Economy Fare Types [Impossible to book Full Y online?]

[shifty]

I assume this has been discussed, however after searching I couldn't find anything...

When booking international flights using the Qantas website, all of the economy fares appear to only earn points and status credits at discount economy rates, even the Flex fare.

From what I can gather its impossible to book an international economy flight online that earns at normal economy rates.

You would think that Semi-Flex and Flex fare types would earn at normal economy rates.

So I quizzed Qantas about this tonight. They agreed that you couldn't and said that all the fares online are discounted. I appreciate a $200 Sale or Saver fare type is discounted, but $1600 for the Flex fare isn't! He then went on to mention that the full economy fare was $5500 which I then pointed out that all business fare types were cheaper than this, some of which include a full refund - how much more flexible can I get. I also pointed out that the economy Flex fare is fully refundable so how much more flexible do I really want from an economy fare - just let me earn at a normal economy rate - don't rip me for the Flex fare and tell me it's discounted, we're a little more educated than that...

My opinion - Qantas need to revisit the economy fare types as far as points and status credit earn rates go.

 

[markis10]

You will find that many airlines have a "Y" fare that's dearer than J, and there is a reason for it, corporate rates use this fare as the benchmark for a discount or rebate, so while the average Joe blow is unlikely to book one when J is on offer, corporates will because their real fare is often significantly less.

Qantas do offer a full Y option online, its on offer where PE is sold

 

[opusman]

Luckily all the J fares earn at full J rates

 

[shifty]

Thanks markis10. Will try some flights with PE to see full Y fares. As I'm ex PER we have so many options with flights - one a day to SIN... Makes sense what you are saying, however there are still in practise no international economy fare types that earn normal economy points and status credits that anyone would ever purchase (as you would just fly J instead). Domestic wise, this works fine with Super Saver and above at full economy earn rates. I find it strange that they have worked it out domestically however international they seem to have missed it.

opusman - and let's hope that doesn't change

 

[Mr_Orange]

I couldn't agree more. it has always annoyed me that the flex fares only earn discount economy SCs. Sale fares and Red e-Deals are understandable but anything else is just QF ripping us off.

That said, full 'Y' fares are expensive, although I wouldn't say more than J. Point of reference is BNE-HKG, full Y was $2700 return. J is much more than that and there isn't a PE option.

 

[Joshua]

The only two times I've seen full Y is booking on CX the night before and it was half the price of J - and quite unexpectedly got an op-up anyway. The other was somebody's booking to FRA on SQ, the incompetent group TA had booked it that way and it cost $1000s.

Keep in mind QF only changed 'full economy' in domestic recently this might be looking at it as glass half empty.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

So I quizzed Qantas about this tonight. They agreed that you couldn't and said that all the fares online are discounted. I appreciate a $200 Sale or Saver fare type is discounted, but $1600 for the Flex fare isn't! He then went on to mention that the full economy fare was $5500 which I then pointed out that all business fare types were cheaper than this, some of which include a full refund - how much more flexible can I get. I also pointed out that the economy Flex fare is fully refundable so how much more flexible do I really want from an economy fare - just let me earn at a normal economy rate - don't rip me for the Flex fare and tell me it's discounted, we're a little more educated than that...

My opinion - Qantas need to revisit the economy fare types as far as points and status credit earn rates go.

Sounds like they have taken their pricing model from the petrol companies. Of course the everyday price is actually discounted for us. So when fuel goes up 10c/litre on weekends and school holidays, they are merely charging the regular price. So what are we all complaining about?

 

[Mr_Orange]

Keep in mind QF only changed 'full economy' in domestic recently this might be looking at it as glass half empty.

Not quite right. Fully flexible on QFd always earned full economy SCs, it was flexi-savers that changed from discount to full economy and that change was at least 2 years ago and possibly nearer 3.

 

[Joshua]

Not quite right. Fully flexible on QFd always earned full economy SCs, it was flexi-savers that changed from discount to full economy and that change was at least 2 years ago and possibly nearer 3.

Yes that's what I was alluding to. I don't recall exactly when either but I think I was more recently. It occurred when they restructured down from 4 marketed fare types ie removing the super savers.

I think when you compare status requirements to other airlines around the world the discount y is about right. J SCs make it ridiculously easy to qualify, but I appreciate the inequality between the intl and dom sc arrangement. Same goes for the upgrading eoqn fares. Not sure why the difference.