Booking flights

[Flashback]

Hi,

I've been having a read through many, many posts - and its all really starting to confuse me.

I've read about a D class, which puts you in business, but is a discounted business class ticket.

I currently book all my flights through qantas.com - and I've never come across these "D" fares, as from PER -> SYD/MEL business class always seems to come in around $1600 one way..

Is there some sort of trick to it? Should I be making my bookings elsewhere?

 

[oz_mark]

D-class is mostly available on the eastern states sectors. I don't think it is offered for retail sale on Perth flights to the east.

 

[serfty]

D class MEL-SYD is currently $445; J is $610. Both fully refundable. (Main pain is that D is not as flexible on the day of travel).

On the Qantas web booking engine, look for direct West/East flights with different fare levels for Busines Class. The cheaper will be D.

Other than that; use an availability tool such as KVS, ExpertFlyer etc and look for D class.

FWIW, a Qantas D class fare PER-MEL is not revealed by EF; J is $1355 +++.

As a comparison, EF does show the D fare SYD-MEL as $363+++ (J is $513.48+++)

 

[oz_mark]

D class MEL-SYD is currently $445; J is $610. Both fully refundable. (Main pain is that D is not as flexible on the day of travel).

On the Qantas web booking engine, look for direct West/East flights with different fare levels for Busines Class. The cheaper will be D.

Other than that; use an availability tool such as KVS, ExpertFlyer etc and look for D class.

FWIW, a Qantas D class fare PER-MEL is not revealed by EF; J is $1355 +++.

I don't think you can buy a PER/MEL D class on its own. Availability tends to be for things such as domestic sectors of international itineraries.

 

[Mal]

I'm also not aware of any discount Business flights from East Coast to West - or vice versa.

(Except of course normal Qantas discounts for valued business relationships)

D class was introduced on the East coast partially to combat OzJet, but also partially to combat an apathy that has crept in with pax - those who realise that Domestic J class on East coast is way overated. By pricing D class at a few more $ than Full Economy, they can try and persuade full J class cabins on non popular flights (eg weekend/mid morning etc).

If only OzJet ended up flying SYD/MEL - PER then the situation now would be totally different and J class fares to PER would be cheaper ...

Oh well. Maybe Virgin Blue will do something about the situation in the future.

 

[Flashback]

Great - thanks for the clarification, as always a complete source of knowledge!

That brings me to my next question.. I was at a mate's place just then, and was having a look at his flights (seem to be booked through Qantas Business Travel) - J from PER - SIN - LHR - Tel Aviv (Unsure of the code), and return via the same.

Now.. when looking at that, it shows the seating he will be in, so obviously preallocated seats. How would a normal pleb such as myself access preallocated seating, or is it only when booking through a TA or something similar?

Thanks!

 

[Dave Noble]

Now.. when looking at that, it shows the seating he will be in, so obviously preallocated seats. How would a normal pleb such as myself access preallocated seating, or is it only when booking through a TA or something similar?

Thanks!

Pick up the phone and speak to a Qantas agent and you can pre-select a seat on an international flight as long as the limit for pre-allocation has not been reached

Dave

 

[Flashback]

How about domestic flights? Or is it international only? And... if you're ringing up a Qantas agent, then you'd be needing to pay the booking fee - is that right?

 

[Mal]

No charge for selecting a seat when on mainline Qantas. The fee would come into play if making changes to the booking or actually booking the ticket via the phone or a person at Qantas.

Domestic flights don't have pre-allocation of seats unless they are an international flight doing a domestic sector (ie a very low number QFxx_ less than 399 I think). Seats are allocated around 48/24 hours before the flight by computer. (not sure on the timing as it seems to have changed with online checkin).

You can get a preference noted in the booking, but nothing is guaranteed. You can get a preference such as "window" or "aisle" through the "Manage my booking" part of the Qantas website.

If you're Qantas Club, Silver or above FF, then you have a more granular choice of "Forward Aisle", "Rear window" etc. You can access this via your profile under the "Additional Details" page.

If you want a particular domestic seat, then you can request it by phone but Qantas normally want a good reason (such as infant / broken leg etc) and it isn't guaranteed.