Global Flexi Fares - a lot of how it works
Feb 9, 2026 | 3:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ*GE
Posts: 638
Global Flexi Fares - a lot of how it works
I'm pretty familiar with domestic Flexi-refund fares, the basics being that as long as I cancel before the departure of the booked flight, I'm entitled to a full refund of the fare paid (including the portion paid for the flexibility).
I have no idea how global flexi fares, but have seen a couple of posts tonight that raise some questions for me.
When I made a dummy booking for a sale fare to SE Asia, I was invited to pay approx $600-700 each way to make the fare a Global Flexi fare. Under the linked fare rules (Global Flexi), a no-show costs NZD $300, otherwise full refund available for cancellation. Changes permitted prior to departure, with service fee payable unless changing online, plus fare difference.
- someone mentioned H class tonight - does H class automatically mean a fare is of a particular category type?
- what benefit is there to booking these fares and then later converting them to the final intended itinerary? Is there a cost saving that I'm missing by doing it this way? Or are you just booking this as a provisional plan, then changing it once your plans have been confirmed (including the possibility of leaving the booking as originally ticketed?
I have no idea how global flexi fares, but have seen a couple of posts tonight that raise some questions for me.
When I made a dummy booking for a sale fare to SE Asia, I was invited to pay approx $600-700 each way to make the fare a Global Flexi fare. Under the linked fare rules (Global Flexi), a no-show costs NZD $300, otherwise full refund available for cancellation. Changes permitted prior to departure, with service fee payable unless changing online, plus fare difference.
- someone mentioned H class tonight - does H class automatically mean a fare is of a particular category type?
- what benefit is there to booking these fares and then later converting them to the final intended itinerary? Is there a cost saving that I'm missing by doing it this way? Or are you just booking this as a provisional plan, then changing it once your plans have been confirmed (including the possibility of leaving the booking as originally ticketed?
Feb 9, 2026 | 3:46 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2024
Location: NZ
Posts: 19
Economy fares from Point of Sale NZ in classes H,M,B,Y are flexi, if you are given the option to make it "flexi" it bumps you up to H class (the lowest of the flexi classes). If you decide to make a change to another flight at a later date, a fare difference is applicable if selling above H class at the time of change. If the new flight is still at or below H class then no fare difference will apply and you can change at no cost.
Feb 9, 2026 | 10:19 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Plat
Posts: 12,706
Also making the fare Flexi will increase the SP earn, which might might be useful if near requalification or other threshold (banked year).
My recollection is that the economy SP earn is non-linear - so a Flexi H/M/B/Y fare has a better SP/$ than sale and saver fares. I dont think this is true for biz (but havent mapped them out fir some time).
Annoying for TT flights, Flexi is an add-on fare product, and not an actual fare class change, and so earns no additional SP.
My recollection is that the economy SP earn is non-linear - so a Flexi H/M/B/Y fare has a better SP/$ than sale and saver fares. I dont think this is true for biz (but havent mapped them out fir some time).
Annoying for TT flights, Flexi is an add-on fare product, and not an actual fare class change, and so earns no additional SP.