Changing a discount economy ticket on a mixed-class flight

[wanderer_au]

Hello all,

Newbie here, so apologies in advance if this question has been posed previously. I'm going to avoid some of the abbreviations I see here too, to avoid the risk of getting them wrong and confusing old hands.

Via an aggregator, I've bought a Qantas return trip, SYD-LHR. I fly Business return from SYD-DXB on QF1/2, and the other leg from DXB-LHR and return is with Qantas as well, but operated by Emirates, on an A380, in Economy. I've not been to Europe for a long time, I'm not away for long, and I have a standing start at work (i.e. get back to Sydney at 0510, go home, shower, change, go to work). So I thought I'd splash out and get business on the long bit of trip.

What has made the trip additionally cheap it would seem is that I have a six hour wait in DXB, both ways. I'm fine with this (I've not been to Europe since Qantas changed its bounce on the Kangaroo route from SIN to DXB, and I've never been through Dubai airport, so I am curious) but I do wonder what my chances are of moving the flights forward/back (depending on the direction I'm headed) at the check in desk at either end.

So for example, when I check in here in Sydney, what will be my chances at the counter of moving my flight forward from Dubai to London by a few hours? I think I'd even rather sit in the middle seats on a row if that meant getting me to LHR faster, for what it's worth.

The legs to and from LHR are discount economy, I guess Red E Deal. Real bottom of the barrel stuff. I know I can't upgrade (and don't want to), but do wonder whether as a Gold Frequent Flyer, with two thirds of the return flight in Business, they might consider moving my economy flight to my satisfaction?

Comments and advice welcome. Many thanks!

 

[onlycopunk]

I think it depends on who you get at the desk, luck of the draw. If you call beforehand and try to change they will most likely charge you.

If you're there, and there's room on an earlier flight and the person is feeling nice, they can move you forward.

There's also many other factors as in, are there any earlier flights?

Personally, I've only flown Emirates a handful of times, and only to New Zealand. But on one occasion I got the airport and needed to change my flight last minute. The woman at the service desk changed me to a new flight for free. So I don't know if it was just because I was there and she was nice, or a condition of the fare.

 

[wanderer_au]

There's also many other factors as in, are there any earlier flights?

An excellent question and thanks for the response. I don't know but I thought DXB was a 24 hour airport. I arrive in DXB at 0035 and am due to depart at 0745.

I didn't think DXB had a curfew...

 

[Quickstatus]

Hello all,

Newbie here, so apologies in advance if this question has been posed previously. I'm going to avoid some of the abbreviations I see here too, to avoid the risk of getting them wrong and confusing old hands.

Via an aggregator, I've bought a Qantas return trip, SYD-LHR. I fly Business return from SYD-DXB on QF1/2, and the other leg from DXB-LHR and return is with Qantas as well, but operated by Emirates, on an A380, in Economy. I've not been to Europe for a long time, I'm not away for long, and I have a standing start at work (i.e. get back to Sydney at 0510, go home, shower, change, go to work). So I thought I'd splash out and get business on the long bit of trip.

What has made the trip additionally cheap it would seem is that I have a six hour wait in DXB, both ways. I'm fine with this (I've not been to Europe since Qantas changed its bounce on the Kangaroo route from SIN to DXB, and I've never been through Dubai airport, so I am curious) but I do wonder what my chances are of moving the flights forward/back (depending on the direction I'm headed) at the check in desk at either end.

So for example, when I check in here in Sydney, what will be my chances at the counter of moving my flight forward from Dubai to London by a few hours? I think I'd even rather sit in the middle seats on a row if that meant getting me to LHR faster, for what it's worth.

The legs to and from LHR are discount economy, I guess Red E Deal. Real bottom of the barrel stuff. I know I can't upgrade (and don't want to), but do wonder whether as a Gold Frequent Flyer, with two thirds of the return flight in Business, they might consider moving my economy flight to my satisfaction?

Comments and advice welcome. Many thanks!

the problem you have is that your ticket has several parties to the transactions: you, the aggregator, qantas and emirates. . So if it were possible if you had booked direct with Qantas, now its going to next to impossible.

So i guess no harm trying but I think you should start from the position/expectation that you wont get an earlier flight. I would think the any itinerary which involves a more convenient layover would have cost more. I also suspect that your request will be met by a request from emirates for additional fare and change fee. i would think that your Gold status would have a slightly greater chance of an upgrade.

Again start with no expectations.

Cheap flights especially from aggregators come with many restrictions that cannot be surmounted by FF Status.

 

[wanderer_au]

So i guess no harm trying but I think you should start from the position/expectation that you wont get an earlier flight.

Sage advice, I agree - many thanks Quickstatus. I'll give it a go but I doubt anything will come of it.