Qantas Credit Voucher - Equal or Higher Value only?

[blessed11]

Hi all,

I've got a Qantas credit voucher for just under the $10k mark. I've called Qantas and they have advised the voucher can only be used to redeem a flight that's equal or higher value (if higher value I pay the difference of course). However, even if a flight is just a few dollars short, and I were to agree to forfeit the remainder of the voucher, the representative has advised that it would not be possible to make such a booking. I've spoken to a couple representatives who have advised the same information. I'm looking to use the voucher for a flights that's literally only $100 below the voucher value that I'd like to use as expiry date for the voucher is in 6 months.

Has anyone had any experience with this? Are the reps quoting me the wrong information? I understand that they cannot credit me the remaining value in cash, however I have offered to forfeit the difference.

Cheers

 

[JohnPhelan]

Can you just add a short domestic sector to the end of the ticket? (And then just not fly that final sector?)

 

[blessed11]

Hi JohnPhelan,

Thanks for the response. The credit voucher was for a cancelled return international flight. Qantas told me that I can only use the voucher to make one booking, hence I couldn't make a separate say for e.g. SYD - MEL on another occasion.

However, you've got me thinking. Maybe I can use it for internal/short haul flights. e.g. SYD - LHR and then (on the same booking) LHR - ZRH

I should be able to do that right? However, if I do not have time to make a short-haul flight on the booking, technically I then wouldn't be able to use the voucher...

 

[CaviAck]

Hi JohnPhelan,

Thanks for the response. The credit voucher was for a cancelled return international flight. Qantas told me that I can only use the voucher to make one booking, hence I couldn't make a separate say for e.g. SYD - MEL on another occasion.

However, you've got me thinking. Maybe I can use it for internal/short haul flights. e.g. SYD - LHR and then (on the same booking) LHR - ZRH

I should be able to do that right? However, if I do not have time to make a short-haul flight on the booking, technically I then wouldn't be able to use the voucher...

I think what JohnPhelan means is can you made your booking say SYD-LAX-SYD-MEL all under the one booking/PNR? And simply do a no show for SYD-MEL.

 

[blessed11]

I think what JohnPhelan means is can you made your booking say SYD-LAX-SYD-MEL all under the one booking/PNR? And simply do a no show for SYD-MEL.

Oh, misunderstood. If I have a 'layover' in SYD on the return the bags will be sent there and then I will be able to do a no show on the SYD - MEL leg, correct?

 

[TheInsider]

Oh, misunderstood. If I have a 'layover' in SYD on the return the bags will be sent there and then I will be able to do a no show on the SYD - MEL leg, correct?

When checking in, just say you want your bags and boarding pass to SYD only. Not a difficult task for the staff member to complete.

 

[CaviAck]

Oh, misunderstood. If I have a 'layover' in SYD on the return the bags will be sent there and then I will be able to do a no show on the SYD - MEL leg, correct?

Yeap, pretty much.

 

[blessed11]

Thanks guys, you're absolutely awesome!

Slightly OT, though when I am looking at SYD-SCL-SYD for my dates Qantas is showing $12k per PAX and LAN $10k per PAX. The LAN flight is a code share of the exact same Qantas flight. I don't get why there is such a large discrepancy?

 

[medhead]

Could the OP also have a stopover on the return to Australia, multi-city style. The SYD-MEL being sometime in the future.

 

[blessed11]

Could the OP also have a stopover on the return to Australia, multi-city style. The SYD-MEL being sometime in the future.

Yes most definitely. I have an office in MEL as well so I travel there rather frequently. Wasn't thinking to utilize the voucher with stopovers... was only thinking to utilize on the direct flight. Thanks for helping me think outside the box!

 

[JohnPhelan]

When checking in, just say you want your bags and boarding pass to SYD only. Not a difficult task for the staff member to complete.

Bags would have to be collected in SYD anyway, for customs and immigration.

 

[blessed11]

Thanks all... very very helpful

 

[blessed11]

My only other question was the following:

Thanks guys, you're absolutely awesome!

"Slightly OT, though when I am looking at SYD-SCL-SYD for my dates Qantas is showing $12k per PAX and LAN $10k per PAX. The LAN flight is a code share of the exact same Qantas flight. I don't get why there is such a large discrepancy?"

Looked on IATA for the breakdown of costs. Qantas charges $520 extra in fuel charges. Still doesn't explain the extra $1500... for exactly the same product/flight !

 

[vitagen]

The fare rules isnt completely clear, as only the fare has to be higher value.

Eg the total fare is base plus taxes etc. Only the base fare component has to be higher. I did the same thing recently and my total fare was lower, but I ended up with a refund due to my base fare being higher?

 

[blessed11]

Hey

Thanks for that. Yea that's exactly what the service rep and Qantas told me. My tax component would be refunded and the new booking just has to be higher than the original fare base.

My post above, which is slightly OT, I was just trying to ascertain how it is that when I book the above mentioned QF flight via the QF website the price comes up as $12k and when I book the exact flight via LAN's website it comes up at $10k. Just find it odd that LAN which is just using a code share flight (it's exactly the same QF flight) is basically 20% cheaper than booking directly via Qantas

 

[medhead]

Hey

Thanks for that. Yea that's exactly what the service rep and Qantas told me. My tax component would be refunded and the new booking just has to be higher than the original fare base.

My post above, which is slightly OT, I was just trying to ascertain how it is that when I book the above mentioned QF flight via the QF website the price comes up as $12k and when I book the exact flight via LAN's website it comes up at $10k. Just find it odd that LAN which is just using a code share flight (it's exactly the same QF flight) is basically 20% cheaper than booking directly via Qantas

My short answer with no hard numbers to back it up: it must be related to profit margin on both carriers. Say the flights cost Qantas $5000 per seat to run. They sell the codeshare seat to LAN for $6000 and LAN are happy to make $4000. Qantas on the other hand want to make more and they might control the availability of codeshare seats to LAN.

Anyway, as I said I've just made up those numbers but the answer probably lies in the details of the codeshare arrangement.

 

[blessed11]

My short answer with no hard numbers to back it up: it must be related to profit margin on both carriers. Say the flights cost Qantas $5000 per seat to run. They sell the codeshare seat to LAN for $6000 and LAN are happy to make $4000. Qantas on the other hand want to make more and they might control the availability of codeshare seats to LAN.

Anyway, as I said I've just made up those numbers but the answer probably lies in the details of the codeshare arrangement.

If we go along that basis though, why wouldn't someone book a qantas operated flight via the LAN website, receive SC's and points for the fare and save $1,000... doesn't make commercial sense !

 

[vitagen]

If we go along that basis though, why wouldn't someone book a qantas operated flight via the LAN website, receive SC's and points for the fare and save $1,000... doesn't make commercial sense !

Different cost basis I think, the operating carrier has more costs than just the seat they sell to codeshare partners. So when you take into account the intricate formulas, in the end computer and bean counter says how much $$$

 

[blessed11]

Different cost basis I think, the operating carrier has more costs than just the seat they sell to codeshare partners. So when you take into account the intricate formulas, in the end computer and bean counter says how much $$$

That may be the case, however it does mean that the operating carrier are allowing their code share partners to effectively undercut their prices from the exact same route!

 

[Fantic125]

Thanks guys, you're absolutely awesome!

Slightly OT, though when I am looking at SYD-SCL-SYD for my dates Qantas is showing $12k per PAX and LAN $10k per PAX. The LAN flight is a code share of the exact same Qantas flight. I don't get why there is such a large discrepancy?

Is it QF metal and LAN code-share, or LAN metal (LA800 / 801) and QF code-share?