Qantas rolls out Classic Plus Flight Rewards

[Berlin]

Months ahead and with a bit of flexibility, one can still snatch classic reward J seats on the triangle routes- I have several flights this year alone still coming up.

However, as widely expected but denied by Qantas, OF COURSE with the arrival of “Classic Plus”, the availability of proper classic reward seats has gone down significantly- that’s pretty obvious.

 

[AFF Editor]

As promised, we reached out to Qantas about the issue of Classic Rewards being unavailable on such a vast array of domestic flights, even when seats are available to book through partner airlines.

Qantas tells us that this is not deliberate. They believe there is a system error, and are now investigating and working to resolve it.

The airline says that this issue has impacted a small percentage of bookings on some domestic routes.

 

[Doctore1003]

As promised, we reached out to Qantas about the issue of Classic Rewards being unavailable on such a vast array of domestic flights, even when seats are available to book through partner airlines.

Qantas tells us that this is not deliberate. They believe there is a system error, and are now investigating and working to resolve it.

The airline says that this issue has impacted a small percentage of bookings on some domestic routes.

Sorry but what’s not deliberate - the low availability of CR seats or the fact availability is slightly better with partner airlines?

 

[AFF Editor]

Sorry but what’s not deliberate - the low availability of CR seats or the fact availability is slightly better with partner airlines?

The fact that the website is not showing Classic Reward availability on so many flights that are in fact available to book through partner airlines.

From what I can tell, it seems there might be a system error relating to the website showing Classic Plus availability by default, instead of Classic, when both are available. When both are available, the website is supposed to show whichever option requires the fewest points.

 

[Kangol]

The fact that the website is not showing Classic Reward availability on so many flights that are in fact available to book through partner airlines.

From what I can tell, it seems there might be a system error relating to the website showing Classic Plus availability by default, instead of Classic, when both are available. When both are available, the website is supposed to show whichever option requires the fewest points.

What an outrage!
QF taking away the option for me to pay more points for the same product?!
How will they make a profit?

 

[sudoer]

From what I can tell, it seems there might be a system error relating to the website showing Classic Plus availability by default, instead of Classic, when both are available. When both are available, the website is supposed to show whichever option requires the fewest points.

Are they going to identify and contact those who were overcharged due to the error?

 

[kpc]

As promised, we reached out to Qantas about the issue of Classic Rewards being unavailable on such a vast array of domestic flights, even when seats are available to book through partner airlines.

Qantas tells us that this is not deliberate. They believe there is a system error, and are now investigating and working to resolve it.

The airline says that this issue has impacted a small percentage of bookings on some domestic routes.

Great you have reached out to Qf but totally inadequate response as usual from Qf....this is an airline that is not held accountable for many of its actions or non actions!

 

[Daver6]

As promised, we reached out to Qantas about the issue of Classic Rewards being unavailable on such a vast array of domestic flights, even when seats are available to book through partner airlines.

Qantas tells us that this is not deliberate. They believe there is a system error, and are now investigating and working to resolve it.

The airline says that this issue has impacted a small percentage of bookings on some domestic routes.

How do they know it's a small percentage of bookings for a problem they weren't aware of. Plus that doesn't even make sense. If the CR wasn't available to book, there was no booking. Or are they just saying that there was so few CR seats compared to total seats for sale, therefore its only a small percentage?

 

[flyguy77]

They believe there is a system error, and are now investigating and working to resolve it.

Yeah it's an 'error' I'm sure that never would have been resolved unless they got caught out....

 

[Doctore1003]

The fact that the website is not showing Classic Reward availability on so many flights that are in fact available to book through partner airlines.

From what I can tell, it seems there might be a system error relating to the website showing Classic Plus availability by default, instead of Classic, when both are available. When both are available, the website is supposed to show whichever option requires the fewest points.

But are there "so many flights" available on other airlines? For the example I cited (PER-MEL next Aug), AA also shows just one 6am CR option across multiple days - far less than normal a few months ago.

I think it's more than that.

PER-MEL in the middle of the week in the middle of winter next August: only CR option is economy at 6 am or Jetstar. Appalling.

I'm glad as WP I can call up and request seats, but that doesn't help the majority of QFFers.

View attachment 471706

 

[CaptJCool]

What an outrage!
QF taking away the option for me to pay more points for the same product?!
How will they make a profit?

$2 billion last financial year says they are doing just peachy fine !

 

[levelnine]

But are there "so many flights" available on other airlines? For the example I cited (PER-MEL next Aug), AA also shows just one 6am CR option across multiple days - far less than normal a few months ago.

That's not a system error in Qantas' view.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

As promised, we reached out to Qantas about the issue of Classic Rewards being unavailable on such a vast array of domestic flights, even when seats are available to book through partner airlines.

Qantas tells us that this is not deliberate. They believe there is a system error, and are now investigating and working to resolve it.

The airline says that this issue has impacted a small percentage of bookings on some domestic routes.

There was an error in allowing availability to other airlines and it will be resolved by pulling all of it. Simples.

 

[Jacques Vert]

For me, the only positive thing I've been able to find with regards to Classic Plus is that, for flights to/from my home town, Classic in J is often better value than Y in Classic Plus...




I've previously felt I needed a good reason to fly business instead of economy on a short daytime flight; now I have one.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

For me, the only positive thing I've been able to find with regards to Classic Plus is that, for flights to/from my home town, Classic in J is often better value than Y in Classic Plus...

View attachment 473207


I've previously felt I needed a good reason to fly business instead of economy on a short daytime flight; now I have one.

Can you confirm what day that is? I'd be curious to check AA/AS or others to see if any of those Y flights are available via those programmes such that you'd expect them to show up as CR via Qantas as well.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Can you confirm what day that is? I'd be curious to check AA/AS or others to see if any of those Y flights are available via those programmes such that you'd expect them to show up as CR via Qantas as well.

Wed 11 December. I'll be interested to see what you find.

I should add that Y has better availability as a CR if you look a couple of months ahead but the example I gave is not uncommon within 4 to 6 weeks. A combination of CR availability and the introduction of the A220.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Wed 11 December. I'll be interested to see what you find.

I should add that Y has better availability as a CR if you look a couple of months ahead but the example I gave is not uncommon within 4 to 6 weeks. A combination of CR availability and the introduction of the A220.

11 December checks out -- no Y on that day via AS/AA/BA. Indeed, schedule looks fairly consistent for the month (aside of course from Alaska charging fewer points but that's just our duopoly tax in action).

Flippant jokes aside, hopefully it was a genuine error that hasn't affected many and will be fixed soon in a customer-friendly manner. Domestic Y awards are easily the cheapest classic flight rewards for QF to offer, so I can't imagine they'd really want to dump them unless they're genuinely prepared to kill CR off.

(And stoked to see the A220 to CFS from SYD; our flight up for Christmas has switched to that so it will be nice to finally check it out.)

 

[serfty]

There was an error in allowing availability to other airlines and it will be resolved by pulling all of it. Simples.

That's what they have done since the screenshots were published. X0

 

[torks]

Yeah it's an 'error' I'm sure that never would have been resolved unless they got caught out....

Usually I'm a big believer in never assume malice when it could simply be incomptence. However in QF's case I'm not too sure...

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Usually I'm a big believer in never assume malice when it could simply be incomptence. However in QF's case I'm not too sure...

It really is an indictment on the reputation damage they've caused themselves.

I suspect we'll also be hearing about the missing toilets on these first few A321s for years, even after they're reconfigured.

Even the best PR machine can only get you so far when you score so many own goals.