Rather excessive flight change fee?

[harvyk]

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+.

QF took a gamble that they could sell Y+ for more than JQ could sell J. QF's gamble paid off...

 

[Himeno]

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.

With the program changes, the SC earn on QF/JQ AU-Asia today is more then after the changes come into effect. Only 4 fare classes remain the same. W and 3 Y- classes.

 

[Mr_Orange]

With the program changes, the SC earn on QF/JQ AU-Asia today is more then after the changes come into effect. Only 4 fare classes remain the same. W and 3 Y- classes.

That maybe so, but J still earns more than Y+, and JQ J is cheaper than QF Y+.

 

[straitman]

That maybe so, but J still earns more than Y+, and JQ J is cheaper than QF Y+.

OT but the problem is that it is Jetstar :!:

I can think of many other places I can go to get lousy service at a much cheaper price. :shock: :evil: (I made the mistake once last year)

 

[vitagen]

I don't actually see a problem with the change fee? You chose to buy a non flexible ticket? I'm not QFs biggest fan but in their defence they are a business not a charity.

 

[docjames]

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)?

QF are probably happy for you to fly JQ as they make the money anyway!

;-)

 

[amaroo]

Do you get slugged credit card fees when making these changes?

I recently made changes to a MASA booking and wasn't slugged a CC fee. Happily copped a $150 change fee to get the dates I required.

A few months ago I enquired what AA wanted to charge me for a time change (same day, different flight), talk about excessive :shock:

 

[Cynicor]

MH charge 400USD to change some of their business fares! I feel that QF at only $200 for a non-flexible Y+ are almost generous.

 

[Moody]

I don't understand why the change fee is so high, and I think it is borderline if taken before the ACCC. If you book a cheap fare and then need to change it, then it is reasonable for the airline to charge an admin fee plus any fare difference. This prevents customers from grabbing a cheap ticket and then using that fare class for more popular flights. If the airline wanted to further protect the integrity of their fare algorithms they could add a time factor in.

But a blanket $200 on top of any fare difference seems harsh - especially well out from the travel date.

 

[straitman]

I don't understand why the change fee is so high, and I think it is borderline if taken before the ACCC. If you book a cheap fare and then need to change it, then it is reasonable for the airline to charge an admin fee plus any fare difference. This prevents customers from grabbing a cheap ticket and then using that fare class for more popular flights. If the airline wanted to further protect the integrity of their fare algorithms they could add a time factor in.

But a blanket $200 on top of any fare difference seems harsh - especially well out from the travel date.

Whether or not it is fair is a whole other story and not relevant to the discussion.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Still better than the $2000 here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....uestions/no-show-return-leg-virgin-59928.html

....I have a return flight from Seattle booked in July with Virgin providing the long-haul segment. I need to change the last return leg and it seems changing the date and re-routing is going to cost me over $2000 at this stage.

So I'm going to buy a new one-way fare, on Qantas, $1100.

 

[eminere]

Data point: flight change fees for BA.
SIN-SYD return Y - SGD75
SYD-SIN return J - AUD150
Both discounted fares (not flexible).

 

[mannej]

Still better than the $2000 here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....uestions/no-show-return-leg-virgin-59928.html

Is that not Change Fee + Fare difference, so you can't compare unless you have the change fee component?

 

[basso]

I don't understand why the change fee is so high, and I think it is borderline if taken before the ACCC.

I am trying to think what possible grounds there would be for taking this to the ACCC. A change fee is basically a fee for service, and I don't think the ACCC involves itself (outside regulated industries) in service fee pricing.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

If you buy the fare and the conditions are clearly stated, you entered into a contract. If later you don't like those conditions, too bad. ACCC won't care either.

 

[lovestotravel]

If you buy the fare and the conditions are clearly stated, you entered into a contract. If later you don't like those conditions, too bad. ACCC won't care either.

Unless those conditions are unfair, a $200 fee on perhaps a $600 fare (each way) is IMO unfair especially when the flight is many months away

 

[Moody]

Whether or not it is fair is a whole other story and not relevant to the discussion.

Tell that to the banks.

 

[lovestotravel]

Whether or not it is fair is a whole other story and not relevant to the discussion.

No it is relevant as the ACCC is not a fan of an unfair contract which unfairly disadvantages the consumer

 

[Moody]

I am trying to think what possible grounds there would be for taking this to the ACCC. A change fee is basically a fee for service, and I don't think the ACCC involves itself (outside regulated industries) in service fee pricing.

So is $200 a reasonable fee for perhaps a 5-minute service?

 

[lovestotravel]

So is $200 a reasonable fee for perhaps a 5-minute service?

It's not to do with the "5 minute service"

It's to do with any loss/gain the airline may face as a result of the changes made by the customer