Cancelling a flight on QF to New York

[dede]

I booked a flight to New York 2 weeks ago for $1784. Today I can book the same fare for $1360 (from MEL). I've been thinking of cancelling the original fare (for a voucher) and buying the new one to save a few hundred. Looking at the fare rules is a bit confusing. The Qantas website will issue a voucher to me for $1759 (minus $25 service fee?). That's OK. If I go to the terms and conditions of the SALE fares (which this was), it says no refund for cancellation.


Cancellations (including no show)

• Before and after departure:
  • No refund
• This fare may be used as credit towards the payment of any higher fare from the
  point of origin, provided the new fare conditions are met.

I assume this means that you can ONLY get a credit voucher and not that I lose the fare totally. Some clarification would be appreciated.

I was planning on flying again later in the year so I can use the credit voucher toward that.

 

[straitman]

I booked a flight to New York 2 weeks ago for $1784. Today I can book the same fare for $1360 (from MEL). I've been thinking of cancelling the original fare (for a voucher) and buying the new one to save a few hundred. Looking at the fare rules is a bit confusing. The Qantas website will issue a voucher to me for $1759 (minus $25 service fee?). That's OK. If I go to the terms and conditions of the SALE fares (which this was), it says no refund for cancellation.


Cancellations (including no show)

• Before and after departure:
  • No refund
• This fare may be used as credit towards the payment of any higher fare from the
  point of origin, provided the new fare conditions are met.

I assume this means that you can ONLY get a credit voucher and not that I lose the fare totally. Some clarification would be appreciated.

I was planning on flying again later in the year so I can use the credit voucher toward that.

dede,

Was the ticket booked direct with Qantas or via an agent :?: Using an agent may complicate the process as they may have their own fees as well as what ever the airline charges.
I would call Qantas (or the agent) and ask the questions.

 

[dede]

It was booked online during that Sale that ended March 2. I'm pretty sure I will get pretty much a full credit voucher.

 

[serfty]

If you cancel online you will get a "credit voucher" that you can see online on the "your Bookings" Page under the original booking reference (PNR).

You can then use this for either ONE one-way or return trip ex Oz. You cannot use it with a multi-segment booking tool.

Now here is the main catch - your one booking + change fee must cost the same as or more than the original booking. i.e. you cannot use the credit toward more than one booking.

Voucher Conditions:

• Valid for 12 months from the original booking creation date.
• If not used within the 12 month validity period, the voucher value will be forfeited unless the original fare permits a refund.
• Can only be used towards one way or return bookings for travel from or within Australia. Multi-city bookings are not permitted.
• Are non-transferable. Name changes are not permitted.
• Can be redeemed for any Qantas operated flight at qantas.com/yourbooking.
• Any Change fees that were applicable to the original booking apply when redeeming the voucher.
• Can only be used towards a fare of equal or higher value.
• A Service fee will apply for vouchers redeemed through Qantas Telephone Sales.

 

[dede]

Thanks serfty! Looks like I might use it for a trip to London I'm planning later. It says the voucher is vaild until Feb 2010, I assume that I don't have to fly by then, just book? So I could book a flight later this year for travel next year anytime. Is this correct?

 

[Dave Noble]

For domestic bookings a credit is held and is described in domestic fare rules
Looking at an international fare rule, there is nothing mentioned in the one I looked at that says that it can be hed

e.g. a domestic fare states
3. THE VALUE OF THE TICKET MAY BE HELD IN CREDIT FOR FUTURE PAYMENT OF A NEW TICKET OF EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE.
ALL DOMESTIC TICKETS -PRIME OR REISSUED- ARE VALID FOR TRAVEL WITHIN 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUE.
THE CHARGE FOR REISSUE APPLIES WHEN THE TICKET IS REISSUED.

for an international one I looked at it says
CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/NO-SHOW/ REFUND.

AT ANY TIME THIS FARE MAY BE USED AS CREDIT TOWARDS PAYMENT OF ANY FARE OF EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE ASSESSED FROM THE POINT OF ORIGIN PROVIDED ONLY A QF/BA FARE MAYBE USED / THE CONDITIONS OF THE NEW FARE HAVE BEEN MET / THE REISSUE PENALTY SHOWN ABOVE IF ANY IS COLLECTED.
IF THE NEW FARE IS SUBSEQUENTLY CANCELLED THE ORIGINAL CANCELLATION PENALTY WILL APPLY.
REISSUED TICKETS MUST BE ANNOTATED AS SHOWN IN TICKET ENDORSEMENTS.
--- UPGRADE REISSUE PENALTY MUST BE SHOWN AS A YR TAX CODE ON THE TICKET.

I would definitely check before cancelling since I would suspect that it cant be held as ongoing credit

Dave

 

[serfty]

For domestic bookings a credit is held and is described in domestic fare rules
Looking at an international fare rule, there is nothing mentioned in the one I looked at that says that it can be hed ...

The information I posted was from the page shown after selecting cancel for an international ex Oz booking. This page give the option to confirm the cancellation or back out.

Can't advise about dates ... the only times I have canceled a reused a credit in this manner I re booked and traveled within the time shown.

 

[JohnK]

Now here is the main catch - your one booking + change fee must cost the same as or more than the original booking. i.e. you can use the credit toward more than one booking.

Should that read "you cannot use the credit toward more than one booking"?

 

[dede]

I'm saving $312 by cancelling the ticket. Qantas still get me to spend the original fare later so they don't mind. I'll just go overseas again later in the year! Response from Qantas here:

How long do I have to use a credit voucher? I know it is 12 months from the d...


Feedback
---------------------------------------------------------------
(Telesales Consultant 11) - 16/03/2009 11.59 AM
Dear Mr....,

Thank you for your email.

The voucher needs to be reissued within the one year period of the original ticket and can be booked to depart later than that. It then becomes valid for one year from the new departure date.

It can depend on the actual ticket used so I recommend you call telephone sales on 131313 to clarify this for you.

Yours sincerely,
Blair
QANTAS Airways

Customer (Peter Mc...) - 05/03/2009 10.17 PM
How long do I have to use a credit voucher? I know it is 12 months from the date of the original booking, but does the flight have to be taken by then or just the voucher redeemed? It would be for an International booking. eg: Voucher to be used by Feb 2010, can I book in Jan 2010 for later in 2010?

 

[Mal]

I'm saving $312 by cancelling the ticket. Qantas still get me to spend the original fare later so they don't mind. I'll just go overseas again later in the year! Response from Qantas here:

I actually believe the response from Qantas is incorrect, but will let you follow it up/use it as you feel necessary,

My understanding of how the credit vouchers work is that they are the shell of the booking you originally made and can't be extended past 12 months for flights. There are reasons for that, including not letting PNR's exist > 12 months.

(BTW, I have had Qantas extend a ticket once, but that was after I'd already managed to get the call centre to re-book it incorrectly)

So, others might have opinions that are othewise, and It would be great to hear them!

 

[taswegian77]

I hope that this offers some assistance but would still suggest each individual double check their own circumstance.
I booked a MEL-LAX-MEL flight way back in Feb 08 for travel in Oct 08 but in May 08 had to cancel it. I was given a credit voucher for the amount which if I remember was the same value as the ticket with no penalties at that stage. The credit voucher had to be used by Feb 09 to make a new booking of equal or higher value. The booking had to be made by Feb 09 so I made a booking for travel in May 09 just 2 days before I forfieted the voucher with no issues. The catch is that there can quite possibly be cheaper fares available for sale but if you use the voucher bad luck you will need to use the value of the voucher up. You also cannot use it to book for two people which is a real shame. Think long and hard about cancelling it just to save cash as you might find it does not save a smuch as expected. In my case I just could nto travel so had no choice but to seek the voucher and on subsequent re booking it ended up costing me about $100 which I was lucky as it could have been more.