Anyone had luck booking 90K J Savers to Europe next summer?

[dsotm]

Just scoping out for 2025. There seems to be zero 90K business award seats to LHR or Europe from MEL next year. In fact, no availability from today as far as the booking window is open. Has anyone been lucky enough to book anything? Should I be looking at paid flights into Asia, then QR saver into Europe?

 

[StayGoldPonyboy]

Had a quick look and can see some from Doha>Europe (if I look at release as far out as possible). I am QR silver though not sure that makes any difference

 

[dsotm]

It’s the Melbourne to Doha leg that’s the impossible one. Unless you can book one continuous booking, it costs a lot more than 90K points.

 

[StayGoldPonyboy]

%

 

[levelnine]

Yes, it's out there. You should broaden your search criteria. Consider leaving from BNE/PER/ADL and arriving into AMS/CDG.

 

[dsotm]

Yes, it's out there. You should broaden your search criteria. Consider leaving from BNE/PER/ADL and arriving into AMS/CDG.

Thanks, will try that. ADL could be a good option

 

[WilsonM]

MEL and SYD are quite popular, so is LHR. You could also try LGW, or maybe departing from AKL even

Be careful of the QR988/QR989 legs that go via MEL (especially returning, as it's an overnight stay at MEL) - unfortunately, even if you see it from ADL-MEL-DOH, it still might not be available as just MEL-DOH.

 

[Hunter4vr]

I feel that QR have not released any availability to and from Australia past 26th of June. I've been checking for a return flight in mid-July every day since the dates have opened up on QR PC and have not seen anything. Flights from Europe have wide availability but nothing from Doha.

I'm certain they will open up some seats eventually, it's just a question of when, which is slightly annoying.

 

[Mon]

Just scoping out for 2025. There seems to be zero 90K business award seats to LHR or Europe from MEL next year. In fact, no availability from today as far as the booking window is open. Has anyone been lucky enough to book anything? Should I be looking at paid flights into Asia, then QR saver into Europe?

I'm glad you started this conversation because I've not found any 90k, either. And the AMS/CDG dates and routes I've searched also come up with no Saver space. I can see some Flexi here and there.

 

[Kuz]

Just scoping out for 2025. There seems to be zero 90K business award seats to LHR or Europe from MEL next year. In fact, no availability from today as far as the booking window is open. Has anyone been lucky enough to book anything? Should I be looking at paid flights into Asia, then QR saver into Europe?

Managed to book an award flight from SYD to Athens for mid June 2025 through Qatar for 85k Avios. First time success booking an award seat. Trying to do the same for the return leg but absolutely no luck. My return dates are flexible from mid Aug 2025. I’ve been checking online daily for this elusive return leg. I read that Qatar blocked award travel for July 2025 so hoping they it opens up more towards the shoulder season.

 

[WilsonM]

It does seem QR has blocked (or effectively never released) saver availability beyond June 26, to destinations such as Australia etc (as said by @Hunter4vr).

But there is actually saver availability to other places in Asia such as KUL into early July. You might need to get creative, but you could book with QR Avios all the way back to Australia, just with an extra stop in Asia.

 

[Mon]

Managed to book an award flight from SYD to Athens for mid June 2025 through Qatar for 85k Avios. First time success booking an award seat. Trying to do the same for the return leg but absolutely no luck. My return dates are flexible from mid Aug 2025. I’ve been checking online daily for this elusive return leg. I read that Qatar blocked award travel for July 2025 so hoping they it opens up more towards the shoulder season.

@Kuz, I wasn't sure if I interpreted right but if you mean you booked your first award ticket, huge congratulations! And at 85k, no less, not even 90?! Hope we can find some August 2025 gold in the form of Saver J tickets.

@WilsonM, thanks for confirming the lack of availability and offering solutions. You are quite right, Asia seems to have Saver space. Can you please elaborate on your 'get creative' - you mean book Europe to Asia with QR, and then get home on a partner booking? I'm not exactly an old hand at Avios and tried multi-city award but it still went via Doha on QR, couldn't see partner flights, so wanted to seek clarification, just owning my ignorance over here! I'm looking at the other way around, Aus-Europe.

 

[WilsonM]

@WilsonM, thanks for confirming the lack of availability and offering solutions. You are quite right, Asia seems to have Saver space. Can you please elaborate on your 'get creative' - you mean book Europe to Asia with QR, and then get home on a partner booking? I'm not exactly an old hand at Avios and tried multi-city award but it still went via Doha on QR, couldn't see partner flights, so wanted to seek clarification, just owning my ignorance over here! I'm looking at the other way around, Aus-Europe.

Only certain partner flights appear when searching with QR Avios, but you can book pretty much any Oneworld airline using BA Avios, and of course, you can transfer between at 1:1.

So if your only point balance is Avios and there's absolutely nothing from Australia, you might consider using BA Avios to get from Sydney - Singapore, have a lovely stop in Singapore, and then use QR Avios to get from Singapore to Europe. You might also consider using BA Avios on MH to KUL, or perhaps CX to HKG, then QR onwards. You can also book these partners using QR Avios, although you'd have to call up as not all Oneworld partners show up on QR, while on BA they do online. You'd have to book separately though, hence why I'd say have a stopover.

It's going to cost more than simply 90k direct to Europe though, but if you're stuck, it's an option. Cancellation fees for both QR and BA are minimal at best, so you could secure flights now, and then wait and see what pops up - at worst, you have a 2 stop solution to Europe on some great airlines. At best, you pay a small cancellation fee and you book QR from Australia.

 

[Mon]

Only certain partner flights appear when searching with QR Avios, but you can book pretty much any Oneworld airline using BA Avios, and of course, you can transfer between at 1:1.

So if your only point balance is Avios and there's absolutely nothing from Australia, you might consider using BA Avios to get from Sydney - Singapore, have a lovely stop in Singapore, and then use QR Avios to get from Singapore to Europe. You might also consider using BA Avios on MH to KUL, or perhaps CX to HKG, then QR onwards. You can also book these partners using QR Avios, although you'd have to call up as not all Oneworld partners show up on QR, while on BA they do online. You'd have to book separately though, hence why I'd say have a stopover.

It's going to cost more than simply 90k direct to Europe though, but if you're stuck, it's an option. Cancellation fees for both QR and BA are minimal at best, so you could secure flights now, and then wait and see what pops up - at worst, you have a 2 stop solution to Europe on some great airlines. At best, you pay a small cancellation fee and you book QR from Australia.

Got you - thanks for elaborating, @WilsonM, appreciate it muchly. I have indeed booked, cancelled and rebooked (QR) Avios flights once before and it was relatively painless. (... I say relatively as the cost was doable but the notorious phone support were in fine form! Told me two different things (not the first time they've done that) and were exceedingly unhelpful throughout the process. Online chat support came through and manually refunded points instantly so I could book that J Flexi when it popped up on same flight, months later. I had nabbed the two savers, and had to book the other in Y while I saved up/'sale-d' up another 45k to grab the 180k J Flexi.)

It's going to cost more than simply 90k direct to Europe though, but if you're stuck, it's an option.

If I've read this right, I think you're referring to Aus - Doha - Europe in J Flexi at 180k here.

Thanks so much again for sharing your insights. Very helpful in sussing out the options.

 

[Kuz]

Just scoping out for 2025. There seems to be zero 90K business award seats to LHR or Europe from MEL next year. In fact, no availability from today as far as the booking window is open. Has anyone been lucky enough to book anything? Should I be looking at paid flights into Asia, then QR saver into Europe?

As I posted a few weeks ago about booking a one way bus class award seat from SYD to ATH late June 2025 for 85k avos, I managed to finally snag that return flight, again for 85k avios. It appears Qatar has started to release award bus class from ATH to ADE & MEL, from the 26 Aug 2025. I booked ATH to ADE bus class though I wanted to fly into SYD, but can’t see availability as yet for SYD. So, if anyone is looking to leave Europe late Aug next year, there are now bus class seats available for ADE & MEL for the 26th & 27th Aug. I also received confirmation that the DOHA to ADE leg is on the A350 & QSuites. I’m absolutely delighted ! Just need to book the flight back home to SYD from ADE so I’m thinking I’ll need at least 3 to 4hrs to transfer. I’m very new to this game so to say I’m thrilled is an understatement. Just wanted to share this update & let my fellow travellers know that it looks like Qatar has now started to release award availability from Europe to Australia.

 

[Human]

As I posted a few weeks ago about booking a one way bus class award seat from SYD to ATH late June 2025 for 85k avos, I managed to finally snag that return flight, again for 85k avios. It appears Qatar has started to release award bus class from ATH to ADE & MEL, from the 26 Aug 2025. I booked ATH to ADE bus class though I wanted to fly into SYD, but can’t see availability as yet for SYD. So, if anyone is looking to leave Europe late Aug next year, there are now bus class seats available for ADE & MEL for the 26th & 27th Aug. I also received confirmation that the DOHA to ADE leg is on the A350 & QSuites. I’m absolutely delighted ! Just need to book the flight back home to SYD from ADE so I’m thinking I’ll need at least 3 to 4hrs to transfer. I’m very new to this game so to say I’m thrilled is an understatement. Just wanted to share this update & let my fellow travellers know that it looks like Qatar has now started to release award availability from Europe to Australia.

Well done @Kuz !

Last year, Qatar basically didn't make any business class awards available (apart from the "Flex" awards which cost double the points) to/from Europe in Summer. Lots of us surmised that it was because of the Paris Olympics.

I'm now beginning to wonder if this is a yearly pattern, of Qatar not making awards available during the peak European summer period, but then making them available again once that period is over.

 

[dsotm]

Just wanted to share this update & let my fellow travellers know that it looks like Qatar has now started to release award availability from Europe to Australia.

Wow, well spotted. My dates don't correspond with Athen next year. but I will monitor the QR site more closely for AMS-MEL or ADL.

 

[Duffa]

Got mine to Dublin for the Open golf for 108,000 each. (MEL- DUB 2 pax J) I'm "OK" with the extra 20% on the saver fare to get there on peak time. Still costs less than everyone else.

 

[dsotm]

Got mine to Dublin for the Open golf for 108,000 each. (MEL- DUB 2 pax J) I'm "OK" with the extra 20% on the saver fare to get there on peak time. Still costs less than everyone else.

That would late July? Did you book a while back?

 

[BriarFlyer]

Thanks for posting @Kuz. I've been monitoring for a while and had given up on Savers. Transferred the extra points to cover Flexi but now you've given me hope of grabbing the cheaper version.

@Duffa. Interested to know how you found 108,000. I'm only seeing 180,000 for flexi between 27 June and 25 August (seems to have been a two-month blackout on Saver releases.)