Booking class E on QF domestic?

[Keith009]

Booked a red edeal MEL-CBR-MEL yesterday. I'd just selected the cheaper $99 red edeals (there was a more expensive one that books into N) and assumed they booked into O as per usual.

But when I logged into MYB, both flights have booked into E. In a panic I checked the QF page on AA.com, and sure enough E does not earn any AAdvantage miles like N.

Since when did they start using E? I thought it's always been N and O?

Booking's ticketed. Guess I'm SOL? Hmm... might be time to credit something to QFF for the first time since Dec 2005...

I know it's only 2000 miles, but still....

 

[Mal]

I'd call Qantas and check.

What does your tax invoice / receipt say?

AFAIK, and according to everything I can find, E class is not available as a domestic fare class for purely domestic sectors bought from Qantas. (Note some corporate deals or other specials could use this class - what I am saying is that the website shouldn't offer them).

 

[serfty]

Ouch!

That'll set the cat amongst the pigeons ...

E has been added to the restricted fare definition in the T&C's.

"'Restricted Fare' means any Qantas fare ticketed in E, N, O, P, Q, U, X or Z booking classes, which includes some Qantas Red e-Deals;"

 

[Mal]

"'Restricted Fare' means any Qantas fare ticketed in E, N, O, P, Q, U, X or Z booking classes, which includes some Qantas Red e-Deals;"

Have to agree now I've looked more:

Eg - Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Flight Upgrades - About Flight Upgrades - E has been added.

Is this allowed under the Qantas T&C's? I'd argue that it is a material change to the T&C's and therefore requires 6 months notice ..


It's not listed as a published fare, nor is it mentioned in the "ClueCards" for domestic travel... Bad Qantas for sneaking in new things!

 

[serfty]

Actually, these are those special "sale" fares available 'til the end of October - they have been around for about 6 weeks.

$85 each way.

When booking online do a view page source, and look for the following before booking:

var theRecommandation = new Recommandation(80, 85.0);

theRecommandation.addClasse('E');



theRecommandation.addPassenger('ADT', 85.0);

Now looking at the Current sales for early December:

var theRecommandation = new Recommandation(23, 87.0);

theRecommandation.addClasse('O');



theRecommandation.addPassenger('ADT', 87.0);

 

[serfty]

I think Keith, you're SOL on this one. It reinforces the lesson that it pays to check before booking.

The T&C's are showing as being updated 27 August - ISTR this has changed from July 1.

 

[Keith009]

Not that there's much else i could do. The alternative was N, or pony up to the next fare category. Mine were $99 each way though, not $85.

The flights are for this weekend, just been told that I was needed in CBR yesterday so wasn't really thinking/looking when I booked other than to avoid the obvious N fare.

Still, I didn't expect a different booking class to N and O given there's been no obvious publicity about it anywhere. Had I known I'd have taken the opportunity to fly DJ.

Ah well...

 

[serfty]

... Is this allowed under the Qantas T&C's? I'd argue that it is a material change to the T&C's and therefore requires 6 months notice ...

Perhaps a bit of give and take here.

I believed E class to have previously been used for Staff travel with NO QFF Point earning/SC's and it has been added as a discount economy earning class to the T&C's. I'll have a look at some older versions of the T&C I have elsewhere tomorrow.

Of course, no consideration of AAdvantage with such a change ...

 

[Travel Guru]

I've noticed its been around for a few weeks now, mainly mid week cityflyer, it books as FB EPTWEBU.

Not sure if its temp or permanent.

TG

 

[Keith009]

Shows how much domestic flying I do.

 

[JohnK]

It's not listed as a published fare, nor is it mentioned in the "ClueCards" for domestic travel... Bad Qantas for sneaking in new things!

Yes it is bad but if still earns QFF points then it is not really an issue. It is not up to Qantas to monitor other FF programs and ensure that their booking classes comply with the terms and conditions of earning points/miles in other FF programs.

 

[Mal]

Yes it is bad but if still earns QFF points then it is not really an issue. It is not up to Qantas to monitor other FF programs and ensure that their booking classes comply with the terms and conditions of earning points/miles in other FF programs.

While I agree (and that wasn't the purpose of my post), I'm sure Qantas once mumbled about how QNO classes (and a raft of "industry/free/award etc" tickets) were not eligible for upgrades. To suddenly change this to EQNO, without an appropriate notification period, then it could cause some confusion or issues for people upgrading.

Also, by not updating the ClueCards, then it also leaves open potential issues and confusion for those who regularly deal with Qantas fares.

I could be wrong about my recollection of things - Qantas may have specified things properly previously.

 

[serfty]

Perhaps a bit of give and take here.

I believed E class to have previously been used for Staff travel with NO QFF Point earning/SC's and it has been added as a discount economy earning class to the T&C's. I'll have a look at some older versions of the T&C I have elsewhere tomorrow. ...

OK, here's the relevant part of the T&C's from Nov 13th last year:

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Qantas (QF)        GLMNOQSV                  Discount Economy       1         -
                   BHK (International)       Discount Economy       1         -
                   BHK (Australian domestic) Economy                1         -
                   YBHK (Qantas marketed 
                   operated by Jetstar)      Economy                1         -
                   Y                         Economy                1         -
                   TW                        Premium Economy        1         10%
                   CDIJ                      Business               1         25%
                   AFR                       First                  1         50%
                  ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
                   Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

No mention of E (nor was there mention of E in May 2005 booklet I have)

 

[Dave Noble]

While I agree (and that wasn't the purpose of my post), I'm sure Qantas once mumbled about how QNO classes (and a raft of "industry/free/award etc" tickets) were not eligible for upgrades. To suddenly change this to EQNO, without an appropriate notification period, then it could cause some confusion or issues for people upgrading.

For domestic bookings, I don't see that there is an issue given that they list the fares within red-e-deals which are defined as ineligable for upgrade.

Are they using E internationally ?

Dave

 

[oz_mark]

While I agree (and that wasn't the purpose of my post), I'm sure Qantas once mumbled about how QNO classes (and a raft of "industry/free/award etc" tickets) were not eligible for upgrades. To suddenly change this to EQNO, without an appropriate notification period, then it could cause some confusion or issues for people upgrading.

If E was not used before, and they just introduced it, there is nothing really that requires notification, as it is not a limiting change.

 

[Mal]

For domestic bookings, I don't see that there is an issue given that they list the fares within red-e-deals which are defined as ineligible for upgrade

Yeah, I actually agree. I still don't think it's right - but the upgrades page has for many months indicated that "red-e-deals" aren't eligible for upgrades domestically.

That covers off that loophole for Qantas. Still need to do some more research though...

 

[docjames]

Sorry to hijak with such a newb question but where are you getting the class booking? I cant seem to find it anywhere, and how do yu get it in advance of the actual booking?

 

[MelUser]

I agree that QF should show you the booking class code - eg on UA you can select the type of fare you need based on the upgrade you want to register for - eg Y/B or M. Although QF would argue that they tell you in the fare conditions about how upgrades/SC etc works for the particular fare you are looking at.

On a personal view I don't mind if QF excludes the cheaper fare types from upgrades as this will lessen competition for the upgrade. CX has a a decent policy - I think it's only Y/B/M (someone will correct me as I'm sure I'm wrong) which can be upgraded - ie you need to spend serious economy money before they'll consider the upgrade.

 

[Keith009]

Sorry to hijak with such a newb question but where are you getting the class booking? I cant seem to find it anywhere, and how do yu get it in advance of the actual booking?

You'd see the actual fare classes when you bring up at your booking in Manage Your Booking.

 

[docjames]

You'd see the actual fare classes when you bring up at your booking in Manage Your Booking.

Thanks Keith, but.......

So does that mean (apart from know it's a red e-deal, flexisaver etc) you cant tell until you've booked (and thus paid what is often a non-changeable ticket)?