Why does QF not allow Plat or Gold to catch the next avail flight regardless of what class booked.

Why does QF not allow Plat or Gold to catch the next avail flight regardless of what class booked. ( I am normally stuck on Red E Deals )

I think its cheaper than me sitting in the lounge drinking red, using wifi, eating food etc.

Any thoughts behind it

Because you booked a cheap flight that has restrictive conditions.

If you want flexibility, you need to pay for it.. otherwise every tiered member would just book a cheap fare

Note that Virgin used to have this policy - until it effectively got abused by people booking the "generally cheapest" last flight of the day and flying when they wanted

Because they're a business, not a charity and you can't have everything: a cheap fare and full flexibility 

i didnt realise virgin had stopped that policy

oh well i don't mind sitting in the lounge enjoyng the red

i enjoy the qf charity in that regard

I thought Virgin still had the "fly ahead"

They still do for Velocity Gold and Platinum members. According to the Velocity web site: "Available to guests travelling with hand luggage only and subject to availability of seats in the same fare class or lower".   For business travellers who's corporate travel policy requires flights to be booked on the (cheaper) non-flexi fares when available, the ability to roll-forward onto an earlier flight at the airport is one of the key differentiators when choosing to fly Qantas vs Virgin.

yes but they have been becoming more ruthless on the "same fare class or lower" - basically preventing you from using fly ahead if on cheap tickets

I've been "Flown ahead" a lot of times as a VA Plat even with checked luggage no problems, on a Saver fare infact, I think I only ever asked for it once, every other time it was offered to me, I even once said "oh I can't because I'm on the cheapest fare." The agent just looked at me and said "but you're platinum so I can do it."

Depends who you get on the day I guess, as with everything YMMV.

I have "flown ahead" as a Velocity Gold at least 20 times in the last 2 years, almost always from the cheapest fare.  In fact, I don't think I have ever been told no to that request.

airADL,

The marginal cost of giving you free wine, food, showers, Foxtel and wifi is considerably lower than the potential lost income from people who pay a premium to have flexibility. If there is a route to flexibility that does not involve a financial premium, the business model becomes redundant for a sub-section of the target market. The line needs to be held otherwise the model breaks.

how can virgin do this then

I also heard it is common with AA

As above I have no complaints as I enjoy the buisness lounge on a red e deal

I think they are losing money on me and my friends I take in

Virgin is doing it to steal business away from Qantas. But it would seem from the posts above that this perk is being curtailed somewhat. Once an effective duopoly is achieved between Qantas and Virgin, I should expect such perks to be removed.

AA is operating in a larger market with more competitors, so the pressure to offer better value is high on the agenda. For example, in addition to the same-day flight change, top tier Aadvantage members get free upgrades on domestic flights as a matter of course. 

For every person who would drink the house down, there will be more who do not drink or drinks moderately. It will all average out. I'm sure they work out their budgets on average consumption. You and your friends would, assuming a fairly normal distribution, be outliers. I'm sure their business model in the lounge is robust enough to account for those "revenge consumers".

Well put TRB

At the end of the day it is what it is. 

Another Australian duopoly is just what we need.