FJ/QF codeshare - rewards booking question

[Austman]

Austman, This is always the case for reward bookings.

Yes, I noted madrooster's comments.

What I'm saying is it's pretty poor for Qantas issued tickets using Qantas FF points on QF codeshare flights. If you bought the same ticket using money or Points Plus Pay, you'd get the QFxx_X flight number and the Qantas lounge access allowed by that flight number.

 

[Guvner]

I had this discussion over at PointHacks (is that here or there these days?) and Brandon was adamant you could get QF flight numbers on FJ metal via QFF redemptions, but I've never seen it.

Fiji Airways Airbus A330 Business Class (Melbourne – Nadi)

Fly to Fiji in comfort with the Airbus A330 Business Class out of Melbourne.

www.pointhacks.com.au

I questioned this statement: If you book on the Qantas website, there’s a chance you can nab the Qantas codeshare on Fiji Airways as a Classic Flight Reward (it’s QF3867 instead of FJ934). Doing so gives you extra perks such as lounge access in Economy if you have Qantas Gold status or higher. This is how I accessed the Qantas First Lounge with my Platinum status!

My comments have been removed for whatever reason.

 

[Austman]

I had this discussion over at PointHacks (is that here or there these days?) and Brandon was adamant you could get QF flight numbers on FJ metal via QFF redemptions, but I've never seen it.

I couldn't see any either!

It's a bit sneaky to list the flight as QFxx_X operated by Fiji Airways and then change the flight number to FJxx_ if you select a classic award.

In general, if a benefit is made available by Qantas when a paid ticket is booked with them, it should be made available if a Qantas classic award ticket for the same class is booked. At least for Qantas operated flights and codeshares.

 

[drron]

And it isn't confined to QF. Book an Aadvantage award on HA and you get the HA flight number and no access to an AA lounge.

 

[Austman]

And it isn't confined to QF. Book an Aadvantage award on HA and you get the HA flight number and no access to an AA lounge.

It's not even consistent with QF.

Booking a QFxx_X codeshare flight to NOU, operated by Aircalin for example, can keep the QF flight number when the classic reward button is selected.

Not so with any QFxx_X codeshare flight to Fiji, operated by Fiji Airways. At least none that I could find.

 

[SYD]

Technically you’re booking a “partner award” which comes with the partner code etc. But there are exceptions.

The other PITA is OW Connect (aka FJ) lounge access rules being a dog’s breakfast. FJ code in whY ex Oz and say goodbye to any lounge (whether that’s a QF award seat or booked directly with FJ).

There is a bit of a workaround. Try booking a return trip but pay outbound (QF code) and use points for the return (FJ code). My understanding is QC and up can use the Tambua lounge with FJ code and of course the QF code code out will get you into the lounge befitting one’s status.

Note: I cannot get this hack to work for J. Alas booking seperate sectors prices differently.

Post automatically merged: Oct 5, 2022

Booking a QFxx_X codeshare flight to NOU, operated by Aircalin for example, can keep the QF flight number when the classic reward button is selected.

You beat me to it with that specific example of the exceptions.

 

[theoracle30]

Brandon was adamant you could get QF flight numbers on FJ metal via QFF redemptions, but I've never seen it.

I couldn't see any either!

Booking a QFxx_X codeshare flight to NOU, operated by Aircalin for example, can keep the QF flight number when the classic reward button is selected.

They definitely do exist. I saw this earlier this year when investigating flights to Fiji. But I can't replicate it anymore. Maybe Qantas only release their own flights as codeshare rewards occasionally.

Seems like it only applies to Pacific Island flights as well such as Fiji Airways, Air Calin etc.

 

[Austman]

They definitely do exist.

OK. It's just perhaps that I couldn't find one.

It's a bit sneaky though. This is a typical search:



The above shows QF3869 has a Business Classic Award available.

But when you select that Classic Award, the following happens:




It becomes FJ910.

For the paid flights too! Until you select one of them.

 

[SYD]

OK. It's just perhaps that I couldn't find one.

It's a bit sneaky though. This is a typical search:

View attachment 300208

The above shows QF3869 has a Business Classic Award available.

But when you select that Classic Award, the following happens:


View attachment 300220

It becomes FJ910.

For the paid flights too! Until you select one of them.

It works for whY but I’ve never been able to get it to stick for J.

Some random dates below. Probably not a great example because you can sometime book a return paid fare for $450!

 

[Guvner]

Not sure I follow the above example. The reward flight shows as FJ? Isn't that what we are trying to avoid?

 

[SYD]

Not sure I follow the above example. The reward flight shows as FJ? Isn't that what we are trying to avoid?

Only ex Oz if you want lounge access.

 

[Guvner]

But the ex Oz is a revenue booking.. this thread is about award bookings?

 

[SYD]

But the ex Oz is a revenue booking..?

Post #26 - I referred to a partial workaround: pay outbound / points inbound.

Edit: of course, the other workaround is book an award out in QF metal when operating.

 

[Telezacski]

Hi, hoping to revive this thread

Is their a definition of codeshare?

I ask as I am booked to fly to North America with ski gear in December, I have booked using Qantas points on a Fiji flight.

The issue is Fiji and Qantas have very different bag allowances with Qantas allowing sports equipment as part of luggage allowance and Fiji treat sports equipment as oversize and charge (about $140 a piece per leg).

However if deemed code share Fiji will honour Qantas baggage rules hence I am trying to get a definition.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi, hoping to revive this thread

Is their a definition of codeshare?

I ask as I am booked to fly to North America with ski gear in December, I have booked using Qantas points on a Fiji flight.

The issue is Fiji and Qantas have very different bag allowances with Qantas allowing sports equipment as part of luggage allowance and Fiji treat sports equipment as oversize and charge (about $140 a piece per leg).

However if deemed code share Fiji will honour Qantas baggage rules hence I am trying to get a definition.

A code share is where you are booked on one airline, but it is operated by another.

For example you are flying on QF1234, but it is actually operated by a Fiji Airways aircraft. You might also have QF5678 from LAX to Chicago, but it is operated by American Airlines.

In all cases, the baggage allowance of the *operating airline* is in effect.

It doesn’t matter if you have paid qantas, or are using qantas points, the operating airline’s terms and conditions and contract of carriage apply.

Reward seats too are almost never a code share, so that’s another indicator.

 

[Telezacski]

In all cases, the baggage allowance of the *operating airline* is in effect.

On Fiji website it clearly states if you are on a codeshare flight the airline you booked with prevails.

I have written to them as well so hoping to get a clearer understanding

 

[sudoer]

On Fiji website it clearly states if you are on a codeshare flight the airline you booked with prevails.

What are your flight numbers? If you booked with QFF points you're likely on FJ numbers, which means there's no codeshare involved.

 

[Telezacski]

What are your flight numbers? If you booked with QFF points you're likely on FJ numbers, which means there's no codeshare involved.

I believe you are correct.

I was hoping it may be classed as codeshare as booked on one airline to fly another and this may have gotten around the baggage rules.

Hopefully with Fiji full move to one world, lose relationship with American Airlines and Qantas, they change and align their baggage policy.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I believe you are correct.

I was hoping it may be classed as codeshare as booked on one airline to fly another and this may have gotten around the baggage rules.

Hopefully with Fiji full move to one world, lose relationship with American Airlines and Qantas, they change and align their baggage policy.

Except in this case you have not booked on one airline, to fly on another

You are not booked on a Qantas flight number, operated by Fiji Airways.

In this case, Qantas is acting solely as agent in behalf of Fiji Airways. You are ‘paying’ qantas for travel on FJ, the same as going into any travel agent and paying them for a ticket on FJ.

Once they enter oneworld, you might see some standardisation of benefits, including status allowances.

 

[SYD]

According to the QF website, we don’t get extra baggage allowance even on a QF codeshare flight.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/fiji-airways.html

Hopefully with Fiji full move to one world, lose relationship with American Airlines and Qantas, they change and align their baggage policy.

Yes, they will need to standardise the min benefits for each of OWR/S/E, but that will take a little time. Hopefully they can turn on some of those before integration as a full OW member but about from adopting AAdvantage in the future, no other hints of what might come sooner.

But back to you specific question, it might not resolve the issue of oversize luggage?