China Airlines reward seats using Qantas points

[ShelleyB]

Anyone had the issue of Qantas not taking points, fees or ticketing within 8 hours of making a new rewards booking on CI online? I can see the booking with reference on my app but not online. Nothing ever seems straight forward with Qantas…

I just made one today (MEL-KIX) and it ticketed within the hour. Points and fees all taken immediately

 

[PointsTraveller!]

I just made one today (MEL-KIX) and it ticketed within the hour. Points and fees all taken immediately

Received an interesting reply via messenger: “Thanks for providing those details. As this booking was paid with Vietnamese dong, we've had your booking queued off to the relevant team that specifically handles bookings with that currency. Once your tickets have been issued, you'll be sent an email.”

 

[woodyren]

Just booked two J rewards on CI PEK-TPE-SYD next August with QFF this afternoon. Ticketed and points taken immediately with no issues. Can see the flights on both CI and Qantas online and app.

 

[ShelleyB]

As a side note had no trouble accessing the CI app to select seats using the Qantas PNR, but this was not immediate - took a little under 24 hours for it to be recognised. Have booked MEL-KIX (via TPE) in J and had no trouble selecting seats for the MEL-TPE leg. Could not select seats for the TPE-KIX leg but no big deal. Will look again closer to the time.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Just booked CI SYD>TPE>BKK for next year using QFF points. E-ticket was emailed within 2 mins. Huge shout out to @kelvedon on the tip to use Czech Airlines website to book the seats, as there was no other way to do this that worked for me.

 

[tdimdad]

Are there any tricks to get the seat selection on the CI regional connections to stick? I can seemingly select seats for all legs on the Czech Airlines site but after confirming the selections, the regional ones disappear.

 

[fairbasa]

Any tips on getting CI seats through the QF call centres?

I've checked the QF website, found availability for next year, called the call centre only to be told a different flight is unavailable each time (despite them acknowledging it showing on the QF site).

QF are becoming so hard to deal with...my last interaction resulted in a QF agent cancelling out some of my flights are then refusing to reinstate them after 5+ phone calls. Eventually got it sorted by the award escalations email, but they're refusing to touch this phantom availability issue.

 

[jbman]

I have seen the phantom availability as well for CI. I know something is up when I start seeing the month view switching from all classes to only Y during searches or selecting days

 

[fairbasa]

I have seen the phantom availability as well for CI. I know something is up when I start seeing the month view switching from all classes to only Y during searches or selecting days

Yes I'm used to this - but IME when you are able to click through to the payment page the seats aren't usually phantom.

I've had two agents tell me the preceding MEL-SYD flight next year is also unavailable. It's either a system outage or just inexperience..dont know which.

 

[Danger]

Why are you needing to call, rather than booking online?

 

[fairbasa]

Why are you needing to call, rather than booking online?

Im trying to add the flights to an existing award booking.

 

[williamsf1]

Im trying to add the flights to an existing award booking.

That's your problem ..... the way the availability can work is you will get a different answer when looking in an existing booking v making a fresh booking
/
Any reason why you want it in the same booking?

 

[fairbasa]

Interesting - I didn't know there would be a difference.

Reason I'm doing it this way is I already have seats I want to keep and not enough points if I make a new booking to book without waiting for the refund. These have taken a long time IME recently and was hoping to book sooner.

 

[mxlmxl]

Tried finding it here, but what is the timeline for CI reward seats availability for Bronze?

I was seeing some earlier than the typical 297/330 days but none have updated for October 2024.

 

[BriarFlyer]

I can see October 7, which would be 360 days. That should be the same for everyone; the staggered releases based on status are for Qantas flights only.

 

[mxlmxl]

Thanks for confirming that, I wasn't sure as it was updating with flights but then the last week none been released on the route I was looking at,

 

[Dr Ralph]

Tried finding it here, but what is the timeline for CI reward seats availability for Bronze?

I was seeing some earlier than the typical 297/330 days but none have updated for October 2024.

There is no consistent uniform time period.

 

[mxlmxl]

Thank you to those above who helped. Successfully grabbed 5 x Busienss/J class seats from KIX to TPE. Then TPE to MEL staying in Taipei for a few days.

Having similar issues with booking seats. Using the app I can see and find them, but under seats says “unavailable”. Emailed MELB CI office and was advised you can not select seats in J class until 48 hours before the flight? Is this correct and other current experiences?

“Thank you for contacting China Airlines.
China Airlines booking reference number is the same as Qantas. However, the passengers who book the tickets via Qantas are only able to access their booking 48 hours before the flight departure so we can not allocate the seats for you.

Please visit our website 48 hours before the flight departure for online check-in and seat selection. Thank you.

Kind regards,

China Airlines Melbourne Branch”

 

[BriarFlyer]

We were told, via the same email address, that award bookings made via Qantas could not select seats in advance. However, we were able to select them via the Czech Airlines website, as recommended upthread.

 

[mxlmxl]

Just booked CI SYD>TPE>BKK for next year using QFF points. E-ticket was emailed within 2 mins. Huge shout out to @kelvedon on the tip to use Czech Airlines website to book the seats, as there was no other way to do this that worked for me.

Omg I missed that. I scored all the previous pages for the app hacks, names and middle names haha.

This is perfect! Thank you and thanks @kelvedon !