What are your experiences with QF when you have missed a flight?

[JohnK]

I had a return trip Sydney to Brisbane a couple of days ago (Friday). It was booked as N class on the way up and V class on the way back.

The flight in the morning was delayed first by fog and then maintenance and I arrived about 90 minutes late for my interview.

The afternoon flight was re-scheduled twice and was due to depart 55 minutes later. After finishing the interview we went outside to look for taxi and we wasted over 30 minutes at that time of the day. Finally booked a taxi and it would have been touch and go whether I would make the flight. The IT director wanted to book me on a later flight but I told him to wait until I got to the airport. On the way to the airport I get a call from QF, I had checked in online, on my whereabouts. I could not make the flight so QF took off without me.

When I got to the airport I went to the ticketing desk and I mentioned that I missed my flight and handed over my boarding pass and asked him what should I do next. In a flash he gave me a boarding pass for the next flight with seat 11B on a 737. Middle seats were all that were available and it was due to start boarding in a few minutes. Go through security and up to gate 19 and they are through the final stages of boarding. I ask at the gate if there are any aisle seats available and he told me to go to the service desk.

So off I go to the service desk and explained the situation and in a couple of minutes I had a boarding pass for the next flight with 12C exit row allocated and the seat next to me blocked. Went off to the Qantas lounge and had a few drinks before heading back to gate 18 to board the flight. The flight was quite full and there was someone in the seat next to me. He was a stocky bloke and the flight was not that comfortable but I had the aisle seat and I am not complaining.

My understanding is that a no show with an unrefundable airfare automatically cancels the ticket. This is not the first time this has happened. Am I just lucky? Has it got anything to do with my status? I would hate to think what would happen if I had missed a DJ, TT or JQ flight.

 

[Febs]

Status definitely helps in these situations - I've had them "bend" Red-e-deal rules before for me as a WP.

I guess if it's not a big deal for them to bend the rules every now and then, it's in their interests to keep you happy.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Travel Guru]

I've always found QF very accommodating with rescheduling me, which is why im so loyal to them.

I guess status helps, but even as a NB with QP membership yrs ago they were helpful.

Id like to see you get that kind of service from DJ or 1*.

TG

 

[Harpoon]

Nice to have your WP coming in to play there JohnK

Status clearly counts, even on restricted fares, which is good to see.

 

[Evan]

Always been treated well. I have had this a few times where QF have on my request moved flights that normally i am sure they would not.
Only ever missed a flight once though.

When missed connections the service and treatment has always been excelent.

E

 

[meloz]

I have had QF bend the rules of the cheapy booking codes at BNE and MEL, eslwhere nada.

Not sure if my status helped.

Meloz

 

[Harpoon]

When missed connections the service and treatment has always been excelent.

Yeah missed my connection on Friday night. QF organised me a night in the Sebel Citigate hotel right in the middle of Brisbane, and booked my flights for the next morning. Very happy with that service, and it was merely a QF codeshare flight that was late too!

 

[jpk]

Status was probably the biggest thing in your favour. On a day with a lot of disruption they are prob also used to handling missed/rescheduled flights.

Anecdotal evidence from NB colleagues are that when missing a flight, they will put you on the next with room. They do seem pretty good in that regard.

However on a red-e-deal fare I have never ever managed to get them to put me on an earlier flight, even when turning up hours beforehand. This makes sense, why else would be buy flexi fares otherwise.

 

[Harpoon]

For the record, a smile and a 'Hi, hows your day been today?' goes a long way with checkin/ticketing staff if you want something from them like a change of flight

 

[oz_mark]

Anecdotal evidence from NB colleagues are that when missing a flight, they will put you on the next with room. They do seem pretty good in that regard.

Collegues of mine at the NB status have been put on the next flight when they have missed as well.

However on a red-e-deal fare I have never ever managed to get them to put me on an earlier flight, even when turning up hours beforehand. This makes sense, why else would be buy flexi fares otherwise.

I have had this go both ways, although when moved it is because they or the checkin machine have offered it. If no offer and I ask then no dice.

 

[thegurio]

For the record, a smile and a 'Hi, hows your day been today?' goes a long way with checkin/ticketing staff if you want something from them like a change of flight

And this is something that i think is important - the only way you are going to get what you want is to ask nicely and be patient... Through work i ahve had many people ask me for things and the onyl people that get it are the nice ones, even if i don't/shouldn't/can't do it

Having said that, my experience of being 1 minute late with Plummet Airways - yes ladies and gentlemen, i turned up at 29 minutes before departure as well as 5 other people whom i didn't know - and all that we got was a sorry you should have been here earlier. Hence the reason why i now avoid them like the plague like JohnK!

 

[TonyD]

I agree with the last couple of posts.
"A drop of honey goes way further than a teaspoon of vinegar" - Mum!

I wish I could work out a pattern though.
I have jumped earlier rededeal flights when I've told them (honestly) there is a sick kid at home. Not gotten earliers when im hours early for CI.
Put on the next flight no problem when I was late - mind you ex bne when the J que was out the dooor!
Got a bunch of family in the QP one day during a transit visit.

Bottom line: Be nice - and ask - they can only say yes or no!!

 

[coyote25]

Recently when on the cheapest of cheapest tickets returning from Sydney to Melbourne (on a weekend) with 2 friends I got a call up saying major problems with planes that night and the one I was on would be about 2 hours late and be pushing the curfrew.

I was asked if I'd like to go onto an earlier plane and said yes (obviously), I was on the later one due to price not convenience. Anyway I was a WP but my friends were nothing at all. Got to the airport and it was chaos with everyone trying to move planes etc, meanwhile we just got on a (full) earlier plane and got pretty good seats as well even if down the back.

Very good service off a cheap ticket which I'm sure happened because of WP status, which was a bonus for my friends since they were nothing at all Only the 2nd time QANTAS called my mobile on the day of a flight so a surprise really.

 

[pauly7]

As per everyone elses posts, have had excellent support and service

- Missed flight (not QF fault) -> next available flight no cost
- Missed flight (DJ/JQ/QF fault i.e. running late) -> next available flight no cost
- Change flights on cheapies -> 75% success rate no cost - only done this 4 times though!

All of this was delivered with a smile, even the DJ/JQ incidents which are completely out of scope of QF to respond to.

 

[Batesy]

Travelled to MEL from SYD on the long weekend just gone.
Myself and Mrs Batesy are both WP.
Arrived at QC with carry on only. Changed to an earlier flight on our red-e-deals that cost us $95, no worries at all. On the way home last night was scheduled for 7PM flight, again super cheap red-e bookings. Arrived ealry and put on the flight that was about to board, got home about an hour early. I would say that WP is the main factor here. I am always polite and friendly with the QC staff and I am sure this helps.