Unfair upgrade points deduction?

[BOoyaMEdic]

G'day all!

My parents have paid for full Y+ fares on the MEL>HK.
It was my father birthday yesterday, so I though I'd put in a upgrade request (they're bronze members) hoping for a Y+ to J seat. This was done about a month ago. Saturday I noticed that QF deducted my 25kx2 points, so I thought beauty, they got the seats.

On their return tip today, HK>MEL, there was a change of aircraft, two cabin layout, (ie, NO Y+), in an older 767 replacment! Originally the flight QF030 for today was scheduled in a 747 and in the advanced seat selection, they were originally placed in the upper deck (i checked to confirm their seats). So i knew they were confirmed a J seat on the original flight.

I find out later, after I asked mum & dad how was his skybed, when he said, not it was a ****ty old 767, and said that his Y+ seat there was more comfortable then the J seat on this 767, and only thought that he got 'upgraded' because there was no Y+ on the aircraft, not that he thought I had applied an upgrade request.

that made me think...

So my questions here are, since Q have changed and downsized the aircraft, surely they wouldnt of downgraded a full fare Y+ to Y and in saying that surely would of been moved up to J, regardless. So then are Qantas right in taking my 50k points from me for a 'upgrade' that was going to happen anyway. Should I ask for my points back?? Dad wasn't impressed with the old aircraft, or the seats for that matter... Neither would I!

Ben.

 

[markis10]

I would put in feedback to Qantas and explain the situation, I am sure they will look after it!

 

[anat0l]

I too would put in a feedback and case to QF.

I know all to often that we always risk an equipment change, although a swap to a 763 is certainly a left fielder for me!

What I fear - and normally this would be said anyway - is that QF will just give the token (emotionless) apology and that 'equipment changes happen'. Personally I'd like to see you get some of the points back, but I just don't see it happening.

Then again, I guess it could happen to any carrier in the world, even those which have instant confirmed upgrades. Still, I wouldn't be happy...

 

[oz_mark]

QF30 comes from London. Was it really a 767?

 

[anat0l]

QF30 comes from London. Was it really a 767?

It could have been an equipment change half-way along the route. A bit like QF26, except not a normal thing. Yeah, definitely not normal.

What is a QF 747 gonna do stuck in HKG...

 

[mannej]

QF30 comes from London. Was it really a 767?

It may well have been. At this stage Flightstats states it was a 747-400, whilst theqantassource does not have yesterdays info on it yet.

*Flightstats is not always correct, so it will be interesting to see why it was swapped to a 767 if it was.

 

[samh004]

I’d expect if booked Y+ and there was no Y+ seats so J, the upgrade would be to F, but if there’s no F, points should be refunded. Unfortunately, Qantas takes the line that you pay for A > B on a flight number, not a a/c type, even though many of their most frequent travellers do base their choices that way.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

 

[markis10]

Timetable says 744, and the outbound aircraft was that as well.

 

[BOoyaMEdic]

Timetable says 744, and the outbound aircraft was that as well.

Alright, looks like my dad isn't as good as aircraft spotting as I thought he might of been. He assured me it was a single deck, two engine'd aeroplane. Looks like he might of had a few too many "333"- Chinese beers!

In the mean time I did contact Q, and they said although it was a 747, in a two economy config, they said that the likely path Q would of taken would be to downgrade them to Y, then 'refund' the difference.

I not happy with either way. Dad wasn't happy with his seat and I wasn't happy they took my points, but at the end of the day, the CS manager said "business is business".... in my eyes, its not. A old school business class should not be charged the same as the new skybed-class seats IMHO. :evil:

Bring on the rollout of the "A380" across all aircraft types.

 

[markis10]

Alright, looks like my dad isn't as good as aircraft spotting as I thought he might of been. He assured me it was a single deck, two engine'd aeroplane. Looks like he might of had a few too many "333"- Chinese beers!

In the mean time I did contact Q, and they said although it was a 747, in a two economy config, they said that the likely path Q would of taken would be to downgrade them to Y, then 'refund' the difference.

I not happy with either way. Dad wasn't happy with his seat and I wasn't happy they took my points, but at the end of the day, the CS manager said "business is business".... in my eyes, its not. A old school business class should not be charged the same as the new skybed-class seats IMHO. :evil:

Bring on the rollout of the "A380" across all aircraft types.

If he had a 744 he had a Skybed, not a 767 cabin! On that basis he did OK, although some of the Y+ could have pre-assigned their seats in J.

 

[MelUser]

Something isn't right here.

Did the passengers fly back to Melb via Sydney?

 

[oz_mark]

In the mean time I did contact Q, and they said although it was a 747, in a two economy config, they said that the likely path Q would of taken would be to downgrade them to Y, then 'refund' the difference.

Depending on loads, Y+ could have gone either way. I would think, however, that status would be a factor in who went which way.

I not happy with either way. Dad wasn't happy with his seat and I wasn't happy they took my points, but at the end of the day, the CS manager said "business is business".... in my eyes, its not. A old school business class should not be charged the same as the new skybed-class seats IMHO. :evil:

It would have been a skybed, nonetheless.

 

[BOoyaMEdic]

I was under the impression that not all aircraft had be fitted with sky beds?

It was just bizzar that dad said the Y+ seat he had over there, was less comfortable and appeared older then the way back.

I'm confused. I'll have to have a better talk to him, and maybe get him to write an email direct to Q.

Let him sort it out. lol

 

[NM]

All Qantas 747s have Skybeds in business class. If he travelled on QF30 and it was a 747 and if he travelled in business class, then he had a Skybed.

The 2-class 747 has the same Skybeds as the 4-class 747.

Now its likely that the Y+ passengers on that aircraft also travelled in Skybed seats (likely the rear lower desk business class cabin) but likely received Y+ service (catering, amenities etc), which is the most common way Qantas address operating a 2-class aircraft on a route where they sell premium economy fares.

 

[anat0l]

Alright, looks like my dad isn't as good as aircraft spotting as I thought he might of been. He assured me it was a single deck, two engine'd aeroplane. Looks like he might of had a few too many "333"- Chinese beers!

Whether he got a 744 or a 333, they both have the same Skybed.

I think the new A330s with Weber/Sicma seating are 332s on domestic, not international.

Skybed Mk II, the new Skybed featuring fully flat seats, are only available on the A380. MEL-HKG-LHR (QF29/QF30) has never been operated with such an aircraft.

A old school business class should not be charged the same as the new skybed-class seats IMHO

Unfortunately that's a lottery that's played all over the world, with few exceptions (e.g. SQ). Plenty of people get frustrated (or delighted! - depends on their luck) when equipment changes cause their intended upgraded seat to transform.

No one is saying they would be content, but in saying that, a regular Y seat to a Skybed (whether Mk I or II) is a significant difference. On the other hand, a Millennium or Dreamtime seat, IMO, isn't a great difference and I would be a little bitter if my aircraft was swapped from a Skybed-J to a Millennium-J or Dreamtime-J.

 

[serfty]

G'day all! ...<stuff>

Do your parents still have their Boarding passes?

Otherwise, do you know their seat numbers?

 

[markis10]

It was not a two class BTW -- OJF.

 

[JohnK]

He assured me it was a single deck, two engine'd aeroplane. Looks like he might of had a few too many "333"- Chinese beers!

Whether he got a 744 or a 333, they both have the same Skybed.

The '333' I think was a reference to Chinese beer not aircraft type.

It was not a two class BTW -- OJF.

So was it a 4 class 747? It would be interesting to find out where his father was actually sitting.

 

[meloz]

Looks like he might of had a few too many "333"- Chinese beers!

Vietnamese and quite nice.

Meloz

 

[Sprucegoose]

I just replied to a thread explaining the benefits of WP over lesser mortals, this would appear to be a case in point.

A NB is different to a WP.......expectations shuld be altered.

SPRUCE