Buying Qantas tickets online from Bangkok

[MEL_Traveller]

Comparing QF to another airline or situation with QF in another country is useless, QF dont do the ticketing in Thailand, they use an agent, other airlines dont and as our resident Thai frequent visitor (JohnK) mentioned, the practice is widespread. You could argue that QF need to change their practice, however I suspect they already have when it comes to ex Thai business, they see JQ is the answer moving forward while QF see BKK as a stopover with very little destination specific traffic to warrant a change with mainline procedures.

Then this is specifically what QF needs to tell passengers, that they are using an agent, instead of running off rubbish like 'Thai Government regulations'.

Sorry if I missed it elsewhere in the thread, but is it the case that QF do their own ticketing in HK and not use an agent? (I'm guessing they do it themselves?)

 

[JohnK]

But sighting the credit card at check-in (or the transfer desk) is permitted for all bookings ex Hong Kong (for example). So in that sense I can't see the difference.

Where an airline (QF, CX, SQ etc) has requested that the credit card needs to be sighted (although the credit card holder does not need to be travelling) at check-in they have also put the payment through to the credit card provider at the time of booking.

So in actual fact the airline has our money but wants to be absolutely certain that this is not a fraudulous booking. I actually think this is a good idea.

 

[Archphoto]

I travel regularly from BKK on QF and have always needed to front up for visual sighting of my CC, regardless of which one I use.

I think it has more to do with possible CC fraud than anything else, as the ticket is only charged and issued once I've fronted up.

And yes, it can be a real PITA - when you consider that CX (and others) are happy to accept your CC at checkin. However, all of those flights are charged at the time of booking, unlike QF, where they are charged upon the CC being sighted.

I have on occasion, not been able to make it to the office due to me being OS or in Chiang Mai (like the OP), and a quick call to explain why, has always been happily fixed.

They do get antsy though, if you don't show up - I've had phone calls on the 2nd day around 10am/11am reminding me that I need to front up.

Certainly *not* government policy (naughty, naughty Qantas). Perhaps more to do with the agent getting tired of having bogus bookings and/or CC fraud bookings made and this is one way to clamp down?

 

[Archphoto]

Where an airline (QF, CX, SQ etc) has requested that the credit card needs to be sighted (although the credit card holder does not need to be travelling) at check-in they have also put the payment through to the credit card provider at the time of booking.

So in actual fact the airline has our money but wants to be absolutely certain that this is not a fraudulous booking. I actually think this is a good idea.

The only problem with this is that if, as in my case, someone else books the ticket for you, they need to be there at check-in.

My colleague's PA booked the tickets with her company CC, luckily she dropped us off, but could have been very messy (especially if we were OS) if she had booked said tickets on-line - how would we have been able to produce the CC in question?

I do know that Bangkok Airways has it written in *huge* :mrgreen: letters, but CX is kind of harder to see if you're in a hurry. :shock:

 

[markis10]

Then this is specifically what QF needs to tell passengers, that they are using an agent, instead of running off rubbish like 'Thai Government regulations'.

Qantas does specifically tell passengers this, in the screen shot previously posted you will see that:

Note that this is displayed for all online bookings regardless of which QF portal you are using (in the above case it was from an award inquiry window in my FF area), its displayed before any fares and the user is given the option to not proceed.

Qantas are entitled to put in place their own policies (the excuse given for them is probably a red herring and something of an irrelevant sideshow), the customer is given the option to agree and proceed or to not have any further participation in this offer to treat, I don't see anything unreasonable in the situation at all, if you don't like it then go elsewhere is all that is left to say, which is exactly what the OP as reported they did.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

markis10,

if you dont like it go elsewhere?? I find that ridiculous. In this day and age Qantas need to fix this archaic requirement. If I book a one way with Jetstar into Thailand and don't have a valid ticket leaving the country I can't even (technically) enter the country (visa exempt requirements) to go into the office in the first place.

Other airlines that allow online bookings ex BKK that I know of: British Airways, Jetstar, Thai, Air Asia, Bangkok Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Royal Jordanian, OneTwoGo, NokAir, Malaysia Airlines .... Qantas serves both London and Sydney from BKK... surely they could remain competitive and sort this out just like the other airlines do. If British Airways can do it , why can't Qantas??

 

[Archphoto]

I agree totally that Qantas should resolve the need to visit the office in person.
It isn't a quick trip, as traffic is often a nightmare - has taken me 3 hours when traffic halted due to tropical downpour . . . . . . :shock:

Providing your CC upon check-in should be sufficient - other airlines are happy with this arrangement, so think Qantas could join the 21stC and do likewise.

If the "cheapo" airlines are happy to provide this service, why can't a "premium" do likewise?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Qantas does specifically tell passengers this, in the screen shot previously posted you will see that:

Note that this is displayed for all online bookings regardless of which QF portal you are using (in the above case it was from an award inquiry window in my FF area), its displayed before any fares and the user is given the option to not proceed.

Qantas are entitled to put in place their own policies (the excuse given for them is probably a red herring and something of an irrelevant sideshow), the customer is given the option to agree and proceed or to not have any further participation in this offer to treat, I don't see anything unreasonable in the situation at all, if you don't like it then go elsewhere is all that is left to say, which is exactly what the OP as reported they did.

My point was that qantas should say the policy applies because they are using an agent, and not because it is government policy.

 

[markis10]

My point was that qantas should say the policy applies because they are using an agent, and not because it is government policy.

Fair enough, I agree there. As for Qantas having a silly policy as some have mentioned (and for the record I would find it a PITA if I purchased tickets ex BKK), I honestly think QF dont see the ex Thai marketplace as being significant and important in their future, which also probably explains why they have an agent as a ticketing authority.

 

[kpc]

To get round this issue re showing credit card in office in Bangkok, I simply booked my QF flight from BKK on Expedia :idea:

 

[MEL_Traveller]

To get round this issue re showing credit card in office in Bangkok, I simply booked my QF flight from BKK on Expedia :idea:

but you can't!!! it's against government policy!!! :mrgreen:

(actually I think this would be a case of selling a ticket outside Thailand - the same as if you purchase a ticket through QF res in Australia)

 

[Archphoto]

To get round this issue re showing credit card in office in Bangkok, I simply booked my QF flight from BKK on Expedia :idea:

A good idea, but quite often Qantas flights from BKK are on special - I can currently fly return under $920.00.

True, I wouldn't get FF points on this flight, however in this instance the OP did state he had booked a "special fare". (To get FF points it would cost $1160.)

I have checked Expedia on several other occasions also, and more often than not, the price on the TH Qantas site has 9/10 been better.

Regardless, the archaic system in place isn't customer friendly - and BKK is a major hub to and from the UK/AU, the sooner they address this the better for all.

 

[kpc]

(actually I think this would be a case of selling a ticket outside Thailand - the same as if you purchase a ticket through QF res in Australia)

eg:
QF 2 Nov 10 BKK-->SYD one way in cheapest economy:

Via QF Thailand website:
THB20490 (and need to show up to BKK office to show credit card)

Via Expedia:
AUD703 and can pay with Aussie credit card without any fear of FX fees!!

AUD$1 =THB29 so basically the same cost.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Fair enough, I agree there. As for Qantas having a silly policy as some have mentioned (and for the record I would find it a PITA if I purchased tickets ex BKK), I honestly think QF dont see the ex Thai marketplace as being significant and important in their future, which also probably explains why they have an agent as a ticketing authority.

I find that quite ridiculous. Thai fly 2 747s a day out of Bangkok, that IS a significant amount of seats! Far more than the likes of many smaller airlines operating through Bangkok that manage to issue e-tickets online. It seems to me that it would be a pretty STUPID business decision to ignore the ex-BKK market. There is a HUGE amount of expats living in Thailand who frequently fly to both the UK and Australia and live in Thailand.

 

[markis10]

I find that quite ridiculous. Thai fly 2 747s a day out of Bangkok, that IS a significant amount of seats! Far more than the likes of many smaller airlines operating through Bangkok that manage to issue e-tickets online. It seems to me that it would be a pretty STUPID business decision to ignore the ex-BKK market. There is a HUGE amount of expats living in Thailand who frequently fly to both the UK and Australia and live in Thailand.

I think Thai fly more than two 747's a day out of BKK , they are after all the flag carrier, and dont forget JQ are operating ex BKK and dont have the same requirements, that should give you a clue as to where QF see the market, also dont forget they have the JSA with BA to fall back on for premium traffic :shock:.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I think Thai fly more than two 747's a day out of BKK , they are after all the flag carrier, and dont forget JQ are operating ex BKK and dont have the same requirements, that should give you a clue as to where QF see the market, also dont forget they have the JSA with BA to fall back on for premium traffic :shock:.

I actually meant to say Qantas not Thai.

 

[dundas]

Well, it became an easy decision for me when thanks to another poster I checked and learned that my account had not been debited, and that the booking would lapse when I didn't front up to the Bangkok office. As previously posted, I'm now booked on Thai.

Qantas Customer Care have never come back to me with anything more to substantiate the "government policy" line. In fact, after that first piece of advice, they never came back to me at all. At least Qantas has a Customer Care area, I'm not sure what kind of response i would have got from some of the US legacy airlines, for instance.

This episode has left me with a bad taste in my mouth about Qantas. I was thinking of moving over to Thai anyway because of the cramped Y cabins on QF - how the minute someone up the front of the cabin reclines their seat, that whole column of seats goes back as everyone tries to make some space for themselves.

I guess the very bureaucratic and inflexible approach Qantas has for its ex BKK customers has been the clincher. I'm happy to deal with another airline that gives me a good customer experience, both in the booking process, and on the plane.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Well, it became an easy decision for me when thanks to another poster I checked and learned that my account had not been debited, and that the booking would lapse when I didn't front up to the Bangkok office. As previously posted, I'm now booked on Thai.

Qantas Customer Care have never come back to me with anything more to substantiate the "government policy" line. In fact, after that first piece of advice, they never came back to me at all. At least Qantas has a Customer Care area, I'm not sure what kind of response i would have got from some of the US legacy airlines, for instance.

This episode has left me with a bad taste in my mouth about Qantas. I was thinking of moving over to Thai anyway because of the cramped Y cabins on QF - how the minute someone up the front of the cabin reclines their seat, that whole column of seats goes back as everyone tries to make some space for themselves.

I guess the very bureaucratic and inflexible approach Qantas has for its ex BKK customers has been the clincher. I'm happy to deal with another airline that gives me a good customer experience, both in the booking process, and on the plane.

You will enjoy Thai. I just had a very pleasant flight home from BKK to MEL in Y a couple of days ago!

 

[banger2]

Hi All,
I read this post with interest! I have had exactly the same experince with Qantas from Manila. Had an award ticket booked one way via HKG, wanted to fly directly back from Manila with QF...website said exactly what the BKK reference is...go to Manila agent to have CC verified within 2 days. I thought this very odd, seeing I have paid QF with my CC before and would think that make me a low risk customer...rang the QF call centre and they also told me it was a Philippine Govt requirement. So I can not buy a ticket ex Manila without fronting up to Manila shortly after making the booking. I have previously purchased CX fares ex-HKG and Manila online and only had to show the CC at checkin. I suspect the difference here is the agent part of the equasion...why? I cant really speculate!
A frustrating situation none the less.
Ash

 

[pauly7]

A good idea, but quite often Qantas flights from BKK are on special - I can currently fly return under $920.00.

True, I wouldn't get FF points on this flight, however in this instance the OP did state he had booked a "special fare". (To get FF points it would cost $1160.)

Confused.... Why don't you earn points on the 920 fare?