Qantas Introduces New Domestic Fares and Further Frequent Flyer Enhancements

[JohnM]

I don't share others' enthusiasm for the facility to upgrade Red-e deal fares. The space is now going to be hugely crowded and severely reduce the chance of an upgrade, it seems to me.

Although upgrades to & from PER are always hard to get these days, I was always prepared to take the punt and pay more for a Super-saver to have the chance to upgrade because I figured it increased the odds of success. Plus, as a SFSC, I book way ahead which further increases the odds of getting an upgrade at time of booking.

Personally, I don't think upgrades for the trivial bus rides that constitute most of the sectors east of ADL are worth spending the points on.

 

[Danger]

Aren't domestic upgrades first come first served as they are confirmed at time of request?

Make up your own mind if you think it is a positive change to allow anyone, with any fare class, access to upgrade/award seats.

That's the clear suggestion from the QF email.

Upgrade your flight easily

We recommend you request your upgrade as soon as you have paid for your flight and it has been confirmed. That way you can benefit from the convenience of knowing early that your upgrade has been approved - the possible extra luggage allowance might just come in handy. Remember, flight upgrades are subject to capacity control and availability is limited.​

Dare I ask but does that make this another reduction in the benefits of Platinum (and Gold)? Or did it always work this way? I'm just asking. Please don't shoot me down or take me off your notification list!

 

[harvyk]

I just received the email, and I nearly fell off my seat when I read it...
An enhancement from QF which is actually an enhancement... (and i've just been burning points for the sake of it as I didn't often travel on upgradable fares)...

 

[TheInsider]

I'm dumb at the moment (was up way too early for my 0620am flight) but what does wait list mean?

Generally it would mean that if a flight is full, you'd go on stand-by and wait till the flight closes, and then get on that earlier flight.

 

[serfty]

Reading the QF website with the updated changes and it's stating Business and Full Flex tickets can now have a wait-list?

I'm dumb at the moment (was up way too early for my 0620am flight) but what does wait list mean?

It actually means being a list for the particular booking class for a particular flight should that class on the flight you are after have zero availability.

e.g. You want to make a B class booking on a 5pm flight. However, that flight is showing B0 but the 6pm flight is showing B4. You book on the 6pm flight, but waitlist for B class on the 5pm.

Should B class eventually open up on the 5pm flight you should be automatically rebooked on the 5pm flight and your 6pm booking cancelled. This can all be done within the one PNR.

 

[williamsf1]

Also never thought name changes were allowed on any QF fare. This has seemed to have changed?

Yes this is new .... copy from Virgin .....

 

[samiam]

It actually means being a list for the particular booking class for a particular flight should that class on the flight you are after have zero availability.

As an example, I was recently waitlisted 6 times- 3 different flights and two different booking classes per flight. I checked in to the first available slot and assume the rest were cancelled.

 

[hoyo1_11]

They might not be perfect but overall these changes are in the right direct - may quieten the QF bashers for a few minutes.

 

[oz_mark]

Also name changes are allowed now.

With a potential sting in the implementation. In particular, it is implemented by cancelling the first booking, then creating a second booking (from the available inventory at that point), using the credit from the cancelled booking.

It could also be expensive. The name change fee is $80, and you may also be charged a change fee of $55.

 

[dfcatch]

I'm going to give a thumbs up here.

I mainly only purchase red e-deals when flying domestically but these will be of benefit to a lot of flyers.

I usually don't waste my points on domestic upgrades, but nice to know that I can if I choose

 

[Pleb Status]

Good to see what appears to be a positive change. We have DJ to thank for it however.

As stated by others previously, the biggest positive is being able to upgrade all economy fares. Just like we used to be able to do. Maybe we may get back some of our other enhancements.........

 

[pauly7]

Love love loving being able to upgrade in Red Edeal!!!

Finally can upgrade my personal leisure travel!!!

 

[tuapekastar]

I don't share others' enthusiasm for the facility to upgrade Red-e deal fares. The space is now going to be hugely crowded and severely reduce the chance of an upgrade, it seems to me.

Although upgrades to & from PER are always hard to get these days, I was always prepared to take the punt and pay more for a Super-saver to have the chance to upgrade because I figured it increased the odds of success. Plus, as a SFSC, I book way ahead which further increases the odds of getting an upgrade at time of booking.

Personally, I don't think upgrades for the trivial bus rides that constitute most of the sectors east of ADL are worth spending the points on.

You may be correct about domestic upgrades becoming scarcer (or rather, harder to get) with the current changes, but in the past we've been able to (99.9%) guarantee domestic upgrades (not ODUs), without taking a punt, as they have come out of the same bucket (U?) as straight-out J awards. Hence, check flights for J award availability, pick one which has it, book the cheapest upgradeable fare for that flight, then immediately request the upgrade online and there you have it, confirmed. The 0.1% doubt is if the award seat 'disappears' in the short time it takes between checking U availability and requesting the upgrade.

It's been a couple of years since I did the above, but have done so on 2 or 3 occasions for transcon flights. It will still be relevant (if the same bucket is still shared) in the future, because even though we can upgrade from red-e-deals now, there still needs to be 'U' availability on a given flight.

 

[oz_mark]

You may be correct about domestic upgrades becoming scarcer (or rather, harder to get) with the current changes, but in the past we've been able to (99.9%) guarantee domestic upgrades (not ODUs), without taking a punt, as they have come out of the same bucket (U?) as straight-out J awards. Hence, check flights for J award availability, pick one which has it, book the cheapest upgradeable fare for that flight, then immediately request the upgrade online and there you have it, confirmed. The 0.1% doubt is if the award seat 'disappears' in the short time it takes between checking U availability and requesting the upgrade.

It's been a couple of years since I did the above, but have done so on 2 or 3 occasions for transcon flights. It will still be relevant (if the same bucket is still shared) in the future, because even though we can upgrade from red-e-deals now, there still needs to be 'U' availability on a given flight.

Don't say that - it takes away from the cheap JASA inventory :shock:

 

[medhead]

You join an exclusive and small list for me, those whose posts are automatically ignored by me on AFF from this point forward. Only one other member is on that list,

Is it me? Please let it be me.

 

[JohnK]

Dare I ask but does that make this another reduction in the benefits of Platinum (and Gold)? Or did it always work this way? I'm just asking. Please don't shoot me down or take me off your notification list!

I know we are not allowed to be critical in this thread but this is how a few people have seen the changes.

In my opinion QF has again gone all out again to court the once a year flyer they have dug abother nail in the coffin of status flyers.

 

[oz_mark]

That's the clear suggestion from the QF email.

Upgrade your flight easily

We recommend you request your upgrade as soon as you have paid for your flight and it has been confirmed. That way you can benefit from the convenience of knowing early that your upgrade has been approved - the possible extra luggage allowance might just come in handy. Remember, flight upgrades are subject to capacity control and availability is limited.​

Dare I ask but does that make this another reduction in the benefits of Platinum (and Gold)? Or did it always work this way? I'm just asking. Please don't shoot me down or take me off your notification list!

Domestically, it has long been thus.

 

[medhead]

Bit of back to the future really. But good to see and massive thanks to Red Roo for sticking with us. I really don't think this is negative for platinums, golds or whoever. The reason being that domestic upgrades have always been first come first serve, despite the incorrect claims of some. Once a year flyer or super plat, anyone prepared to pay the extra cash for a super saver could get an upgrade if U was available. Did this myself for the last family trip to BNE, 3 NBs with me who last flew 2 years ago. So less than once a year flyers sitting in row 1. Thinking about this situation QF is actually forgoing cash money to give us this, by dropping it to rededeals. So real improvement, good to see.

 

[koro25]

Good to see what bit of competition does, where airlines have to work hard to attract new customers and keep existing ones. I for 1 thank DJ for upping the stakes. Hopefully this will mean a stop in erosion of customer benefits as the airlines like to call it "enhancements" and introduction of more flexible benefits which aims to win heats and minds of customers who chose to be loyal to one brand. A win for the customer

 

[samh004]

Happy with what I see, however would rather the Jetstar fares match with the Qantas fares, or offer a bit more flexibility, eg:

Red E-Deal - Starter
Flexi Saver - Starter Plus (currently just a starter fare)
Fully Flexible - Starter Max