Changes to Flexi Saver Fare Bucket for USA travel

[MelUser]

I always understood that essentially all Economy fares (whether red edeal, super saver or flexi saver) for QF travel to USA were classified as Discount Economy for purposes of:

- status credit earn; and
- points needed to upgrade to Business.

However, this morning I was looking at some fares on QF website from AUS to USA and for flexi saver it now states:

"Points and Status Credits may be earned on this fare. Classed as Economy when Points or Status Credits are earned."

In the past it used to say classed as "Discount Economy".

Is anyone aware of a change?

What fare bucket do these now book into (surely it would have to be "Y" for the new statement to be true)?

 

[serfty]

I had believed that for the purposes of status credit earning, all travel on eligible (non Jetstar, WT+ or PE) international flights in economy class bookings is treated as Discount Economy unless the actual booking class is Y.

The web site indicates nothing has changed: http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/status-credits

# For domestic flights within Australia, Economy includes Fully Flexible (classes Y, B, H) and FlexiSaver (class K and W). For international flights, Economy is class Y. For travel on oneworld Alliance airlines or Air Pacific, Economy is class Y. For flights on Jetstar, Economy includes travel on Jet Flex fares. For flights on British Airways, Economy includes travel on World Traveller Plus fares. If you fly on a Flight Upgrade Award you will receive Status credits for the fare class originally purchased.

 

[MelUser]

Yes that is the case according to the Qantas Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions hence my question.

The actual booking bit has changed - when I attempt to make a booking from AUS to US and choose Flexi Saver the booking engine tells me that my flight will be treated as Economy for Status Credit Earn (and presumably also to calculate how many points are needed for an upgrade to Business).

Note that for Red edeal and Super Saver it still tells me that my flight will be treated as Discount Economy for Status Credit Earn.

(I am ignoring "Sale" as these fares are not upgradeable and I don't want to confuse the issue)

 

[serfty]

Barring any further revelations I would suggest anyone booking these fares should expect to earn Discount Economy Status credits.

For example, the Airline Earning Table list both Discount Economy and Economy for various (non Y) fare classes/carriers that anecdotes posted indicate all SC earnings are as for "Discount Economy".