Extending a stopover in a domestic connection

[ronaldh]

I'm looking at some flights OOL to MEL and MEL to OOL and they both stop via SYD. What I'm looking to do is to stay the day in SYD, so potentially say take the 9:15AM from OOL and then the 5:30PM from SYD to MEL. Unfortunately, the online booking system doesn't show those flights as it tries to group the closer SYD-MEL leg together (i.e. a 12PM flight). I'm wondering whether it would be possible to do that or not?

The main reason is, when booking separate OOL-SYD and SYD-MEL flights, the total is much higher (like more than double). It's cheaper going Flexi Saver than two separate red e-deals!

Thanks!

 

[AIRwin]

I don't think you can get around that without doing a multi-city or separate bookings. I managed to find some fares on the morning QF861 flight with arrivals in MEL at 4.05 pm ($146 sale fare) or 4.35 pm ($206 super saver) through zuji.com.au which also has no credit card fees compared to booking directly on the QF website... Good luck!

 

[ronaldh]

Thanks, but still not really what I'm after. Would it be possible then to maybe book a Flexi Saver fare and change the second leg to a different time after flying the first?

 

[Downwind]

My way around this is to make the reservation myself and elect BPAY as form of payment. This gives you until 23:59 to make payment, but before you do, you call QF reservations and ask them to change the second flight to the one you want. The same fare class must be available on the new flight. Reservations will re-price the fare (which should end up being roughly if not exactly the same) and this is the amount you BPAY with the BSB and reference number you were given at the time you made your original booking. Ive never been charged any fee for this "change" and the RECLOC doesn't change either.Good Luck.

DW.

 

[ronaldh]

This looks good! Thanks for the advice - would not have ever thought of doing this! Out of curiosity, does Qantas allow BPAY out of a Credit Card account?

 

[AIRwin]

Thanks, but still not really what I'm after. Would it be possible then to maybe book a Flexi Saver fare and change the second leg to a different time after flying the first?

I think it'll be considered a booking change and you'll have to pay any fare difference on top of the applicable fees: Bookings - Fare Types

 

[Downwind]

This looks good! Thanks for the advice - would not have ever thought of doing this! Out of curiosity, does Qantas allow BPAY out of a Credit Card account?

BPAY is a bank transfer meaning no credit card unfortunately. I've never tried, but the agent who changes the flights for you may process payment for the CC fee but may then also charge you the assistance fee. Call and ask and let us know.

To answer your other question about flexi fares, I think you'd be better off just calling reservations and getting them to book you the red e deal plus booking fee. They can select any flights that are available in the specific fare class subject to the fare rules which in effect could have you overnighting (so long as the stopover is less than 24 hours) in Sydney if you wanted.

 

[doctau]

BPAY is a bank transfer meaning no credit card unfortunately.

You definitely can do BPAY from a credit card. However many billers have the "do not accept credit card payments" flag on their account, so in practice you can't do it as often as you would like.

Not all companies accepting BPAY have that flag set so you can give it a go. Some of the ones that you have a regular account with (telcos, utilities etc) will just tack a CC fee onto your next statement the same as if you paid them directly with a CC.

There are a few companies who normally change a CC fee, accept BPAY allowing credit cards, but don't change you a fee if you do that. It's been a few years since I've done it, so I'm not sure who they are these days. Like a lot of tricks, they don't bother fixing it if only a few people abuse it


But for QF in particular, their site says no. From BPAY Help | Qantas "Also, BPAY payments made from credit card accounts are not permitted."

 

[wandersen]

Book through a travel agent - they will be able to do this for you.