Just wondering why you are permitted to change to an earlier flight (if available) via Quick Check, but you can't do so at the check-in desk?

Interesting question. I know I've been offered the ability to change to an earlier flight, even though I was on a ticket that didn't allow it. When I tried to get on the earlier flight, it informed me that my fare didn't allow changes.

Have you been able to successfully change to an earlier flight using Quick Check with a restricted fare?

You can't. In an extremely poorly designed piece of programming, it asks you if you wish to change and THEN checks whether or not you are able to do so. In an ideal world, it would check before it asked you.

Dave

Correct. I tried this on a N fare a few weeks ago just for kicks, and it just gives you an error about your el-cheapo fare and tells you to buzz off.

I agree with Dave - it should only prompt you if you have a valid fare type, and since it has your PNR info and the fare type in it when you check-in, you'd think that would be a simple case statement in the code...

From memory it asks a question something like "would you like to check if there is an earlier flight available?". As already noted, it asks this even if the fare type won't allow it. You are welcome to answer yes to that question, just as you are welcome to ask a real check-in agent to see if the there is an earlier flight.

But if your fare type does not permit changes, you will get a similar answer from both the agent and the QuickCheck kiosk.

I can see reasons for leaving the option there

(1) Someone who wants to try changing, if they saw no option on the screen would likely then go off to an agent and waste their time asking

(2) Those that do turn up early on cheapie tickets might start realising the benefit of getting better flexibility tickets.

Which ticket types do allow changes to earlier flights?

Dave

There are two factors that come into it; fare rules and availability of your fare type on earlier flights.

Some fare types (eg N, not sure of others) cannot be changed on the day of departure, so QuickCheck is not going to them under any circumstances.

Some fares permit changes if you pay a fee (eg $33). I don't know if QuickCheck will allow these and bill you somehow.

And of course the flight you want to change onto must have seats available at the fare type you have purchased, otherwise you have to upgrade the fare to one with seats available. Again, I am not sure if QuickCheck will permit this and find a way to bill you.

My domestic check-ins with QuickCheck have all been on Y or B fares and have been offered different flights based on the fully flexible fare and seat availability.

i think the no changing for teh cheap tickets is a bad move by qantas.

sure i don't fly alot but when i went from SYD-BNE with a group of 7 we turned up 4 hours early.

alot of flighs went out with plenty of room.

along came our evening flight.
It was oversold :-P

if they had let us go earlier it would not have been

now imagine if this happens about 200 times a day with a few seats involved.

it adds up