Qantas Business Class customers bumped to economy in Tokyo

[Oubline]

I'm fairly lucky I don't have a lot of commitments in my life, but would like to think that even if I did, if an airline ever tried to downgrade me I'd just stand my ground and ask for a hotel and a ticket the next day instead. I realise for some this isn't possible.

I’m also not sure you actually get presented that option either.. :-( When this happened to me on Qantas (only MEL-ADL so not as big a deal), they just changed my seats to economy and I only found out when my boarding pass was changed at the gate. A bit late to do much without a lot of inconvenience. You’d think they would be proactive and call or something but they don’t always.

 

[levelnine]

When this happened to me on Qantas (only MEL-ADL so not as big a deal), they just changed my seats to economy and I only found out when my boarding pass was changed at the gate. A

What compensation did you get?

 

[Oubline]

What compensation did you get?

This was an award booked through British Airways so had to grapple with BA whobto their credit gave me the Avois difference between a J and Y award.

 

[samh004]

I’m also not sure you actually get presented that option either.. :-( When this happened to me on Qantas (only MEL-ADL so not as big a deal), they just changed my seats to economy and I only found out when my boarding pass was changed at the gate. A bit late to do much without a lot of inconvenience. You’d think they would be proactive and call or something but they don’t always.

I'd like to think in such a circumstance I'd just remove myself from the line and let them re-book me on a later flight/handle my extended stay. I'm not about paying for something I don't receive.

 

[opusman]

I'd like to think in such a circumstance I'd just remove myself from the line and let them re-book me on a later flight/handle my extended stay. I'm not about paying for something I don't receive.

If you're on your way home and have time up your sleeve, sure. Not such an easy decision when it's at the start of a trip I imagine.

 

[Oubline]

I'd like to think in such a circumstance I'd just remove myself from the line and let them re-book me on a later flight/handle my extended stay. I'm not about paying for something I don't receive.

I totally agree and understand. It just didn’t feel like I had that choice at the time, if that makes sense. I guess that’s deliberate by them. Maybe next time! As was suggested it was the start of a trip and so it would have ended up being a hassle and loss of valuable holiday time to wait unfortunately. Tokyo-Melbourne would be a much bigger deal than my personal MEL-ADL situation of course too.

I personally feel if QF is going to downgrade you, they should be generous and make it as easy as possible, but they just don’t from what I can tell.

 

[RooFlyer]

I hope you get some satisfaction from Qantas @Janet Riddell . Welcome to AFF

However,

Suspect YAOOF* and OP will not be back...

* Yet Another One Off Whinge

Yes, on AFF we often suffer "one=post wonders" inevitably a whinge....

I think the last 2 times this sort of comment was made, they were shown not to be a one post wonder. The last one I think had the 'excuse' for not immediately returning to the thread because his wife just had a baby.

If we treat 'one post whingers' more nicely, they might stick around more and contribute.

 

[DC3]

Give it a week or so, to see what eventuates. Janet Ridell was not actually asking for advice or information from AFF members.

Edit: Content

 

[Tropic]

Give it a week or so, to see what eventuates. Janet Ridell was not actually asking for advice or information from AFF members.

Edit: Content

Perhaps it may become infamous in the AFF lexicon as doing a "Janet Riddell"... Although I tend to think Janet may be just observing the banter bemused waiting for the best moment to respond... or she just has other more important things to do... Still the unexpected F or J downgrade is something every flyer dreads, esp given the time and effort that goes into planning flights well in advance...

 

[Forg]

Janet has spent all the spare time she would have had to poast on AFF travelling between the chiro & physio ...

 

[DC3]

... Although I tend to think Janet may be just observing the banter bemused waiting for the best moment to respond... or she just has other more important things to do...

OP has not been back on AFF since the post on Saturday, not even to peep, so maybe has moved on.

 

[samh004]

OP has not been back on AFF since the post on Saturday, not even to peep, so maybe has moved on.

To be completely fair to them, they registered in mid-2018 but have only posted once, recently. Based on that posting rate we shouldn't be expecting their next post/reply to this thread for quite some time. AFF isn't the priority it is for some of us

 

[gilldo]

Qantas is now behaving like Jetstar. We were just bumped down to economy for overnite flight from Tokyo to Melbourne. Ticket paid and booked 7 months earlier, discounted but still not cheap!
As only Bronze status we got bumped.
Will definitely never fly Qantas business again!

Has anyone ever had this happen to them when flying on a OW RTW ticket (ie. not a paid ticket)?

What happens in these cases? I wouldn't expect you'd get anything?

 

[simmomelb]

This is disgraceful behaviour from Qantas, if true.

 

[cqtiger]

After reading these comments I doubt the OP will be back unless she has a rock solid reason in her favour.

 

[ajw373]

How are they behaving like Jetstar? Plenty of reports of Qantas doing this, and has been goi8ng on for years. The challenge is really in getting adequate compensation.

Oddly, I don't think I have read of a case of Jetstar doing this....

Not just Qantas either all airlines do it and do so for a whole raft of reasons.

It could be a case of overselling, which all airlines do, could be an aircraft change (though accept in this case not likely a factor) or could also be a faulty seat which cannot be used.
Whilst frustrating these things happen all the time. The only question for me is what alternatives were put to the OP. To me that is what differentiates Qantas from airlines like Jetstar that they compared Qantas with. And unfortunately with the detail posted it is hard to know.

 

[dajop]

For those doubting the veracity of this sort of story, and relatively new to AFF, the following thread might be worth reviewing:

Downgraded from Business Class.

Hi all, I'm asking for a friend here... Paid BNE-LAX-JFK-LAX-BNE in paid J (I) class. My friends (both Gold FF) have checked in (with 9 bags) but received Y boarding passes. Not W, but Y. They have now missed QF12 and QF94 (as well as DL, VA and NZ flights) and are receiving no co-operation...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[DC3]

After reading these comments I doubt the OP will be back unless she has a rock solid reason in her favour.

OP has not been back to read the comments anyway.

Edit: Just complaining about QF. Not asking for advice or information

 

[rshreeve]

How are they behaving like Jetstar? Plenty of reports of Qantas doing this, and has been goi8ng on for years. The challenge is really in getting adequate compensation.

Oddly, I don't think I have read of a case of Jetstar doing this....

Oh yes they do - and I posted about it. They cancelled a Mel-BKK i had booked in their business (really PE I Know) and despite assurances and texts saying business only offered me an economy class seat 30 minutes before flight closing. The Mel Jetstar staff were appalling - putting on their lippy as they talked to me was the least offence thing they did. Rebooked on Thai - they even stuffed up the refund and had to fight for that. Got a letter publshed in traveller in the Herald about it. I had the same situation with Eurowings going to BKK from STN in their premium. But they sorted it out in 30 minutes and flew me in Lufhansa Business from LHR with taxi from STN to LHR. Jetstar clearly did not believe this story - really the worst customer experience ever,

 

[sjk]

For those doubting the veracity of this sort of story, and relatively new to AFF, the following thread might be worth reviewing:

Downgraded from Business Class.

Hi all, I'm asking for a friend here... Paid BNE-LAX-JFK-LAX-BNE in paid J (I) class. My friends (both Gold FF) have checked in (with 9 bags) but received Y boarding passes. Not W, but Y. They have now missed QF12 and QF94 (as well as DL, VA and NZ flights) and are receiving no co-operation...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

LOL at #29 in that thread. Plus ça change...