Business seats available - but not for me. Why?

[TiredOldFlyer]

Hi medhead,
We are fortunate enough to purchase supplies for our business using AMEX but
we pay a fee of about 2% to our supplier - and this fee is a Tax Deduction in that it increases the cost of supply. So for a direct cost of $6,000 (Less Tax !). We then transfer the points to our airline account. I did forget the cash charge for taxes and
fuel subsidy in our last booking this was near enough to $1,000 per head. After the tax advantage still a cheap price to pay for premium flying. If we can manage a conference as well its all good !. The points quoted were on SIN - I understand
that they have better value for points than Qantas. Cheers.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Hi Limewood,
It is a drag to go via Asia but consider the benefits - Seat cost per hour drops
dramatically, more time with the "Singapore Girl", more Krug (If thats what you like)
etc. etc. Cheers.

 

[Limewood]

Hi Limewood,
It is a drag to go via Asia but consider the benefits - Seat cost per hour drops
dramatically, more time with the "Singapore Girl", more Krug (If thats what you like)
etc. etc. Cheers.

I dio go to HK every year and if I was going to the USA from there I'd want a stopover, so I pay a few thou points more for the much longer trip and no stopover or call up request one (stopover) and pay even more, its not the point, I just want to be able to book a J seat (on preferably a 380) 6 months out OZ/LAX return using QFF points, I just don't think I'm asking too much.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

I dio go to HK every year and if I was going to the USA from there I'd want a stopover, so I pay a few thou points more for the much longer trip and no stopover or call up request one (stopover) and pay even more, its not the point, I just want to be able to book a J seat (on preferably a 380) 6 months out OZ/LAX return using QFF points, I just don't think I'm asking too much.

Hi Limewood
Thats the whole point of this thread - the difficulty of using points with Qantas.
I was comparing the ease of use of points with SIN (And Others) as opposed to Qantas. But I am with you - a direct flight from AUS to USA would be better if
only it was possible. I know that SIN would be in it. But as Virgin and etc take flights of Qantas who knows ?
Lets live in hope.
Cheers

 

[kyle]

If as one said, Q are still getting full value for the seats from CC companies why not release more to everyone, or is it they prefer we call up and pay thousands of points for a phone call (surely not), makes me wonder when I have had to a couple times, and guess what, bingo all of a sudden these J seats that are not on site appeared just like a Houdini trick.

Maybe it's a case for the ACCC?

 

[Limewood]

I've thought about saying goodbye to QFF Prog. and joining another but are they any better I don't know?.

At moment I have about 240,000 points, I just want to fly direct from OZ to LAX ret on a 380 in J but not 12 months out. Looks like I'll have to give in and call QF and lose 3000 points, not happy (Q) Jan.

 

[Alanslegal]

The QF FFP has over 7 millions members AFAIK, and every single John and Jane frequent flyer member literally wants to fly premium cabin and thus it comes down to enormous demand for very limited supply. It's always going to be difficult to get J/F awards on long haul legs involving the 388 and when there's only a couple of seats released per flight, only a very few people will be happy. If you want to book Y seats, there's generally always a decent amount available but when it comes down to J/F seats, then that's another story.

Anyway, I don't know how ringing up QF can magically open up a seat on the same route that is not appearing available online (unless you're a WP seeking a Y seat). However calling up the call centre can offer a route that you cannot see, such as with partner airline eg. CX. For example AUS-USA return and there's nothing on QF online, then maybe the call centre can find AUS-HKG-USA availability on CX which one can't see anyway, or JL via Japan etc.

 

[medhead]

If as one said, Q are still getting full value for the seats from CC companies why not release more to everyone, or is it they prefer we call

My assumption is that QF are selling the seats to QFF at cost price. They still want to make a profit and that is why they don't release more award seats.

With ringing up you only pay the call fee if you get a seat. But as mentioned their will be little chance of getting a seat released as a bronze FF. The one benefit is for routes that don't show on the website. But then you don't seem to want to fly via Asia.

In terms of availability to the US as a platinum I can't get a business seat in 6 months. Don't get me wrong I'm practically no body. But I am on a qantas aircraft at least once a week so I would expect to have a better chance.

 

[straitman]

Anyway, I don't know how ringing up QF can magically open up a seat on the same route that is not appearing available online (unless you're a WP seeking a Y seat). However calling up the call centre can offer a route that you cannot see, such as with partner airline eg. CX. For example AUS-USA return and there's nothing on QF online, then maybe the call centre can find AUS-HKG-USA availability on CX which one can't see anyway, or JL via Japan etc.

I have called up and got the seats released in J. The explanation was that the 'new' system allows them to put a request direct to Yield Management who look at it and give you an answer almost instaneously. I have done it for MEL-LAX and only six weeks before the flight was due. (Unfortunately we later had to cancel though )

 

[mfhau]

Just my two bobs worth, i have always been able to book J Brisbane to HK 4 to 6 weeks out if looking for one seat - this is either with QANTAS or CATHAY - Cathay is not as easy as it used to be and Qantas you may not get the day you want but usually close.

I am currently Platinum which will go by the way soon - I dont know if this helps

 

[Limewood]

I should have said to be fair, that the good woman goes with me most of the time (so 2 x J), once I snagged CX seats in J just by chance even though day before was not on site or day after. I still recon more than 6 months out is not right, be you a Plat or big FFP spender.

 

[mel1]

I should have said to be fair, that the good woman goes with me most of the time (so 2 x J), once I snagged CX seats in J just by chance even though day before was not on site or day after. I still recon more than 6 months out is not right, be you a Plat or big FFP spender.

We have pretty much given up on trying to get to USA using Qantas points for Business seats. In April we got a terrific $ deal on Air NZ, which is a wonderful airline.
BUT, to Europe, what I have done in the past is buy return tix say Sydney-Singapore (or Syd-Bangkok etc) and then get FF seats from Singapore to London return, or wherever I can. This is presuming, of course, you are flexible with dates.
Also, we often look at trying to get one FF seat and paying for one seat. Better than nothing.
But the basic point of this thread - Qantas FF program is awful!

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I should have said to be fair, that the good woman goes with me most of the time (so 2 x J), once I snagged CX seats in J just by chance even though day before was not on site or day after. I still recon more than 6 months out is not right

On what do you base your "it's not right" contention?

There are 72 J seats only, per day, on the A380 from Syd to LAX. Most of those QF can and does sell to people paying cash. And there are 6-7 million QF frequent flyer members, not to mention all the other OW program members as well.

Why would you think there would be an abundance of redemption seats on such a plane on such a popular route? Surely they would also be snapped up if they were made available, since the demand outweighs the supply by such a margin?

QF does have the "Any Seat" option, so you can always book an available seat on the plane through that route.

 

[straitman]

We have pretty much given up on trying to get to USA using Qantas points for Business seats. In April we got a terrific $ deal on Air NZ, which is a wonderful airline.
BUT, to Europe, what I have done in the past is buy return tix say Sydney-Singapore (or Syd-Bangkok etc) and then get FF seats from Singapore to London return, or wherever I can. This is presuming, of course, you are flexible with dates.
Also, we often look at trying to get one FF seat and paying for one seat. Better than nothing.
But the basic point of this thread - Qantas FF program is awful!

Read my post #29 above and give it a try. You have nothing to lose.

 

[mel1]

Read my post #29 above and give it a try. You have nothing to lose.

Bill, what do you mean you "called up and got the seats released in J ...six weeks prior"?
My friend has been calling Qantas FF all day today (lowly Bronze!) to try for seats in September to USA with no luck at all.
Did you just luck out that time you think?
(this is me, grasping at straws!)

 

[straitman]

Bill, what do you mean you "called up and got the seats released in J ...six weeks prior"?
My friend has been calling Qantas FF all day today (lowly Bronze!) to try for seats in September to USA with no luck at all.
Did you just luck out that time you think?
(this is me, grasping at straws!)

Yes.

I rang and asked if there were any seats (in this case J) available that I could not see on line. I was asked to specify exactly what I wanted and then they went to yield management whilst I waited and came back with a positive answer. I just looked it up and I exaggerated as it was actually eight weeks prior.

 

[jamesatfish]

Yes.

I rang and asked if there were any seats (in this case J) available that I could not see on line. I was asked to specify exactly what I wanted and then they went to yield management whilst I waited and came back with a positive answer. I just looked it up and I exaggerated as it was actually eight weeks prior.

I've used this process many a time and it works wonderfully. Unfortunately for the OP you can only make these requests as a Platinum member.

I would still recommend giving Qantas a call and trying with them - the online award booking tool is one of the most frustrating pieces of software ever released and it's very hard to search through multiple options for your route - if you get a good consultant who is willing to search all sorts of strange routings for you then you might get lucky. I find the 3000 point booking fee is more than justified if they can find classic award seats when they're not obviously available online.

My other recommendation is that you search for your trip in small sections rather than as a simple origin-destination. Searching recently for some seats for my sister to bring her family back to Australia for a few weeks from the UK, a search LHR-CBR-LHR returned nothing for travel in July/August. Widening the search to LHR-MEL or LHR-SYD returned a smattering of Economy seats in August but nothing that suited their plans. After trying multiple combinations I eventually found that a multi-city routing LHR-SIN-BNE-CBR-BNE-SIN-LHR returned Premium Economy availability on numerous days in July & August.

When booking things this way I find it also pays to have what I consider to be 'burn points' - referring to the points lost in booking and cancelling award flights. If booking flights in the example above I found several suitable SIN-BNE-SIN flights but nothing LHR-SIN-LHR I would immediately book all the SIN-BNE legs to secure the award availability on the hope that I could find the remaining sectors in another search. If/when I found the LHR-SIN flights on suitable dates I would cancel the unwanted SIN-BNE legs and wear the cancellation fees as just part of the award redemption process.

 

[Princess Fiona]

A cheeky question: will yield management open the same classic awards for JASA's or FASA'S for WP's ?

 

[straitman]

A cheeky question: will yield management open the same classic awards for JASA's or FASA'S for WP's ?

I'm trying to think of a polite way of saying you're dreaming to even ask that question :!: :shock:

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm trying to think of a polite way of saying you're dreaming to even ask that question :!: :shock:

Now that would be a real enhancement ;p