QF 16 cancellation March 2017

[lisa31jane]

I have been a member of these forums for years and find them very helpful but I think this is the first time I have ever posted a question - hoping for some advice!

My husband and I were booked on the direct flight from LAX to BNE next March, and yesterday I had an email to call Qantas to discuss our flight changes.
I am yet to call but have logged on to the website and see that QF 16 (ONLY on our day of travel, how lucky is that?) has been cancelled and they have currently rebooked us on the flight to Sydney, with a 3.5 hour layover in Sydney before flying back to Brisbane.

Now to say I am hopping mad is an understatement - flying these routes (to me) is exhausting and to add an additional 5 hours to what was (to me) a just manageable journey is unacceptable!

Questions - 1. why would they cancel QF 16? (This is just for my interest!)
2. What are my options from here? I want a DIRECT flight not the faff-about that they have now put me on. Obviously I would have booked different dates at my time of booking if I had known there was no direct flight on the date in question as I would NEVER choose a layover in Sydney.

 

[TomVexille]

Well, if you are flexible with your dates, you should be able to ask to fly a different day when there is a non-stop flight as long as there's availability.

 

[Awesom Andy]

They did give 3 months notice, which I suppose isn't as bad as it could have been. While you're there, have a look at Virgin. VA8 departs at 11.05pm, which is slightly earlier than QF16. If VA is cheap enough, request for a refund from QF, then buy the VA ticket. You might be out of pocket for a while waiting for QF to refund but at least you get to travel on a non-stop flight on the day that you want to fly.

 

[Haplo]

I think you can call Qantas and ask for a full refund as the flight they sold you is no longer available, or as Qantas recommended move to a different flight without any cost nor any negative changes to your change/cancellation policy.

 

[serfty]

Being the only oneworld flight from BNE to LAX you can, if you desire be rebooked a day earlier or a day later on QF16 in the SAME CABIN as originally booked.

Here's the crux of Qantas' schedule change policy:

Qantas Permits

•For Qantas flights you can rebook to an alternative QF flight or QF connecting flight
•For connecting flights on another carrier you can rebook to an alternative connecting flight on the same carrier
•If the connecting flight is not available on the original carrier you can rebook to an alternative connecting flight operated by a oneworld carrier as per the oneworld carrier table.

Rules

•New flights must be on the same day or a day either side of the ticketed flights
•New flights must be in the same class as originally ticketed - Refer to exception
•Connecting flights must be on the same QF (081) ticket
•This policy does not apply to connecting flights held on separate tickets

Exception

For Qantas flights with a ‘QF’ flight number operated by Qantas or a oneworld partner airline or connecting flights with a oneworld partner flight number:
• If the same class is not available you are permitted to book the lowest available class within the ticketed cabin

 

[Quickstatus]

Sometimes the aircraft flying the scheduled flight number on that day has been recruited to fly as a charter with the same departure time . So the flight number has changes from in your case QF16 to QF6xx_ (in the past at least the Exclusive Brethren were often the charter - they like flying round the world)
I would not want to transit at SYD from international to domestic as you have to catch a bus. It can be a Palava. Additionally Sydney international arrivals hall is a zoo especially in the mornings.
I don't think flying an A380 to SYD would compensate for the Terminal transfer.
Suggest change date.

 

[eric2011]

2. What are my options from here? I want a DIRECT flight not the faff-about that they have now put me on. Obviously I would have booked different dates at my time of booking if I had known there was no direct flight on the date in question as I would NEVER choose a layover in Sydney.

QF obviously has a flight disruption on this particular day and the flight has been cancelled. QF in their attempt to get you to your destination on your requested day have put you on the next best thing available on that day. I don't necessarily think it is a "faff-about", but merely a way of starting procedures to satisfy you if you were dependant on traveling on that day and no other. If this isn't suitable then you can request a day/date change to suit you or as others have indicated, you have a good case for a full refund.