Fly Ahead at MEL on a domestic J fare — “full in J”, then “I class on a return isn’t eligible”, then a duty manager apology

[token01]

Interesting afternoon at Melbourne this week and I’d like the forum’s read on the underlying issue.

Booked MEL–BNE in Business on the evening service, arrived early, went to the Qantas service desk downstairs to ask about Fly Ahead. Platinum, paid J, single sector, same routing. The agent told me every earlier MEL–BNE flight that afternoon was full in Business. Nothing to be done.

Went upstairs to the Business Lounge and asked again. Different answer entirely: plenty of J seats on the earlier flights, but my fare wasn’t eligible because it was booked in I class on a return ticket.
So within 20 minutes I’d been told (a) there are no seats and (b) there are seats but you can’t have one. Eventually the station/duty manager came over, apologised for what I’d been told downstairs, and moved me to the earlier flight. Full credit to them for that, but it shouldn’t have taken a manager to sort out.

Two things I want help with:
The return ticket. Fly Ahead is requested per sector at the departure airport. My return had an outbound and an inbound, I was standing at MEL asking about the MEL–BNE sector only. Why would the ticket being a return make any difference? I’ve never heard that one and the agent couldn’t explain it either.
The fare class. When you book domestic Business on qantas.com there is no choice of fare type. You get “Business”, one price, one button. No Business Sale vs Business Flex selector the way there is in Economy. If the website put me in I class and I class is excluded from Fly Ahead, how is a customer meant to know that or choose differently? If the restricted bucket is the only thing the booking flow will sell you, is effectively one you can’t access without ringing up.

Questions:

1. Is I class actually excluded from Fly Ahead, and where is that written?
2. Does a return ticket change anything, or was that just a line?
3. Is there any way to see or choose the booking class when booking Business online, or is the only route to ring and request the flexible fare?
4. Has anyone else had the “full in J” line from a service desk that turned out not to be true?

 

[im.daniel]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but 'Fly Ahead' is not a formally offered QF benefit for WP (unlike VA).

Moving on to an earlier QF service is generally up to the discretion of the agent you're dealing with in my experience.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Interesting afternoon at Melbourne this week and I’d like the forum’s read on the underlying issue.

Booked MEL–BNE in Business on the evening service, arrived early, went to the Qantas service desk downstairs to ask about Fly Ahead. Platinum, paid J, single sector, same routing. The agent told me every earlier MEL–BNE flight that afternoon was full in Business. Nothing to be done.

Went upstairs to the Business Lounge and asked again. Different answer entirely: plenty of J seats on the earlier flights, but my fare wasn’t eligible because it was booked in I class on a return ticket.
So within 20 minutes I’d been told (a) there are no seats and (b) there are seats but you can’t have one. Eventually the station/duty manager came over, apologised for what I’d been told downstairs, and moved me to the earlier flight. Full credit to them for that, but it shouldn’t have taken a manager to sort out.

Two things I want help with:
The return ticket. Fly Ahead is requested per sector at the departure airport. My return had an outbound and an inbound, I was standing at MEL asking about the MEL–BNE sector only. Why would the ticket being a return make any difference? I’ve never heard that one and the agent couldn’t explain it either.
The fare class. When you book domestic Business on qantas.com there is no choice of fare type. You get “Business”, one price, one button. No Business Sale vs Business Flex selector the way there is in Economy. If the website put me in I class and I class is excluded from Fly Ahead, how is a customer meant to know that or choose differently? If the restricted bucket is the only thing the booking flow will sell you, is effectively one you can’t access without ringing up.

Questions:

1. Is I class actually excluded from Fly Ahead, and where is that written?
2. Does a return ticket change anything, or was that just a line?
3. Is there any way to see or choose the booking class when booking Business online, or is the only route to ring and request the flexible fare?
4. Has anyone else had the “full in J” line from a service desk that turned out not to be true?

Are you P1 ?
I am not aware of any QF fly ahead policy other than for P1 on flexible fares.
Some P1 report success on lower tickets but that is not a published benefit.

 

[Quickstatus]

They are both correct
Unless your J ticket was from the "Flexible" buckets, the ticket is, in my view, not eligible.

There are 2 ways to book into the appropriate fare class
- either book into the fare descriptor that fits the fare class - see below
- ring QF and request the specific fare class.

A return ticket may consist of a 2 different fare classes - J (flexible) on one sector and I( non flexible) on the other
The fare class should be visible on the e-ticket.

Note that QF does not have an official FlyAhead policy.
But its been known unofficially that only flexible fares are eligible for those who have to ask
But overall it is at the Airline's discretion
Sometimes Flyahead may be used by the Airline to sort out overbooking or in situations where there are delays and cancellations.
Remember that eligibility also depend on FF Status - especially P1.
Im sorry to say but WP is not enough status
Basically it is in QF's gift whether you get it or not - P1 and Flexible fare helps.


I have managed to FlyAhead on U and I fares when I enquired but this should not be read as all such fares are eligible. Remember there is no offocial policy.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Fly ahead is not a published benefit for Qantas, other than P1.

It’s broadly accepted as an unpublished benefit for CL.

Your post doesn’t say your status, but unless you are CL or P1 then expecting fly ahead seems unrealistic to me.

The only other possibility would be to buy a fully flexible fare and change your flight. This option would still require inventory to be available on your desired flight.

 

[DC3]

OP may be thinking of VA. Certainly not QF.

 

[Quickstatus]

Additionally

For unofficial perks like FlyAhead, I think it is a good idea to not push the issue, because when QF can giveth, it can also taketh away.

 

[oz_mark]

Underlying issue is that it is not a formal policy, except for P1. The best approach is
1) Check on the App whether flow-forwarding is available, and do it there if available
2) Ask in the lounge - they (IME) have more leeway than the service desk folk at check-in

 

[Princess Fiona]

Fly ahead is not a published benefit for Qantas.

It’s broadly accepted as an unpublished beffit for CL and P1.

Your post doesn’t say your status, but unless you are CL or P1 then expecting fly ahead seems unrealistic to me.

The only other possibility would be to buy a fully flexible fare and change your flight. This option would still require inventory to be available on your desired flight.

It is a published benefit of P1

 

[DC3]

I thought that OP was WP, not CL or P1?

 

[SJF211]

Questions:

1. Is I class actually excluded from Fly Ahead, and where is that written?

For Q1 as others have pointed out for P1 “fly ahead,” its need to be a “flexible,” fare and the “i,” class exclusion is written here:

3 . Is there any way to see or choose the booking class when booking Business online, or is the only route to ring and request the flexible fare?

For Q3 whilst you can’t see the booking class through the QF website you can tell by the SC/points earn if it is a U/I or C/J fare. But then only if the lower buckets are sold out so for the most part you’d still need to ring.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

It is a published benefit of P1
View attachment 526050

This isn't actually a benefit at all.
It's a nothing burger.
If you're booked on a fully flexible fare you can just change your own booking online.
Regardless of your status.
Same outcome.

 

[dylarr]

This isn't actually a benefit at all.
It's a nothing burger.
If you're booked on a fully flexible fare you can just change your own booking online.
Regardless of your status.
Same outcome.

You still need to pay any fare differential. This is waived for P1's exercising this benefit.
If you are booked on a lead in flex fare like K and there is only Y fare bucket availability on day of travel, this could be significant.

 

[elanshin]

I think I have a legitimate concern as the OP in this niche case - You can't easily select "booking class J" via the QF booking portal without calling and asking for it specifically. The normal domestic Business class booking doesn't have any "Flex" or "Saver" - it's just one option: Business. I believe it has similar benefits as a flex economy booking.

Whilst we can argue about whether the fly ahead benefit should be provided or not, the information OP received is definitely not correct and more of a cop out excuse.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

You still need to pay any fare differential. This is waived for P1's exercising this benefit.
If you are booked on a lead in flex fare like K and there is only Y fare bucket availability on day of travel, this could be significant.

You're right, I was only thinking about business fares because that was the OP's situation.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think there are lead-in level domestic business flex fares?

I think I have a legitimate concern as the OP in this niche case - You can't easily select "booking class J" via the QF booking portal without calling and asking for it specifically. The normal domestic Business class booking doesn't have any "Flex" or "Saver" - it's just one option: Business. I believe it has similar benefits as a flex economy booking.

Whilst we can argue about whether the fly ahead benefit should be provided or not, the information OP received is definitely not correct and more of a cop out excuse.

You're right, but the same problem could apply to business fares, as not all are flexible any more.

This is where the very useful script which you can add as a browser extension is a big help as it displays the fare code before you book.
It is discussed in this forum thread.

 

[Kangol]

Some P1 report success on lower tickets but that is not a published benefit.

I've had it as P1 on both award J and Y sale tickets.

The Y sale was lucky because it was absolutely packed in SYD, going to MEL in the peak afternoon period, all flights were "negatives" (as per lounge staff), I was told to identify myself at the gate because there was a possibility of a no-show. Got the last seat at the very last minute above a standby staff traveller.

Another Y sale ticket occasion, it wasn't that busy and I was proactively offered a fly ahead.

 

[Captain Halliday]

It is a published benefit of P1
View attachment 526050

Updated

 

[lovestotravel]

1st agent didn't like you/couldn't be bothered

2nd agent enjoys helping people

 

[oz_mark]

1st agent didn't like you/couldn't be bothered

2nd agent enjoys helping people

or they can see different things!

 

[CaptJCool]

It would seem flow-forwarding is at QF discretion. Occasionally seen it on my app for cheap Y tickets so would not be surprised if the same for J

But that fly ahead is not at YOUR discretion