Fiji Airways / China Airlines award flights release patterns question

[desafinado74]

Hi everyone,

I would like to know if Fiji Airways and China Airlines release their award flights in a set pattern(ie. Everyday) or it is pretty random ?
I asked since i am looking for J class flights from Melbourne to San Francisco at around the mid April of 2026.
But in China Airlines' case for example, there has not been any award flights available since March 26, 2026 for the
Melbourne to Taipei leg. With regards to the Melbourne to Nadi leg with Fiji Airways, you can only book up to March 28, 2026 at this point in time.

Thank you in advance.

 

[SYD]

Hi everyone,

I would like to know if Fiji Airways and China Airlines release their award flights in a set pattern(ie. Everyday) or it is pretty random ?
I asked since i am looking for J class flights from Melbourne to San Francisco at around the mid April of 2026.
But in China Airlines' case for example, there has not been any award flights available since March 26, 2026 for the
Melbourne to Taipei leg. With regards to the Melbourne to Nadi leg with Fiji Airways, you can only book up to March 28, 2026 at this point in time.

Thank you in advance.

How many seats are you searching for? I read here recently that China Airlines are only releasing 1x J seat now.

FJ seem to have good availability plus you can book them at the lower QF rate. I’d be watching those like a hawk daily at 10am.

 

[Human]

I don’t know the answer to your specific questions but be aware that there’s another complicating factor for that time of year: the airlines’ “Northern Summer” schedules begin on March 29. A number of airlines have not loaded the new timetable onto their systems yet, and no flights will be bookable until they do.

 

[Mwenenzi]

FJ now uses AAdvantage as its freq flyer program. AA SABRE GDS has a 330 day limit. But FJ use Amadeus as its booking system
13 April 2025 + 330 days = 09 March 2026

QF (Amadeus GDS) has a 353 day booking window. So to 01 April 2026

Classic Flight Rewards are bookable up to 353 days in advance. When you book on the Qantas website you can book up to two hours before departure for flights ...

IATA seasons
15-Jul-25 *. 15-Dec-25*.
Historics Baseline Date. 31-Jan-25. 31-Aug-25. 31-Jan-26.
Start Of Season. 30-Mar-25. 26-Oct-25. 29-Mar-26. *Trial for S25, NW25/26,

 

[desafinado74]

How many seats are you searching for? I read here recently that China Airlines are only releasing 1x J seat now.

FJ seem to have good availability plus you can book them at the lower QF rate. I’d be watching those like a hawk daily at 10am.

Just 1 seat. Thanks for the tip. I will check at 10am everyday then.

Post automatically merged: Apr 13, 2025

I don’t know the answer to your specific questions but be aware that there’s another complicating factor for that time of year: the airlines’ “Northern Summer” schedules begin on March 29. A number of airlines have not loaded the new timetable onto their systems yet, and no flights will be bookable until they do.

Ah i see ! First time i have heard about this. Thanks for letting me know.

Post automatically merged: Apr 13, 2025

FJ now uses AAdvantage as its freq flyer program. AA SABRE GDS has a 330 day limit. But FJ use Amadeus as its booking system
13 April 2025 + 330 days = 09 March 2026

QF (Amadeus GDS) has a 353 day booking window. So to 01 April 2026


IATA seasons
15-Jul-25 *. 15-Dec-25*.
Historics Baseline Date. 31-Jan-25. 31-Aug-25. 31-Jan-26.
Start Of Season. 30-Mar-25. 26-Oct-25. 29-Mar-26. *Trial for S25, NW25/26,

Thank you for letting me know how their systems work.

 

[SYD]

Just 1 seat. Thanks for the tip. I will check at 10am everyday then.

Post automatically merged: Apr 13, 2025

Ah i see ! First time i have heard about this. Thanks for letting me know.

Midnight GMT (10am AEST) is when the QF system ticks over and once upon a time, QF CR seats would be released to SG and higher at 353 day mark (as mentioned above) but of course, QF aren’t doing that at the moment for most routes…

I’m assuming (right or wrong) that FJ ticks over at midnight GMT also? Someone else here might know for sure?

Interestingly, FJ seats do appear to be opening up somewhere in between the 330d and 353d period.

You may have worked out that using the multi-city search, you can actually go beyond 353 days and you might find CX, JL award seats popping up also.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Does CI release any last minute seats?

 

[SYD]

FJ have pushed through the March schedule changeover. Did you score a seat?

 

[desafinado74]

FJ have pushed through the March schedule changeover. Did you score a seat?

Hi Syd,
I have hold off for now with FJ, as i am thinking of flying JAL's new J class seats from LAX to HND

 

[SYD]

Hi Syd,
I have hold off for now with FJ, as i am thinking of flying JAL's new J class seats from LAX to HND

Por que no los dos?

JL oneway and FJ other other if using points?

Anyway, FJ on the ides of April was looking good last I looked! But yes, as mentioned earlier, JL sneak a few seats in beyond the usual search dates.

 

[desafinado74]

Por que no los dos?

JL oneway and FJ other other if using points?

Anyway, FJ on the ides of April was looking good last I looked! But yes, as mentioned earlier, JL sneak a few seats in beyond the usual search dates.

Yeah ! FJ's availability is pretty good! I guess not many people know that they fly to USA. (Or even know that FJ exists)

Have you flown with them yourself?

Actually, i will flying out with China Airlines (CI) from Melbourne to Taipei. Then another flight to SFO with EVA Air (I used Aeroplan points)

Initially i did not plan to fly with JAL. But since they recently announced that their new J/F class seats on the A350-1000 planes will be used on the LAX - HND route from the 30th of June 2025, i am tempted to fly JAL. Another good thing about JAL fights from LAX is that they leave at 1230pm, and arriving into HND at 530pm. Surprisingly, JAL J class availability is good from QF and CX.