Article: Reward Seat Release Patterns Have Changed Fundamentally

[Pele]

I imagine most people travel on a single ticket containing both the outbound and return sets of flights, so this would be immediately apparent at check-in at the point of origin and therefore no need to ask overtly for the return flight details.

I travel almost exclusively on one way tickets and get asked for an onward ticket, not a return ticket, every single time with the exception of Dubai. They dont seem to care. Everywhere else yes.

The carrier just wants to see an onward ticket to a third country so they have not let someone board who is likely to breach visa conditions in your next country.

If i dont actually have an onward ticket i usually buy a burner LCC ticket for the cheapest country available. No intention of ever using it. Almost always less than $50. Works fine.

 

[eminere]

The carrier just wants to see an onward ticket to a third country so they have not let someone board who is likely to breach visa conditions in your next country.

Oh yes, an onward ticket would suffice in lieu of a return. The effect is to demonstrate that you intend to leave the next country (of which you're not a resident) before the time you're permitted to stay expires.

 

[MELso]

This means that all hope is not lost if you can't be booking a year out. However, what will be handy in the brave new world are a subscription to a site that allows for email alerts (e.g. ExpertFlyer/Seats.aero/Pointsyeah) and a willingness to book Y and gamble on better cabins becoming available.

This batch release approach has certainly worked for me at Christmas. I booked a SYD-SFO award in Y when I saw it was available. But later a J SYD-MEL-SFO award became available, so I cancelled the other award and booked it.

 

[Artnits23]

Have people noticed rewards tickets being released at last minute? (eg for flight 2-3 weeks out)? In particular on OW partners?

 

[Lynda2475]

so I cancelled the other award and booked it

Only an option if one has spare points to burn, otherwise its a gamble on getting a change and hope you dont lose other seats int he process.

 

[Fergo747]

Appears to devalue those with status if the batch release is the way of the future. Essentially someone with no status but lots of points has the same ability to grab a seat as I do as a P1...

 

[MELso]

Only an option if one has spare points to burn, otherwise its a gamble on getting a change and hope you dont lose other seats int he process.

Doesn't everyone on this forum have squillions of points to burn...

But yes, while there is that risk, it's still outweighed by the benefit of a much greater likelihood of being able to upgrade if you're not certain about your travel plans a year out.

 

[VPS]

Even through KL the award seats for 10-11 months out is appalling.

Post automatically merged: Sep 4, 2023

I've only been asked for this in the US.

I got asked in the UK a few years ago to show my return ticket and he wouldn't accept my TripIt - he said if it's an app you can put anything in it. I was searching through my emails for the eticket and he just said it's OK - you're obviously not fussed about my query so off you go.

 

[jpp42]

I've only been asked for [proof of return travel] in the US.

Many countries require this, close to home, New Zealand is particularly strict about it (for non-AU/NZ passport holders).

 

[kpc]

Malaysia needs a return / forward ticket otherwise you can't check in!

 

[tdimdad]

Try Japan Air since they fly to amsterdam from tokyo.. every sept i use to do.

JL flies to HEL, LHR, FRA and CDG. The routing would most logically go via HEL or LHR to connect to AY or BA.

 

[CaptJCool]

Doesn't everyone on this forum have squillions of points to burn...

But yes, while there is that risk, it's still outweighed by the benefit of a much greater likelihood of being able to upgrade if you're not certain about your travel plans a year out.

Ahh

No
Around 200,000

 

[PhilOZ]

Maybe the last reason needed to stop chasing status, use your points and get out of QANTAS. At one time being Platinum at least meant that you had some idea of when BC award seats might be available, so that you could try to get one that didn't involve 5 connections and being camped on your computer for hours on end. Now, it's just a random mess. Add to that the embarrassment that many will feel in being part of such a greedy, tax-dodging, corporate bully company. NOT a good time to reflect on being a "loyal QANTAS customer"

 

[ChrisMars]

Maybe the last reason needed to stop chasing status, use your points and get out of QANTAS. At one time being Platinum at least meant that you had some idea of when BC award seats might be available, so that you could try to get one that didn't involve 5 connections and being camped on your computer for hours on end. Now, it's just a random mess. Add to that the embarrassment that many will feel in being part of such a greedy, tax-dodging, corporate bully company. NOT a good time to reflect on being a "loyal QANTAS customer"

I agree, this devalue Status. Sad

 

[Pushka]

Maybe

Malaysia needs a return / forward ticket otherwise you can't check in!

We didnt need to show it in June.

 

[Scarlett]

If we accept that (well managed) frequent flyer programs are often a valuable money making element of airlines, does the constant tinkering and devaluing of them eventually destroy their overall value? Limiting releases of seats and things like adding on large co-payments would seem to be self defeating.

If, as the map in the article shows, a person can’t actually use their accumulated points for aspirational travel, do they just disengage from the program? Maybe this is just the natural ebb and flow of award availability compared to higher cash tickets and still some capacity restrictions post-pandemic. It will be interesting to see if the situation is the same in another years time.

 

[levelnine]

If we accept that (well managed) frequent flyer programs are often a valuable money making element of airlines, does the constant tinkering and devaluing of them eventually destroy their overall value?

Airline management can't help themselves. They see a golden goose and think they can flog it and don't stop the floggings until it is well and truly dead.

But in fairness to airline management, the US has seen devaluations on a scale Australians couldn't imagine (eg Delta charging 450K+ for a single Australia-US business class flight) and they have never been more profitable. So I think there's plenty more floggings (ie devaluations) to come.

 

[Kremmen]

I sometimes wonder how people are able to lock in a trip one year ahead and not change it. I am thinking you'd have to be a student, retiree, take the same trip every year, have a predictable work schedule or predictable life events.

Most of my longest trips are based around going to conventions which set their dates 1-2 years in advance or friends' celebrations which (birthday, Xmas, etc) are the same every year. Generally, hotels are cheapest booked as far out as possible and leave is best applied for as far out as possible, so booking 10-11 months out works great for me. I generally book hotels on points, which are therefore fully refundable if plans change.

The only downside is the number of schedule changes that occur as a result. Air Canada ended up booking me into revenue first class seats on Delta (not even a partner!) for the last part of an upcoming trip I booked in January, as they no longer serve the city I'm going to!

 

[burmans]

Not to mention that unless you are a resident of the country you're travelling to, you'll need proof of a return flight ticket.

Everyone's experience is different but for me the last time I was asked for such proof as at least 20 years ago if not 30 and I'm in the mid 80's of countries visited!

 

[Jack5]

This article is depressing! I've been itching for Sept to finish so I can book Business seats from Sydney to Amsterdam (return), either on Singapore or Emirates for Sept 2024. That's the way I've done it for years.

Singapore still seems to be releasing seats consistently ~12m in advance. I was able to find saver availability right in the middle of the olympics by booking on the day they were released. So hopefully it works out for you!