At best misleading fare pricing, at worst ....

[ferntree]

Qantas will shortly be servicing the HBA-MEL services substantially with a one classs 717. After Easter (and perhaps before) there will be no business class available therefore on flights QF1555, 1556, QF1557 and QF1558. I cannot say if this applies every day, but it does on every day that I have looked at with a view to booking. Fair enough, you might say, and I couldn't argue with you. There are no direct flight options (other than the Jetstar red eye special).

But what isn't fair is that their web site will let you book a business class itinerary to HBA transiting thru MEL via a one class plane and pay the full business class fare without telling you this. For example, on 14 April, BNE to HBA. booking J via QF613 and QF1553 shows the same fare as for QF627 and QF1559. The latter is J all the way, the former Y from MEL to HBA.

There nothing on their web page that would lead you to believe this. Could this be an oversight or is it intentional? Hmmm ... well here's a clue. On the itinerary page usually if you click on the flight number there is a link to the aircraft seat map. But not for these flights.

I consider this practice to be at best unethical.

 

[henrus]

But what isn't fair is that their web site will let you book a business class itinerary to HBA transiting thru MEL via a one class plane and pay the full business class fare without telling you this

So I just had a look on my phone (i assume the desktop version is the same) and it shows the following with a warning



Now they do notify you but I guess the biggest scam is that the price is the same regardless of only half the trip being in business. It's nothing new Qantas has been doing this for years (especially with reward flights) so I don't see them changing anything.

That being said if you were booking BNE-HBA in Business and booked business on Qantas with a connection via Melbourne you're a fool. Virgin Australia is $447 one way direct and whilst you don't get the same meal/lounge as Qantas the seat is just as good. Better still the $724 you save could be put towards a very nice dinner at Landscape plus a tasting tour at Sullivan's Cove both of which are better than any inflight meal/drink I've ever had.

 

[ferntree]

I'm pretty sure that warning didn't appear on the desktop version. But be that as it may, and apart from that ..

Totally agreed. I did indeed book with Virgin. Bye bye Qantas ..

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So I just had a look on my phone (i assume the desktop version is the same) and it shows the following with a warning



Now they do notify you but I guess the biggest scam is that the price is the same regardless of only half the trip being in business. It's nothing new Qantas has been doing this for years (especially with reward flights) so I don't see them changing anything.

I didn't see the warning on the desktop version either!

Re pricing, award travel is priced at the lower of the through fare, or segment-by-segment. It's just very rarely that the sectors work out cheaper

 

[Spongbob]

Somewhat similar to classic international points award bookings. For example BNE-MEL-LHR: only the BNE-MEL sector is in J, while the MEL-LHR sector is Y, but you are charged the points for a full J fare. But there is the notation the MEL-LHR flight will be in Y class.

 

[ferntree]

Why am I not surprised? In my case, I was talking about paying $$$$ for the flight, thanks for alertiing that they do the same for reward flights.

I will have to look out for this as I expect that from now on the only Qantas flights I'll be taking will be to use up points and flight credits.

 

[henrus]

I didn't see the warning on the desktop version either!

It is there, but similar to the mobile version you need to click on the business fare first to see the warning.

View attachment 240245

Re pricing, award travel is priced at the lower of the through fare, or segment-by-segment. It's just very rarely that the sectors work out cheaper

Whilst that's meant to be the case the screenshot above shows that award pricing is subject to the same problem as cash fares right now, it's showing the wrong price on the results but does fix the price at the final step.

 

[eastwest101]

I just checked this out - warning about Y seating on J class fare definitely not appearing on the full website (Windows with Firefox browser) either, whether logging in with your QFF or not....


Second screenshot is after flights selected:

 

[milehighclub]

I just checked this out - warning about Y seating on J class fare definitely not appearing on the full website (Windows with Firefox browser) either, whether logging in with your QFF or not....

You picked a flight that is currently a 717 with 2 classes. QF1553 has J. QF1555 does not and this came up.

 

[Lat34]

You picked a flight that is currently a 717 with 2 classes. QF1553 has J. QF1555 does not and this came up.

View attachment 240251

Had the same experience recently booking J return tickets SYD-MEL-HBA around the Easter weekend on QF1553 (departs MEL 1215) and return QF1554 (departs HBA 1410).
ExpertFlyer seat maps also confirm 2-class aircraft with 3 rows 2x2 J seating.
Not to say there might not be an aircraft change between now and then (hope not!)

 

[Lat34]

Had the same experience recently booking J return tickets SYD-MEL-HBA around the Easter weekend on QF1553 (departs MEL 1215) and return QF1554 (departs HBA 1410).
ExpertFlyer seat maps also confirm 2-class aircraft with 3 rows 2x2 J seating.
Not to say there might not be an aircraft change between now and then (hope not!)

Just received notice the aircraft on QF1553/1554 has been changed to a one-class 717 for the MEL-HBA-MEL legs (same departure/ arrival times)
Since we have paid for J seats SYD-MEL-HBA what is the usual procedure when the aircraft is downgraded after booking is confirmed with regard to the fare difference?
Have had the odd upgrade but this is our first "downgrade" so have no idea what the best way forward is in this situation - appreciate any guidance.
The Change notice has not been actioned.

 

[ferntree]

Since we have paid for J seats SYD-MEL-HBA what is the usual procedure when the aircraft is downgraded after booking is confirmed with regard to the fare difference?

Please let us know when you find out. I suspect I'm not the only one who'd be interested to hear. I also expect that your news will not be good.
I suspect that they will refund you the difference between what you paid and the fully flexinle mostexpensive economy class ticket, which of course you would never have bought.

You might be better off to consider cancelling and rebooking.

 

[milehighclub]

Just received notice the aircraft on QF1553/1554 has been changed to a one-class 717 for the MEL-HBA-MEL legs (same departure/ arrival times)

I can't even see QF1553. I know you said it's the same flight numbers, but the only flight that day that is 1 class is the QF1555.

QF1551/QF1557/QF1559 are all (currently) 2 class aircraft.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just received notice the aircraft on QF1553/1554 has been changed to a one-class 717 for the MEL-HBA-MEL legs (same departure/ arrival times)
Since we have paid for J seats SYD-MEL-HBA what is the usual procedure when the aircraft is downgraded after booking is confirmed with regard to the fare difference?
Have had the odd upgrade but this is our first "downgrade" so have no idea what the best way forward is in this situation - appreciate any guidance.
The Change notice has not been actioned.

Any refund is going to depend on the fare, and whether the fare is actually lower if you combine J with Y rather than pure J.

AFF has an article on downgrades here: Qantas Downgrade Compensation is Woefully Inadequate

What you might find is that the 'downgraded' sector MEL-HBA is actually accommodated in full Y class, which could be more expensive than the original fare! They don't usually give you the benefit of the cheapest red-e deal for the downgraded sector.

The article discusses your options, which could be a full refund, original routing credit, or the option to change flights or wait for another set of flights that offer the cabin you want.