QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

[pjm99au]

Yes and no I didn’t ask for F.

 

[CorporateFlyerMEL]

Someone mentioned earlier in this thread (I think in response to a post of mine) that availability may need to show LHR-MEL and MEL-LHR in the appropriate classes, even when only travelling on the domestic sectors.

you can request just the domestic sectors on QF9/10 - it is separate inventory than to/from LHR

 

[bPeteb]

bAlt and I are in discussion over when I call (if I don't snag a reward seat, hahaha) for request to release a seat on Aug 1 next year SYD-JNB. I have 14/8, bAlt 12/08. I have to be ready as the clock strikes 10.

 

[Flyfrequently]

bAlt and I are in discussion over when I call (if I don't snag a reward seat, hahaha) for request to release a seat on Aug 1 next year SYD-JNB. I have 14/8, bAlt 12/08. I have to be ready as the clock strikes 10.

 

[RichardMEL]

There is ‘I’ availability, but no Business Sale fares, only Business Saver and Flex.

I'd note that while "Sale" fares tend to book into I inventory, the existence of "I" inventory doesn't mean such fares exist in the particular market being searched 9or even from the Point of Sale). Sales fares are, as we all know, time limited, so only filed to be active for specific periods of time so you won't always see such fares in a market even if the appropriate inventory exists.

Further, a flight can have inventory show, and no sales fares in that particular market, but sale fares may appear in another market inclusive of the flight being looked at. By that I mean, as hypothetical and made up example, that say one is looking at SYD-PER and we see I inventory show, but there's no sales on for SYD-PER, the lowest available is a "D" fare. Ah but SYD-FCO (via PER) may be having a Business Sale. and voila.

Or perhaps put more simply: "While most QF Business Sale Fares book into I, not all I inventory may only be available for Business Sale fares"

 

[jukebox333]

Trying to get a pre Christmas J run across to the East Coast and back for two, all legs okay except MEL-PER, where my request for seats on QF9 on 21, 22 and 23rd were all knocked back.

Had my QF9 status as "requested" for 24 hrs then got the dreaded "call us" email.

Went back this morning and tried for a new set of dates (1/1 - 7/1) but still could not get QF9 MEL-PER, however was able to have 2 J seats on QF775 (A330 metal) released, so built an itinerary around that.

I do plan to go back closer to the departure date and see if QF9 frees up - the 787 trans continental is a favourite run of mine - YMMV, but I think the cabin crew on those make an extra effort as it's a quasi international flight.

 

[bPeteb]

Called right on 10 and was answered within a minute. Asked for any of J, Y+ or Y for SYD-JNB, one seat, August 1. Sale Y+ available to book (not sure what fare class) but computer said no to J and Y+, but yes to Y. Fingers crossed for something up the front on the way home when I call again in three weeks.

Kirsten in HBA was fantastic! Linked the other six revenue+reward bookings, then re-seated us on all the flights we have over the next however many months.

edit - Just realised we'll be somewhere between Silent Grove and Mount Barnett Station on Sep 6 when I need to call so the chances of me being able to are slim.

 

[ozflier]

Had my QF9 status as "requested" for 24 hrs then got the dreaded "call us" email.

Went back this morning and tried for a new set of dates (1/1 - 7/1) but still could not get QF9 MEL-PER, however was able to have 2 J seats on QF775 (A330 metal) released, so built an itinerary around that.

I do plan to go back closer to the departure date and see if QF9 frees up - the 787 trans continental is a favourite run of mine - YMMV, but I think the cabin crew on those make an extra effort as it's a quasi international flight.

"the 787 trans continental is a favourite run of mine"
Anything has to be better than the current J class offering in a 737 for such a long domestic flight !

 

[Princess Fiona]

2x J seats released on QF15 for early Sep.

Was I class on it but can’t recall numbers.
Bot said no but was approved on manual review.
They also released U on the connecting flight from SYD

 

[oz_boater]

2x J seats released on QF15 for early Sep.

Bot said no but was approved on manual review.

What is this "Bot" that is being referred to here?

Am slowly working my way through the 80 page of posts to try and work it out, but a quick explanation would be much appreciated

Thanks

Richard

 

[bPeteb]

What is this "Bot" that is being referred to here?

Am slowly working my way through the 80 page of posts to try and work it out, but a quick explanation would be much appreciated

Thanks

Richard

It's a robot programme. Details of member, flight and release request put in. Yes or no or review (if P1) spat out

 

[oz_boater]

It's a robot programme. Details of member and flight request put in. Yes or no spat out

Thanks

Is this accessible by Platinum FF directly, or is it the part of the software the support staff use when you ring?

I am a platinum myself, runs out Oct 31st with no chance of renewal, and would like to use some of my 600K points on International business bookings before it does.

So this thread is fascinating because "Classic" reward "Business" seats are hard to find (except on Jetstar - which is not really Business of course)

 

[justinbrett]

Thanks

Is this accessible by Platinum FF directly, or is it the part of the software the support staff use when you ring?

I am a platinum myself, runs out Oct 31st with no chance of renewal, and would like to use some of my 600K points on International business bookings before it does.

So this thread is fascinating because "Classic" reward "Business" seats are hard to find (except on Jetstar - which is not really Business of course)

No it's an internal tool used by QF, you'll never see it, and likely not even hear a mention of it.

Your best tool is Expert Flyer to see which flights have I availability, and then ask for those seats to be released. It's not guaranteed, but it's much more likely than just shooting in the dark. On some routes it can be hard to find I availability.

If you want to go in the next two months, seats.aero is free.

 

[bPeteb]

You call the call centre and as a Plat you'll go through to the premium team. Only P or higher can request. You then ask if they can release seats in class x on flight y and if they can they will. As Justin has just posted you can check in EF. I don't have EF so I called today with fingers crossed (as I shot into the dark ).

 

[oz_boater]

You call the call centre and as a Plat you'll go through to the premium team. Only P or higher can request. You then ask if they can release seats in class x on flight y and if they can they will. As Justin has just posted you can check in EF. I don't have EF so I called today with fingers crossed (as I shot into the dark ).

Thanks

I am a long standing member of Expert Flyer, and have used it to search for award fares often.

Just did not realise it was possible to get As and Is converted (sometimes)

Even my boss, who is a P1 and has been for years, didn’t know you could.

I am supposed to fly back from bkk to Syd Jan 20th and I see there are no I, but there are plenty of “As” out of Singapore

I am also flying Tokyo to Syd on the 26th and there are no Us but plenty of Is

 

[justinbrett]

Thanks

I am a long standing member of Expert Flyer, and have used it to search for award fares often.

Just did not realise it was possible to get As and Is converted (sometimes)

Even my boss, who is a P1 and has been for years, didn’t know you could.

I am supposed to fly back from bkk to Syd Jan 20th and I see there are no I, but there are plenty of “As” out of Singapore

I am also flying Tokyo to Syd on the 26th and there are no Us but plenty of Is

I think it's easier to get Is converted to U as I is the lowest of 4 revenue J classes; whereas A is the lowest of two F classes.

That said, most people don't want to book F. My point is it's a good sign when I is available, but seeing A isn't that great because a lot of flights have A availability. Either way it's up to the droid.

 

[Ade]

WP request released 2xY CR CBR-MEL last week. No CR-Y available on the CBR-MEL, so was offered a CR-J. Return leg got CR-Y. All good & happy. Took less than 5 mins to request, release & book.

 

[oz_boater]

Just called QANTAS to s3ee about releasing an A or I Sydney to Heathrow return
Out April 21st (I3 on QF1), back June 1st (I9 on QF2)

Declined

A few bits of advice the chap on the premium desk gave:

1) Only request 1 flight pair at a time

2) If you are declined straight away - that is it - only goes to a human if they don't get an immediate response (seems to contradict previous advice that it will go the a human to assess again anyway)

3) Give it 48 hours before ringing back and trying again with different days as once system rejects you once it will likely keep doing so (maybe superstition? - if this is correct it seems incredibly inefficient)

What has other people's experience been? If the 1st flight checked gets rejected have immediate followups been accepted (for different flights / day).

There is a window of "I"s from April 21st till 24th Syd - Heathrow and then plenty of "I"s coming back in early June so lots of flights to test.

Will call back on Thursday and see where I get to.

Have checked my bookings and there is no place holder for a Syd - Heathrow flight

 

[Princess Fiona]

Just called QANTAS to s3ee about releasing an A or I Sydney to Heathrow return
Out April 21st (I3 on QF1), back June 1st (I9 on QF2)

Declined

A few bits of advice the chap on the premium desk gave:

1) Only request 1 flight pair at a time

2) If you are declined straight away - that is it - only goes to a human if they don't get an immediate response (seems to contradict previous advice that it will go the a human to assess again anyway)

3) Give it 48 hours before ringing back and trying again with different days as once system rejects you once it will likely keep doing so (maybe superstition? - if this is correct it seems incredibly inefficient)

What has other people's experience been? If the 1st flight checked gets rejected have immediate followups been accepted (for different flights / day).

There is a window of "I"s from April 21st till 24th Syd - Heathrow and then plenty of "I"s coming back in early June so lots of flights to test.

Will call back on Thursday and see where I get to.

Have checked my bookings and there is no place holder for a Syd - Heathrow flight

You can definitely request more than one flight pair at a time.
It’s only P1 that can have a human look at the request.
There are no other ways for Platinum other than the automatic bot.

Number 3 sounds like rubbish. Never heard of such a thing.
Do you know where the Agent was based ?
I can’t imagine anyone in HBA saying this.

 

[RichardMEL]

Agree wth PF on this. Now sure, as P1, there's extra latitude, but I've both put in multiple flight requests at once - with the notion of attaining at least one. Indeed the last time I did this (a couple of months ago for September travel) the HBA agent suggested it and was more than happy to put in multiple routings fr the same destination (DFW in this particular case) Luckily my first choice came back a few hours later approved after manual review, so quickly removed the others. Perhaps WP doesn't have that same leeway, but I suspect that is more agent based (and of course, no recourse to review).

Also agree with the "try again in 48 hours" comment as not following the sniff test. IMO the "bot" makes an assessment at that time and date and it's yes or no. Now, they may (probably) keep records of all requests per FF# and that MAY be a factor (Iirc someone commented on AFF recently regarding number of successful release requests in a prior period may be a factor in determining new requests, but that's totally anecdotal) but I don't see how that would influence an alternate request for a different flight/date combo as that's a different assessment totally to my way of thinking.