worth asking Qantas for a refund?

[dundas]

I'm QCSilver,have been a loyal Qantas customer, but am now beginning to look for other choices.

I booked and paid some time ago to travel to LAX/SFO from MEL via AKL. (going over Oct, returning early November) When I checked my booking recently, I found that the aircraft on both MEL-LAX-MEL sectors had been downgraded from 744 to 743.

This feels a bit like "bait and switch' advertising in the car game.

Recently, a Qantas spokesman was reported saying that the 743s were being replaced by 332s on coast to coast domestic flights to "enable us to offer our west Australian customers' greater reliability when traveling to the east coast".

Great for Qantas WA customers, but I'm a bit concerned about being put on one across the Paciifc.

What are my chances of asking Qantas to (a) cancel the ticket (easy, I know) and (b) give a FULL refund ? By way of background, I'm travelling on a Redifare, but even this "bargain" comes in at nearly $2600.

 

[Flashback]

Based on that price, I would assume that you are in economy. The difference is product is very little between the 744 and 743, with the main difference being the IFE (AVOD vs Loop - both are PTV).

I would not think you have reason for a refund, and also a red e-deal fare certainly wouldn't offer a full refund should you decide to go for it.

I've flown many a 743 and find it to be quite a reasonable/comfortable flight.

 

[Dave Noble]

There is no bait n switch. An economy ticket was purchased and they are still offering economy class on the service. There is never any guarantees of a specific aircraft being provided. There is not a great deal of difference in economy between a 300 and 400 series 747.

I cannot see any reason why they would offer a refund without charging the appropriate penalties

Dave

 

[Evan]

Not to get too far off topic... but United... or Air NZ, and soon V.Aust. I guess there the main options... And the first one is in my opinion not much good...the other 2 cant comment.

Anyway sometimes aircraft changes are required to be made, in this case forced by a number of events that have been byond QF's control.

If your like me and usually sleep, ie no movies, then you should really not see any difference in the flight, if you love to watch movies then as pointed out you get the loop movies rather than full avod.

E

 

[dajop]

Chances of refund, as pointed out above? Zero.

The only (ever so minute) chance is to call and see if they can move you (for free) to a flight on a different day (if that is an option for you) when a 744 or 332 is operating. Although, maybe you would be better putting the money you use for that phone call to a lotto ticket ....

The grass isn't always greener on the other side - I am not sure if it is still the case - but UA never even operated personal tv's with looped movies for in flight entertainment - only offering a main screen movies which is a big :evil: Much rather the QF 743. Now if you were in business class you may have grounds to feel disappointed.

 

[oz_mark]

Based on that price, I would assume that you are in economy. The difference is product is very little between the 744 and 743, with the main difference being the IFE (AVOD vs Loop - both are PTV).

I would not think you have reason for a refund, and also a red e-deal fare certainly wouldn't offer a full refund should you decide to go for it.

I've flown many a 743 and find it to be quite a reasonable/comfortable flight.

Agreed, the main difference is really the IFE system.

As for the statement that PER flights were being switched from 743's to 332's was more PR spin. It was long planned to replace the internationally configured 743's with domestic A332's.

 

[dundas]

Agreed, the main difference is really the IFE system.

My objection to the 743 isn't about the IFE, which half the time on the 744 doesn't work properly anyway (the reason I take a good book). And it's not about the level of comfort. In the past couple of years I've travelled on Qantas 743s that were OK, and on QF 744s where the foam in the seat was so worn it didn't even pretend to hide the frame any more.

What I object to is that the 743s are being used for long haul across the Pacific. You gotta be kidding!

The 743s are more than 20 years old, and could not even provide a reliable service on short haul (per-mel) flights. Add to that they are supposedly being taken out of service permanently, and this raises questions in my mind about maintenance decisions.

When Qantas announced the change from 743 to 332 on cross country domestic services, whatever their motivation, they let the cat out of the bag when they used the phrase "more reliable". No-one, not even the spin doctors at Qantas, dispute how unreliable these planes have become.

That's why I'm not happy. I have a same day connection in LA on another (non oneworld) airline, I am always conservative and allow a good amount of time, but I hadn't banked on this.

 

[thadocta]

What I object to is that the 743s are being used for long haul across the Pacific. You gotta be kidding!

The 743s are more than 20 years old, and could not even provide a reliable service on short haul (per-mel) flights.

Don't forget that this entails around four sectors per day - so four take-offs and (hopefully! :mrgreen: ) four landings, entailing very short turnaround times.

Flying trans-Pac will involve two sectors per day (MEL-AKL-LAX) with lengthy turnaround times at MEL and LAX, giving ample time for maintenance to be carried out.

Basically saying that since they are unfit for AU domestic means they are unfit for trans-Pac is not a logical arhument.

Add to that they are supposedly being taken out of service permanently, and this raises questions in my mind about maintenance decisions.

When Qantas announced the change from 743 to 332 on cross country domestic services, whatever their motivation, they let the cat out of the bag when they used the phrase "more reliable". No-one, not even the spin doctors at Qantas, dispute how unreliable these planes have become.

See my above comments about the different operating environment.

Dave

 

[lovestotravel]

The question has been answered, but your chance of getting a refund is ZERO/NIL/0.

Even if you were travelling in business class, you wouldn't get a refund, Qantas MAY move you to a different day where the 743 is not operating on that flight. That is also a big MAYBE!!

They guarantee to get you to Los Angeles not the type of aircraft that you will be on unfortunately.

 

[serfty]

... Even if you were travelling in business class, you wouldn't get a refund, Qantas MAY move you to a different day where the 743 is not operating on that flight. That is also a big MAYBE!! ...

Actaully, this is not the case. The Dream time seat is demonstrably inferior to a "SkyBed" and qantas are appearing to be covering their @rses on this by offering options/compensation to J PAX who are affected.

• My QF 26 now on a 743, how bad is it?

 

[lovestotravel]

Actaully, this is not the case. The Dream time seat is demonstrably inferior to a "SkyBed" and qantas are appearing to be covering their @rses on this by offering options/compensation to J PAX who are affected.

• My QF 26 now on a 743, how bad is it?

I am well aware of the difference between the seats.

I dont' see any evidence of a refund in that thread, nor would Qantas do that. One FTer had a letter saying Qantas has "done everything to try to contact you" but the FTer claims to have not received any calls

All I see is a $300 voucher which is hardly worth anything for the difference in equipment.

So the answer to the original question "worth asking for a refund" is still NO

 

[oz_mark]

It is a moot point in this case as th OP is travelling economy, and not business class.

 

[lovestotravel]

Ah yes it was an Economy seat!

So little to no chance of even a compensation voucher as in Economy everythign is pretty much the same, except for the IFE

 

[serfty]

... Even if you were travelling in business class, you wouldn't get a refund, Qantas MAY move you to a different day where the 743 is not operating on that flight. ...

Ah yes it was an Economy seat! ...

You raised the topic of the business class passengers. I replied that Qantas will actually do more for J pax than Y pax in these cases; even if a $300 voucher. In fact there have been other reports of $400 vouchers.

 

[vt]

QF127 on the 28th August changed from a 747 to an A330.

I had a points booking allocated 16J and 16K.

I get a call at 5am in Melbourne notifying me of the equipment change.

At the airport I was given a US$500 refund and a downgrade to an exit row.

I still got to where I wanted to go, with some additional pocket money.

Your cry of a change from a 747 to a 743 seems to be a bit immature. What's your real reason for your post?

 

[dundas]

QF127 on the 28th August changed from a 747 to an A330.

I had a points booking allocated 16J and 16K.

I get a call at 5am in Melbourne notifying me of the equipment change.

At the airport I was given a US$500 refund and a downgrade to an exit row.

I still got to where I wanted to go, with some additional pocket money.

Your cry of a change from a 747 to a 743 seems to be a bit immature. What's your real reason for your post?

THe real reason? I don't want to fly on a very old (25 year old) plane that's about to be taken out of service, especially as the recent Qantas maintenance record does not inspire me with confidence. If I had known it was a 743 (and not the 744 that appeared when I checked the flight information) at the time I booked, I would not have gone ahead.

 

[straitman]

THe real reason? I don't want to fly on a very old plane that's about to be taken out of service. The recent Qantas maintenance record does not inspire me with confidence. If I had known it was a 743 at the time I booked, I would not have gone ahead.

It was always a possibility that it would be a 743.

If it's any consolation I have quite a few pilot friends who fly 747's and who are more than comfortable in a 743.

 

[vt]

mmm...is 25 years an old plane?

Having flown on LAN, Ibera, AA, MU, CA...etc I would take a 25 year old QF plane anyday.

Not sure about your comment on maintenance record. It is being maintained, getting things fixed and is fit to fly. Where is the problem?

 

[oz_mark]

THe real reason? I don't want to fly on a very old (25 year old) plane that's about to be taken out of service, especially as the recent Qantas maintenance record does not inspire me with confidence.

Keep in mind that qantas pilots don't fly planes if they think they are unsafe. They want to get to the other end in one piece just as much as you do.

 

[pauly7]

THe real reason? I don't want to fly on a very old (25 year old) plane that's about to be taken out of service, especially as the recent Qantas maintenance record does not inspire me with confidence. .

Been watching a bit too much Today Tonight perhaps