Is there an easy way to know what 'booking class' you are likely to be placed in when purchasing a flight online?

Is there an easy way to know what 'booking class' you are likely to be placed in when purchasing a flight online?

A bit disgruntled having recently returned from a SYD-NRT-HKG-SYD trip to not have earnt any Status Credits or Points on the CX flight from NRT-HKG - all bought on the one ticket through Qantas online.

I know that a Red-e-deal is classed as 'Discount Economy', however six discount fares are still valid for QF status on CX (BHKLMV). However, apparently I was booked in N. Which is one of the few not eligible.

a) How frustrating and arbitrary and b) how is one to know in advance?

The Qantas website does not show booking class at all. Some other airlines and third-party booking engines onine do. Your best bet is to go through a travel agent. Either rely on the agent to secure the relevant "points and status-earning" flights or advise them of the class needed. The details of which classes differ for each airine and can be found usually in the Terms and Conditions or n their FF website. Hope this helps! Jackson.

Agreed that it can be frustrating... One would have thought it could be simple, but apparently not.

The only way I know to have any chance of knowing the booking class (at least on QF) is to book through a travel agent, as they are able to see into the booking system. Some of the online 'agents' (ie Expedia) will show the booking class as well.

It's not exactly simple but it can be done at "Step 3 Review your flights".

Right click and "view source".

The booking classes are buried about half way down the page.

Looks like this:

mileageRequest += "&CLASSES=L-L,N-N"

Thanks everyone.

I hadn't heard of trying to "view source". I'll give it a go next time. Thanks for the tip.

I wrote to Qantas asking the same question, thought I'd share the response (bold added myself), which I think kind of misses the point of the issue:

"...While the booking system will generally offer Qantas flights, there are times when flights with partner airlines will be offered due to the route etc.  This is to enable customers to book a complete itinerary. As you may appreciate, not everyone who books flights on-line at qantas.com is a member of the program and seeking only to book flights which earn points.

Unfortunately it s not currently possible to check the exact letter class for flights being booked on-line.  Additionally, due to the range of restrictions across all our different partner airlines, it s not possible to include information about which may or may not earn points..."


No explanation of why the can't display the booking class online (a number of other airlines do it as I understand). Given that it can make such a difference in terms of retaining a status level, and therefore can influence booking preferences, I would imagine that this kind of information should be standard.