Advice please - 2 phone calls from QF re. changing flights

[Longers]

Hi all, holidaying in Singapore after a cruise with 3 family members, have 4 full fare one-way J flights QF6 SIN-SYD 9th March. Over the past few hrs I've had 2 calls from the company stating there is an aircraft change and asking me whether I would a) be prepared to take the flights one day earlier or b) change flights SIN-BNE-SYD (in J) with some $ credited to my account.
I would rather not change, but can the company force me to do so ?

 

[Quickstatus]

Your tickets just entitles you to carriage by the airline to said destination. How and when they get you there is out of your control. Thats the bottom line but practically the airline tries to be accomodating

For reference
QF6 SIN-SYD 2350-1055
QF82 SIN-SYD 1915-0610
QF36 SIN-MEL 1950-0630
QF52 SIN-BNE 2050-0645

Your flight seems to be overbooked in J

Info from Expertflyer:

9 March:
STRANGELY the business class cabins on QF6, QF82 and QF36 are completely full. The economy seats are not full at all.
Lots of availability on QF52 to BNE which has the NEW A330-300 J configuration (avoid row 7 - closest to galley and toilet)

8 March:

There is J availability on QF6 and QF82 on 8 March but QF36 to MELis full in J

QF6 is the OLD J config seating
QF82 is the NEW config seating but about 6 seats left - only 2 pairs of 2 seats though
QF52 is NEW config but only 4 seats left

I would suggest take the QF52 to BNE then connect to SYD on 9 March

Do not under any circumstances accept a downgrade for a partial refund to an economy seat. You will be given a refund between what you paid and the FULL FARE economy price on the date of your flight.




This is QF52 on 9 March:
Results from ExpertFlyer.com


Seat Map Search:
Departing SIN on 03/09/16 for BNE
Flying QF flight 52 in Business


A E F K
1 X H + X
2 - + - -
3 - X + -
4 - + + +
5 - - - -
6 - + + +
7 + + + +
A E F K


Seats
Available +
Handicap-Accessible H
Occupied -
Blocked X

 

[OATEK]

Do not under any circumstances accept a downgrade for a partial refund to an economy seat. You will be given a refund between what you paid and the FULL FARE economy price on the date of your flight.

Which will be three fifths of FA!

 

[UP4014]

As others have said, don't accept a lessor class and refund of the difference. QF sucks at this and Red Roo tows the company line so it's a dead end.

 

[UP4014]

As bad as this sounds, I never accept a call from an airline once my booking is made and only a few days away for the flight.

They just seem to move onto the next sucker !

Matt

 

[dajop]

If you just want a direct flight and business, and don't worry about QF points/status credits .... if original fare is > $3808 SGD then ask for refund and purchase SQ flight. They may move onto next person then.

If you are OK connecting, but QF 52 via BNE is leaving too early, request routing on QF 8404 via MEL (Emirates operated codeshare). Current fare on both this routes is ~ $3189 SGD per passenger (via BNE) or $3181 (via MEL). Make sure your refund brings your fare down to that level (if you paid more than that).

Option 3: Ask them if they'd willingly transfer you to BA service to SYD, but honor original status credits and points earn as if QF ticketed flight. Haha....

 

[Longers]

Thx for your responses folks, flying with GF, her mum, and my dad who is 85. Although his health is ok his endurance isn't, so definitely preferable to avoid an additional deplaning/waiting/boarding etc

 

[Quickstatus]

Dajop's advice is also sound

EK404/QF8404 is an A380 SIN-MEL 2225-0850

connect MEL-SYD on either QF426 1100-1225 or QF 430 1200-1325

Good J seat availability

 

[Quickstatus]

Thx for your responses folks, flying with GF, her mum, and my dad who is 85. Although his health is ok his endurance isn't, so definitely preferable to avoid an additional deplaning/waiting/boarding etc

Explain this to QF. Hopefully they can move someone else.
BAM's advice to ignore the call has merit - in which case check in very early
Alternatively QF82

Note the old config QF6 on 8 March is not lie flat
The new config QF82 on 8 March is lie flat

 

[Awesom Andy]

I'm guessing that they're calling you first as there are 4 pax in your party. If you choose to accept, they have less phone calls to make. Given your situation, you most definitely wouldn't want to connect in BNE. Having to walk off the plane at 4:45am origin time and then needing to catch the bus is not fun, especially for those who are younger/older. If you must transit somewhere, choose MEL as the port as you won't need to catch a bus - the terminals are next to each other and linked. Note that the EK flight (EK404/QF8404) is on the 777, which IIRC has is sloppy lie-flat seat rather than a horizontal lie-flat.

Anyhow, if there's a config change, then it would most likely be from the old config to the new config as they only fly the A330 to SIN these days. In which case, there are only 2 seats that they need to free up (plus any overbookings).

I'm not sure how practical it is to request a refund to fly on SQ. It will take some time for the refund to arrive, so you'll be out of pocket in the tune of $12k for a little while.

 

[Quickstatus]

I'm guessing that they're calling you first as there are 4 pax in your party. If you choose to accept, they have less phone calls to make. Given your situation, you most definitely wouldn't want to connect in BNE. Having to walk off the plane at 4:45am origin time and then needing to catch the bus is not fun, especially for those who are younger/older. If you must transit somewhere, choose MEL as the port as you won't need to catch a bus - the terminals are next to each other and linked. Note that the EK flight (EK404/QF8404) is on the 777, which IIRC has is sloppy lie-flat seat rather than a horizontal lie-flat.

Anyhow, if there's a config change, then it would most likely be from the old config to the new config as they only fly the A330 to SIN these days. In which case, there are only 2 seats that they need to free up (plus any overbookings).

I'm not sure how practical it is to request a refund to fly on SQ. It will take some time for the refund to arrive, so you'll be out of pocket in the tune of $12k for a little while.

EK404/QF8484 is A380

EK 4040SIN
03/09/16 22:25MEL
03/10/16 8:50388
Daily
82% / 26mF4 A4 J7 C7 I7 O7 P0 Y9 E9 R9 W9 M9B9 U9 K9 H9 Q9 L9 T9 V9 X9

 

[dajop]

Note that the EK flight (EK404/QF8404) is on the 777, which IIRC has is sloppy lie-flat seat rather than a horizontal lie-flat.

Nope - switched last month to the A380.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Nope - switched last month to the A380.

That's great news. And I should get out from under my rock one of these days.

 

[Longers]

Thx again folks, I'm kinda sweating on this the last 1 1/2 days of holiday, would you advise phoning the company to confirm everything is OK or wait for them to call me ? Our seats are still showing as allocated on the 'My Bookings' page on the website.

 

[love_the_life]

Nope - switched last month to the A380.

Obviously after I flew on 9 Feb - still 777 then but J was ok and I wasn't complaining as it was an op up.

 

[dajop]

Obviously after I flew on 9 Feb - still 777 then but J was ok and I wasn't complaining as it was an op up.

Oops, I meant last week. The change date was 1 Mar.

 

[Quickstatus]

Thx again folks, I'm kinda sweating on this the last 1 1/2 days of holiday, would you advise phoning the company to confirm everything is OK or wait for them to call me ? Our seats are still showing as allocated on the 'My Bookings' page on the website.

If if your booking has not changed then I would not do anything. Please do check in as early as possible to prevent the possibility of being bumped or worse downgraded.

please see my initial post re downgrade issue

So I would actually do online checkin 24hours before flight.
Earlybird checkin is available at T1 checkin from 1000. Not sure if you want to so early. But I would try to be there from 6pm.

http://www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/airport-guide-singapore/global/en#departures

 

[Awesom Andy]

So I would actually do online checkin 24hours before flight.
Earlybird checkin is available at T1 checkin from 1000. Not sure if you want to so early. But I would try to be there from 6pm.

I find that most pax likes to check in 2.5 - 3 hours ahead in SIN. Also, they have close to full staff available from around 5.30pm for the early evening rush hour. The counters remain open for the whole evening, until QF6 closes.

 

[Longers]

Thx Quickstatus and Awesom Andy, will OLCI and get into terminal mid afternoon, fingers crossed

 

[Quickstatus]

Checkin early and then release stress here:
Airport Attractions - Singapore Changi Airport

Same terminal as QF lounge and gates

If you get bumped:

Ask for in order:

QF8404 SIN-MEL . Make sure ticket is QF8404 and not EK404.
QF52 SIN-BNE

Ask for 2 hour transit in MEL (international and domestic in same building) and maybe 3 hour transit in BNE (need to catch bus international to Domestic).

And electric cart for elderly parents.


Do not under any circumstances accept a downgrade for a partial refund to an economy seat. You will be given a refund between what you paid and the FULL FARE economy price on the date of your flight.

Travel next day if they want to downgrade you