Article: Can You Book Award Flights for Other People?

[AFF Editor]

Can You Book Award Flights for Other People? is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

Can You Book Award Flights With Your Points for Other People?

Most frequent flyer programs let you use your points to book reward flights for family members. Some airlines also let you redeem points for friends or anyone else.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Forg]

That’s very interesting … maybe I shouldn’t be on AFF for not knowing that the rules Qantas uses for this aren’t the same as the rules other airlines use!

 

[Mwenenzi]

Good article.

That’s very interesting … maybe I shouldn’t be on AFF for not knowing that the rules Qantas uses for this aren’t the same as the rules other airlines use!

From the article

But the exact rules vary by frequent flyer program. Some airlines only allow you to redeem your points for immediate family members. Others place a limit on the number of other people you can book award flights for

Frequent flyer programes are not clones for each other

 

[tdimdad]

The generosity of the other programs compared to QFF is pretty clear. Though, QFF seems to be OK compared to few others.

How does QFF handle exclusive, committed relationships where the couple lives in separate locations (for whatever reason)? It's not exactly a domestic partner/de-facto so it probably comes down to how strict they are with this rule? Anyone have any experiences or sharper eyes for the respective T&C's?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There are caveats. Lot of fraud ex Asia, so booking in different names can lead to hassles at the airport. In the US, they do periodic fraud reviewed, there are well known cases where two friends redeeming for a holiday… one paid for the tickets, the other the hotel, were caught out under the prohibition to ‘barter’ points.

The last one can be a bit difficult to argue against if the airline is after you. Unless you are related in some way, it wouldn’t be usual to simply give away tickets for nothing in return. When was the last time someone offered you 50k or 100k for free?

 

[Forg]

From the article … Frequent flyer programes are not clones for each other

Yes, exactly, you quoted one of the parts of the article to which I was responding & the reason for making the comment …

 

[Nat]

I understand the Qantas position regarding booking for non-family members and it allows them to keep an eye on fraud and transfer of points for cash.

However it would be nice if they at least allowed you to book for another person if they were travelling with you.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I understand the Qantas position regarding booking for non-family members and it allows them to keep an eye on fraud and transfer of points for cash.

However it would be nice if they at least allowed you to book for another person if they were travelling with you.

Well yes but… if you could book for the person travelling with you… and assuming they’re not in any way related… are you giving your companion the ticket for free?

About the best option otherwise is to link the bookings, if that’s the concern.

 

[Nat]

Well yes but… if you could book for the person travelling with you… and assuming they’re not in any way related… are you giving your companion the ticket for free?

About the best option otherwise is to link the bookings, if that’s the concern.

I sure would, I've done so 3 times now using Kris points - I would be much more inclined to do so for my close friends rather than half of my family - Linking bookings doesn't help when they are hardly going to pay 18K in cash for a premium booking....

 

[julib]

Can You Book Award Flights for Other People? is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

Can You Book Award Flights With Your Points for Other People?

Most frequent flyer programs let you use your points to book reward flights for family members. Some airlines also let you redeem points for friends or anyone else.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Interesting. I recently booked a return QANTAS Business Reward flight MEL - PER for myself and a mate, and the QANTAS operator allowed me to do this, even though when they asked the relationship I told them it was for me and a friend. I am Platinum, and the flights were completed in June without a problem.

 

[jakeseven7]

Interesting. I recently booked a return QANTAS Business Reward flight MEL - PER for myself and a mate, and the QANTAS operator allowed me to do this, even though when they asked the relationship I told them it was for me and a friend. I am Platinum, and the flights were completed in June without a problem.

Might find out your friend was classed as a defacto by a friendly phone consultant

 

[julib]

I did think that!

 

[Jleno]

When booking a classic reward for family member using your points (but where you are not travelling with them), is there any difference between transferring them the points and then logging into their account to make the booking or just making the booking and entering their name and QF number on the booking?

I'll be paying for the taxes either way so just wondering if anyone had any experiences with one way or the other? Trying to decide which is the most hassle-free way (and reduce risk of QF stuffing up the booking).

 

[SOPOOR]

I just noticed this link

Emirates Skywards' Overzealous Account Audits

Emirates Skywards seems to be auditing frequent flyer accounts simply for transfering points from a partner and then booking a ticket. This is a problem.

onemileatatime.com

which suggests that although the emirates program says you can book for anyone, having a mismatched name might put the account into an audit and closed without explanation, thank god my redemption hasnt been audited/cancelled.........so far