Classic Award to HNL

[ChrisBNE]

Hi everyone,

We're looking to use our QF points to head to HNL next year, preferably around the 4th of July. I've been monitoring the award availability, and it’s become frustrating trying to secure seats for any time after the end of March. It’s especially apparent that the return flights HNLSYD do not seem to have any seats available for any time after the 28th of March. I have access to Sabre to check for X class, and can confirm there is nothing showing over this period. I've even sat and waited when the clock strikes midnight over in HNL for the 353 day changeover and checked both via QF.com and Sabre and no X class designated, and also in the hours and days thereafter. I've also got access to a platinum FF login and get the same results.

Outbound doesn't seem to be such an issue; the seats come up available once we hit the 353 day mark. In comparison, to LAX there is plenty of availability (and this may just be due to more seats going into LAX than to HNL). I'm was almost happy to play their game and wear the slight differential in taxes and book two separate one way awards to guarantee availability, but I'm not seeing the return flights come up and don't want to risk the cancellation penalty of the points.

JQ is also not showing availability after May either ex Sydney, which could be just their fare/availability loading as JQ.com also has no fares pas May at this point in time.

In your experience, is this lack of classic award availability by QF’s design and just par the course? Is it worth calling QF for the ASA X class availability (any idea on the premium paid) or wait for a sale and then call?

Thanks

Chris

 

[Limewood]

Are you looking for Y or J?.

Just had a gander at Y seems none there, rather strange, its peak season in USA though

 

[ChrisBNE]

Yeah all in Y. And understand it's peak season, but since I'm looking at just as availability *should* be shown, that's where I'm getting confused about how the award seats are allocated.

 

[elbarto]

Do you have any status with QF? If you're plat you could just ring up and ask for an award seat to be released.

 

[dalereardon]

The other possibility is coming back through Fiji with Air Fiji or whatever they call themselves now after their name change. It is the same number of points.

Dale.

 

[QF029]

I've even sat and waited when the clock strikes midnight over in HNL for the 353 day changeover and checked both via QF.com and Sabre and no X class designated, and also in the hours and days thereafter.

I doubt it will make a difference but I'm pretty sure it's midnight UTC, not local time.

 

[ChrisBNE]

I doubt it will make a difference but I'm pretty sure it's midnight UTC, not local time.

I thought that too, but this came from the QF FF staff.

 

[ChrisBNE]

Do you have any status with QF? If you're plat you could just ring up and ask for an award seat to be released.

Unfortunately we only are bronze, all our points are courtesy of credit card spend. All of my travel is on non revenue unfortunately, so we get no status from that.

 

[Limewood]

If you can wait a bit there are always deals coming up, SYD/HNL/SYD few months back was down to around a grand.

If you do go to HNL on QF, pay extra for the trip overnighter and get 2nd row Y exit seats 35A/B or 35J/K, amount of room to seat in front is amazing. We had them both ways.

 

[ChrisBNE]

If you can wait a bit there are always deals coming up, SYD/HNL/SYD few months back was down to around a grand.

If you do go to HNL on QF, pay extra for the trip overnighter and get 2nd row Y exit seats 35A/B or 35J/K, amount of room to seat in front is amazing. We had them both ways.

That was the plan C, wait until a sale, as assumeably the ASA style/point + Pay would be reduced as well?

 

[markis10]

The other possibility is coming back through Fiji with Air Fiji or whatever they call themselves now after their name change. It is the same number of points.

Dale.

Pity its a looonnnggg 737 flight.

 

[ChrisBNE]

Pity its a looonnnggg 737 flight.

Yeah, we ain't doing that.