I flew back to Australia today and have a domestic connection in business class on a miles redemption booking. At the transfer desk, I asked to be put onto the earlier domestic flight home, so that I wasn't spending 7 hours in the Qantas Lounge prior to going into mandatory self-isolation.
I got a point-blank refusal at the Qantas Transfer Desk, even when escalated to management - they'd rather have me sat in the Lounge for 7 hours and put me onto the original ticketed flight because "my redemption booking is non-changeable"
Fortunately, the Lounge Angel is more pragmatic and is also struggling to understand their logic of requiring me sit in public spaces for any longer than absolutely necessary and is seeing what she can do....!
UPDATE - the Lounge Angel has weaved her magic and within 5 minutes, I'm re-booked onto the earlier flight! Good to see that common sense has prevailed. As she jokingly said "Nothing personal, but we don't want you here any longer than necessary!!"