Is Discounted Economy a Dirty Word at Qantas?
#1
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Is Discounted Economy a Dirty Word at Qantas?
I fly a lot of last/first legs on Qantas after flying in on AA.com
A few times I've asked question like going standby and the response is always "but this is a discounted economy ticket" said with a bit of a sneer?
In the US most tickets are discounted economy, is that not the case at QF?
I ask this because I'm flying back soon (QF MEL-SYD) then using AA. I'm a bit worried if I misconnect QF will treat me shabbily. It's all ticketed on AA but AA has no presence in MEL and minimal presence in SYD.
A few times I've asked question like going standby and the response is always "but this is a discounted economy ticket" said with a bit of a sneer?
In the US most tickets are discounted economy, is that not the case at QF?
I ask this because I'm flying back soon (QF MEL-SYD) then using AA. I'm a bit worried if I misconnect QF will treat me shabbily. It's all ticketed on AA but AA has no presence in MEL and minimal presence in SYD.
#2
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
it isn't a dirty word, it is factual
If you buy a flexible ticket, then one of the benefits is to be able to change flights at any time with no fees ( just any fare difference )
A discounted ticket does not permit this; I expect that the agents here a lot of times a day for nor permitted changes on day of departure
Lots of people do buy flexible tickets if they want flexibility
If you are flying on QF from MEL-SYD, QF will take you on the flight that you have booked, Unless you have a flexible ticket ( indicated as FLEX in the booking column) , it will not allow you to travel on a different flight
( there are exceptions - e.g. a flight gets cancelled or there are other events where QF decides to allow passsengers flexibility to deal with the situation )
QF does not do standby at all - any change is a confirmed change; if it is permitted by the fare purchased, it will be done easily
If you have a through ticket from MEL-SYD onto AA, if booked through QF then QF will permit changes in accordance with the fare rules of the ticket otherwise refer you back to where you purchased it If you do misconnect it will be responsible to get you onwards to the ticketed destination
If this is 2 separate tickets, then it will be simply down to AA how it wants to treat the no-show situation; if you have this and are concerned that you have not left enough time to make the connection, might be a good idea to rebook onto an earlier flight ; discount tickets can be changed for $99 - details of what is permitted are at https://www.qantas.com/regions/amade...ED1JQ_SUMMARY/
If you buy a flexible ticket, then one of the benefits is to be able to change flights at any time with no fees ( just any fare difference )
A discounted ticket does not permit this; I expect that the agents here a lot of times a day for nor permitted changes on day of departure
Lots of people do buy flexible tickets if they want flexibility
If you are flying on QF from MEL-SYD, QF will take you on the flight that you have booked, Unless you have a flexible ticket ( indicated as FLEX in the booking column) , it will not allow you to travel on a different flight
( there are exceptions - e.g. a flight gets cancelled or there are other events where QF decides to allow passsengers flexibility to deal with the situation )
QF does not do standby at all - any change is a confirmed change; if it is permitted by the fare purchased, it will be done easily
If you have a through ticket from MEL-SYD onto AA, if booked through QF then QF will permit changes in accordance with the fare rules of the ticket otherwise refer you back to where you purchased it If you do misconnect it will be responsible to get you onwards to the ticketed destination
If this is 2 separate tickets, then it will be simply down to AA how it wants to treat the no-show situation; if you have this and are concerned that you have not left enough time to make the connection, might be a good idea to rebook onto an earlier flight ; discount tickets can be changed for $99 - details of what is permitted are at https://www.qantas.com/regions/amade...ED1JQ_SUMMARY/
Last edited by Dave Noble; Aug 12, 2017 at 3:01 pm
#3
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Join Date: Feb 2007
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Thanks. All on one ticket all flights coded as AA.
What it comes down to is that AA only has one flight back to the US. If my QF flight is delayed and I miss it. What happens. I know QF have many flights back to the US will they put me on their metal?
I only have Ruby status with OW.
What it comes down to is that AA only has one flight back to the US. If my QF flight is delayed and I miss it. What happens. I know QF have many flights back to the US will they put me on their metal?
I only have Ruby status with OW.
it isn't a dirty word, it is factual
If you buy a flexible ticket, then one of the benefits is to be able to change flights at any time with no fees ( just any fare difference )
A discounted ticket does not permit this; I expect that the agents here a lot of times a day for nor permitted changes on day of departure
Lots of people do buy flexible tickets if they want flexibility
If you are flying on QF from MEL-SYD, QF will take you on the flight that you have booked, Unless you have a flexible ticket ( indicated as FLEX in the booking column) , it will not allow you to travel on a different flight
( there are exceptions - e.g. a flight gets cancelled or there are other events where QF decides to allow passsengers flexibility to deal with the situation )
QF does not do standby at all - any change is a confirmed change; if it is permitted by the fare purchased, it will be done easily
If you have a through ticket from MEL-SYD onto AA, if booked through QF then QF will permit changes in accordance with the fare rules of the ticket otherwise refer you back to where you purchased it If you do misconnect it will be responsible to get you onwards to the ticketed destination
If this is 2 separate tickets, then it will be simply down to AA how it wants to treat the no-show situation; if you have this and are concerned that you have not left enough time to make the connection, might be a good idea to rebook onto an earlier flight ; discount tickets can be changed for $99 - details of what is permitted are at https://www.qantas.com/regions/amade...ED1JQ_SUMMARY/
If you buy a flexible ticket, then one of the benefits is to be able to change flights at any time with no fees ( just any fare difference )
A discounted ticket does not permit this; I expect that the agents here a lot of times a day for nor permitted changes on day of departure
Lots of people do buy flexible tickets if they want flexibility
If you are flying on QF from MEL-SYD, QF will take you on the flight that you have booked, Unless you have a flexible ticket ( indicated as FLEX in the booking column) , it will not allow you to travel on a different flight
( there are exceptions - e.g. a flight gets cancelled or there are other events where QF decides to allow passsengers flexibility to deal with the situation )
QF does not do standby at all - any change is a confirmed change; if it is permitted by the fare purchased, it will be done easily
If you have a through ticket from MEL-SYD onto AA, if booked through QF then QF will permit changes in accordance with the fare rules of the ticket otherwise refer you back to where you purchased it If you do misconnect it will be responsible to get you onwards to the ticketed destination
If this is 2 separate tickets, then it will be simply down to AA how it wants to treat the no-show situation; if you have this and are concerned that you have not left enough time to make the connection, might be a good idea to rebook onto an earlier flight ; discount tickets can be changed for $99 - details of what is permitted are at https://www.qantas.com/regions/amade...ED1JQ_SUMMARY/
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Since this is on a through ticket then if you were to misconnect, Qantas would simply rebook you on another flight to the USA - no issues there
Status makes no difference in this
Status makes no difference in this
Thanks. All on one ticket all flights coded as AA.
What it comes down to is that AA only has one flight back to the US. If my QF flight is delayed and I miss it. What happens. I know QF have many flights back to the US will they put me on their metal?
I only have Ruby status with OW.
What it comes down to is that AA only has one flight back to the US. If my QF flight is delayed and I miss it. What happens. I know QF have many flights back to the US will they put me on their metal?
I only have Ruby status with OW.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,035
Delays MEL - SYD are uncommon. If you are at MEL and your QF flight may be delayed QF are likely to put you an other flight: talk to customer service. At that time on the morning there are frequent MEL SYD flights.
10:15 AM – 7:25 AM Sydney (SYD) – Los Angeles (LAX) American 72 · Boeing 777
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Aug 12, 2017 at 4:35 pm
#6
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Thanks. So if I am going to miss AA72 SYD-LAX due to my MEL-SYD QF flight being late, then QF will put me on one of their flights to LAX?
#8
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Great. Thanks for your help. But am I correct that QF doesn't sell many discounted fare class tickets? I'm a MM with United and I don't think I've ever bought anything but discounted fare classes. Discounted fare classes are still flexible, you just pay a change fee. Furthermore, one can go same day standby if needed without a fee on discounted fare class tickets.
#9
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Great. Thanks for your help. But am I correct that QF doesn't sell many discounted fare class tickets? I'm a MM with United and I don't think I've ever bought anything but discounted fare classes. Discounted fare classes are still flexible, you just pay a change fee. Furthermore, one can go same day standby if needed without a fee on discounted fare class tickets.
The domestic discount fares do not allow for changes on day of departure
If you want to have flexibility to change on day of departure then need to book a flex ticket
Obviously for international fares, changes will be based on applicable rules - for an AA issued ticket, can expect to be sent back to AA for any voluntary changes ( day of departure or otherwise )
#10
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..But am I correct that QF doesn't sell many discounted fare class tickets? I'm a MM with United and I don't think I've ever bought anything but discounted fare classes. Discounted fare classes are still flexible, you just pay a change fee. Furthermore, one can go same day standby if needed without a fee on discounted fare class tickets.
The words "discounted fare class tickets" have no real meaning.
QF (like other airlines) sell a range booking fare class's that have different t&c's. A ticket issued by AA may have different t&c's for the same booking class on QF flight.
https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/dyn/pr...m-1-march-2016
This link may be out of date http://www.travelctm.com/uploads/QFDomesticFareGrid.pdf (there is a similar chart of the QF site that I cannot find)
#11
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Brisbane QLD AU
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Posts: 235
If airlines changed restricted fares types on the day it would leave very little incentive for anybody to purchase flexible tickets.
#12
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#14
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Similarly, some organisations (govermnent or private) may insist on their staff having "fully flexible" tickets. But commonly these organisations have contracts with QF (or anyone else) which provide those tickets at significantly lower proces than the general public can ever get the them - about 40% lower than the retail prices IIRC for one example I know with booking into "Y". So it may only be the mug public that ever pays full price if they want ultimate flexibility (or they are possibly forced to buying a "fully flexible" ticket if its a "walk up" purchase at the airport on day of travel).
#15
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When I am travelling domestically for business, I always buy flexible tickets for the return journey; depending on the destination, I may buy a restricted ticket for the outbound
That gives me the best chance of getting home as soon as possible after I finish teaching
If there are lots of flight options ( such as SYD-MEL ) I get a flexible outbound ticket too, so as to be able to get there with no waiting around
That gives me the best chance of getting home as soon as possible after I finish teaching
If there are lots of flight options ( such as SYD-MEL ) I get a flexible outbound ticket too, so as to be able to get there with no waiting around