Late last year I was booked into business with QF on MEL-ADL using BA Avios, and was downgraded at the gate to economy, being left to chase up a refund for the difference with British Airways.
In my most recent booking, my partner and I were bumped from a MEL-CNS QF flight the night before (booked with AAdvantage miles), and offered only alternative Jetstar options. To be clear the flight still ran, I just wasn't on it. I essentially had to accept the Jetstar option, or significantly disrupt the holiday. No refunds apply in this case since AA (obviously) doesn't even sell Jetstar awards and so there's no lower award rate to base a refund on.
I have only Silver status. But I'm starting to think that either I've just been unlucky, or that Qantas is actively targeting award bookings made through other carriers for downgrades/bumping. When it happened both times, QF didn't care at all and were totally happy to leave it to me to follow up with AA/BA.
I never thought about this downside of using award tickets, but based on my recent experience, I'm at the point where if I want to be sure of actually travelling on a flight or in a particular class I am definitely going to be paying cash or at least booking with QFF points.
In my most recent booking, my partner and I were bumped from a MEL-CNS QF flight the night before (booked with AAdvantage miles), and offered only alternative Jetstar options. To be clear the flight still ran, I just wasn't on it. I essentially had to accept the Jetstar option, or significantly disrupt the holiday. No refunds apply in this case since AA (obviously) doesn't even sell Jetstar awards and so there's no lower award rate to base a refund on.
I have only Silver status. But I'm starting to think that either I've just been unlucky, or that Qantas is actively targeting award bookings made through other carriers for downgrades/bumping. When it happened both times, QF didn't care at all and were totally happy to leave it to me to follow up with AA/BA.
I never thought about this downside of using award tickets, but based on my recent experience, I'm at the point where if I want to be sure of actually travelling on a flight or in a particular class I am definitely going to be paying cash or at least booking with QFF points.