Qantas wont let me change flight - but fare codes showing as available?

[bazza]

Hi there

I have an O class fare on QF87 but I want to change to the earlier QF127 in the same fare class on the same day. I have checked on flightstats.com (don't have expert flyer...) and O class is showing as having one seat available on QF127.

However, whenever I call Qantas, they keep saying they can't see the O class fare in QF127. I assume that Qantas would be the best source of info regarding the available seats in the classes, but any ideas why flightstats.com is showing availability in O? Actually flightstats.com was showing 2 seats availability in O and then only later did it change to 1, so there much be some change happening behind the scenes (someone else booking?)

My original fare was a bargain ($800 SYD-HKG) so would that be a reason why Qantas are not letting me change to the earlier flight (although this would not explain why they keep saying there is no O availability)? One of the people I spoke to said that it might be because I'm outside of the sale period for my original fare so I can't change anymore.

If anyone has expertflyer (which I assume is more accurate than flightstats), can you please check QF127 on 30 March 2012 and see if you see any O availability (or just post the whole flight load)?

Thank you very much

 

[straitman]

EF shows:
F6 A6 J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T0 Y9 B9 H9K9 M9 L9 V9 S8 N5 Q1 O1 G0 X3 E0

 

[bazza]

That's what flightstats have as well.

Just called Qantas, they say no O class available, lowest is L class.

Do Qantas have some sort of internal restriction (i.e. those classes are available but they just won't let anyone book or change into it)?

Or is it a case of EF and flightstats getting it wrong?

Thanks!

 

[serfty]

F/S and E/F¹ (and even KVS) show availability as if booked from North America.

Airlines can vary availability for a flight by several means, including Geographical Location, GDS used and even merchant (agent).

¹ E/F has a facility to change "Point of Sale" "location" to "England" - this does not help within Oz

 

[oz_mark]

My original fare was a bargain ($800 SYD-HKG) so would that be a reason why Qantas are not letting me change to the earlier flight (although this would not explain why they keep saying there is no O availability)? One of the people I spoke to said that it might be because I'm outside of the sale period for my original fare so I can't change anymore.

It is possible that the original fare basis is no longer available.

 

[bazza]

F/S and E/F¹ (and even KVS) show availability as if booked from North America.

Airlines can vary availability for a flight by several means, including Geographical Location, GDS used and even merchant (agent).

¹ E/F has a facility to change "Point of Sale" "location" to "England" - this does not help within Oz

Thanks! Any chance I could get QF to change my booking through the North America system? e.g. calling their US hotline? or is this something linked to the place of booking of my ticket?

 

[anat0l]

My guesses here are that since your original fare is an O, it is a Sale or Red e-Deal which doesn't allow free changes.

Moreover, any changes to ticket must be for a fare which is equal or higher in price than your current fare. In saying that, it seems unlikely that your target flight in O bucket would be cheaper than your current ticket. I'm not sure if this is an operational restriction in the Qantas system. It may be that O is kept as a certain kind of inventory but is being withheld from current sale.

If your fare difference to the new fare you want is substantial, then I'm not really sure why you can't change into the new fare. I wonder if you could "circumvent" this by simply cancelling your current fare then using the credit to buy the new fare (which should, in theory, achieve the same thing).

 

[bazza]

True, I am willing to pay the change fee but I want to rebook into O to avoid having to topup the fare. I was quoted $500 to change to the higher fare class.

My guesses here are that since your original fare is an O, it is a Sale or Red e-Deal which doesn't allow free changes.

 

[Travel Guru]

This is what the actual availability on your flight is currently (as per Gailileo):

SYD HKG 1140 1800 QF 127 F6 A6 J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T0 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L6 VC SC NC QC OC X3 E0

The mentions above are correct, the airlines differ what you can see as available depending on where in the world your system is located.

TG

 

[bazza]

Thanks Travel Guru - what does OC mean? Why is it OC and not O0 (as for E0)?

This is what the actual availability on your flight is currently (as per Gailileo):

SYD HKG 1140 1800 QF 127 F6 A6 J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T0 Y9 B9
H9 K9 M9 L6 VC SC NC QC OC X3 E0

The mentions above are correct, the airlines differ what you can see as available depending on where in the world your system is located.

TG

 

[Travel Guru]

O is the booking class, C means closed out so it can't be waitlisted (if it has a zero instead of a C it means it can generally be waitlisted)

TG

 

[anat0l]

True, I am willing to pay the change fee but I want to rebook into O to avoid having to topup the fare. I was quoted $500 to change to the higher fare class.

Looking at a random dummy booking for SYD-HKG return with the outbound set as QF127 on 30/03/2012, I get a fare which is at cheapest $1470 (random return date was set in May). Fare type is Sale / Red e-Deal.

This looks about on par what the fare difference being demanded from you for changing. The outbound flight alone on QF127 is priced at ~$878 if this ticket were purchased today. (Note that this probably only works because the outbound flight is part of a return ticket).

 

[NM]

Perhaps try calling Qantas in USA during their day time and see if they can see the O class availability.

 

[bazza]

Just did, the USA line re-directs back to the Australian call centre...

Perhaps try calling Qantas in USA during their day time and see if they can see the O class availability.

 

[bazza]

Thank you everyone - while the US line didn't work I called the HKG line. I have now been rebooked successfully! Surprising that the Aus contact centre sees less seats available than the HKG office...

 

[Travel Guru]

Thank you everyone - while the US line didn't work I called the HKG line. I have now been rebooked successfully! Surprising that the Aus contact centre sees less seats available than the HKG office...

You wouldn't find it surprising if you worked in the travel industry lol :mrgreen:

TG

 

[Danger]

Interesting outcome that perhaps suggests that if you can't change a flight because there's no availability in the fare class, try calling the airline in another country.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thank you everyone - while the US line didn't work I called the HKG line. I have now been rebooked successfully! Surprising that the Aus contact centre sees less seats available than the HKG office...

What did they end up charging you for the change?

 

[NM]

Just did, the USA line re-directs back to the Australian call centre...

11am SYD time is not during normal USA operating hours, hence why it diverted to Aus call centre and hence why I stated in my post about calling during USA operating times. But seems you got it sorted. Local availability often varies and you need to work the system.

 

[ozmille]

You wouldn't find it surprising if you worked in the travel industry lol :mrgreen:

TG

Which is why I booked SWMBOs ticket in August via an overseas TA who could see R class on AY available where in AU they were sold out