Taking advantage of current Qantas sale

[Wannabee]

Question on using Qantas voucher

I am seriously contemplating booking a J fare SYD-LAX rtn in September at the sale price of $4999 and have a few questions.

1. I have a credit to the value of around $1000 in the Qantas system, if I go into the voucher and try to book the fare it will not let me select a J fare. It only shows the different Y fares. Do I have to ring and do this over the phone (and probably pay a fee)?

2. Going to book these fares on QF11/12 (A380) and try for an upgrade to first? What are the chances of it happening (about the only way I will ever fly first)? Has anyone done and got it? Are there better days to book travel on than others to maximise chances?

Thanks for your help

 

[thewinchester]

Re: Question on using Qantas voucher

Can't help you with the second question, but I can with your first:

1. I have a credit to the value of around $1000 in the Qantas system, if I go into the voucher and try to book the fare it will not let me select a J fare. It only shows the different Y fares. Do I have to ring and do this over the phone (and probably pay a fee)?

Yes - you will need to call Reservations to make this booking if you can't access the fare you wish using the booking engine with your voucher.

However, make sure to specifically request that they waive the booking assistance fee ensuring to explain you had attempted to do this yourself but could not as their system did not allow it to be booked online, and you are booking a higher fare class than the original ticket.

There is no guarantee that they will waive the fee, but if you ask nicely and you get a reservations agent with a clue (which there's a good chance) - the fee amount is normally within what they or a readily accessible supervisor can sign off on. The fact you're WP should also be a help with this.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Re: Question on using Qantas voucher

There is no guarantee that they will waive the fee, but if you ask nicely and you get a reservations agent with a clue (which there's a good chance) - the fee amount is normally within what they or a readily accessible supervisor can sign off on. The fact you're WP should also be a help with this.

I have had 50/50 success on this myself, in exactly the same situation as the OP. Good luck

 

[Sprucegoose]

I did notice in the Age yesterday the $4999 fare to LAX was one way, obviously a mistake.

Qantas - did you notice this as well?

 

[JetLagged]

With regards to your second question, the best advice which I have seen here and elsewhere is to try and book a mid-week flight - there seems to be less premium travellers during this period than at the weekends (for obvious reasons).

I have booked and paid for Business Class tickets (do make sure your ticket class allows for upgrades) and upgraded to F on points quite a few times overe the past few years - only once (out of 14 or so trips) has the upgrade not come through. Mind you, being a Wp is certainly a help - even scoring upgrades on fares which are not supposed to be upgradable.

Good luck - and great flying: the F section on the A380 is marvellous!

 

[aus_flyer]

And don't forget - the international J specials are only for 2 or more people travelling together.

 

[Wannabee]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will be booking these tomorrow and will see how I go with getting the booking fee waived. As for days of travel, they will be midweek (Wednesdays)

And don't forget - the international J specials are only for 2 or more people travelling together.

Thanks, but my girlfriend will not be letting me go alone if there is a chance of sitting in First!

 

[Wannabee]

Well decided to book it today as the cheap fares around the dates we were after were gradually disappearing. Rang the Platinum desk and they waived the phone booking fee as they also could not book in J using the voucher.

The next issue I have is that I didn't realise that you can't request an upgrade until T - 90 days. When I go to request an upgrade in 'My bookings', it says that upgrade is unavailable for various reasons (not that I am outside upgrade window). The one that worries me is "the fare is a discount business class fare".

Another call to the Platinum desk and they assure me that all business class fares are upgradeable and that what I was seeing is a generic message. I hope so, but time will tell.

Now to choose seats? I have flown the A380 SYD-LAX and SYD-SIN return in J before and had 12E all of the times. Will have to have a search and see if there are better seats, but honestly, I think any seat is a good seat in J! I will also research best F seats for couples just in case

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Well decided to book it today as the cheap fares around the dates we were after were gradually disappearing. Rang the Platinum desk and they waived the phone booking fee as they also could not book in J using the voucher.

Well done. I feel that this should be automatic if the booking can't be made online for a varity of reasons.

 

[serfty]

... When I go to request an upgrade in 'My bookings', it says that upgrade is unavailable for various reasons (not that I am outside upgrade window). The one that worries me is "the fare is a discount business class fare".

Another call to the Platinum desk and they assure me that all business class fares are upgradeable and that what I was seeing is a generic message. I hope so, but time will tell. ...

Don't worry about this, the "Premium" agent was correct. Qantas.com is buggy and won't permit upgrade requests from I class fares.

Simply contact the "premium Desk" within the 90 day window and they'll put the request in for you.