Changing date to outside the booking window

[brucebrad]

Do Qantas cheap fares allow you to change the dates for return flights when the desired return flight date is outside the original booking window? I know some airlines allow you to change return flights in this situation without penalty (even for the cheapest tickets).

More specifically, I'm looking at a return trip to NYC leaving Sydney in Jan 2018 and returning in July 2018 (discount economy). Will I need to wait till August 2017 before I make the booking to avoid excessive change fees?

 

[mviy]

To change without a change fee (just fare difference) you'd need to book Flexible Economy. Discount Economy will have a change fee + fare difference.

 

[Spongbob]

So you want to buy a sale fare, but use the return leg during a non-sale period?

 

[ftm]

You can make a free of charge change when the return date is outside system range, yes. It assumes the same fare class is available when availability is finally loaded. If not, then you would need to pay the fare difference, but no change penalty.