Am I doing this Gift Card thing right? need to know today please

[Pushka]

Before I commit to handing over the dosh, I am buying some gift cards today. I purchase from my own FF but when entering the recipient, there is no option to enter their (ie my) FF number. So, does this happen later? Does the voucher appear in my FF account even though the recipient's (me) FF numbers haven't been entered?

 

[opusman]

When you buy gift vouchers the name you put on them is irrelevant. Only the number of people is important.

When the vouchers are redeemed for flights, at that stage the passenger names and FF numbers are provided.

The vouchers won't appear in your FF account (only credit/refund vouchers do that).

 

[Dr Ralph]

Before I commit to handing over the dosh, I am buying some gift cards today. I purchase from my own FF but when entering the recipient, there is no option to enter their (ie my) FF number. So, does this happen later? Does the voucher appear in my FF account even though the recipient's (me) FF numbers haven't been entered?

The name is irrelevant.

 

[Mattg]

Before I commit to handing over the dosh, I am buying some gift cards today. I purchase from my own FF but when entering the recipient, there is no option to enter their (ie my) FF number. So, does this happen later? Does the voucher appear in my FF account even though the recipient's (me) FF numbers haven't been entered?

This is normal. You enter your own number when buying the voucher, then the recipient's number (i.e. you) when redeeming the voucher for a flight.

 

[medhead]

What Mattg said. You enter the flyer's FF number when redeeming the voucher. The purchaser QFF number is only really useful when there are bonus points promos, unless gift voucher purchasing is used to contribute to PCV.

The initial gift voucher doesn't appear in your bookings. But residual gift vouchers will appear in your bookings. There used to be a way to add you FF number to a gift voucher using BA MMB. That was broken when I last tried it a couple of years ago. I guess this might be possible to do by calling Qantas and asking nicely to add your QFF number to the gift voucher.

When you buy gift vouchers the name you put on them is irrelevant. Only the number of people is important.

When the vouchers are redeemed for flights, at that stage the passenger names and FF numbers are provided.

The vouchers won't appear in your FF account (only credit/refund vouchers do that).

The name is irrelevant.

I don't really agree with this advice. While it is true you can change the name when redeeming the voucher. I find it much quicker to not have to do so. But then I also only ever buy gift vouchers for myself.

But completely true to make sure you get the number of pax correct.

 

[Pushka]

Thankyou all - this all makes sense. Names will be correct too!

 

[Katy]

Tacking onto Pushka's thread; does anyone know how long it usually takes vouchers to finish processing? I did a bunch of bookings yesterday with the vouchers pretty much available immediately but the two I bought this morning are saying that they're still processing and can't be used yet. Should I be concerned/ringing Qantas?

 

[medhead]

Tacking onto Pushka's thread; does anyone know how long it usually takes vouchers to finish processing? I did a bunch of bookings yesterday with the vouchers pretty much available immediately but the two I bought this morning are saying that they're still processing and can't be used yet. Should I be concerned/ringing Qantas?

I'm not sure, I've seen that maybe once or twice. Perhaps call to check?

But you reminded me of my other point - always note the booking reference that is displayed when purchasing the gift voucher.

 

[opusman]

In the past I've found that you can redeem the voucher even before the email has been generated, so if it's taking too long just give it a try anyway.

 

[RichardMEL]

Vouchers can take 5-10 minutes to process but the email may take some time. I did some yesterday and the emails showed up at 5am this morning.

The process I take when buying them is to take a copy of the reference when it's created, keep that in a file - so if I don't get the email or whatever it's OK I can still use them.

note that QF can always find them based on the payment method eg: CC#

also note that QF can manually add a FF# to the vouchers before redemption so they do show up in one's profile - you just have to call and they can do it. However as the others have said the normal process is to do it when redeeming the voucher. so I log in to my account, then redeem voucher, find flights etc and so my info is there as per a normal booking.

 

[Katy]

Thanks all, I wasn't waiting on the email but it was not letting me use the voucher for about half an hour.

All good now though! Flights are booked and confirmed

 

[AIRwin]

Flights are booked and confirmed

And now for double status credits...

 

[Pushka]

Emails came through very quickly. I wonder if May figures show a huge spurt in profit.
Thankyou to everyone who helped. People at work are very happy.

 

[serfty]

Sometimes the email does not come through ... It is essential you keep a note the 6 letter Amadeus PNR that appears in the initial confirmation screen.

 

[medhead]

I had a bit of an interesting experience today getting vouchers. Still waiting for 1 email and the reference isn't working when I try to redeem. But another voucher the first email came in as an itinerary for QZW to [whereever]. When I redeemed it my QFF number was in the booking already, but not showing in My Bookings nor on the email itinerary.

 

[Pushka]

Sometimes the email does not come through ... It is essential you keep a note the 6 letter Amadeus PNR that appears in the initial confirmation screen.

Yes. I heeded that warning and took screenshots of each voucher as they were purchased.

 

[serfty]

... When I redeemed it my QFF number was in the booking already, but not showing in My Bookings nor on the email itinerary.

A bit unusual ... were you logged in?

 

[medhead]

A bit unusual ... were you logged in?

Good point. Pretty sure I wasn't logged in. But I could've been.

The broken voucher is still processing.

Yes. I heeded that warning and took screenshots of each voucher as they were purchased.

I copy and paste straight into excel

 

[Anna]

I've got the opposite problem. I bought a voucher, noted the reference, used it about 20 mins later, then the email arrived confirming the voucher but I still haven't received the e-ticket some 12 hours later.

The booking shows up in my bookings and I've been able to select seats. It's happened before and I've rung up to get the e-ticket re-sent without a problem. But I do specially want the booking to be noted as 4 May not later

 

[RichardMEL]

I've got the opposite problem. I bought a voucher, noted the reference, used it about 20 mins later, then the email arrived confirming the voucher but I still haven't received the e-ticket some 12 hours later.

The booking shows up in my bookings and I've been able to select seats. It's happened before and I've rung up to get the e-ticket re-sent without a problem. But I do specially want the booking to be noted as 4 May not later

I suspect that the email may take a bit with the larger than usual volume of bookings late yesterday