Cancelling Classic Award - Travel commenced

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tizey

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Jul 28, 2016
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Argh. I think I've been caught out here.

I've booked my dad return trip to Europe via DXB. He's flown the J ticket over, and now wants to change the date and arrival city of his return Y ticket. Flights were booked on one ticket. One booking, not two. Was cheaper with taxes.

Can't do anything online. First call to Qantas this morning was less than helpful. Second one after a lengthy hold said a date change was the only option available once travel commenced. No refund of points or taxes if cancelled the remaining legs.

Is this correct? If he fails to show or cancels, absolutely nothing comes back?

If date change is all that's allowed, does it have to be identical flights just on a different day, or can it be different destination? If so, how long is the ticket valid for? Eg. Could I rebook it as far out as possible in the hope he uses it next Europe trip?

Rather not waste the points... But I feel my options are very limited. Any pointers?
 
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You might be out of luck... According to this FAQ changes are not permitted on any Classic Flight Reward flight booking once travel has commenced.
 
I read that and makes me very annoyed with myself. Don't know why I didnt book as two seperate flights.

The agent did give me the option of changing date, but not departure City/destination. That link seems to suggest I can't?
 
Pretty sure of the following, happy to be corrected by the brains trust:

Once the journey has commenced, no refunds. No show for any sector - total forfeit.​

There is no way I know of under the sun they will allow a change of name or origin or destination, same conditions that usually apply to pre-paid no-refund discount tickets.​

Even if you were lucky enough to push the ticket out a few months, only he (original passenger name) can use it - the name cannot be changed.​

Open dated tickets or segments under the award are a total no-no, so you can't have it changed to an "unspecified" date.​
I think the date of original departure from AU to the arrival home has to be less than 12 months, could be wrong.​
If they have offered you a return date change without significant penalty with the same itinerary I would take the offer (if it suits of course) - just be sure you pick a date that suits.​
 
I read that and makes me very annoyed with myself. Don't know why I didnt book as two seperate flights.

The agent did give me the option of changing date, but not departure City/destination. That link seems to suggest I can't?

You may change date, but not routing, origin or destination.

You can submit for a refund and get the taxes back but not the points, but it won't be much, so it's best if he flew the return (albeit with a date change),
 
Here is an excerpt from the t&C's that state what you can change onCe travel has commenced:
14.7.6 Subject to this clause 14.7, the following changes are permitted to a Classic Flight Reward flight before departure of that flight, provided the booking contains one or more Flight Segments that are not within Australia, and the Flight Segment(s) being changed do not include a partner airline that requires a ticket to be reissued for the change. Any such change will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger:

(a) change to flight number; and
(b) change to date of travel.
It may help to read 14.7 in it's entirety.
 
Serfty - thanks! That helps.. but also raises other questions.

1. If I change the flight number, does that mean I can change the destination? Ticket is booked flying EK. If I could get him another destination, that'd be the dream. Or does that mean I can only change the flight numbers based on the same routing?

2. If I cant change the routing via flight numbers, then atleast I can change the date of the it to try and give him a return leg for his next trip.
 
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Or does that mean I can only change the flight numbers based on the same routing?
This! Elsewhere the T&C's mention the inability to change routing once travel has commenced. (14.7.8)
 
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Proof that third times the charm... call back from NZ office this morning proved very fruitful.

Change fee of 5k points and re-routed and re-booked to fly to another destination on a different date. Agent said I could even hold the ticket as a voucher for 12 months and rebook something before the end of the ticket (12months from when it was originally issued). Decided it was best to lock something in that suits than play roulette with the next agent.
 
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Data point: always make sure changes get ticketed. Its taken multiple requests over 3 days to get it ticketed. The booking confirmation said the new destination, but the e-ticket and QF itinerary still said the old destination.

No pushback at any point as the booking had confirmation to the new destination, but was never ticketed. Cant say that would have been a fun call to receive from dad at the airport 'you said this was all sorted... why havent i got a ticket!'
 
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