Qantas - changing a Domestic flight

[SimpleSimonSays]

Hi everyone. Not sure if I can be called a Newbie any more having been a member for more than 2 years but silently just sitting in the background watching, learning and listening to what everyone has to say about their travels. I hope to one day have the time to meet with some/many of you and put faces to the names that constantly appear in these posts, people that are forever giving away their traveling knowledge.

And hence my first post tonight is about trying to change a domestic flight to an earlier departure time as I have never had to do this. My son is currently in BKK (Hyrox event), flying back to MEL via SYD on QF296 (Finnair). He wants to change his flight from SYD to MEL to an earlier flight on Sunday morning however when he goes into 'Manage' his flight, it wants to change the whole booking (BKK to SYD and SYD to MEL) and of course, charge $1100 (includes $250 booking change fee).

He has been trying to call Qantas and can't get through. So, can anyone enlighten me/us and explain if he can:
1. request the change when he arrives at BKK airport.
2. request the change when he arrives at Sydney International at the T2 Domestic Transfer check in counter; or
3. request the change at Gate 15 in T3.

I appreciate any advice that anyone can provide on this scenario. Thx, SimpleSi

 

[AIRwin]

Best (and only?) option is 2

 

[Seat0B]

In my experience, we nearly always have been able to get an earlier domestic connection (in our case it’s usually SYD-CBR) just by asking if there is any chance of an earlier flight when we are at the INT-DOM transfer desk in SYD. Yes we do have status, but our son has also done it and he’s only Bronze. Of course, there’s a risk that there are no seats , but it’s free at that point.

 

[msam95]

They can request the change at Bangkok Airport. They will need to call their supervisor where they have a QANTAS issued laptop. They’ll typically be sitting at the end of the row typing away at it. Some of the regular agents might be a bit timid to do this but I’ve done it in the past with tweaking flights and getting things unrestricted on a booking. Naturally some agents may try to give out the “ you have to do that in Sydney line” which I feel is a bit more of a cop out to filter and turn away additional work. The staff can also contact the qantas contact centre consultant support service hotline which has a connection for airport ticketing matters, however that is typically used for more complicated stuff and again agents may be reluctant to use that as they have sufficient resources typically available.

The Sydney airport international to domestic transfer area is fantastic with going on earlier flights. I have found this to be consistent across all tiers for NB to current WP. It is the most logical option with an earlier flight, bag delays at Sydney airport etc, to have that discussion with the agent there.

Regarding calling Qantas, has the person tried using click to call? If they go on Qantas.com go to contact page, there log into their frequent flyer account, select the relevant options, then that channel has often resulted in quicker connection times and also what I have found to be agents who seem a bit more competent.

I can’t make any comment on how useful the agent may or may not be with changing a domestic leg on an international flight, but I will say you’d be surprised, usually you might have more success if it’s a tight connection and the agent (usually premium one) does their magic in tidying up a messy booking or one with a long layover. Or as I’m sure you’ve seen on other posts if it was in relation to flow forwards, or later on in regards to curfew.

Both of which I’ve had agents from when I was NB to now WP who have been helpful and been able to get it across the line in the mindpearl and mainline Qantas contact centres.

I suppose it’s up to you to choose how much hassle you may want, considerations on the factors that might be present for option 1 versus 2 (3 i imagine staff will be busy boarding, disembarking flights so might be too challenging there)

Good luck

 

[SimpleSimonSays]

Thank you AIRwin, Seat0B and msam95, I appreciate your prompt replies. I will get my son to try in my order above and ask the BKK check in staff first then if not successful, try the SYD INT transfer desk/check in. I will check back in later and let you all know how he goes.