Releasing Classic Award Seats for a WP

[bablong]

Hi all. I was thinking of taking advantage of the new Perth Auckland direct flight and wanted to burn some points. Unfortunately, for the dates I can travel on there is only business class availability and I don't have enough points for me and the family to book that class. As a WP, will Qantas release seats in economy if I ring them up? I seem to remember reading something about this but I am not sure if it is just a plat one benefit.

 

[kpc]

Yes it is a benefit for lowly plats as well. Call them up...you will need to pay the award assistance booking fee tho.

 

[bablong]

Thanks. I will try my luck

 

[amaroo]

Good luck - I've never had any when I've asked.

 

[Grooba]

Interested to know how you go bablong, please report back.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Good luck - I've never had any when I've asked.

I have had success with this (including quite recently), but it's up to Yield Management to say yes or no - sometimes this happens while you are on the phone, sometimes the Plat Line will need to wait for an answer and then call you back.

As a general rule, if there's availability in the 'deep discount' buckets for whatever class, then the answer will be yes. (Providing you're not looking for 6 Business tickets on Christmas Eve, etc...)

 

[amaroo]

I have had success with this (including quite recently), but it's up to Yield Management to say yes or no - sometimes this happens while you are on the phone, sometimes the Plat Line will need to wait for an answer and then call you back.

As a general rule, if there's availability in the 'deep discount' buckets for whatever class, then the answer will be yes. (Providing you're not looking for 6 Business tickets on Christmas Eve, etc...)

My problem is I'm always looking for 4. Not peak periods - but alway 4. I've learnt the best way around is CX or BA as they always have seats available but you've got to want to go to HKG or SIN first.

 

[boomy]

I managed to get 2 seats released on a flight to HNL by calling the WP/P1 line.
It's always a good idea to call them.

 

[blessed11]

Called the WP line a month ago and got 2 x F class seats SYD-LAX-SYD departing 25th Dec.

 

[Kangol]

Called the WP line a month ago and got 2 x F class seats SYD-LAX-SYD departing 25th Dec.

Booked as a classic or ASA?

 

[blessed11]

Booked as a classic or ASA?

Unfortunately you cannot book seats which are requested and released as an ASA. I've attempted many times. Booked as a Classic

 

[Kangol]

Unfortunately you cannot book seats which are requested and released as an ASA. I've attempted many times. Booked as a Classic

I know, thought you may have been lucky given the recent changes to the website.

 

[blessed11]

I know, thought you may have been lucky given the recent changes to the website.

I wish! Got EF alert to see if seats are released. If so, will book as ASA or via Asia Miles (substantially cheaper). Though, I'm thankful to get seats during xmas period.

 

[Danger]

For a request to even be considered there must be availability in Q bucket.

 

[doczim]

For a request to even be considered there must be availability in Q bucket.

hello
based on the above post does that mean I am at least still able to be "considered"? for a ( well 3 really) J award seats to be released if requested ?

SYD - DFW : J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T5 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0 X9 E0
LAX - BNE : J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T7 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0 X3 E0

I know it is still dependant on other things, but anyone with experience on this what do you think chances are?

 

[Danger]

hello
based on the above post does that mean I am at least still able to be "considered"? for a ( well 3 really) J award seats to be released if requested ?

SYD - DFW : J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T5 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0 X9 E0
LAX - BNE : J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T7 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0 X3 E0

I know it is still dependant on other things, but anyone with experience on this what do you think chances are?

Correct. A request will be considered.

 

[doczim]

Correct. A request will be considered.

thanks Danger..here's hoping! shame I couldnt then get them to book it MASA!! - am I right in say that if I book it classic, and then for some reason they do release J class classics that I could then ring and try the whole MASA thing per the threads here?

I was about 6k short for J class BNE-LAX return so thought I would just top up points for a few hundred dollars and all ok. Then we re-routed to go BNE-SYD-DFW which added $16k points( then x 3) to the outbound leg so I will be nearly 60k short. so we may have to go back to BNE -LAX return or do one leg PE. What are people's here thoughts on that? I was considering leaving the J class leg for the return home as I thought going over we'd be all excited and could "schlep" PE - for that matter was going to even do Y. But then another school of thought was going over in J as a luxury start to the holiday. I know ultimately it comes down to us and what suits us, but looking for other perspectives on things we may not have considered. We have never experienced PE leave alone J class international, so just don't know what to expect eg how PE might actually be compared to Y.

 

[Danger]

thanks Danger..here's hoping! shame I couldnt then get them to book it MASA!! - am I right in say that if I book it classic, and then for some reason they do release J class classics that I could then ring and try the whole MASA thing per the threads here?

That I can't help you on, I'm afraid, but I think the answer is no. If you've requested a seat be made available and you get lucky, it's that seat as a classic award or nothing.

 

[JohnPhelan]

If you can only do J one way, I would definitely make it the LAX-BNE leg, as that's a completely overnight leg - so sleep on the flat bed will be the big advantage.

With the number of seats available in I class, you should stand a good chance of getting at least one seat released as U (classic award J) class. I fear you might be stretching it to try to get three, however ......

 

[scheps]

So getting them to release 1 x J in october for oz to lax is not too hard then? Gonna give it a go and see!