Article: Latest Changes May Not Fix Qantas’ Reward Availability Problem

[Tiki]

Just try finding SYD-SCL in Y class, let alone J! For months last year all I could find was via LAX, then miraculously in Sept some Y seats opened up on random dates in Oct and I grabbed one. The plane wasn't full, there was an empty middle (thankfully) between me and the window passenger.

 

[Capricornus]

Just try finding SYD-SCL in Y class, let alone J! For months last year all I could find was via LAX, then miraculously in Sept some Y seats opened up on random dates in Oct and I grabbed one. The plane wasn't full, there was an empty middle (thankfully) between me and the window passenger.

SCL is a hard one, as LATAM gets hard block of seats in Y and J. Therefore QF capacity is significantly lower than the config. People may see empty seats but those do not belong to QF. Like your flatmate’s milk in the fridge - you can’t touch it.

 

[Mr H]

Like your flatmate’s milk in the fridge - you can’t touch it.

But what if your flatmate’s out?

 

[Capricornus]

But what if your flatmate’s out?

For all we know they will be back and will make a scene

 

[Veneto]

In this opinion piece, I explain why I think Qantas has a Classic Reward availability problem, and why the latest changes - while they may have a positive effect overall on availability - probably won't be enough to fix it in the longer term.

Opinion: Latest Changes May Not Fix Qantas' Reward Availability Problem

Qantas Frequent Flyer has an availability problem. The recent program changes including Classic Reward price hikes, the introduction of Classic Plus and expanded partner airline rewards try to fix this. But they might not be enough.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Flying business class in classic reward seats out of Perth to Europe is now virtually impossible. In the rare event of Emirates etc coming up, return taxes for two are almost $8000 AUD! For many years, as Gold QF flyers, we've relied on paying to fly economy to Singapore return and then picking up QF partner airlines business award seats Singapore to Europe/UK. Now that opportunity has virutally disappeared eg we could always rely on Finnair and now (in March 2025) there are no Finnair business class award seats out of S'pore. Our only option, now that partner airlines appear to be no longer releasing seats 353 days in advance, seems to be to wait till eg three months in advance which is stressul when other parts of the trip eg cruises etc have been booked!

 

[Seat0B]

Welcome to posting on AFF @Veneto. And I agree with you that it’s now very difficult to plan a trip relying on award flights, especially when other parts must be locked in. I’ve taken to choosing fully refundable for cars and hotels, and tours in location but have not yet worked out how to mange it for connecting to a cruise.

 

[Gold Member]

Flying business class in classic reward seats out of Perth to Europe is now virtually impossible. In the rare event of Emirates etc coming up, return taxes for two are almost $8000 AUD! For many years, as Gold QF flyers, we've relied on paying to fly economy to Singapore return and then picking up QF partner airlines business award seats Singapore to Europe/UK. Now that opportunity has virutally disappeared eg we could always rely on Finnair and now (in March 2025) there are no Finnair business class award seats out of S'pore. Our only option, now that partner airlines appear to be no longer releasing seats 353 days in advance, seems to be to wait till eg three months in advance which is stressul when other parts of the trip eg cruises etc have been booked!

Have you considered commencing your alternate ports in SE Asia? Plenty of great return business award and paid deals ex-CGK/KUL/BKK etc.

 

[OATEK]

Have you considered commencing your alternate ports in SE Asia? Plenty of great return business award and paid deals ex-CGK/KUL/BKK etc.

Still not easy to find rewards flights to those ports, which is the theme of the thread.

 

[Gold Member]

Still not easy to find rewards flights to those ports, which is the theme of the thread.

No one ever said they were easy to come by, but if the OP broadened their starting point within SE Asia the number of available awards would increase significantly. It’s just common sense.

 

[serfty]

No one ever said they were easy to come by, but if the OP broadened their starting point within SE Asia the number of available awards would increase significantly. It’s just common sense.

Agreed, also, while Business is fine, there's a lot more economy availability which is not unreasonable if you can get a short 5-6 hour day time flight OZ from/to one of those ports.

It's the longhaul overnight flights where the lay flat seating found in premium cabins come into their own.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Welcome to AFF @Veneto
Lots to read on here and good luck in finding your flights

 

[SYD]

Still not easy to find rewards flights to those ports, which is the theme of the thread.

Actually plenty of premium CR seats to two of those ports mentioned plus another. At least from the East coast.

 

[jase05]

Actually plenty of premium CR seats to two of those ports mentioned plus another. At least from the East coast.

Yep, never had too much trouble getting MH J awards from ADL-KUL and then I’ve seen it mentioned that MH currently has decent availability on their KUL-CDG route. As far as QF awards go then SYD-CGK and SYD-MNL have always had good availability in J when I’ve needed them