Mel-lax oct/nov rt from $444 us qantas

[kamchatsky]

An update for you savvy AFFers celebrating Xmas in July with these mistake fares: they’re not valid and have been removed from sale. We’re currently following up affected bookings.

Oh well the fun has ended....

 

[tharaka]

900s? think this could be fairly standard with the new fuel surcharge revision.. not sure tho

 

[Red Roo]

Oh well the fun has ended....

Sorry to be the "fun police" on this occasion...

 

[smit0847]

An update for you savvy AFFers celebrating Xmas in July with these mistake fares: they’re not valid and have been removed from sale. We’re currently following up affected bookings.

AKA 'we will be cancelling all these tickets'

Im guessing that means QF filed the fare incorrectly, otherwise it wouldnt care about 3rd parties honouring or not honouring?

 

[under the radar]

An update for you savvy AFFers celebrating Xmas in July with these mistake fares: they’re not valid and have been removed from sale. We’re currently following up affected bookings.

....redroo is being way too diplomatic...because they have to be!!...but for all you people who did fall for this...don't blame QF (or any other airline involved)...these fares appeared on a 3rd party website...out of the affected airlines' control...but now the affected airlines are left to clean up the mess of the 3rd party!!!!

 

[daturtle]

Sorry to be the "fun police" on this occasion...

Maybe running a sale in the next few weeks for $800 Syd-LAX ret. would cheer us all up

 

[MEL_Traveller]

An update for you savvy AFFers celebrating Xmas in July with these mistake fares: they’re not valid and have been removed from sale. We’re currently following up affected bookings.

Anyone affected by a purported cancellation should contact Consumer Affairs in their state, or seek legal advice. Just 'because' an airline tries to say they aren't valid doesn't mean that is the case!

 

[smit0847]

Anyone affected by a purported cancellation should contact Consumer Affairs in their state, or seek legal advice. Just 'because' an airline tries to say they aren't valid doesn't mean that is the case!

I am going to enjoy watching the fallout of this more than anything. This is the biggest australian mistake fare for years. I reckon there would have been thousands of bookings made.

 

[zainman]

Anyone affected by a purported cancellation should contact Consumer Affairs in their state, or seek legal advice. Just 'because' an airline tries to say they aren't valid doesn't mean that is the case!

I don't suppose we can file a complaint with the DoT? Is that for bookings originating in the USA? Will definitely be contacting the Consumer Affairs if QF cancel...

 

[neon_crossing]

Was just about to pull trigger then noticed Qantas on twitter replying to excited peeps that they are all "mistake fares".

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am going to enjoy watching the fallout of this more than anything. This is the biggest australian mistake fare for years. I reckon there would have been thousands of bookings made.

that's assuming it was a mistake. Qantas was lowering fuel surcharges. The fare is still the same fare. I don't know how the application of fuel surcharges (if that's what it was) affects that.

I don't suppose we can file a complaint with the DoT? Is that for bookings originating in the USA? Will definitely be contacting the Consumer Affairs if QF cancel...

The DOT has stated it will no longer enforce the mistake fare provisions - however, the airline still has to demonstrate, to the DOT, that the fare was not a mistake, in order for DOT action to cease. On that basis, I'd still be filing with the DOT (not that fares to/from/within the USA are covered - although the DOT can exercise some discretion on this).

There is, for all intents and purposes, a contract here. If QF wishes to void those contracts, they actually need to prove their case.

 

[Buzzard]

I didn't book anything but certainly enjoyed reading this thread.
Was fun whilst it lasted.
Now look forward to the epilogue.

 

[SeatBackForward]

LOL @ Mistake fare...

Mistake Fuel Surcharge? Mistake Credit Card Surcharge..

 

[JohnK]

Everyone has had some fun. Time to move on and wait for next game.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The advantage of filing with the DOT is that you should get a good, clear, concise reason for the fare and why it was offered. Airlines have to prove their case to the DOT, and that's fed back to affected customers.

In Australia, it might be a lot harder to get all the facts you need.

 

[adelee]

I didn't purchase fares (have an amazing one world RTW coming up separately!), but will watch the way this plays out with interest. It's important to note that Qantas was made aware of these fares prior to 9 am this morning (check out the posts to their Facebook page), yet people were still able to book them well up until midday, no doubt resulting in hundreds of extra bookings of the erroneous fares. No doubt it will be a challenge for Qantas to follow these all up.

I also note that on Facebook, when the fares were queried, Qantas simply kept trotting out the line "we are unable to comment on third party website airfares, please follow up directly with <third party website>. Thankfully Red Roo has now come back to clarify that position, but he/she has come to the party a bit late!

 

[quokka77]

On the same day Qantas is getting lots of good press in the AFR for being the best performing publicly listed company on the ASX over FY14/15 we get this, which is a bit of a PR disaster for Qantas. I am guessing they have quickly crunched the numbers and decided they have to rescind the tickets. Good luck unscrambling the omlette. It may have just been better to take the hit and honour the tickets. Pity the DoT is no longer forcing airlines to honour these fares. I would still favour my chances with a US-issued ticket, rather than an AU-issued or even worse Qantas-issued ticket.

 

[Rourke]

...these fares appeared on a 3rd party website...out of the affected airlines' control

Curious where you got this information, as the fares were available through at least four reputable online Travel Agents. I've already paid for my exit-row seat, so will be keen to see how everything gets cleanly reversed if it does.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I didn't purchase fares (have an amazing one world RTW coming up separately!), but will watch the way this plays out with interest. It's important to note that Qantas was made aware of these fares prior to 9 am this morning (check out the posts to their Facebook page), yet people were still able to book them well up until midday, no doubt resulting in hundreds of extra bookings of the erroneous fares. No doubt it will be a challenge for Qantas to follow these all up.

I also note that on Facebook, when the fares were queried, Qantas simply kept trotting out the line "we are unable to comment on third party website airfares, please follow up directly with <third party website>. Thankfully Red Roo has now come back to clarify that position, but he/she has come to the party a bit late!

If people 'knew' or 'ought to have known' the fare was a mistake (and the fare is actually a mistake), the time lapse of a couple hours won't affect QF's case.

However, for the average traveler who might not have known any different, and saw this as simply a low fare, minus fuel surcharge, the lack of comment might have given them the impetus to go ahead and a make a booking.

If anyone has made non-refundable travel arrangements in conjunction with these tickets (for example hotels, connecting flights), the DOT may require the airline to fully reimburse these.

 

[ellen10]

I was very tempted to book these fares and toyed with some dates.
So I will be interested in the final outcome.