CX as a Qantas Award flight - is it a Business Award or not?

[browski]

Ladies,
Can you help me avoid a telephone call to the Qantas phone booking line?

I'm looking at redeeming a Classic Award flight from MEL-JFK through the Qantas web site. There is an option to fly MEL-HKG-JFK but the 2 flights list like this graphic below. Can anybody tell me what is the class of the second flight? The field under Class is just blank.

Melbourne to New York [TABLE="class: full"]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tr_first"]
[TD="class: noWrap"]Wed 20 Jul 11[/TD]
[TD] 23:45 [/TD]
[TD]Melbourne[/TD]
[TD] 07:15
(Thu)[/TD]
[TD]Hong Kong[/TD]
[TD] Cathay Pacific flight

CX168[/TD]
[TD="class: aligncenter"] 2[/TD]
[TD] Business[/TD]
[TD="class: baggage"] Checked:
2 pieces[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 09:20
(Thu)[/TD]
[TD]Hong Kong[/TD]
[TD] 13:10
(Thu)[/TD]
[TD]New York (JFK)[/TD]
[TD] Cathay Pacific flight

CX830[/TD]
[TD="class: aligncenter"] 1[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: baggage"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 9"]

• 
  = Flight Operated by Cathay Pacific

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[djfuzz]

Comes up as a Business class flight when I do a Classic Award search, and the points reflect that so I'd be fairly confident it was.

Don't understand why your table looks like that - this is what I get:

 

[Awesom Andy]

Looks like J all the way to me. However, note that using CX all the way will cost more than using QF.

 

[Mal]

Strange to find CX flights on the QF booking engine. They make a rare appearance. Perhaps they are here to stay (woohoo!).

I see no reason not to expect to be in J for both sectors. Ensure you take screen shots at each step of the way in case the infamous Qantas IT is playing tricks on you...

 

[browski]

Comes up as a Business class flight when I do a Classic Award search, and the points reflect that so I'd be fairly confident it was.

Don't understand why your table looks like that - this is what I get:

It's the next page after you hit the "Review" tab.

 

[casp]

I would suggest you be very careful on this and probably call Qantas to confirm.
Two weeks ago I booked a Business class PEK/HKG/SYD online. While booking it's indicate as Business for both sector, ticket shows business for both sector, and Qantas deducted business point 91000 instead of 85000 (Economy PEKHKG 20000 + Business HKGSYD 65000). When I select the seat, I found I was seating in economy for PEKHKG and business for HKGSYD. I called Qantas ask why, the lady replied me: Because your PEKHKG ticket was in Economy. I asked her why? The Qantas website 'manage my trip' showing I am in business for both sector. After put me on hold for 5 minutes, she said she has talked to supervisor, the website is faulty and they have reported this error to IT department to fix it, but you are seating in Economy! My second questions to her: Then why you deducted business point 91000 instead of economy+business point 85000? Her reply was: That's how system works. My last question: There are still business class seats available, why the website booked me in economy? She replied: there is no business award seat available. I told her there is, showing on the Qantas website now. She said there isn't seats available. I asked her check the Qantas website immediately. After anohter 5 minutes on hold, she back: This is Cathay Pacific system problem. Although it's showing you there is a business class seats avaialble, there isn't. We apologise for this inconvenience but you are defintely seating in economy. If you would like to change to another flights which has Business available, you need to pay 3500 telephone assisstant fee +8500 points change fee.
Very unresonable!

 

[browski]

I would suggest you be very careful on this and probably call Qantas to confirm.
Very unresonable!

On top of that, can you imagine even trying to telephone Qantas at the moment with all the flight delays - that will be 4 hours of your life that you will never get back.

 

[djfuzz]

This is Cathay Pacific system problem. Although it's showing you there is a business class seats avaialble, there isn't. We apologise for this inconvenience but you are defintely seating in economy. If you would like to change to another flights which has Business available, you need to pay 3500 telephone assisstant fee +8500 points change fee.
Very unresonable!

That's ridiculous - if there's a problem with their system (even if only how CX awards appear on their system) and you didn't get what they advertised (ie it was misleading or deceptive) they should at the very least refund you your points with no fee deducted.

Insist on this or escalate the matter.

 

[notzac]

While booking it's indicate as Business for both sector, ticket shows business for both sector, and Qantas deducted business point 91000 instead of 85000 (Economy PEKHKG 20000 + Business HKGSYD 65000). When I select the seat, I found I was seating in economy for PEKHKG and business for HKGSYD.

If this is indeed the case (you were quoted and charged for an award J seat and are being provided a Y seat, and QF refuse to fix it for you), I would seriously contemplate contacting Consumer Affairs in your state -- IMHO this is a pretty clear breach of your rights under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (specifically, this would appear to be classed as a 'major failure with a service'). IANAL, so you should contact Consumer Affairs to confirm this.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Where is RedRoo when you need him. I guess things are a little busy at the moment.

I really thought Qantas were a little thin with staff on problem resolution. Firstly it was the Christchurch earthquake, then the A380s, then the Queensland floods, then the Japanese earthquake and now you have the ash cloud.

I think the best idea would be to ring up and get the cancel booking with no fees.

 

[QF029]

Strange to find CX flights on the QF booking engine. They make a rare appearance. Perhaps they are here to stay (woohoo!).

I see CX flights frequently for award redemptions to Asia and the US. Maybe it depends on the destination you're searching on. They seem to have a very liberal inventory of award seats although the cost is usually slightly more even on the same route as QF.

 

[smarty11]

I see CX flights frequently for award redemptions to Asia and the US. Maybe it depends on the destination you're searching on. They seem to have a very liberal inventory of award seats although the cost is usually slightly more even on the same route as QF.

1+
I also see CX or even BA many times while looking for classic award.. downside they cost more...

Conspiracy Therorist in me thinks that they do it to discourage people to book seats under classic awards..!

 

[Vinny]

This is Cathay Pacific system problem. Although it's showing you there is a business class seats avaialble, there isn't. We apologise for this inconvenience but you are defintely seating in economy. If you would like to change to another flights which has Business available, you need to pay 3500 telephone assisstant fee +8500 points change fee.
Very unresonable!

Absolute garbage. It's on the QF site so let them wear it and they need to be told to get it right. Refuse the fees and stand your ground firmly. Ask for a supervisor if they can find one and manage to wake one up. If they can't wake one tell them you have all day if needed. Ensure you ask for their name a second time, ask how to spell it and note the time. If no assistance, ask that their superior be brought to your assistance. Again ask for name, how to spell and remind them of the current time. Keep calm and civil though. QF tried this on me a few years ago and they wouldn't dare try it again.

For the record I usually find CX excellent. I've booked QF award tickets and wound up on CX to be handed me a nice J class boarding ticket at checkin at the gate.

 

[JohnK]

told her there is, showing on the Qantas website now. She said there isn't seats available. I asked her check the Qantas website immediately. After anohter 5 minutes on hold, she back: This is Cathay Pacific system problem. Although it's showing you there is a business class seats avaialble, there isn't. We apologise for this inconvenience but you are defintely seating in economy. If you would like to change to another flights which has Business available, you need to pay 3500 telephone assisstant fee +8500 points change fee.
Very unresonable!

Toatlly agree. It is not your responsibility to ensure the Qantas website contains up to date availability so if QF have made a mistake then it is up to them to fix it free of charge or allow you to cancel free of charge.