Swapping to an earlier flight?

[bobsi18]

Apologies if it's been asked before/is general knowledge - have tried searching, but no luck...

I'm wondering if it's possible to swap to an earlier flight, when checking in?

Specifically: I'm flying MEL-BNE at 7pm on later this week, on Virgin Blue. I got the later flight, as I was worried about not making it to the airport on time, but in reality I should make it to the checkin counter by about 4pm. Virgin Blue has several other flights including one at 5pm - is there any chance of trying to get on this flight when I arrive at the airport? How do I go about it (just ask at checkin?). Is there likely to be a fee (I booked my flight in the lowest fare bracket, the website is now saying that fare bracket is all sold out)?

Cheers for any info

And on a COMPLETELY random matter: do any of you travel guru's know if the petrol station near Tullamarine (the one sort of in the airport complex) has a car wash, specifically a strong vacuum cleaner? If not, do you know where the closest one is (Mickleham Road perhaps?)

EDIT - and it would appear I put this in the wrong forum, sorry - moderators, please feel free to move to 'Your Questions' or a more suitable forum?

 

[Travel Guru]

It depends on the type of ticket you've got, if its a fully flex then no probs, you can jump on the earlier flight at the airport.

If however its not, then according to the rules its not, no changes can be made inside 24hrs of fly, and more than likely you'll find they will stick by that, which is what they are trained to do, BUT as well know, anythings possible and if you dont ask, the answers already no.

As for your car wash question, wouldn't have a clue sorry.

TG

 

[SeaWolf]

I know the servo you're talking about, it's a BP, I've filled up there a few times before dropping off a rental car, but I couldn't remember if it had a car wash or not, so I had a look on BP's site.
According to their site, there's no car wash but it doesn't list if they have vacuums or not. You might want to give them a call and ask:

Name: BP Connect The Tulla Store No: 1684 Address: Cnr Centre Rd & Melbourne Dr Town: Melbourne Airport Phone: 03 9310 4622

 

[Baysider]

Hi bobsi18. This sort of thing is "luck of the draw". I've been able to do it several times, including on deep discount tickets. My wife even managed it on a VirginBlue reward ticket from Melbourne to Brisbane a couple of months ago.

I guess if the airline thinks that the earlier flight is not going to fill, and that there is still time to sell your original seat to another pax, then it suits them to be accommodating.

 

[bazzam]

I've only ever had success swapping a Qantas flight. That time I used the quick checkin terminal and it asked whether I wanted an earlier flight. I gladly accepted (note that I had a non flexible ticket at it still asked). I've never managed to get an earlier flight with Virgin even when there were 2 earlier non full flights available. Good luck though and let us know how you go.

 

[moa999]

Qantas will typically ask if loads are full on the later flights and light on the earlier flight
(even at the QuickCheck machines)

A good revenue tool for them
- keeps the customer happy by getting an earlier flight
- allows QF to potentially sell a seat on the later flight at full tote

 

[oz_mark]

I've only ever had success swapping a Qantas flight. That time I used the quick checkin terminal and it asked whether I wanted an earlier flight. I gladly accepted (note that I had a non flexible ticket at it still asked). I've never managed to get an earlier flight with Virgin even when there were 2 earlier non full flights available. Good luck though and let us know how you go.

I've had the Quick-Check machine tell me that it was allowing it, even though my fare type did not allow it. Can't remember the exact wording now.

 

[pshepvic]

I've found that QF will change flights anytime now that I'm gold, even on the cheapest sale fares & no matter what the load is like...but previously they wouldn't unless they were that heavily booked and needed to move people. I avoid DJ for that reason as they generally stick to the rules even if there's availability.

 

[oz_mark]

I've found that QF will change flights anytime now that I'm gold, even on the cheapest sale fares & no matter what the load is like...but previously they wouldn't unless they were that heavily booked and needed to move people. I avoid DJ for that reason as they generally stick to the rules even if there's availability.

Certainly not my experience as a gold (or when I was a plat). Moving flights was one of those things that happened sometimes. Other times they would not budge on the issue.

 

[Evan]

Mixed expereince, on nights that busy and i am early i have often been asked, as somebody pointed out, they can probably sell the later seat.

Otherwise its been a few times regardless of fare type. Sometimes they allow the request, other they say no they will not.

E

 

[Tooner]

Never tried with DJ, but with QF, always found that the QP desk is the best place to change any flight. On a resticted ticket, the check-in, telephone and the original agent can't change it, but the QP desk can.

I've noticed the kiosks are gaining the powers of the QP desk as well, as noted by others here.

 

[bobsi18]

So the followup:

Got to the airport with plenty of time, like I suspected. However, something I wasn't expecting, one of the earlier flights to Brisbane had been cancelled, and the majority of the people from that flight had been re-booked onto the flight I wanted to swap to. The Virgin Blue terminal was chaos (a tour group was also checking in at the same time).

Tried checking in via the computer terminals, it didn't give me the option of changing my flight. So asked the Virgin Blue girl advising people at the end of the line. She looked at my printout, and said there was no chance on the fare I had. Regardless, I waited in the line, in case the check-in staff could do something. Got to the front, to learn that the flight I wanted to swap to was full - but the girl did say that if it hadn't have been, she would have been able to swap me.

So - I didn't get to swap, but I'd say if it wasn't crazily busy on that particular day, it might have been possible. Thanks for all the responses!

And - I didn't get time to check out the car wash options! I called the BP at Tullamarine, he said they don't have a car wash, but that there are a couple of places on Mickleham Road that have them.