QF N Class Query

[ozmerish]

I am aware that QF Red e-Deal N class does not earn points for AA.

My question is, does N class flown on QF count for sectors on AA? eg, if you are trying to requal based on sectors, would you get AA sector credit with a QF N class ticket?

Or just credit the N class to QF (think my account might stroke out if a flight actually appears in it - its been that long )

Cheers

 

[Dave Noble]

I am aware that QF Red e-Deal N class does not earn points for AA.

My question is, does N class flown on QF count for sectors on AA? eg, if you are trying to requal based on sectors, would you get AA sector credit with a QF N class ticket?

Or just credit the N class to QF (think my account might stroke out if a flight actually appears in it - its been that long )

Cheers

Since N is ineligable for mileage accrual, it does not count as a sector towards sector requalification

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The only case I am aware of that a non-earning flight still helpful as a sector is with NZ Airpoints. You need at least 1 paid NZ flight a year to avoid annual fee, and for thus purpose even non-earning paid flights count.

 

[serfty]

Book it to QF; you'll get at least 1000 QFF points and 10 SC's. (You could upgrade it to, say V class and credit to AA, but that will cost you fare difference and $38.50)

If crediting to AA, you should always try for the O class fare, although generally less expensive then N class for the same route it does count as an AAdvantage segment.

 

[ozmerish]

Thanks for the clarification - I suspected as much.

Thanks Dave for the tip on determining the fare basis on the QF website.

 

[bighdad]

I've searched pretty hard for how to actually book an O class red-e-deal, and I seem to have a distant memory of one of the gurus posting that you can't tell until you've booked it (!) on qantas.com. I guess a TA could book it for me?

Andrew

 

[serfty]

Here is a tip for domestic flights: FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Finding out the cabin class 'letter' on Qantas flights

Other than that; O class will generally be the cheaper of two red e-deal prices listed for city-pairs.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

You can tell, indirectly.

One method is to use the knowledge that O is the cheaper red edeal fare class, so on routes where there are multiple flight options with slightly differing rates the higher is likely O. Be aware, though, if the routing varies between options since taxes are different at each airport and may be the source of fare difference.

There is another method using view code on the webpage. Someone else will need to explain it properly - I haven't paid too much attention since this isn't an option for me

 

[bighdad]

Originally posted by Serfty

Here is a tip for domestic flights: FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Finding out the cabin class 'letter' on Qantas flights

Other than that; O class will generally be the cheaper of two red e-deal prices listed for city-pairs.

That is brilliant Serfty!! Don't know about the wisdom of explaining how to view source code on open forum, but perhaps one of the senior guys could, or give advice on same? Proves that O is cheaper than N but still earns for AA - bizarre.

Andrew

 

[JohnK]

I am not too sure if I can explain it properly but here goes. When you have asked for availability for a city pair and it displays the list of available flights then right click on the screen and select "view source". This will then place a whole lot of source code into Notepad. Search for the flight number you saw in the flight availability and a few lines underneath will show something like OPTWEBU or NSXO. The first is O class the second is N class. There will also be other classes as well, like (S)PXO, (K)IPOX, (H)OX, (D)OX, based on what flights are available.

My example is SYD-BNE on 27/4/2007 with the first 2 flights of the day at $98 and $145 for the red e-deal.

Search or look for QF500 and you will notice a few lines later something like this td class='F04' onClick="set(1,0,0,this,'F04',0);displayPrice(1,98);fillForm('O','OPTWEBU','500','QF','SYD','BNE',....) which tells us the price is $98 and the class is O class OPTWEBU.

Search or look for QF502 and you will notice a few lines later something like this td class='F04' onClick="set(1,4,1,this,'F04',0);displayPrice(1,145);fillForm('N','NSXO','502','QF','SYD','BNE',....) which tell us the price is $145 and the class is N class NSXO.

Once you have started looking at the code for a while you will get used to it.

 

[oz_mark]

Good description Johnk. I always found it a bit silly that the source code exposed the fare basis, but looking at the page you could not display it anywhere.

 

[NM]

Proves that O is cheaper than N but still earns for AA - bizarre.

Not completely bizarre. N is only available for sale in Australia. So AA cannot sell an N fare on Qantas flights. So they choose not to recognise its existence. AA can sell O fares, so they see that as the entry level for QF fares they choose to recognise.

Now I didn't say it was sensible or logical, just that it is not completely bizarre .

 

[Dave Noble]

Not completely bizarre. N is only available for sale in Australia. So AA cannot sell an N fare on Qantas flights. So they choose not to recognise its existence. AA can sell O fares, so they see that as the entry level for QF fares they choose to recognise.

Now I didn't say it was sensible or logical, just that it is not completely bizarre .

Thats not necessarily true. There are international N fares that can be sold anywhere

The rationale for the N and O anomoly probably stems, imo, from the fact that N used to be the lowest of the QF classes domestically followed by O and then QF switched them round yet AA never changed earning on them

Dave

 

[serfty]

... The rationale for the N and O anomoly probably stems, imo, from the fact that N used to be the lowest of the QF classes domestically followed by O and then QF switched them round yet AA never changed earning on them ...

In the greater AAdvantage scheme of things I think it likely that the costs to AA in changing this may outweigh any perceived loss they may currently be making in relation to the issue.

To put it another way, it's not really worth their while worrying about it.