QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic Reward seats?

[Quickstatus]

View an article on this topic:

How Qantas Platinum Members Can Request Extra Reward Seats

Qantas Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers can request the release of additional Classic Flight Reward seats on Qantas flights.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

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Was looking through Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas and Partner Airlines - Status Credits and Tier Benefits - Tier Benefits today

Seems like access to extra Caward seats is only available to P1 only.

I was under the impression that WP can request extra Caward seats be released where none was available. Or is this an unwritten benefit only?

 

[Ansett]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Was looking through Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas and Partner Airlines - Status Credits and Tier Benefits - Tier Benefits today

Seems like access to extra Caward seats is only available to P1 only.

I was under the impression that WP can request extra Caward seats be released where none was available. Or is this an unwritten benefit only?

It seems that it may be a cut and paste error as it refers to Gold Members when reviewing under the platinum tab.

Preferential access to selected Qantas Classic Award seats
On selected flights, preferential access to Qantas Classic Award seats for Gold members may be above the access available to Silver and Bronze members.[SUP]11[/SUP]
International Flight Upgrade Request Priority
Receive priority[SUP]36[/SUP] over Silver and Bronze Frequent Flyers for confirmation of international upgrade requests.


My Bolding

When you look under Gold Members it is the same

Preferential access to selected Qantas Classic Award seats
On selected flights, preferential access to Qantas Classic Award seats for Gold members may be above the access available to Silver and Bronze members.[SUP]11[/SUP]
International Flight Upgrade Request Priority
Receive priority[SUP]36[/SUP] over Silver and Bronze Frequent Flyers for confirmation of international upgrade requests.

 

[straitman]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Was looking through Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas and Partner Airlines - Status Credits and Tier Benefits - Tier Benefits today

Seems like access to extra Caward seats is only available to P1 only.

I was under the impression that WP can request extra Caward seats be released where none was available. Or is this an unwritten benefit only?

Not sure if it is written or unwritten but I'm using one next week that I booked a few months ago.

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Anset thx for reply

Its true cut and paste job got it wrong

However its true WP do get better access to Caward seats than SG

But I was under the impression that where NO Caward seats were available to WP , that you could ring premium desk and get maybe up to 2 cawards released?

Straitman's experience suggests this can be done

Ill be WP in 15 days

 

[Ansett]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Anset thx for reply

Its true cut and paste job got it wrong

However its true WP do get better access to Caward seats than SG

But I was under the impression that where NO Caward seats were available to WP , that you could ring premium desk and get maybe up to 2 cawards released?

Straitman's experience suggests this can be done

Ill be WP in 15 days

As a WP I have also been able to call and have Classic Awards released both Domestic and International. And Congrats for when you become WP

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Have read many posts regarding value of attaining/maintaining WP status compared with travelling without being tied to one airline.

Still unsure of the value proposition.

Being able to request release of Caward seats (where none previously available and where release is not guaranteed) may be a positive from a value perspective (if there are FF points to burn)

I wonder how many WP there are out of the 10mil FF members currently. I have heard 5%?

 

[straitman]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Not sure if it is written or unwritten but I'm using one next week that I booked a few months ago.

Just to elaborate a little. I rang Qantas Premium at about 11pm to asked and I was told I needed to be little more specific as to what I wanted. The agent put a few options into the computer and when my request came back 5 seconds later I was immediately offered seats on several flights. This was almost embarrassing as I was only asking a general question at that stage. (Flight was HKG-MEL)

 

[JohnK]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

I was able to request a business class award a couple of months ago and it was approved within minutes.

May need another seat released for August 2015 so will try again.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Done it a number if times. Only been refused once, when requested flight was 10 days away.

Trust the OP subject is just another QF coughpy web site experience.

( it had better be that only ! )

 

[Isochronous]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

I've done this several times and always been offered good options. It is probably the best WP benefit apart from F Lounge!

 

[woodborer]

I don't think it has ever been formally written as a benefit for platinum level - it has always been one of those unwritten things.

 

[opusman]

The website has always said words to the effect that "level X may have access to more seats than level X - 1". The ability to call and request additional seats to be released for a specific journey has always been an unwritten privilege.

 

[Quickstatus]

How far ahead of travel ?. 353 days? I would imagine closer to date it's the WP1 who can do this

 

[JohnK]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

May need another seat released for August 2015 so will try again.

I called last week as I wanted a business class award BKK-SYD for August 2015. Put the request in and came back 2 minutes later as rejected by the computer. The consultant was puzzled as there were still a few business class seats available and they tried a day either side and it was still rejected.

Had to go back to plan B and called an hour or so later for business class award HKG-SYD for the same date and this was approved and processed. Interesting that I was auto allocated 12J behind the bassinet where 11AB (non bassinet) are vacant. I allocated 5J instead.

I would hate to think what is going to happen when all these routes are operated by A330s in the not too distant future. Another unwritten benefit would be rendered useless.

 

[kevrosmith]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

I've done this several times and always been offered good options. It is probably the best WP benefit apart from F Lounge!

Entirely agree on this. It's one of the main reasons I try to maintain WP. I can't plan my international holiday travel 355 days in advance like other people. Requesting release for a reward seat is one of the highest privileges I regard.

 

[roncritch]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Just to clarify this...if I as a WP wanted an upgrade to J and no U class showing, (but plenty of I) they would not release to me straight away.....but if I wanted a U class seat paid for by points they would??

 

[JohnPhelan]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

I called last week as I wanted a business class award BKK-SYD for August 2015. Put the request in and came back 2 minutes later as rejected by the computer. The consultant was puzzled as there were still a few business class seats available and they tried a day either side and it was still rejected.

John, my understanding is that there need to be I class seats available for a seat to be released for a WP.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Just to clarify this...if I as a WP wanted an upgrade to J and no U class showing, (but plenty of I) they would not release to me straight away.....but if I wanted a U class seat paid for by points they would??

Correct - if you are seeking to upgrade using points for international flights, it goes in as a request and will be looked at somewhere after 7 days prior to the flight. (Often only 24 or 48 hours prior).

But as a WP, you can ask for a seat to be released - in effect, getting an I class seat converted to U, so you can redeem it with points.

 

[serfty]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

John, my understanding is that there need to be I class seats available for a seat to be released for a WP.

Likely the case - however:

If no I class then request unlikely to succeed.

If I class then request may be granted - but not necessarily.

This is from experience - I have failed to get seats releasde in both circumstances but have succeeded only with the latter.

 

[JohnK]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

John, my understanding is that there need to be I class seats available for a seat to be released for a WP.

How likely are you to find I class when there are only 28 seats in business?

How successful have people been getting business class seats released on A330 services?