Qantas approach to sales

Status
Not open for further replies.

greenfrog86

Active Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2009
Posts
680
Just booked a return flight MEL-JFK with Qantas during one of their sale periods... obviously wanted to book before the 11th which is when the sale was to end.

These flights where around $1500 to NYC for certain travel periods. Woke up this morning (12 January) to find an email in my inbox advertising pretty much the SAME travel dates but this time for $1399!!!

I'm really disappointed that the airline industry is such a race to the bottom and they all play catch-up with competitors that they do this kind of pricing that sticks it to customers who have just booked in the other back-to-back sale...

I am fully aware of the fluctuating nature of flight pricing, and that there are often a number of sales throughout the year that may produce significantly different pricing for the same routes. I find it to be utterly disappointing when Qantas decides to do back-to-back sales with different pricing however... why not just extend the original sale?

Sure its only $150 this time, but if that keeps happening then it certainly leaves a bad taste in your mouth...

Oh and to top it off, I paid on my Platinum Charge Amex and looking through the insurance etc there is no coverage for price changes (like some cards offer) because I'm not looking for a refund or an extended warranty... :mad:
 
That's the luck of the draw I guess! The price could just as easily of gone up as it did down.
 
Anytime you buy anything these days, whether it be something from David Jones, or a plane ticket - you do so with a great deal of mistrust. You used to be able to trust that David Jones would not do a sale other than the mid-year or end of year sales. Now, you don't know if the item you're thinking of buying will be 25% off the very next day.... and when it's 25% off, you don't know if it'll be reduced further and further in a matter of days. So everyone is now conditioned to holding off, no one wants to pay full price - because the expect the sales and don't trust that companies are pricing things fairly.
 
That's the nature of the business.
When it comes to buying airfares, pick a price you're happy with and if you think that it's not going to go any lower buy it. Once you've bought that ticket, just don't pay attention to any more sales, promotions or anything. You have the tickets in your hands, move onto the next step of planning your trip (hotels, transport, attractions etc.).

Like The Rok said it could easily have gone up as it did down.
 
I guess depending on how long ago you booked it you could try use the price match guarantee against their new sale price?
 
I'm really disappointed that the airline industry is such a race to the bottom and they all play catch-up with competitors that they do this kind of pricing that sticks it to customers who have just booked in the other back-to-back sale...

Are you serious? How do you think you got your fare for $1500? Qantas was competing with someone else!

I am fully aware of the fluctuating nature of flight pricing, and that there are often a number of sales throughout the year that may produce significantly different pricing for the same routes. I find it to be utterly disappointing when Qantas decides to do back-to-back sales with different pricing however... why not just extend the original sale?

Because the original sale wasn't competitive. It's called a market. If you want regulated fares go back in time 25 years. But then you're trip to JFK will cost about $2500 and be in 1990 dollars not 2013 dollars.

You should be grateful there's competition. No airline is making any money by flying someone 32,000 kms for $1500.

Qantas made an offer, you found it reasonable and accepted. It's not a race to the bottom, it's competition.
 
Last edited:
I guess depending on how long ago you booked it you could try use the price match guarantee against their new sale price?

Has to be same day (and I am not sure Qantas would count itself as one of its competitors!)
 
Rule 1.

Once you have found a price you find acceptable and made the purchase..

STOP LOOKING!!!!!! :mrgreen:
 
Conveniently this sale started just as VA is switching to Sabre and thus all their res systems are offline... coincidence??
 
Rule 1.

Once you have found a price you find acceptable and made the purchase..

STOP LOOKING!!!!!! :mrgreen:

I've always worked off that principle.

That said, if it's been less than 24 hours, and the same dates you've booked are selling for less, you could try calling, price matching and whatever else.
 
One can stop looking, but if an email rocks up alerting you to the fact......

True, but then you don't investigate further... just because there's a sale on, doesn't mean the day you're flying will have availability. That day could be booked solid already.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

A bird in the hand perhaps?
Just like it was mentioned in this thread, but gone are the days where a long haul return flight was equivalent to something like 3-6 month's salary (average).
Imagine trying to do a status run in those conditions!
 
Just like it was mentioned in this thread, but gone are the days where a long haul return flight was equivalent to something like 3-6 month's salary (average).
Imagine trying to do a status run in those conditions!

Back in those days, status was truly privileged. Unlike today where any teenager can get SG lol.
 
Qantas has obviously made the decision that pissing you off, and anyone else who bought at the higher price, is worth it. They have every right to do what they did but if a proportion of their customers now "hate" them, that to my mind is not good marketing. All this holier than thou stuff that you got what you paid for, it's a free market etc, leaves me cold. Running sales back to back and not protecting those who bit is poor short-sighted management. If there was a week or two between them etc I would feel much more sanguine.
 
Qantas has obviously made the decision that pissing you off, and anyone else who bought at the higher price, is worth it. They have every right to do what they did but if a proportion of their customers now "hate" them, that to my mind is not good marketing. All this holier than thou stuff that you got what you paid for, it's a free market etc, leaves me cold. Running sales back to back and not protecting those who bit is poor short-sighted management. If there was a week or two between them etc I would feel much more sanguine.

What's the solution?

30 mins before departure, checkin closes and Qantas does a calculation and everyone that's paid more than the cheapest fare gets a refund?

What about the guy that buys a beer 1 minute before happy hour starts?

What about the reverse? For all Qantas knows, the OP really needs to go to JFK and was willing to pay up to $1800? Where's Qantas' chance to get that?
 
I am fully aware of the fluctuating nature of flight pricing, and that there are often a number of sales throughout the year that may produce significantly different pricing for the same routes. I find it to be utterly disappointing when Qantas decides to do back-to-back sales with different pricing however... why not just extend the original sale?

Sure its only $150 this time, but if that keeps happening then it certainly leaves a bad taste in your mouth...
I actually agree with you.

I book my SYD-BNE airfares months in advance and if they end up selling cheaper later it leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth.

I have also been looking at SIN-SYD aifares for a few months and the so-called sale airfares were very poor compared to what they were ~3-6 months ago. I was going to book a couple of these after I returned from Thailand only to find another sale running until 28 Jan 2013 back at the original prices ~3-6 months ago.

Personally I think the marketing is all wrong and some of these sales are very deceptive and should not be classed as sales.
 
What's the solution?

30 mins before departure, checkin closes and Qantas does a calculation and everyone that's paid more than the cheapest fare gets a refund?

What about the guy that buys a beer 1 minute before happy hour starts?

What about the reverse? For all Qantas knows, the OP really needs to go to JFK and was willing to pay up to $1800? Where's Qantas' chance to get that?

Super Cheap Auto has a program where if you're a member and you buy something for a price that's later discounted (not sure specific validity), they give you a voucher back with the difference to be used with them. I wouldn't see such a similar solution not being good for all concerned, as a bonus it locks people in for future purchases, where they'll hopefully spend more.

That said, it is a very different business.
 
What's the solution?

You won't like my solution but here goes.

1. Don't run sales together with lower prices in the second half.
2. If you have to run sales together, offer those who bought at the higher price in the first sale a credit for the difference. Even a credit against a future purchase. No other circumstances.

The benefits to Qantas in my view far outweigh the cost. If there is a week between sales that's just how it goes. I can give you examples of business that do this and they continue too prosper.
 
You won't like my solution but here goes.

1. Don't run sales together with lower prices in the second half.
2. If you have to run sales together, offer those who bought at the higher price in the first sale a credit for the difference. Even a credit against a future purchase. No other circumstances.

The benefits to Qantas in my view far outweigh the cost. If there is a week between sales that's just how it goes. I can give you examples of business that do this and they continue too prosper.

Why? I tend to believe the "you were happy with what you paid so deal with it" line of thought works. The downside of the market perhaps.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top