Qantas international: Booking on Flex, then changing to a saver.

[ChrisMars]

Hello community!

I have a question:
Let's say I book a Qantas return Australia to Europe on flexible economy. Let's say that later, I want to change the flight to another date, and this date still has some Saver fare. Do you know if it is possible to get the Saver price and get reimbursement of the fare difference?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hello community!

I have a question:
Let's say I book a Qantas return Australia to Europe on flexible economy. Let's say that later, I want to change the flight to another date, and this date still has some Saver fare. Do you know if it is possible to get the Saver price and get reimbursement of the fare difference?

You'll need to have a look at the specific fees and charges for the fare you want. They vary route by route. You'd have to cancel the flexible economy, pay any fees and charges, then rebook for the lower fare. Depends on the fare difference as to whether you come out in front or not. Most airlines are pretty good at managing their prices to make it unattractive for people to swap fares... otherwise everyone would do it.

 

[madrooster]

Hello community!

I have a question:
Let's say I book a Qantas return Australia to Europe on flexible economy. Let's say that later, I want to change the flight to another date, and this date still has some Saver fare. Do you know if it is possible to get the Saver price and get reimbursement of the fare difference?

No. Pretty much all airlines have a rule that states that for any changes that you make, the new fare must be equal or higher compared to the original fare.

That means yes you can grab the saver availability and saver fare, but you would not be refunded any fare difference.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No. Pretty much all airlines have a rule that states that for any changes that you make, the new fare must be equal or higher compared to the original fare.

That means yes you can grab the saver availability and saver fare, but you would not be refunded any fare difference.

Change no, but cancellation yes.

I just did a dummy booking for SYD-LHR in Feb, for a flex economy fare and the following conditions came up:

Cancellation (including no show)

Before departure:
Except where no show fee applies:

• Full refund.
• Cancellation after no show A$500 per person applies

After departure:

• The refund will be the difference (if any) between the fare paid and the applicable fare for the journey travelled.
• Cancellation after no show A$500 per person applies
• This fare may be used as credit towards the payment of any higher fare from the point of origin, provided the new fare conditions are met. If the new fare is cancelled the original fare cancellation conditions will apply. A no show fee of A$500 per person applies.This credit must be used within 12 months of the original tickets date of issue.
• Any refund or credit is the Australian dollar price.

This suggests a full refund. The OP would be free to buy a new ticket for a lower saver fare and pocket the difference, although they'd have to bear in mind the refund of the flex fare could take a few weeks.

The only time the ticket is stored is if cancellation occurs after departure.

 

[Lucky_man]

That means yes you can grab the saver availability and saver fare, but you would not be refunded any fare difference.

Even for a change I am not sure if this is true. You certainly won't get your money back but I think you may find you can't make the change either. I've had situations where I have wanted to change flights and a cheaper suitable flight was available but I could not take it even if I wanted to forgo the difference in fair.

 

[madrooster]

Even for a change I am not sure if this is true. You certainly won't get your money back but I think you may find you can't make the change either. I've had situations where I have wanted to change flights and a cheaper suitable flight was available but I could not take it even if I wanted to forgo the difference in fair.

It's quite uncommon for QF fares to not allow any changes at all. Even the vast majority of sale fares allow changes for a fee.

 

[Lucky_man]

Let me clarify.
Where a fair says it may be used as a credit towards an equal or higher fair you can not use it as a credit towards a lower fair and just lose the difference.
You wont be able to make that change.

 

[madrooster]

Let me clarify.
Where a fair says it may be used as a credit towards an equal or higher fair you can not use it as a credit towards a lower fair and just lose the difference.
You wont be able to make that change.

You most definitely can. I've done this before multiple times.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Have recently done this - booked a flexible return fare initially, then had to change the return routing. I had to pay a fee for the change (as the journey had not commenced) but didn't have to change to another flexi fare, but was able to be booked into a cheaper fare bucket.