Mel- Syd 18 March- Red E deal....can I ask for an earlier flight at the Airport

[zahra01]

Hi everyone,
I took a cheapie deal for a flight tomorrow night departing at 9pm. Was wondering if i just rock up at the airport a bit earlier and if there's discount/normal econ seats left, would they let me change to the earlier flight without a fee ?
I just tried to change to an earlier flight online but the fare difference was $110 approx and was only going to give me an extra hour earlier...so decided to leave it. I am only bronze staus.

 

[markis10]

You can try at the airport, no harm done, if things are not going according to plan you might be in luck as QF will often move passengers when it suits them regardless of the fare class.

 

[serfty]

Being a Friday even betwixt MEL to SYD, your changes should be reasonable ... not guaranteed, but good.

Most flights between 5 and 7 pm seem just about sold out in economy so they'll be looking to move PAX.

The 8 PM still has red e-deal availability (N class - there's your $110).

 

[zahra01]

thank you both. I may as well arrive with the extra hour up my sleeve and try my luck to grab the 8pm flight ..fingers crossed..otherwise a boring extra hour at airport..

 

[BAM1748]

If they have a seat you have a good chance, if they can get you in an empty seat about to take off they maybe be able to resell your other seat later.

Even on red-e-deal seats I've always found if you ask you often get it they can do it.

Matt

 

[zahra01]

Thanks all, failed at checking,worked at gate!

 

[serfty]

Thanks all, failed at checking,worked at gate!

Well done - presumably the 8pm flight by your posting time.

 

[jg161]

Thanks all, failed at checking,worked at gate!

will have to remember this - tried this recently at BNE after arriving 6 hours early due to a meeting ending early. Conversation with the kiosk assistance droid went something like:

me: hi wheres the QC/bus desk, i need to discuss something

droid: :evil: you don't need that, let me help you with this check-in machine

wait.. i would like to see if an earlier flight is available, as i have arrived 6 hours early but i have a red-e deal ticket

:evil: if your ticket is not changeable, then you cannot change it - here let me help you with this check-in machine

but this would benefit QF and me, as you can just slot me in some unused seat and re-sell my ticket for the peak time.. win win.

:evil: if your ticket is not changeable, then you cannot change it - here let me help you with this check-in machine....

you get the picture... this went on for about 3 minutes until i was about to go nuts, he must have sensed it and told me "try at the sales desk.." which was complete with it's usual permanent queue of 10 people. After 10 minutes of waiting, I gave up and went and pretty much amortised my entire airfare in the QP for 5 hours.

another :shock: moment in my Australian airport travels (as seems to be the norm rather than the exception) - whilst I don't expect an airline to always accommodate such requests, I can't believe that QF .... wait... no, I can...

 

[drewbles]

will have to remember this - tried this recently at BNE after arriving 6 hours early due to a meeting ending early. Conversation with the kiosk assistance droid went something like:

me: hi wheres the QC/bus desk, i need to discuss something

droid: :evil: you don't need that, let me help you with this check-in machine

wait.. i would like to see if an earlier flight is available, as i have arrived 6 hours early but i have a red-e deal ticket

:evil: if your ticket is not changeable, then you cannot change it - here let me help you with this check-in machine

but this would benefit QF and me, as you can just slot me in some unused seat and re-sell my ticket for the peak time.. win win.

:evil: if your ticket is not changeable, then you cannot change it - here let me help you with this check-in machine....

you get the picture... this went on for about 3 minutes until i was about to go nuts, he must have sensed it and told me "try at the sales desk.." which was complete with it's usual permanent queue of 10 people. After 10 minutes of waiting, I gave up and went and pretty much amortised my entire airfare in the QP for 5 hours.

another :shock: moment in my Australian airport travels (as seems to be the norm rather than the exception) - whilst I don't expect an airline to always accommodate such requests, I can't believe that QF .... wait... no, I can...

If you look at this from QF's view, it makes good sense. If everyone bought red-e deals, and everyone walked up and asked your question, and they always said yes (space permitting), why would people buy more expensive fares?

I much prefer travelling domestically in AU compared to the USA where the DYKWIA's (not saying you're one, just an example) seem to reign supreme. If people need flexible fares, they buy them, and get what they purchase. If you're lucky enough to get a flight change from an O/N/Q class fare, then that's just a bonus (I've been offered earlier flights when it suits QF, but not when i've ever asked; and i've expected to be told no when I ask, it's more a friendly "I don't suppose..." question).

 

[jg161]

If you're lucky enough to get a flight change from an O/N/Q class fare, then that's just a bonus (I've been offered earlier flights when it suits QF, but not when i've ever asked; and i've expected to be told no when I ask, it's more a friendly "I don't suppose..." question).

Drewbles,
i take your point, and what you wrote is exactly what I was trying to ascertain, whether it would suit QF to give me an earlier flight. I know my place with qf, far below dykwia somewhere slightly above peon. Sure, my el-cheapo red-e ticket forfeits my rights to cancel or change in advance, but I don't think it's unreasonable for anyone to ask (nicely) if anything earlier is available, no matter if you are on a 2$ fare or 2000$ fare, especially on domestic where non peak is often empty.

The problem, and perhaps the point I was making, is that QF have effectively removed the ability for you to even have a fighting chance to be offered, let alone beg/suggest/ask/propose this on check-in (where you're done for once they accept your bags) due to the "next gen check-in".

My comparison to other places and other airlines is only to point out that in my past experiences, at least you had a chance to have a conversation with the checkin staff, which may have invariably gone "oh, you're 6 hours early, let me see if there is some other flight i can put you on... oh, nothing, sorry."

 

[TonyHancock]

If you look at this from QF's view, it makes good sense. If everyone bought red-e deals, and everyone walked up and asked your question, and they always said yes (space permitting), why would people buy more expensive fares?

I much prefer travelling domestically in AU compared to the USA where the DYKWIA's (not saying you're one, just an example) seem to reign supreme. If people need flexible fares, they buy them, and get what they purchase. If you're lucky enough to get a flight change from an O/N/Q class fare, then that's just a bonus (I've been offered earlier flights when it suits QF, but not when i've ever asked; and i've expected to be told no when I ask, it's more a friendly "I don't suppose..." question).

I agree. For my domestic travel it is a red e deal outbound and a Flexi saver inbound. My outbound flights rarely change, but my inbound flights are always booked for worst case scenario. QF has modified my ticket buying behaviour. :shock:

I have no problem with this at all. I have a choice when I book my ticket. I'd love to be able to buy the cheapest fare and change it at will, in the same way I'd like a guaranteed upgrade on international flights using points. Not much commercial sense for QF to do either. :-|

On the odd occasions I have had Red e deals my experience mirrors drewbles. when I ask it is always done in the QP as a very polite query. (I rarely travel with checked in luggage domestically.)

When Qantas need to move you for their own operational needs they will find a way NGCI or no NGCI.

 

[serfty]

will have to remember this - tried this recently at BNE after arriving 6 hours early due to a meeting ending early. Conversation with the kiosk assistance droid went something like: ...

Presumably you had to check luggage.

Otherwise you could have headed straight to the QP to and proceeded with your endeavourer to change to an earlier flight as the service desk there.

IMHI & FWIW, with the ability to have 2 x 41" bags of up to 7kg on Qantas Domestic Jet flights, there should be no need to check any luggage¹.

¹ Unless one has non standard baggage or 'dangerous' items, although I simply don't travel with items that are considered "dangerous these days. I will admit to golf clubs occasionally.

 

[TheInsider]

The problem, and perhaps the point I was making, is that QF have effectively removed the ability for you to even have a fighting chance to be offered, let alone beg/suggest/ask/propose this on check-in (where you're done for once they accept your bags) due to the "next gen check-in".

Incorrect. You always had more of a chance of getting an earlier flight on the kiosks than speaking to an agent 'behind a counter'. Majority of agents cannot 'flow forward' as they don't have access to it. The kiosks (new NGCI ones and old pre-NGCI ones) can and do.

Please don't make this another 'let's bash NGCI' or 'enhancement' thread. If you want to change to an earlier flight on a cheap ticket, pay to change it or purchase a flexible fare.

Sometimes the staff know more than the actual passenger in how their systems work!

 

[oz_mark]

The problem, and perhaps the point I was making, is that QF have effectively removed the ability for you to even have a fighting chance to be offered, let alone beg/suggest/ask/propose this on check-in (where you're done for once they accept your bags) due to the "next gen check-in".

My comparison to other places and other airlines is only to point out that in my past experiences, at least you had a chance to have a conversation with the checkin staff, which may have invariably gone "oh, you're 6 hours early, let me see if there is some other flight i can put you on... oh, nothing, sorry."

I always had more luck at the machines with this than with the people behind the desk. The check-in machine would offer to check for me if I was early enough.