Earlier flight

[JessicaTam]

You haven't read it? Mandatory for any self-respecting frequent flyer

If airlines sold paint

Thanks for that. Consider me edjumacated!


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

 

[Kangol]

I'm interested to know if anyone (who is WP) has tried calling the premium desk ahead of time - ie whilst on the way to the airport - to ask to be placed on an earlier flight and how it compares to doing it in person at the QP/J Lounge. The big downside is not retaining your seat selection if you are of the type of person that prefers forward seats.
It probably may be different for P1/CL...

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I've had it happen a few times over the years, and twice this year (Red eDeal and JASA ticket).

The 2 that l have had this year, it was the NGCI machines that offered me to fly ahead - with luggage - in SYD T3, no human contact involved. It was an unexpected surprise. I'm QF Gold at the moment (and when l got the fly ahead).

 

[richie9x]

The next gen kiosks often give you the option of an earlier flight when you check in. Even if you have already checked in you can enter your flight details and it often gives you the option to change your flight.

For a few domestic flights recently I have asked at the service desk at the J lounge was pleasently surprised that they could get me on a very full earlier flight even though i was on a red e-deal, I was expecting them to say no.

 

[matty_bob]

I have called up the premium desk twice. 1st, no seats on earlier flight and second time there was, however there was a $60 fee to change (ticket was fully flexible by the way). Can't change online directly due to booking agent, if I change through them its $15. Not big amounts, but its the principle. Generally I have had no issues bring forward travel when checking in (9 times out of 10, they ask me if I want the earlier flight).

 

[moa999]

Calling in advance even on a flexi may have a fee due to "fare difference" - and on QF and DJ the fares generally get more expensive the closer you go, so you will often have a fare difference.
Also if booking is done through a travel agent, rare the premium desk can change as it is in agent control (until you check-in)

 

[dk4]

Unfortunately for you the aviation world does not agree with your version of the analysis...

Does that make my comment ridiculous or does it mean we are looking at it from a different perspective...

Your original comment was holistic, not a matter of perspective. You did not argue that "some" analysts disagree with the OP, you bluntly retorted that the "aviation world" does not agree.

I gave two examples to disprove your broad claim.

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[markis10]

I believe bookings go to the airport around 24 hours before departure, making it harder but not impossible for the call centre to act.

 

[straitman]

Your original comment was holistic, not a matter of perspective. You did not argue that "some" analysts disagree with the OP, you bluntly retorted that the "aviation world" does not agree.

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I'm more than happy to modify my original comment to ' Unfortunately the sections of the aviation world who are turning profits do not agree with your version of the analysis. They have a lot of highly paid people making that analysis as an ongoing work versus your opinion.'

I gave two examples to disprove your broad claim.

... and I countered your examples. Both Qantas and Virgin (and probably all airlines) offer the flexibility of fly ahead if you buy the appropriate ticket type. Virgin only offers free it to their elite customers and only if there is no checked baggage. The US carriers to whom you refer are largely financial basket cases and hardly the right companies to put on a pedestal.


My comments are not just based upon opinion but from 40 years experience in the aviation industry as a Pilot, Chief Pilot, Aviation Manager and a Masters Degree in Aviation Management.

 

[matty_bob]

Above makes sense.

Thanks

 

[plrarm]

I'm SG on Qantas, booked on a Red-e-Deal at 8pm tonight from Syd to Mel. I've had my afternoon meeting cancel, and now can fly any time from 5pm onwards.

I can't change this ticket cause it's a cheapie, and I can't buy another cheapie because there's none left, and I can't justify buying another ticket at the higher bracket just so I can get away a few hours earlier.

Under my Virgin Gold days, I could just ask them at check in and they'd put me on an earlier flight. Has anyone had a similar experience with Qantas?

I usually fly Qantas and am dissapointed at their lack of initiative. There are many situations where they could assist frequent flyers and dont. Those who fly regularly should not have to ask for an upgrade or an earlier flight - it should be offered.

On domestic flights it annoys me that there are vacant seats in Business yet as a Platinum ff I dont get asked if I would like to move. It looks to me as though they save those seats for crew when they could be giving their ff's a "thank you" for their loyalty. Hotels and others can do it but not Qantas

 

[beardoc]

It's been mentioned before that other airlines in the LOTFAP allow waitlisting (and then others pointed to how bankrupt they are). But it is interesting that even for the cheapest Q class fares, this is written into fare rules:

[LEFT][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica]1. STANDBY - A. AADVANTAGE EXECUTIVE PLATINUM/ PLATINUM/ GOLD PASSENGERS AND THEIR ONEWORLD EQUIVALENTS AND AA CONCIERGE KEY AND AAIRPASS MEMBERS TICKETED WITH ANY FARE MAY STANDBY WITHOUT CHARGE AS NOTED BELOW. B. PASSENGERS NOT QUALIFYING BY TIER STATUS AS DESCRIBED ABOVE WHO PURCHASED TICKETS FOR FIRST OR BUSINESS CLASS OR COACH FARES BOOKED IN Y/B/H/D/I/A/P INVENTORIES MAY STANDBY WITHOUT CHARGE AS NOTED BELOW. WHEN TICKETED WITH ANY OTHER COACH FARES THESE PASSENGERS MAY USE CONFIRMED FLIGHT CHANGE. 
STANDBY CONDITIONS FOR ELIGIBLE PASSENGERS - 1. PASSENGERS MUST BE HOLDING CONFIRMED RESERVA- TIONS AND TICKETS FOR FLIGHTS OPERATED BY AMERICAN AIRLINES/ AMERICAN EAGLE OR AMERICAN CONNECTION 2. STANDBY IS PERMITTED FOR EARLIER/LATER SAME DAY AA NONSTOP AND/OR CONNECTING FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE SAME ORIGIN AND DESTINATION AIRPORTS PROVIDED THE ROUTING IS APPLICABLE FOR THE FARE CHARGED.[/FONT][/COLOR][/LEFT]

So if you're any elite status with any OneWorld airline, when you're on an AA fare, you can waitlist for any other flight on the same routing for that day (or even other routings if it doesn't increase the fare). Just to point out that it can be done, albeit via a standby system (must be at the gate, not in a lounge) and it's not guaranteed at all. I still think this is a reasonable system. Here, elite status passengers can waitlist for an earlier flight, but they would have to not be in the lounge (thereby people that really aren't that keen to fly earlier stay in the lounge and don't go with the standby) - it's giving people options. Is that making it worse for the airline? I don't know that it is. It is, after all, a standby system, and you can't make a confirmed flight change at check in.

Best of both worlds, perhaps? Improved services to customers and also protection of confirmed changes/yield management by airlines?

 

[userlame]

So if you're any elite status with any OneWorld airline, when you're on an AA fare, you can waitlist for any other flight on the same routing for that day

Forgive my ignorance, but how does one book an Australian Domestic AA fare? I didn't think I could book MEL-SYD through AA's website?

 

[wallacej]

It has been mentioned once or twice, but as a gold or above of virgin, they offer the fly ahead. no guarantees of course, but after 85 domestic cheapy cheap fligts this year, on the dozen or so times I have arrived early, I have been provided with an earlier flight. always offered, I have never had to ask. I have always OLCI, and typically have carry on only.

Also worth noting, I missed a flight recently, and full fligts for the rest of the day.I was offered free transfer to a flight on the following morning, but because I was gold, I would be waitlisted. I didnt even know they had wait listing

I asked about this waitlist thing they had, and she advised it was only for gold and above. I got lucky, and was given what appeared to be the only seat available on the next fligt. centre seat, row seven, but I was very happy to be on that fligt....and no extra charge.

I understand the arguement about airlines should be careful so as not to reduce the number of people buying the flexi fare. in my case, I will continue to fly virgin, and take the chances on an earlier flight being available if i happen to need it on the day.

 

[bennyff]

I have had all my DJ flight changes at the airport over the past 12 months (fly ahead GS) granted. They all have been on the lowest fare base. I have even had a complementary Business upgrades. While the policy is that this request should be done in the lounge, I have had it offered to me at check in time and time again and have found that using premium check in very helpful with this.

I have always asked at Qantas Club when I arrive early (with no baggage) " Can you tell me at all if it is possible to get an earlier flight " I often have had success (twice with a 6 hr earlier flight) particularly between SYD, MEL and BNE outside of the busy times. I have also had some success with Qantaslink in and out of the Regionals,SYD- PQQ, BNE-ROK. These are all points or Red-E-Deal fares. (I have had changes on J and connecting Y with no problem as one would expect)

My conversation last at QP went like this "Can you tell me at all if it is possible to get an earlier flight"
"Sir it seems that your ticket is a restricted fare... but we have had a few delays today, let me see what I can do"
"Ok it seems that I am able to get you on to the xx_X flight"
"Thank you so much"
"Your welcome"
New boarding pass is printed.

I have found when I have been informed on the rare occasion that it isn't possible to get an earlier flight on QF, that the staff have been very helpful and usually indicate that the flights before mine are fully booked. I do wonder if spare seating capacity does play a role in this?

 

[anchew]

Do people find that they have more success in the QP or J lounge in MEL? I've only ever tried once in the J lounge and got rejected. Couldn't be bothered going to the QP.

 

[TheInsider]

Do people find that they have more success in the QP or J lounge in MEL? I've only ever tried once in the J lounge and got rejected. Couldn't be bothered going to the QP.

Be careful when you keep going to other agents asking for the same thing, generally most agents will place a comment in there saying that you have already been declined an earlier flight.

 

[sparoz]

I found this thread interesting as there were numerous times the self check-in ask if I want an earlier flight when I arrive say a few hours early. I am a NB either. Having said that it was a few years since I needed and appreciated an earlier flight.

 

[drsmithy]

Then there's no incentive for people to buy higher fares. I buy the cheapest with the knowledge that most likely I won't be able to change it, and I accept that.

The incentive is known flexibility vs flipping a coin. These is a vast gulf of difference between the two.

If you believe otherwise then I have to ask if you also use all your savings to buy lotto tickets or put it into bank accounts and investments.

People also seem to be forgetting that flexible tickets are used to change a flight to a later one, not just an earlier one. I'd be willing to bet this has a vastly lower success rate for non-flexi ticket holders.

If I arrive at the airport early I always ask (politely and without expectation of success) if there's any space on an earlier flight (regardless of airline). I've never really kept track, but my gut feel is probably about a 25% success rate for both QF and DJ - I have QF WP but no status at all with DJ. I can't see any reason I should feel guilty about this - there's clearly zero loss to using a seat that would otherwise be empty on an earlier flight, and will occasionally be benefits to the airline in freeing up a seat on later flights for disruptions (or people with flexi tickets trying to change ).

 

[gran]

I have had luck transferring to an earlier flight to Melb by asking in the Qantas Club at Canberra even though we had an inflexible tickets. This meant joining a flight which had many school kids on board and also accepting that refreshments may not be available due to time constraints. Minor inconveniences when you get home three hours earlier. Refreshments did indeed make it to the back of the plane. Tranfer probably depends on what sort of flight you wish to join and whether it is likely that someone "more important" might want to swap to that flight.