Suggestions using QF residual value credit expiring mid-February 2011

[JohnK]

Since I had to cancel my last international trip I now have just over $700 residual value credit on an international booking that must be used before mid-February 2011. I can use it for domestic flights but must be used all at once in the one booking and other than business class I cannot think of anything that will use up the full residual value.

I really don't need SCs and as I have further international travel for next year booked already I cannot waste too much time travelling as I have run out of annual leave.

I know it sounds silly but the only options that come to mind are
- BNE-SIN return early November (no additional cost but will probably need to take 3 days off work plus Saturday and Sunday to make trip worthwhile)
- BNE-MEL-NAN-SYD-MEL-BNE in business class (~$600 additional cost) leaving Tuesday night 25 January and returning the next day Australia Day 26 January.

Does anyone have any other useful/viable suggestions?

 

[markis10]

Why not look at a weekend in NAN, grab the midnight Friday flight ex MEL, at least it will give some time to take a break, then route as you need back on the Sunday.

 

[JohnK]

I thought about doing that until I saw the room rates at the Hilton. For me FJD390/night is too much to pay.

I also noticed that on most of my free Sundays did not have 'D' class availability and the cost of the trip goes up to ~$2100 for the trip unless one takes the direct BNE-NAN (on a 737! ) services.

As I mentioned earlier I really do not need the SCs (although perceived value is still important) and want to keep the cost down as low as possible.

 

[docjames]

If you book a multi-trip, with a series of SYD-BNE-SYD-BNE etc would that count as one booking?

Alternatively, QF1 if it's on sale would suit you John.

 

[JohnK]

If you book a multi-trip, with a series of SYD-BNE-SYD-BNE etc would that count as one booking?

Any sector can only appear once on a multi-trip itinerary.

Alternatively, QF1 if it's on sale would suit you John.

Apparently it is on sale for ~$1000 but this is going to cost me time and money. I wish I knew when I will be ready to get back to work as I could probably do with a few days of rest and relaxation before returning.

Unfortunately in my present state I do not know when I will be able ready to return to work.

 

[markis10]

I thought about doing that until I saw the room rates at the Hilton. For me FJD390/night is too much to pay.

I also noticed that on most of my free Sundays did not have 'D' class availability and the cost of the trip goes up to ~$2100 for the trip unless one takes the direct BNE-NAN (on a 737! ) services.

As I mentioned earlier I really do not need the SCs (although perceived value is still important) and want to keep the cost down as low as possible.

Why stay at the hilton for such a short trip, how about Feb:

Then stay at the Novotel Nadi for $88 (it even has a golf course - dont expect too much though).

 

[markis10]

If you book a multi-trip, with a series of SYD-BNE-SYD-BNE etc would that count as one booking?

Alternatively, QF1 if it's on sale would suit you John.

Multi city, Round the World bookings and Jetstar flights are not eligible for credit voucher redemption.

 

[arraitch]

If SC earn isn't an issue, both NOU and VLI are but a hop from BNE. Not only might you have change from $700, but there's always the upcoming festive season for a couple of longer weekends!

 

[JohnK]

how about Feb:

Not free that weekend and has to be used before 12 February 2011.

I was on the phone talking to QF reservations to change tomorrow's BNE-SYD booking when I enquired about the residual value in my international booking as it does not appear online. It would appear that my residual value has reduced from ~$741.20 down to ~$455. :shock:

I spent over an hour on the phone with QF back on 30 September (in extreme discomfort) and was told that I have ~$741.20 residual value available. The notes left on the booking though do not reflect that conversation including being charged $256 for a BNE-SYD flight and the change fee more than once.

I am feeling totally ripped off. Apparently QF does not record conversations so it is now my word against theirs. The lady I spoke to back on 30 September was not at work today so I will call back again and see if I can get any sense out of her. Otherwise I may have to continue that same trip and just incur change fee and any change in airfare.

Why am I having all the fun at the moment?

 

[Kendall Roy]

Not free that weekend and has to be used before 12 February 2011.

Used or ticketed by?

 

[JohnK]

If you listen to QF customer service agents then travel has to be completed by 12 February 2011 as that is when I made the original booking.

The date of the first flight was supposed to be 1 October 2010 so I thought I should have had 12 months from this date.

 

[JohnK]

I spoke to Qantas Premium yesterday.

Apparently my booking is still intact and I can simply change the dates and the only conditions required are that the airfare is higher than original + $60 change fee and $80 service charge.

Did a dummy booking with consultant and found availability later this month/early next month and it will only cost ~$170 for the same itinerary.

Just goes to show that if you are not quite happy with the advice given by one consultant then keep calling back until you get the result you want. Why doesn't Qantas ensure that all their consultants know the rules well and are able to advise you of all available options.

Also it would be a positive move for QF to have all conversations recorded....

 

[notzac]

Nice one, JohnK! Good to hear some positive news.

 

[serfty]

...
Also it would be a positive move for QF to have all conversations recorded....

It is likely you were lied to!

Unless you specifically ask them not to; Qantas endeavour to have ALL telephone conversations recorded.

These are indexed and can be easily recalled with parameters such as booking reference/PNR, FF number, Date/Time, Flight number etc.

 

[markis10]

I though you got the warning when you rang that it may be recorded for training purposes, of course what training is a different subject!

 

[simongr]

Just to hijack in a similar vein - I have a $1000 voucher from QF that was meant to be being used to fly mrssimongr with me to NZ (plan scuppered by my recent surgery).

As such I have $1000 to use by March.

Any thoughts on the best SC maximising flights to book for the shortest possible time away - preferably in J of course

I had a look at SYD-NAN but that required a night away and $300 netting 160 SCs though.

Any thoughts?

Happy to take a day off and get lunch somewhere...

 

[serfty]

FWIW, the 'vouchers' have a validity for travel bookings of one year from the original ticketing date.

So if you book on 20th November 2010 for a flight on 3rd March 2011 and subsequently cancel that booking; you can rebook using the residual value for flights with scheduled departures no later than 19th November 2011.

 

[JohnK]

Unless you specifically ask them not to; Qantas endeavour to have ALL telephone conversations recorded.

I though you got the warning when you rang that it may be recorded for training purposes, of course what training is a different subject!

It would appear that conversations are not actually recorded unless they lied to me as serfty mentions.

The actual message/warning is something along the lines of "the conversation may be monitored....". It does not mention that it will be recorded nor does it mention that it will be used for training purposes. The consultant mentioned to me that supervisors listen in to some conversations at random. So not sure if this is real time or that they are saved and replayed later.

 

[JohnK]

Any thoughts on the best SC maximising flights to book for the shortest possible time away - preferably in J of course

Not much value left in domestic routes but you can do SYD-CBR-SYD in business class leaving SYD ~9:00am in morning and returning around ~11:00 and follow that up immediately with a SYD-CBR in economy and have lunch in CBR. Then return CBR-SYD in business class ~17:00-18:00.

Total cost would be ~$1197 ($358 for each business class leg and $123 for economy if you cannot find any $101 availability) and returning 130 SCs.

 

[serfty]

It would appear that conversations are not actually recorded unless they lied to me as serfty mentions.

The actual message/warning is something along the lines of "the conversation may be monitored....". It does not mention that it will be recorded nor does it mention that it will be used for training purposes. The consultant mentioned to me that supervisors listen in to some conversations at random. So not sure if this is real time or that they are saved and replayed later.

Again, all conversations are recorded.

It is true supervisors do listen to randomly selected calls for quality control/training purposes. (They also may listen to other calls, not so randomly selected - see below)

However, all recordings are retained and can be recalled - very easily. Some systems even analyse voice tones in the recording, looking for indications of stress or other emotion, flagging them for review.