today about the cancellation policy (change in my circumstances). I was very surprised to learn that cancellation on this fare (L fare, oneworld explorer) incurs no penalty and the full amount is refunded. It seemed very strange to me that QF would be so generous. I asked the phone operator (QF) to double-check and he did.

 

[GDSman]

On the broader issue of cancelling tickets with QF, I booked a LONE4 on Saturday (just in time to include Aer Lingus) and enquired today about the cancellation policy (change in my circumstances). I was very surprised to learn that cancellation on this fare (L fare, oneworld explorer) incurs no penalty and the full amount is refunded. It seemed very strange to me that QF would be so generous. I asked the phone operator (QF) to double-check and he did.

that, for me, is the advantage of the _ONE_ over the Global Explorer fares...

 

[NM]

On the broader issue of cancelling tickets with QF, I booked a LONE4 on Saturday (just in time to include Aer Lingus) and enquired today about the cancellation policy (change in my circumstances). I was very surprised to learn that cancellation on this fare (L fare, oneworld explorer) incurs no penalty and the full amount is refunded. It seemed very strange to me that QF would be so generous. I asked the phone operator (QF) to double-check and he did.

The rules are common across all OneWorld airlines for these fares and not set but the airline issuing the ticket. So its not really Qantas being generous.

 

[Mal P]

How about an original business class fare? Can you cancel the return portion and get a full refund if greater than 12 months?

Thanks,
Mal

 

[NM]

How about an original business class fare? Can you cancel the return portion and get a full refund if greater than 12 months?

Thanks,
Mal

It depends on the refund rules for the actual fare you have purchased.

 

[turbo]

Re: Refunding Qantas tickets - using credit with J*

I have a ZQN - AKL - SYD flight with QF booked for July, AKL - SYD is fare type N, ZQN - AKL not shown but i assume same since they are 1 ticket, i know i can't get a refund if i cancel but does anyone know if i could use the value of the ticket less fees towards a Jetstar flight? would like to use it on J* from CHC - SYD or MEL

 

[serfty]

I believe not; firstly, to be eligible, it must have been created on qantas.com or via Qantas Telephone Sales for departures from Australia.

See: What happens if I cancel my flights?

Also, even if eligible, It can only be used on Qantas bookings, however this should include Qantas codeshares.

See: Credit voucher be used for Jetstar

 

[turbo]

yeah i thought that may have been the case. doesn't appear from my looking into it that there are any codeshares on the dates i need. Thanks for your help.