Buying tickets at full priced, and then refunding them and purchasing them on sale?
Dec 25, 2018, 4:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
Buying tickets at full priced, and then refunding them and purchasing them on sale?
Hey everyone. Just checking, is there any downside to purchasing refundable tickets, upgrading them with APD, and then refunding them and purchasing them again when they go on sale (and upgrading them again with APD)?
Dec 25, 2018, 9:44 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,194
Domestically, I almost always buy a refundable tix for the days of travel without worrying if the time is not quite right. I then refund and buy again (same price) when the time I want shows. I do this ‘cancel and buy again’ because if I simply changed the FlexiDate to the time I want then the ticket subsequently requires a Call Centre call to change/cancel - which can be a pain.
I may have several Flexi tix booked around the days/tines I want. I’ll either stick with the best, and cancel the rest - or cancel the lot and buy a Seat only or S&Bag (if plans are locked).
NZ refunds come through pretty quickly, but I do maintain a spreadsheet of all PNRs and the status of them (good, cancelled, cancelled and refunded) - have had up to 20 ‘alive’earlier this year....suits me and is almost a kind of insurance
I may have several Flexi tix booked around the days/tines I want. I’ll either stick with the best, and cancel the rest - or cancel the lot and buy a Seat only or S&Bag (if plans are locked).
NZ refunds come through pretty quickly, but I do maintain a spreadsheet of all PNRs and the status of them (good, cancelled, cancelled and refunded) - have had up to 20 ‘alive’earlier this year....suits me and is almost a kind of insurance
Dec 25, 2018, 10:22 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: AKL
Posts: 446
The only issue I've had has been when I've changed credit card so they couldn't process the refund automatically, but was sorted quickly.
I've also sometimes incorrectly assumed I can do the same on other airlines, but some will only give an airline credit instead of a credit card refund.
I've also sometimes incorrectly assumed I can do the same on other airlines, but some will only give an airline credit instead of a credit card refund.
Dec 25, 2018, 11:37 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Lifetime *G (MP), Lifetime PE (Bonvoy)
Posts: 1,465
The only issue I've had has been when I've changed credit card so they couldn't process the refund automatically, but was sorted quickly. I've also sometimes incorrectly assumed I can do the same on other airlines, but some will only give an airline credit instead of a credit card refund.
Dec 26, 2018, 12:56 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: JER
Programs: NZ Elite *G, QF Gold, Accor+ Diamond
Posts: 157
That's good info about refundable bookings. The original question about APD upgrades is interesting. It's a race to grab the 2 R-class upgrade seats on each flight and it can be tempting to book a more expensive PE fare to ensure you secure those upgrades. Could you book a fully refundable PE fare the 1st day they're bookable to secure the R-class upgrades, knowing the 2 upgrade seats will become available again as soon as you cancel the original fares? So once cheaper PE fares are available, you could book them, cancel you original fares, and immediately grab the 2 R-class seats again?
Dec 26, 2018, 2:38 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 908
Unfortunately not. There’s no guarantee that the R class seat will go back into R class inventory. There’s a good chance it will go into general business class inventory.
Dec 26, 2018, 2:39 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,645
That's good info about refundable bookings. The original question about APD upgrades is interesting. It's a race to grab the 2 R-class upgrade seats on each flight and it can be tempting to book a more expensive PE fare to ensure you secure those upgrades. Could you book a fully refundable PE fare the 1st day they're bookable to secure the R-class upgrades, knowing the 2 upgrade seats will become available again as soon as you cancel the original fares? So once cheaper PE fares are available, you could book them, cancel you original fares, and immediately grab the 2 R-class seats again?
Dec 26, 2018, 11:25 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
Though through the replies, I now see that it won't necessarily work like that. Thank you everyone!
Dec 26, 2018, 11:40 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,114
Once you cancel the R upgrade *should* go to the next person who's lodged an R class upgrade if R class is then made available again and that seat not returned to general inventory.
I'm sure if you were in the position of being 1st on the waitlist for a BP upgrade and somebody with an R class upgrade cancelled that you'd be arguing that the upgrade should be given to you.
Dec 26, 2018, 1:16 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 1,218
As pointed out it's flawed logic for multiple reasons.
Once you cancel the R upgrade *should* go to the next person who's lodged an R class upgrade if R class is then made available again and that seat not returned to general inventory.
I'm sure if you were in the position of being 1st on the waitlist for a BP upgrade and somebody with an R class upgrade cancelled that you'd be arguing that the upgrade should be given to you.
Once you cancel the R upgrade *should* go to the next person who's lodged an R class upgrade if R class is then made available again and that seat not returned to general inventory.
I'm sure if you were in the position of being 1st on the waitlist for a BP upgrade and somebody with an R class upgrade cancelled that you'd be arguing that the upgrade should be given to you.