Why does QF make it so hard to find fare and other conditions once booked

[maroonone]

QF send out an email itinerary which varies between 6-10 pages. Nowhere are the booking conditions included and it just tells you to refer to the fare rules. Noting it doesn't even detail fare class eg Y, N or O or even general description such as red e-deal or flexi saver, how does the average joe find out the fare rules for the booking I've got an upsoming booking I am looking to change. On the QF site my new dates are the same price as what I paid. If I try to modify the booking they want to charge about $500 each extra. When I look at the conditions on the same fare booking it says I can change for $150 each. How the heck do I find out what the rules were when I booked. I'm going to call QF but wouldn't it be a simple matter somehwere (near the start) of the itinerary to list change and cancellation conditions.

 

[serfty]

QF rely on the "Mushroom Principle".

You basically don't find out without asking them! Then you need to trust what they state.

What is required is to take a print copy (I use .pdf) of the fare rules proir to completing your booking.

As for finding the booking class before booking, see here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....gram/qf-booking-class-22124-2.html#post848997

 

[RichardMEL]

I have thought about this a bit as it's obviously a conscious decision. Eg the mobile app used to also show for example Confirmed (D) or whatever. Now nada. *I* think it is to condition us to not think in terms of fare buckets and the like (and heck the average joe won't care) but in terms of fare TYPES. eg: Flex Economy, Business Saver etc. Why would they want to do that? So that they can then manipulate the YM systems behind the scenes to suit their own revenue models. In practice I think it means that you may find that in certain markets, as a random example, they may decide that an I fare may actually qualify as a Flex Business fare, or may sell in another market some bucket as another fare class, depending on O&D pairs rather than flight sectors.. the end result is that perhaps down the track you can't always be sure that a fare booked into K is always going to be a flex Y (or whatever). Then QF can bundle as they like and sell (and also for FF purposes, as we are seeing) fare types but the underlying information is opaque. Of course to those of us who use things like Expert Flyer etc we can still see our availabilities, but it may become more or less meaningless at some point.

this is just a thought going forward from a recent post of The Cranky Flyer which recently opined on FF revenue based programs vs. mileage ones and bundling of fare types (as opposed to specific buckets).

The problem is that right now it's TOO opaque. I can't look in my booking for whatever and immediately identify if I've booked a business flex or saver fare unless I've done it on the QF website and selected from the matrix, and even then it's not always obvious (eg: an F fare MEL-SYD-CHC with the MEL-SYD in domestic Business of course books into a full J bucket and not a discount one, even though the through fare may be marked as a First Saver. The only obvious way si at one of the summary screens where it mentions points and SC's earned.. and then you have to know your stuff.

And it gets more fun with partner bookings because I am not sure if you even get that info to figure out.

Now this is all my own thoughts I don't know what the intent is. QF probably say it's "simpler" (like the last big FF change which.. wasn't surprise surprise) and in a sense I can see that, but as you point out it makes it not that clear for specific fare conditions, FF accural/SC's or the bucket which could be important down the track.

It's reducing information to the customer who cares (most of us) but a thing most pax wouldn't notice or care about tbh.

I find it frustrating for sure. Not a fan of the change.