Class Booked vs Class Travelled

[exceladdict]

Hi, In my recent trip, I had booked two seats on a BA flight and upon checking in, noticed that we were travelling in C class - not the class originally booked. Naturally the flights were credited as Discount Y.



Now, under section 9.5.1 of the QF T&Cs, points are to be credited to class booked, not class flown:

[FONT=ProximaNova-Regular, HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]"Any applicable Cabin Class Bonus will be credited according to the class booked for travel, not the cabin flown or any wait listed class. Cabin Class Bonuses will not be credited for unpaid travel in, or unpaid upgrades to, a higher class."[/FONT]

But I presume that section was written with relation to comp'd and/or award upgrades. In this instance, a paid booking was modified to a different fare bucket, for whatever reason. It sits a bit strangely with me (of course, mainly because I feel like I may have missed out on SCs) that a change to an eligible fare class does not receive the higher earn.

QF Service Team were not interested in changing the points (or more importantly, SCs) received. Does anyone have experience to the contrary? Happy to drop this if this is just how it is, but it raised an eyebrow so I thought it was worth asking.

 

[medhead]

What was the original class booked? How did the class change to C class?

 

[exceladdict]

What was the original class booked? How did the class change to C class?

Originally booked in S and O respectively; and unsure, but it must have happened between booking and me obtaining boarding passes.

 

[RichardMEL]

So there was an upgrade, perhaps an op up. You booked discount Y and were credited with it. what's the problem apart from a nicer seat on those flights? I'm confused

 

[medhead]

Sounds like you didn't pay for the class change. I'd rate that as an unpaid upgrade, which wouldn't be eligible to earn at the higher class level. As per the "or unpaid upgrades" bit of the condition that you've quoted.

Now, under section 9.5.1 of the QF T&Cs, points are to be credited to class booked, not class flown:

"Any applicable Cabin Class Bonus will be credited according to the class booked for travel, not the cabin flown or any wait listed class. Cabin Class Bonuses will not be credited for unpaid travel in, or unpaid upgrades to, a higher class."

And there should be another condition that relates to base earn, as 9.5.1 is only about status and cabin bonus. Probably clause 9.3.1, or maybe 9.4.1. But I really can't see anything that restricts you to earning at the paid fare class level and not the upgrade level. 9.3.1 says that points are earned only for paid travel, but doesn't say that they are only earned at the original fare class with respect to a free upgrade. You have a paid ticket, it is eligible to earn and there is nothing to say it shouldn't earn at the flown fare class. There is a fairly clear implication but there is no explicit statement as to the earning level. (obviously no cabin bonus as per 9.5.1)

9.3.1 Subject to the exclusions in clauses 9.3.2 and 9.4, Points for air travel may be earned only for paid travel or Points Plus Pay - Flights (excluding for the avoidance of doubt any Classic Flight Rewards) on regular scheduled flights where the Qantas flight number or the flight number of the applicable oneworld Alliance Airline or Airline Partner is shown on the Itinerary ('Eligible Flight').

 

[exceladdict]

what's the problem apart from a nicer seat on those flights? I'm confused

I just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing out on higher points or SCs as the op-up, or whatever it was, was in a higher earning class as opposed to an ineligible upgrade class (such as U).

 

[RichardMEL]

I just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing out on higher points or SCs as the op-up, or whatever it was, was in a higher earning class as opposed to an ineligible upgrade class (such as U).

fine, but you got what you paid for so I'm still a little confused. however seems like the question has been answered

 

[exceladdict]

fine, but you got what you paid for so I'm still a little confused.

My favourite thing about this forum has been the advice of members such as yourself to push those boundaries and get extra value So I thought it couldn't hurt to ask.

however seems like the question has been answered

It has

 

[medhead]

My favourite thing about this forum has been the advice of members such as yourself to push those boundaries and get extra value So I thought it couldn't hurt to ask.

It has

As per the edits to my earlier post. I can see nothing that says you shouldn't earn at the higher class level for base earning. We can safely assume that it is the intention of Qantas that you earn at the paid fare level, but the conditions don't seem to say that in relation to base earning. yet another example of conditions being changed without full awareness of the implications. Strange that it is inconsistent with the restriction placed in 9.5.1. But having said all that you're not going to win if taking up the argument with Qantas.

 

[exceladdict]

As per the edits to my earlier post. I can see nothing that says you shouldn't earn at the higher class level for base earning. We can safely assume that it is the intention of Qantas that you earn at the paid fare level, but the conditions don't seem to say that in relation to base earning. yet another example of conditions being changed without full awareness of the implications. Strange that it is inconsistent with the restriction placed in 9.5.1. But having said all that you're not going to win if taking up the argument with Qantas.

Thanks medhead for your time looking in to it. The argument with QF was indeed fruitless, but yes it's certainly somewhat ambiguous.

 

[RichardMEL]

Apologies if my responses seemed a littlr harsh or rude - that wasn't the intent.

One confusing thing that may be with the booking classes shown on those BP's (I love those AY BP stock btw. very nice ) is that they may say "Business - C" but that doesn't always mean you'd been bumped into a "C" fare bucket, it can refer to a class of service, or indeed if an op up (seems very generous for a OWS btw-so nice win there ) it could well just be the system generating those full fare buckets as part of it, but the original booked class goes through per the booking, and thus the crediting. I have experienced the odd case over the years of being booked into a revenue fare bucket as part of an upgrade (rare though - very rare) and receiving credit for that, but it's usually a mistake and one to just keep very quiet about and smile happily at

I admit when I think about it if I saw the C or J as opposed to a U or whatnot, I'd be curious if I got full credit for Business or not, but certainly wouldn't expect it if I'd paid for a disc-Y fare.