Fly Ahead on Qantas

[CaptJCool]

With the Qantas app, it seems to be a thing ….

 

[defurax]

It's been around for about a year I believe.

 

[CaptJCool]

It's been around for about a year I believe.

Yes I seen it before but not clicked through as the reason I book the late flight is so I can spend the day at the holiday location ….

 

[defurax]

Often when I click there's no available flights anyway

 

[markis10]

Flow forwarding has been around for at least the last decade, when adverse weather is expected it’s in the airlines interest to minimise impacted pax.

 

[defurax]

Flow forwarding has been around for at least the last decade, when adverse weather is expected it’s in the airlines interest to minimise impacted pax.

But not in the app

 

[markis10]

But not in the app

Been in the app for three or so years

Thread 'QF “Fly Earlier” option in app during wx delays'

Feb 27, 2022

Sorry if this is not new but I’ve never seen it before. I’m flying BNE-NTL tonight and noticed this message in the QF app;



As it happens there is only one QF flight to NTL today (it didn’t show JQ options) so no change was actually available. And even if there were I’m on a flex fare.

But if you were on a busier route (eg SYD) on a restricted fare I’m sure this would be a welcome offering. I know this was often available if you asked staff but never seen it proactively offered on the app.

• justinbrett

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[SeaWolf]

Often when I click there's no available flights anyway

I've found it often just leads to an error page, it's not the most reliable...

 

[Ouabain]

I've found it often just leads to an error page, it's not the most reliable...

Well...that depends on point of view? ie...it reliably leads to an error?

 

[wenglock.mok]

Well...that depends on point of view? ie...it reliably leads to an error?

It doesn't actually check if there are any earlier flights with availability until you go in, so it may say "Oops, there are no earlier flights available for today" when you actually go into that link.

Also of interest, when this link appeared in my app, the following was seen in the "Service Information" section of my boarding pass - "FLOW FORWARD WEATHER ETKT".

 

[SYD]

Fun fact, BA has “fly ahead” (or behind!) for anyone booked in a non-Lite fare on domestic and Euro sectors. Go online from midnight GMT on the day of travel and change for free to an earlier OR later flight - subject to availability of course.

 

[anemone1296]

I had an adverse weather flow forward/fly ahead offer on my first return QANTAS flight after joining AFF. I thought it must have been a fluke. My checked baggage received a LATERAL -15 tag and we both arrived home 2 hours ahead of schedule. The actual adverse weather event did not eventuate so I consider the whole experience beginner's luck!

 

[fletty]

I find flying out of Sydney at peak times they offer fly forward frequently - sometimes a light breeze is all. It happens often enough for me to book a later, cheaper flight and move it forward as required.

I've also had 100% success with any status asking nicely in the lounge if I can see they have reasonable seat availability on expertflyer.

 

[Aeryn]

I find it works most times for domestic Economy, but whenever I've had a Business seat it is typically not possible to get on an earlier flight during irrops via the app due to seats always being full; so you have to speak to lounge agent and agree to a downgrade to economy usually in a horrible middle seat or wait it out.

 

[fletty]

I find it works most times for domestic Economy, but whenever I've had a Business seat it is typically not possible to get on an earlier flight during irrops via the app due to seats always being full; so you have to speak to lounge agent and agree to a downgrade to economy usually in a horrible middle seat or wait it out.

Yeah definitely a downside to J is less seats to choose from in this case.

Although if you want an easy upgrade the last couple of flights are usually good since everyone does want to fly forward

 

[mviy]

If you book the last flight and have lounge access, if you arrive early and are unable to get an earlier flight, at least you get a bit more lounge time.

 

[anemone1296]

Datapoint: got another in app fly forward offer this evening for a SYD>MEL flight offer leaving 30min earlier. Didn't get any push notification of the offer, it showed up as I opened the app to check my flight once I was already on my way to SYD intending to spend some time in the lounge before my flight. The offer appeared within 2 hours of the new flight, at least that was the last time I remember checking the app.

No choice of seat, went from 15A on my original booking to 27A on the fly forward flight which was assigned automatically after checking in, still with the option to change seats albeit limited selection and all towards the very rear of the aircraft - admittedly I didn't check seat availability before agreeing to change flights

 

[CaptJCool]

Okay
Today flying to Sydney
Booked cheapest flight of the day at 16.45 with the aim to switch to a flight arriving around 2pm

In the app at 9.30, can do so did
At Tulla with a 12.05 boarding
And still retained Row 4 (alas E) but hey late changes means making do with E luxury

 

[fletty]

Just a note YMMV, I entered Syd J lounge on Saturday morning, the bloke in front of me tried to fly ahead and they refused. He said he usually has the app offer it and they said unless you're in a flex fare it's a no.
The international arrivals was hectic though with lots of pax being shuffled for missed connections which might have done it.

 

[Capricornus]

Just a note YMMV, I entered Syd J lounge on Saturday morning, the bloke in front of me tried to fly ahead and they refused. He said he usually has the app offer it and they said unless you're in a flex fare it's a no.
The international arrivals was hectic though with lots of pax being shuffled for missed connections which might have done it.

When airport enables flow forward - which happens often in SYD and MEL, everyone can do it in the app regardless of the fare. He would have ‘usually’ had the app offer it for this reason. Outside of this, it’s flex fare or staff discretion. If you’re booked in J, it should be flex.