QF Ticket time limits on F and J fares

[BlueAU]

Qantas will introduce new ticket time limits (“TTLs”’) on international First and Business Class fares sold in Australia.

This development will deliver simple and standard ticketing time limits, enabling clear communication to the customer and effective Flight-Firming.

With effect from 15 December 2009, bookings made using published, nett & corporate private fares in international First or Business class will have the following TTLs:


o If the booking is made more than 8 days before departure, payment and ticketing will need to be completed no later than 5 days before departure.
o If the booking is made within 8 days of departure, payment and ticketing will need to be completed within 3 days of the booking being made, or before departure, whichever occurs earlier.

Flight Firming was launched on 1 September 2005 for retail bookings in the Economy class cabin. It will apply from 15 January 2010 for Qantas international Business and First class cabins.

Looks like we will be able to check on E/F for class availability for better chances of upgrades now

 

[docjames]

But if the tickets are still fully flexible (ie cancellable up to 24hrs post departure of flight), then I'm not clear how this makes a big difference to the airline?

So what is the benefit/difference from the airline perspective (agree it may help us with seat counts).

 

[Travel Guru]

It's main benefit is in ensuring that seats held, especially by agents are for those actually intending to travel.

Even if an agent fails to cancel a seat prior to date of departure and receives an ADM (Agent Debit Memo), the amount of the ADM is insignificant compared to the revenue the airline would have received had that seat been ticketed rather than allowed to fly empty.

Generally most international J and F class fares aren't fully refundable, at least not the ones I ticket 99% of the time, they still come with some sort of cancellation penalty.

TG

 

[docjames]

It's main benefit is in ensuring that seats held, especially by agents are for those actually intending to travel.

Even if an agent fails to cancel a seat prior to date of departure and receives an ADM (Agent Debit Memo), the amount of the ADM is insignificant compared to the revenue the airline would have received had that seat been ticketed rather than allowed to fly empty.

Generally most international J and F class fares aren't fully refundable, at least not the ones I ticket 99% of the time, they still come with some sort of cancellation penalty.

TG

Ah, so it's to do with ensuring more revenue out of fares that people will try and cancel 9or mroe to prevent them cancelling and thus being more certain of loads I presume).

Interesting you do such a high % non-refundable. Those that I know that travel for business in F and J, have always used fully refundable (and they are booked through an agent, not direct with QF).

It's not unheard of for them to have bookings on the same flight three days in a row when secduling of meetings is unclear. It usually gets confirmed closer to the date, but is still fully changeable (fee free).

Interesting.