Anomalies Qantas Booking System

[Stargazer]

I have just been playing around with the Qantas booking system and I noted some inconsistencies. I called QFF to get some clarification and the consultant I spoke to didn't really know. So over to the experts.

I looked at MEL-HKG-MEL in business class (classic award). Depending on the month I looked at the points could differ. For example in October I found a booking at 111,000 points + taxes and in September the same booking required 144,000 points + taxes. Is this some sort of seasonal adjustment (eg difference between high or low season)?

Secondly, the same destination and fare type (classic award) -- I noted that even on the same day using different flights there could be substantial differences in the points required to fly. For example MEL-HKG-MEL the points differed between 123,000 + taxes and 144,000 + taxes . Do airlines on the same route and fare class as a general rule differ in the points required to fly?

 

[ricee007]

I have just been playing around with the Qantas booking system and I noted some inconsistencies. I called QFF to get some clarification and the consultant I spoke to didn't really know. So over to the experts.

I looked at MEL-HKG-MEL in business class (classic award). Depending on the month I looked at the points could differ. For example in October I found a booking at 111,000 points + taxes and in September the same booking required 144,000 points + taxes. Is this some sort of seasonal adjustment (eg difference between high or low season)?

Secondly, the same destination and fare type (classic award) -- I noted that even on the same day using different flights there could be substantial differences in the points required to fly. For example MEL-HKG-MEL the points differed between 123,000 + taxes and 144,000 + taxes . Do airlines on the same route and fare class as a general rule differ in the points required to fly?

I genuinely don't know, but, is the same type of aeroplane the same amount of points?

Or are you comparing 747 v A380 prices?

 

[oz_mark]

Can you give some example dates?

 

[Stargazer]

I genuinely don't know, but, is the same type of aeroplane the same amount of points?

Or are you comparing 747 v A380 prices?

I didn't check the type of aircraft!!! Didn't think that was necessary.

 

[Stargazer]

Can you give some example dates?

Good point. I spent a couple of hours going over the various options and my notes are in a sorry state. I guess I should have kept a clearer record of the steps that I took.

 

[richie9x]

The distance from Melbourne to HK is about 4590 miles. In business class that would be 60,000 each way as a Qantas classic reward. So 120,000 points total. see Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Partner Classic Awards - Points Tables

I think you might be coming across two issues. Even though you are searching for business flights, Qantas can return a mixture of domestic business class and international economy class. This is a really annoying quirk.

The other issue I think you might be having is you are selecting some flights from Cathay Pacific. When you do this the flight costs more points.

For the cost of booking MEL-SYD (QF Business) and SYD-HKG (CX Economy) then return HKG-MEL (QF Business) would be 111,000 points. Which does match one of your searches.

 

[JohnK]

There are plenty of anomalies with the Qantas award booking engine and richie9x has probably highlighted the most common one where part of the trip is actually in a lower booking class, usually the longest part of the trip, but Qantas feels like they have a right to charge a premium for the whole trip.

But just the same there appears to be some glitch in the Qantas award booking engine when offering flights and pricing the QFF points required

Wed 5 September 2012 MEL-SYD QF428 Business
Wed 5 September 2012 SYD-HKG QF87 Business
Sun 30 September 2012 HKG-MEL QF30 Business

Is quoting 132,000 QFF points for classic award. Shouldn't this be 120,000 QFF points? I have tried splitting up the booking to MEL-HKG and HKG-MEL and still get that anomaly of quoting 72,000 QFF points for MEL-SYD-HKG.

By the way stargazer as soon as you find some availability that you feel suits you then book it immediately and do not wait to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Otherwise put travel off for another year as it would appear that availability is poor at the time you want to travel.

 

[oz_mark]

Is quoting 132,000 QFF points for classic award. Shouldn't this be 120,000 QFF points? I have tried splitting up the booking to MEL-HKG and HKG-MEL and still get that anomaly of quoting 72,000 QFF points for MEL-SYD-HKG.

By the way stargazer as soon as you find some availability that you feel suits you then book it immediately and do not wait to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Otherwise put travel off for another year as it would appear that availability is poor at the time you want to travel.

Ahh. MEL-HKG is Zone 5
MEL-SYD-HKG is Zone 6.

Cases like these may be better booked as an ASA.

 

[medhead]

I didn't check the type of aircraft!!! Didn't think that was necessary.

It isn't on Qantas.

 

[Stargazer]

By the way stargazer as soon as you find some availability that you feel suits you then book it immediately and do not wait to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Otherwise put travel off for another year as it would appear that availability is poor at the time you want to travel.

Thanks for the wise words of advice. But at the same time its natural to want to book flights for the minimum number of points possible -- particularly if its taken several years to generate the points.

For the cost of booking MEL-SYD (QF Business) and SYD-HKG (CX Economy) then return HKG-MEL (QF Business) would be 111,000 points. Which does match one of your searches

I am aware of the problem with Qantas in terms of booking business class flights but then the system allocates sectors in economy. But once you put the fare in as business class, even if economy flights are allocated, you are still charged the points required for a business class fare. As far as I know (and I am brand new to this) you can't book a return classic award fare in two classes? The system won't allow this -- or am I wrong???

I spent hours today trawling through the Qantas system and then substantial time on the phone to QFF trying to get answers to my questions. QFF weren't very aware of these issues and couldn't really advise.

 

[JohnK]

Ahh. MEL-HKG is Zone 5
MEL-SYD-HKG is Zone 6.

I was thinking that may have been the case but did not have time to check. Either way if one asks for MEL-HKG and the award booking engine throws up MEL-SYD-HKG as an option the cost should still be the same.

Cases like these may be better booked as an ASA.

Easier said than done. It is hard enough trying to find classic award availability around those dates.

Thanks for the wise words of advice. But at the same time its natural to want to book flights for the minimum number of points possible -- particularly if its taken several years to generate the points.

I agree and understand.

I know how hard it is to generate points as well and like you I am saving to use for the minimum points possible as well.

I have played with that award booking engine and know that it can get extremely frustrating.