Has dynamic pricing arrived for QFF Awards?

[thizho]

Looking at flights from Perth to Hamilton Island in November and noticed something that doesn't seem quite right.

Searching on 11 NOV 22 from PER-HTI brings up some flights at the regular classic award economy rate of 20,300 points (Zone 4) while others are showing as 36,000 (an amount that doesn't appear on the award points table).

Same applies for Business classic reward bookings. Searching on 11 NOV 22 brings up some flights at 83,000 (when it should be 57,000 - zone 4).



Searching 12 NOV 22 prices up a J classic award at 59,900 (when it should be 57,000 - zone 4). Y is showing as 26,000 (when it should be 20,300 - Zone 4)




Does anybody know what's going on? Is this the start of dynamic award pricing?

 

[SponsorSFC]

Is it not because the 83,000 flights are via Melbourne so a longer total distance than the 59,900 flights which are via Brisbane?

 

[thizho]

Is it not because the 83,000 flights are via Melbourne so a longer total distance than the 59,900 flights which are via Brisbane?

No, I believe they are in the same zones.

PER-MEL-HTI 2900 miles (Zone 4)
PER-BNE-HTI 2792 miles (Zone 4)

 

[exceladdict]

I initially thought miles too but as you say they should both be less than 3600 miles so 20,300 or 57,000.

It looks like in that rollup, the flights with overnight stops are pricing as two individual segments (18+18 or 18+8k). Does the pricing stay the same or drop when you get to checkout?

 

[ChrisMars]

Isn't it because your PER-BNE-HTI is using the red eye that can connect to another award flight as a "same day" connection, while your PER-MEL-HTI is effectively having an overnight stop in MEL, costing you PER-MEL + MEL-HTI in points?

 

[bladeau1981]

It would be the overnight stop over in Melbourne so you are actually paying for 2 x zone 3 not 1 x Zone 4. If you are Platinum might be worth a call to Hobart, of not then I doubt you are going to have any luck paying paying the Zone 4 rate via Mel. Same with the Brisbane search, it lands before midnight in BNE and then departs after midnight so would be treated as 2 different reward flights on 1 ticket I guess.

 

[thizho]

It would be the overnight stop over in Melbourne so you are actually paying for 2 x zone 3 not 1 x Zone 4. If you are Platinum might be worth a call to Hobart, of not then I doubt you are going to have any luck paying paying the Zone 4 rate via Mel. Same with the Brisbane search, it lands before midnight in BNE and then departs after midnight so would be treated as 2 different reward flights on 1 ticket I guess.

Yes, that's exactly what's happening.

I thought last year they all priced at 57,000. Does anybody else have experience with this type of pricing? Is is a relatively new thing?

 

[Mattg]

Is is a relatively new thing?

No, this is normal. Happens all the time and there is always a logical explanation if you dig deep enough. The pricing is not dynamic.

Classic Reward pricing can also be a bit weird if it's a mixed-class itinerary. (This isn't always immediately obvious with the current QF website layout before clicking for more details.)

 

[oz_mark]

Yes, that's exactly what's happening.

I thought last year they all priced at 57,000. Does anybody else have experience with this type of pricing? Is is a relatively new thing?

Depends a bit on what you are looking at. For purely Australian Domestic a 'stopover' happens if you change calendar day. On other itineraries, you can stay up to 24 hours before you have a 'stopver'

'Stopover' in relation to:

(a) an Australian domestic Itinerary, means a break of journey at an intermediate point when onward travel does not take place on the same calendar day; and
(b) for all other Itineraries, including those containing a domestic to international connecting flight, means when a passenger arrives at an intermediate point and is not scheduled to depart within 24 hours of arrival;

 

[ChrisMars]

Yes, that's exactly what's happening.

I thought last year they all priced at 57,000. Does anybody else have experience with this type of pricing? Is is a relatively new thing?

I think it has been in the t&cs since a long time. https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/discover-and-join/terms-and-conditions.html

14.4.1 The Qantas Points required for a Classic Flight Reward Itinerary will be calculated as a one way Trip or series of one way Trips and will be the sum of the Qantas Points required for each Trip in that Itinerary.

Trip is defined as:

'Trip' means a series of one or more consecutive Flight Segments within an Itinerary:

(a) that does not include:
(i) a Stopover; or ...

and stopover is defined as:

'Stopover' in relation to:

(a) an Australian domestic Itinerary, means a break of journey at an intermediate point when onward travel does not take place on the same calendar day; and
(b) for all other Itineraries, including those containing a domestic to international connecting flight, means when a passenger arrives at an intermediate point and is not scheduled to depart within 24 hours of arrival;