Rather excessive flight change fee?

Status
Not open for further replies.

PaulST

Established Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2014
Posts
1,194
I love seeing the flying red roo and I hope to become more and more of a frequent flier but I must admit I was shocked to see the fee to change an upcoming flight.
I'm flying between SYD and NRT in December this year and I was looking at spending a few extra days in Tokyo but it's going to cost $200 to change the return flight. I'm flying in Y+ on a saver ticket.
I could have flown with Jetstar for quite a few hundred less (in business class, which is prob equiv to QF's Y+) or flown with JAL (or ANA - I've forgotten) for a little less (in their new 787 instead of the un-refurbished QF B747) but I chose Qantas purely for sentimental reasons.

I hate to criticize Qantas as I want to like them, but surely $200 is a lot to change a flight >6 months away...! Oh, and of course they'll slug me for another fee to us my credit card...
 
I love seeing the flying red roo and I hope to become more and more of a frequent flier but I must admit I was shocked to see the fee to change an upcoming flight.
I'm flying between SYD and NRT in December this year and I was looking at spending a few extra days in Tokyo but it's going to cost $200 to change the return flight. I'm flying in Y+ on a saver ticket.
I could have flown with Jetstar for quite a few hundred less (in business class, which is prob equiv to QF's Y+) or flown with JAL (or ANA - I've forgotten) for a little less (in their new 787 instead of the un-refurbished QF B747) but I chose Qantas purely for sentimental reasons.

I hate to criticize Qantas as I want to like them, but surely $200 is a lot to change a flight >6 months away...! Oh, and of course they'll slug me for another fee to us my credit card...
Hi PaulST,

I agree it is harsh lesson to learn but unfortunately that is how airline ticketing works. In buying your original 'saver fare' you traded flexibility for cost. Had you paid for a dearer class of ticket you would have more flexibility available to you.
 
Hi PaulST,

I agree it is harsh lesson to learn but unfortunately that is how airline ticketing works. In buying your original 'saver fare' you traded flexibility for cost. Had you paid for a dearer class of ticket you would have more flexibility available to you.
Agree - and even with the $200 impost you are likely still ahead on what a more flexible fare could have cost.
 
Last edited:
Agree - and even with the $200 impost you are likely still ahead on what a more flecible fare could have cost.

Its not always the change fee you have to be wary of either. If the class you originally booked in is not available, you will also be up for the difference in the fare categories too. So the $200 change fee might not be all of it.
 
Do you get slugged credit card fees when making these changes?
 
I agree it is harsh lesson to learn but unfortunately that is how airline ticketing works. In buying your original 'saver fare' you traded flexibility for cost. Had you paid for a dearer class of ticket you would have more flexibility available to you.
An unlikely any other airline such as JAL, JQ or CX would be any different. Price has a direct relationship to flexibility but the starting price does vary between airlines.
 
Hi PaulST,

I agree it is harsh lesson to learn but unfortunately that is how airline ticketing works. In buying your original 'saver fare' you traded flexibility for cost. Had you paid for a dearer class of ticket you would have more flexibility available to you.
Yep that's all true but I somewhat feel like I paid for a more premium ticket by going with Qantas in the first place. I could have bought a more flexible ticket with JQ for less and I'd expect Jetstar to have higher change fees.

I wonder if Qantas is going to have the same problem Ford and Holden had in that they didn't treat their lowest customers all that well, so they're going to end up in alternative companies? For the price of a low-spec Falcon/Commodore with window-winders, you could buy a mid-high spec Liberty or Mazda6 with leather. With Qantas I could have bought the cheap Y+ saver fare or a mid-spec flex fare with another airline.

Look I know nothings going to change and I'll probably pay the $200 but I think it's a little rude on QF's behalf. I'll keep flying with Qantas because I'm stupid (sentimental would probably be a nicer word) but any other more sensible person would be signing up to China Southern's FF program... :)
 
<snip>

I wonder if Qantas is going to have the same problem Ford and Holden had in that they didn't treat their lowest customers all that well, so they're going to end up in alternative companies?
<snip>

Couldn't help smiling at that one - its usually we status pax who are whinging that QF doesn't treat us well (enough) :)
 
QF increased the change fees late last year.
I had a Y+ CBR-NRT return last September which I had to change the return date on (day later). Change fee was $100.
I was in MEL at the time, so I had the MEL T1 ticket counter look at it. It took them a while to match up the fare class and get the change made because it had been a special online fare which the agent had never seen before.
 
Yep that's all true but I somewhat feel like I paid for a more premium ticket by going with Qantas in the first place. I could have bought a more flexible ticket with JQ for less and I'd expect Jetstar to have higher change fees.

You did buy a more premium ticket with more options and features, such as meals and baggage included, unfortunately for you, flexibility was not one of the included options for the premium price.

Going back to your car analogy, it would be like purchasing a Mazda6 and then complaining that it didn't come with a sunroof, despite the fact that all a sunroof is is a hole in the roof (therefore should be cheap), and Ford was offering them as an option on their base model.

(PS, don't worry, your not the only one to pay a premium just to have a red rat on the tail)
 
Couldn't help smiling at that one - its usually we status pax who are whinging that QF doesn't treat us well (enough) :)
I have noticed a lot of you status guys on here complaining so I thought Id join in. :)
I know us lowly Bronze FF (soon to be Silver, though) aren't as good a revenue stream as you guys who I imagine travel for business, there's a lot of us who will simply vote with our feet and fly with the many other (and usually cheaper) options. If we're not made to feel a little bit special by flying with QF, why not travel with JQ (for example)?
 
I have noticed a lot of you status guys on here complaining so I thought Id join in. :)
I know us lowly Bronze FF (soon to be Silver, though) aren't as good a revenue stream as you guys who I imagine travel for business, there's a lot of us who will simply vote with our feet and fly with the many other (and usually cheaper) options. If we're not made to feel a little bit special by flying with QF, why not travel with JQ (for example)?

Expect a few more complaints once people understand a change that no one has really commented on in the case of domestic fares:

Qantas Domestic Reissue Policy01 May 2014

The Qantas Domestic Ticket Reissue policy provides guidelines for re-assessing Qantas Domestic fares after ticket reissue.

The Domestic Ticket Reissue policy applies to all tickets changed on/after 1 May 2014.

The Domestic Ticket Reissue policy enables a more efficient and streamlined handling of ticket re-assessments and reissues for Travel Agents.

Key features of the policy include:


  • All Domestic fares must be re-priced after a change has been made to the ticketed flight;
  • If the Fare and/or Ticket Taxes have increased, the ticket must be reissued collecting any additional Fare and/or Ticket Taxes;
  • The Change Fee applicable for ticket reissue is defined within the policy;
  • Revalidation is permitted subject to conditions defined within the policy.

 
You did buy a more premium ticket with more options and features, such as meals and baggage included, unfortunately for you, flexibility was not one of the included options for the premium price.
I'm not suggesting that there shouldn't be a change fee, just that $200 seems a bit steep.

BTW: JQ J class was $400 less than what I paid QF Y+.
 
In buying your original 'saver fare' you traded flexibility for cost. Had you paid for a dearer class of ticket you would have more flexibility available to you.
Absolutely but in comparison with what I could have paid with other airlines (as I said above, $400 less for J class with JQ), I was buying the dearer ticket.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Expect a few more complaints once people understand a change that no one has really commented on in the case of domestic fares:

Qantas Domestic Reissue Policy01 May 2014

The Qantas Domestic Ticket Reissue policy provides guidelines for re-assessing Qantas Domestic fares after ticket reissue.

The Domestic Ticket Reissue policy applies to all tickets changed on/after 1 May 2014.

The Domestic Ticket Reissue policy enables a more efficient and streamlined handling of ticket re-assessments and reissues for Travel Agents.

Key features of the policy include:


  • All Domestic fares must be re-priced after a change has been made to the ticketed flight;
  • If the Fare and/or Ticket Taxes have increased, the ticket must be reissued collecting any additional Fare and/or Ticket Taxes;
  • The Change Fee applicable for ticket reissue is defined within the policy;
  • Revalidation is permitted subject to conditions defined within the policy.


Well, you can't be simpler or fairer than that!
 
BTW: JQ J class was $400 less than what I paid QF Y+.

For good reason, Y+ on Qantas is a much nicer product. Even if you dont look at quality of food wine and service. There is the benefit of baggage allowance, and flights on the same PNR being recognised in case of delays, baggage being checked all the way through to destination, priority boarding etc...
I would happily pay the $400 more for QF Y+ over any Jetstar product.
 
For good reason, Y+ on Qantas is a much nicer product. Even if you dont look at quality of food wine and service. There is the benefit of baggage allowance, and flights on the same PNR being recognised in case of delays, baggage being checked all the way through to destination, priority boarding etc...
I would happily pay the $400 more for QF Y+ over any Jetstar product.

Half the number of SCs in Y+ on QF compared with JQ J (max fare). Given the seat and legroom are identical, I opted for the SCs and price on a recent trip to Japan.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..

Recent Posts

Back
Top