My expensive mistake.

[turtlemichael]

I got an sms from Qantas today offering me $400 (total for 2 pax) to change off one BNE-CNS flight to another. I guess it was over booked. It didn't worry me which flight I took that day so I grabbed it. On closer inspection, after I had said yes, I noticed that the substituted flight was actually on the previous day. This was a big problem for me. So I phoned Qantas. Even though there are quite a few seats available on the alternative flights that day I was told. "Sorry, you booked it, you live with it! (in marginally nicer terms!)" This did not qualify as a mistake booking reported to Qantas on the same day.

The lesson is that I need to accept that it is my responsibility for the stuff up which will end up costing me quite a few dollars. However, the lack of flexibility by QF when seats are available on the day I want does hurt me. I would have been better placed if Qantas had said in their sms the names of the days rather than just the date. I am sure I would have picked it up them and therefore ignored the offer Lessons can be expensive!

 

[Pushka]

I got an sms from Qantas today offering me $400 (total for 2 pax) to change off one BNE-CNS flight to another. I guess it was over booked. It didn't worry me which flight I took that day so I grabbed it. On closer inspection, after I had said yes, I noticed that the substituted flight was actually on the previous day. This was a big problem for me. So I phoned Qantas. Even though there are quite a few seats available on the alternative flights that day I was told. "Sorry, you booked it, you live with it! (in marginally nicer terms!)" This did not qualify as a mistake booking reported to Qantas on the same day.

The lesson is that I need to accept that it is my responsibility for the stuff up which will end up costing me quite a few dollars. However, the lack of flexibility by QF when seats are available on the day I want does hurt me. I would have been better placed if Qantas had said in their sms the names of the days rather than just the date. I am sure I would have picked it up them and therefore ignored the offer Lessons can be expensive!

They really should have stressed that it was a different day. Dare I say, they deliberately did not stress that? I’d not expect them to offer a previous day flight.

 

[turtlemichael]

They really should have stressed that it was a different day. Dare I say, they deliberately did not stress that? I’d not expect them to offer a previous day flight.

Well I felt that (by using the names of the days of the week in their sms so I would have been more likely to pick up the change of dates) but I also accept that they are in the right and it was my mistake and is going to end up costing me quite a few hundred dollars. The lack of flexibility when I reported it within an hour also hurts. Lesson expensively leant!

 

[zenyattamondatta]

Is that sort of cash offer for changing flights common?

 

[AIRwin]

Did you hang up and call again?

 

[kermatu]

Poor form, even if you had the opportunity to realise the date change. Not what we should expect or live with from a so-called premium carrier.

 

[turtlemichael]

My run-ins with Qantas continue. This afternoon I got an email saying that my flight just prior to Christmas had been changed and now I was on one arriving half an hour later. Although it was a small change it was enough to make me concerned that instead of having an hour and 25 minutes to get to a dinner appointment now I would have 55 minutes. As I'd have checked luggage the wriggle room to get into the hotel and then to the dinner was minimal. So I rang to see if I could switch to the flight 30 minutes earlier to provide a buffer. On the first call I used the call back offer. They called back but the line dropped out as I was waiting for the operator. On the second, the same thing. On the third I got through . After a few minutes. "I'm sorry sir but it is a minor change and we can't move you to the earlier flight" There are plenty of seats available in the base class I booked on the flight I wanted. I could of course pay for the change but that would be, for two of us, near $300.

I hate you Qantas.

 

[justinbrett]

My run-ins with Qantas continue. This afternoon I got an email saying that my flight just prior to Christmas had been changed and now I was on one arriving half an hour later. Although it was a small change it was enough to make me concerned that instead of having an hour and 25 minutes to get to a dinner appointment now I would have 55 minutes. As I'd have checked luggage the wriggle room to get into the hotel and then to the dinner was minimal. So I rang to see if I could switch to the flight 30 minutes earlier to provide a buffer. On the first call I used the call back offer. They called back but the line dropped out as I was waiting for the operator. On the second, the same thing. On the third I got through . After a few minutes. "I'm sorry sir but it is a minor change and we can't move you to the earlier flight" There are plenty of seats available in the base class I booked on the flight I wanted. I could of course pay for the change but that would be, for two of us, near $300.

I hate you Qantas.

Fight this.

Under the terms & conditions:

(c) Significant Change

If, due to Events Within Our Control, after you buy your Ticket we make a Significant Change to the scheduled departure time of your flight or the flight is cancelled, we will:

• rebook you on the next available flight (or combination of flights) on our services to your booked destination at no additional cost to you
• alternatively, at your option, refund the applicable fare
• if you choose to continue travel and the change or cancellation occurs on the day of scheduled travel, resulting in your delay at the departure airport, provide you with meal or refreshment vouchers (or reimburse you for the reasonable costs of meals or refreshments if we do not provide vouchers)
• if your travel with us is delayed overnight and you have already commenced travel on your booking (ie you are at an 'away' port), use reasonable endeavours to assist you to find overnight accommodation or reimburse your reasonable accommodation costs if we have not provided accommodation.

You may also have rights to remedies under the Australian Consumer Law.

Unless provided for in these Conditions of Carriage, a Convention or any applicable law, such as the Australian Consumer Law, we will not be responsible for paying any costs or expenses you may incur as a result of the changed time or cancellation.

.

Under the T&C - they define "Significant Change":

means a change that significantly impacts you and your travel plans

.

Now that's quite open ended. They could have put fixed times on it. They didn't. You just need to demonstrate how it significantly impacts you. Airlines in the US & Europe will let you cancel if they change the flight by 5 minutes. I don't think this would be a hard one to win - just quote the T&Cs to them. It costs them absolutely nothing to move you to another flight which is months away.

 

[sudoer]

Absolutely HUACA. I was booked on HKG-SYD in early Jan, originally scheduled to arrive at 6:10am. Qantas changed the flight time by +45 minutes so arrival became 6:55am.

I called the premium line, explained I needed to make an appointment in the CBD at 8:30am and the new arrival time meant the slightest of delays would be a problem. No questions asked, they were happy to assist. Direct flights on the previous day were full in the class booked so I elected for HKG-BNE-SYD, all done within 10 minutes.

@justinbrett's advice above is good.

 

[Pushka]

And there is the hurricane post where initially the traveller was told he could not book an earlier flight due to an impending hurricane without paying $600pp ? fees. They persisted with a different operator and was able to change for free.

 

[Falcs]

I think there is a time window in the system - the minor changes get done with no passenger input (and if you're lucky they'll send you a notification), and more significant changes get done automatically but it will ask you to confirm or call. I had a flight moved 2.5 hrs recently and they were happy to accommodate a rebooking.

 

[trooper]

And there is the hurricane post where initially the traveller was told he could not book an earlier flight due to an impending hurricane without paying $600pp ? fees. They persisted with a different operator and was able to change for free.

I think you'll find that poster was trying to change in advance of the weather waiver....Once the waiver was in place of course the next operator allowed the change!

 

[Pushka]

I think you'll find that poster was trying to change in advance of the weather waiver....Once the waiver was in place of course the next operator allowed the change!

I understand the change was made before the waiver from Qantas came into play.