Qantas has an automated in place to ensure compliance with the ticketing time limits of Qantas fares. This process is referred to as Flight Firming and applies to all Qantas bookings.

On most Qantas flights there are booked seats, where travel is no longer required and therefore not ticketed. These seats that are not made available for resale can result in significant lost revenue for Qantas.

To mitigate this risk, Qantas has introduced Flight Firming to ensure compliance with the ticketing time limit for Qantas domestic Australia and international fares.

Qantas bookings will be auto cancelled once the ticketing time limit for the fare has expired and there is no valid ticket number or payment advice within the booking. A notification message will be sent to the Travel Agent prior to the ticketing time limit expiring advising that a ticket number is required.

Qantas believes that Flight Firming significantly reduces the extent of no shows, reduces the number of Agent Debit Memos (ADMs) being raised to travel agents and releases unwanted seats in a timely manner to ensure every possible seat is available for sale.

The process of Flight Firming is currently used by many other global airlines that operate in the Australian market. Flight Firming is applicable to all booking channels, including Qantas offices, travel agents and other airlines.

What is Flight Firming?

An automated process to ensure compliance with the ticketing time limits of Qantas fares. Bookings will be cancelled once the applicable ticketing time limit has expired and there is no valid ticket number or payment advice within the booking. This process is referred to as Flight Firming.

Why is Qantas changing the way it manages ticketing time limits?

Greater compliance with ticketing time limits benefits all parties in the sale of the Qantas product. Qantas believes that compliance with applicable ticketing time limits will release seats that are no longer required (and therefore not ticketed) in a timely manner to ensure every possible seat is available for sale.

What are the benefits to Qantas and Travel Agents from Flight Firming?

Flight Firming allows unwanted seats to be available for resale and assists Travel Agents with processing the ticketing of Qantas bookings.

What airlines in the Qantas Group will the Flight Firming process apply to?

All Qantas and QantasLink flights operating on all regional, domestic Australia, domestic New Zealand and international routes are Flight Firmed.

Does Flight Firming apply to Qantas international codeshare flights?

Yes, All Qantas marketed codeshare flights.

Does British Airways bookings also be flight firmed on the JSA routes (between Australia, Asia and Europe)?

Yes, QF Alliance partner British Airways will enforce ticketing time limits in accordance with the published QF/BA fare rules.

What if there are no ticketing time limits within the fare rule such as full economy and round world explorer fares?

All unrestricted fares must be ticketed at least 7 days prior to flight departure. For bookings made within 7 days prior to flight departure, the ticket must be issued within three (3) calendar days.

What happens to the ticketing time limit if the itinerary is changed?

The ticketing time limit will be applicable to the first segment in the PNR. If this segment is changed, a new ticketing time limit will apply. The applicable ticketing time limit must be adhered to regardless of any other itinerary changes.

What happens if there is a waitlisted segment in the booking?

Flight Firming will not exempt a PNR with a waitlisted segment. If there is at least one segment confirmed then the ticketing time limit must be adhered to.

How often does Flight Firming review bookings?

Flight Firming reviews all Qantas bookings created by Qantas offices, travel agents and other airlines 24 hours a day.

How does Flight Firming process actually work?

The process looks at Qantas segments against the furthest destination in the PNR to determine the date in which the booking requires a ticket number to be entered. At 72 hours prior to the applicable ticketing time limit the booking will be reviewed to validate whether a valid ticket number or payment advice is in the PNR. Note: a valid PTA or Ticket on Departure (TOD) must be entered into the PNR by a Qantas office.

What message does the Flight Firming process send to advise of ticketing requirement?

An SSR message will be sent to the Travel Agent 72 hours prior to the ticketing time limit. This will advise that a ticket number is required in accordance with the fare rule to avoid auto cancellation.

What if a valid ticket number is not entered before the ticketing time limit?

The booking will be auto cancelled. Note a reminder message would have been communicated 72 hours prior advising of the upcoming ticketing time limit.

What does a Travel Agent receive to advise that their booking has been auto cancelled?

A final SSR cancellation message (HX message) will be sent to the Travel Agent.

Are Travel Agents required to remove the HX segments after the booking has been auto cancelled?

As a GDS system user, a business requirement is to cancel all unwanted segments. Ongoing monitoring will occur to ensure Travel Agents and Qantas Offices comply with this procedure.

If flights are auto cancelled, can they be reinstated?

Flights will need to be sold again from best fare availability in a GDS display as per current procedure. If the existing fare is no longer available, a new fare will need to be quoted applicable to the new booking class.

If a booking is to be ticketed by Qantas and payment will not reach Qantas in time, what action should be taken?

The agent should contact Qantas before expiry of ticket time limit.

Does the Flight Firming process also apply to Groups bookings?

Due to the nature of group movements, Qantas Group Sales will operate their own schedule of ticketing time limits. Please consult Qantas Group Sales for their ticketing time limit information at time of booking.

Where can I get further information about Ticketing Time Limits and Flight Firming?

For specific information regarding ticketing time limits and fares please contact Qantas:

• In Canada on 1 800 227 4500
• In Mexico on 1 800 892 9761
• In the United States on 1 800 227 4500

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