Being bumped - less obvious downside of award bookings

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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.
 
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.

I'd say a bit of both. You've certainly been unlucky but if you consider where an operating carrier has to downgrade pax then an award fare booked with third party points is pretty much up there shouting for attention. I would like to know the reason why the cabin got oversold though.

I doubt your Silver status would be known to QF considering your non-QF FF account was in the booking, it could happen to a P1 in theory.
 
I doubt your Silver status would be known to QF considering your non-QF FF account was in the booking, it could happen to a P1 in theory.
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Good point, I didn't think about that!

When I was downgraded I suspect it was because an A380 from LAX had arrived in MEL late and passengers connecting to ADL were put on a later (my) flight instead.

My most recent bumping on MEL-CNS was due to a switch of aircraft from an A330 to a 737.

I suppose the lesson is that, as you say, award bookings (particularly on partner airlines) stand out from the rest when 'trouble' strikes, hence why I think it's a downside to take into account that I hadn't turned my mind to before but now will!
 
I suppose the lesson is that, as you say, award bookings (particularly on partner airlines) stand out from the rest when 'trouble' strikes, hence why I think it's a downside to take into account that I hadn't turned my mind to before but now will!

Still, you should be offered alternatives that are acceptable to you.

It seems to be a weakness in ACL that airlines can just downgrade pax and then be virtually done with it.
 
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It might not make any difference, but it's easy enough to put your QFF number into these bookings.
 
The problem may be if you do not have status with the airline supplying the points.I have done a few QF flights using AA or avios for the booking but I am OWE with BA and lifetime OWS with AA.I have never had that problem-hoping I haven't increased the chances of it happening to my next award.:eek:o_O

The problem I have is access to the domestic J lounges.Since getting BA gold I have had 4 visits each to SYD and MEL lounges.Only once at each have I been allowed in.I usually point to the OWE symbol.However at MEL on Thursday I had to argue as doing that the agent just said sorry golds are only allowed in the Club.I had to say look again my gold beats a Qantas gold every day.
 
The problem I have is access to the domestic J lounges.Since getting BA gold I have had 4 visits each to SYD and MEL lounges.Only once at each have I been allowed in.I usually point to the OWE symbol.However at MEL on Thursday I had to argue as doing that the agent just said sorry golds are only allowed in the Club.I had to say look again my gold beats a Qantas gold every day.

You really have to worry about that and it doesn't make a pleasant airport experience.
 
On your recent experience, had you checked in online? I’m just wondering whether checking in online early would offer some protection from being bumped.

A few weeks back I had a whY flight booked on LA from SCL to La Serena, just a short domestic flight. My QF WP/OWE status was in the booking and I had selected my 1A seat well in advance.

I had arrived from DXB late the previous night, took a hotel near SCL and next morning rocked up in good time to check in for the flight only to be told I’d been bumped.

I put it down to the fact that I hadn’t checked in online. My son had a similar experience flying PER-KGI that was put down to overbooking and not checking in early online.

Needless to say, I did ask the agent whether this is normally how LA treat OW Emeralds. Another guy who had come overnight from the US was in the same situation.

But at least at the last minute they got both of us aboard.
 
It seems to be a weakness in ACL that airlines can just downgrade pax and then be virtually done with it.

Is there some court decision that says that?

AFAIK the airlines get away with it because people can't be bothered to take them on in court about it. Fear of costs and risks, etc. But if there's a court decision supporting the airlines about this I'd be interested to hear about it.
 
On your recent experience, had you checked in online? I’m just wondering whether checking in online early would offer some protection from being bumped.

A few weeks back I had a whY flight booked on LA from SCL to La Serena, just a short domestic flight. My QF WP/OWE status was in the booking and I had selected my 1A seat well in advance.

I had arrived from DXB late the previous night, took a hotel near SCL and next morning rocked up in good time to check in for the flight only to be told I’d been bumped.

I put it down to the fact that I hadn’t checked in online. My son had a similar experience flying PER-KGI that was put down to overbooking and not checking in early online.

Needless to say, I did ask the agent whether this is normally how LA treat OW Emeralds. Another guy who had come overnight from the US was in the same situation.

But at least at the last minute they got both of us aboard.
That sounds stressful but I’m glad you got on at the last minute.

I had checked in online in both examples, and had pretty early sequence numbers even so it didn’t seem to matter.
 
Is there some court decision that says that?

AFAIK the airlines get away with it because people can't be bothered to take them on in court about it. Fear of costs and risks, etc. But if there's a court decision supporting the airlines about this I'd be interested to hear about it.

I think your second sentence is the answer - it's the lack of a court decision.

In lieu of stronger consumer regulations, it's a lack of substantial legal actions that has given rise to the current situation. The airlines servicing our market seem to be able to do what they want with little fear of consequence.
 
On your recent experience, had you checked in online? I’m just wondering whether checking in online early would offer some protection from being bumped.
Recently, one of my work colleagues when flying on VA from MEL to CBR on the first flight of the day, VA tried to bump him to a later flight but he stood his ground. The VA staff mentioned that as he hadn't checked in that was why he was targetted, and suggested he check in online as early as possible to avoid similar issues.
 
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It does make sense that someone with a BP issued, bags loaded and seat allocated who has confirmed they are flying is less likely to be bumped, although mobile phones and online booking are making that distinction more and more blurry nowadays.
 
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