Changing to a non-stop flight on the day (Y-class sale fare)

[Austman]

I have a friend travelling soon MEL-SIN in Y on a sale fare. He booked MEL-SYD-SIN because the connecting flight was actually cheaper, but would prefer the MEL-SIN non-stop. This was booked using an on-line TA.

MEL-SYD-SIN departs MEL (domestic) at 10:00.

MEL-SIN departs MEL (international) at 10:35 (and arrives to SIN some 5 hours earlier which is the reason to change).

On the day, I've suggested that he go to a QFi service desk at ca 08:00 and ask if he could be transferred to the non-stop (subject to space being available of course). If they say no, then he should just go over to QFd and check-in as per his ticket.

I think ringing QF in such cases would be useless - they'd just say go back to the TA.

What are my friend's chances of getting moved to the non-stop and is my advice correct?

(please, no "why fly direct when you can connect" observations! haha )

 

[anat0l]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I'd say your friend has almost no chance of changing to the non-stop, notwithstanding a change in accordance with the fare rules (i.e. change fee + fare difference).

I wonder what the differential was between the SYD connection and non-stop. If it were less than $50, might have been odd to question the value proposition in proportion to the headache now. Doesn't matter now - it's set.

Certainly attempting to change it in advance by calling QF would likely be a waste of time if the ticket was booked through a TA. I suppose you could try asking the TA nicely if they could do a shift without change in fare (doubt it); if it's an OTA or a robot, out of luck......

When I first read this title, I thought it might have been a domestic flight, in which case your friend might have had better success asking nicely, as you've advised.

Your advice should be given only as a try-your-luck attempt and with no guarantee of a positive response (in fact, expect a negative one). Strictly speaking, changing on the day of departure is prohibited (so maybe if you really wanted to try your luck, try on the day before but within 24 hours of departure).

Overall, though, I don't rate your friend's chances.

 

[Austman]

Yes I think to ask on the day might be the only way. And there can be no harm in that.

But there are reports here on AFF of QF actively calling pax to ask them if they'd like to move their booked connecting flights to non-stops.

And it's widely possible, on the day, elsewhere in the world. Rules can be relaxed on the day when it's actually easier for the airline to transport the passenger on their non-stops. I've done it a few times myself, even on QFi I think (but ages ago).

Could it even save the airline some money (not much probably) because the transit airport taxes and fees that become not payable are not refunded to the pax?

 

[MelUser]

Agree with your approach - in MEL it is very easy to do.

I did this years ago when QF 25 flew to LAX via AKL.
Just asked at check in whether we could go on to QF93.

They pick up the telephone and chat away and then it is all sorted.

It might help also if you check in together as the person on the other of phone (ie yield management or whoever answers those white slim line phones!) can ask for a reason.

Be great if you could report back as to how it went!

Note also a couple of years ago I tried this at AA check in in ORD and they picked up phone to QF who asked reason and I said "medical emergency" which worked!!

 

[anat0l]

Yes I think to ask on the day might be the only way. And there can be no harm in that.

But there are reports here on AFF of QF actively calling pax to ask them if they'd like to move their booked connecting flights to non-stops.

And it's widely possible, on the day, elsewhere in the world. Rules can be relaxed on the day when it's actually easier for the airline to transport the passenger on their non-stops. I've done it a few times myself, even on QFi I think (but ages ago).

Could it even save the airline some money (not much probably) because the transit airport taxes and fees that become not payable are not refunded to the pax?

It's not a bedded down science for sure. Plus, some of us have the "benefit" of status to help us along a little bit.

In some ways, changing on the day (or within 24 hours) is "easier" because the flight then is under airport control. This means the airline (or rather, the airline at the airport) has pretty much full control over the passenger tickets on that flight (irrespective of how they are booked in the first place).

I'd only say "inflexible" because that is one of the stated fare rules (for cheapest QF Y fares, on day of departure, no credits, no changes, no cancellations, and a no show = loss of fare). Could be different for QF fares sold in different jurisdictions; wouldn't be surprised if different for different airlines in different jurisdictions (even on the cheapest fares).

I haven't read enough on AFF of these kinds of incidents. Certainly I've been offered non-stops at the airport, at lounges, and at service desks by QF, but all of these have been for domestics. Not saying it couldn't happen with international as well, but I just haven't experienced it (and I have no second hand knowledge either).

As you say, no harm in trying (except dignity, maybe ). But as I would always add, do not expect a positive answer (negative is a standard; positive is a bonus / win).

 

[cmon0005]

Last year I was booked on MEL-SYD-HKG (booked directly through QF site, on Sale fare), not because of price just wanted to avoid A330 to HKG and instead fly on the A380 from SYD.

I called up QF premium a few days before departure and asked about changing the time of the MEL-SYD dom flight til the night before, I was then offered a direct MEL-HKG flight for no charge. I politely declined and mentioned that I wanted to go through SYD for First lounge and A380.

I guess the main difference in my case is that I didn't book through a TA but QF.

Definately worth asking on the day at service desk, but chances are small. Good luck!

 

[Ewing]

But there are reports here on AFF of QF actively calling pax to ask them if they'd like to move their booked connecting flights to non-stops.

Yep.

I know of someone (an infrequent member of AFF but I won't out him) that cheekily said "I'll change if you move me to business" to which the QF person said "I can do that".

Of course my friend didn't realise until later that he was rebooked into a J fare bucket and got the full SCs and cabin bonus. It ended up being an extra 80 SCs - no need for original routing credit

 

[Austman]

Well the flights are tomorrow so the answer will be known soon.

And being less than 24 hours before departure, my friend has checked-in already.

Interestingly, at T-24 (I think) the Change button appeared in the Manage Your Booking page. It was missing before. I tried it for the return - it allows you to pick new dates and flights and even prices it (with a $150 change fee) - but you get:

We could not find fare for the requested itinerary (5685)

when you try to go further.

 

[Austman]

And the answer is: REFUSED!

Original itinerary:
MEL-SYD 10:00-11:25
x SYD-SIN 14:50-19:55

Requested change:
MEL-SIN 10:20-15:05

My friend first went to the QF service desk in the international terminal. Some tapping on the computer and he was told he'd have to check the change possibility at the QF service desk in the domestic terminal. So a short walk over to domestic. Some more tapping on the computer at the domestic QF service desk and he was told he'd have to upgrade his whole fare to a flexible class at a cost of ca $2,000. This was politely declined. So an even shorter walk over to the international connections check-in desk in the QF domestic terminal and he's off via Sydney at almost the same departure time.

So for him it's a few more QFF points and SCs. But an almost 5 hour longer journey.

 

[cmon0005]

And the answer is: REFUSED!

Original itinerary:
MEL-SYD 10:00-11:25
x SYD-SIN 14:50-19:55

Requested change:
MEL-SIN 10:20-15:05

My friend first when to the QF service desk in the international terminal. Some tapping on the computer and he was told he'd have to check the change possibility at the QF service desk in the domestic terminal. So a short walk over to domestic. Some more tapping on the computer at the domestic QF service desk and he was told he'd have to upgrade his whole fare to a flexible class at a cost of ca $2,000. This was politely declined. So an even shorter walk over to the international connections check-in desk in the QF domestic terminal and he's off via Sydney at almost the same departure time.

So for him it's a few more QFF points and SCs. But an almost 5 hour longer journey.

That's a shame, $2000 is a bit steep for changing a fare that would benefit QF by carrying you direct, especially considering according to ExpertFlyer there are more than 9 seats available in Y (with 20 mins til departure) and around 30 seats free according to the EF seatmap.
The SYD-SIN flight looks roughly about the same loadwise, but will still a few hours to go this could change.

Hopefully your friend gets an upgrade!

 

[Austman]

Hopefully your friend gets an upgrade!

As a QF NB, I doubt it!!

 

[drewbles]

That's a shame, $2000 is a bit steep for changing a fare that would benefit QF by carrying you direct, especially considering according to ExpertFlyer there are more than 9 seats available in Y (with 20 mins til departure) and around 30 seats free according to the EF seatmap.
The SYD-SIN flight looks roughly about the same loadwise, but will still a few hours to go this could change.

Hopefully your friend gets an upgrade!

You have to remember that yield management is a very fine art at QF. If people were always able to book a 'via' flight instead of a direct, at a lower price, and then re-route onto the direct on the day, why would anyone ever book the direct?

Once is no problem yes, but if it becomes the norm, people will factor it in accordingly. It's easier to have a blanket 'never' rule, than an exception rule.

 

[Austman]

Hopefully your friend gets an upgrade!

Final door on SYD-SIN was closed but no upgrade! Still he's very happy. It is almost full in Y and he managed to get an empty seat beside him in a group of two. I suppose picking the very last row and 60J helped. 60K stayed empty and now he can spread out a bit.

And it's so very handy to the toilet and galley. (NBs can have a different view of things... haha).

 

[JohnK]

I would have thought he may have had a good chance of changing on the day.

I was travelling SIN-SYD-BNE a couple of weeks ago and the lady at the transfer was trying to force me onto the direct SIN-BNE flight as flights were full. I may have considered it if I could get a bulhead aisle seat but I had things to drop off in SYD and pick up things to take to BNE.

 

[burnt]

Recently a family member was arriving SYD from SCL on QF direct, with a transit in SYD and next morning down to MEL, MEL was a stopover on a OW 35,000 trip and then had a SEPERATE paid ticket to Adelaide from Melbourne. ( to restart journey again later from MEL)
Asked about being put on DIRECT from SYD to ADL after the night in SYD and it happened, although the same request the night before on arrival from SCL was a NEGATIVE, which would have avoided the overnight transit in SYD .
Stranger things have been known to happen?