Is it always like this? (3+ hours before CS contact?)

[JennyMG]

Still same same. Getting to SIN from Rome should be easy. Then look for the connecting flight ex SIN on EK or QF. Worst case you can also mix the QF A380 or 787 in premium economy for the last leg (it's very short). or alternatively, fly EK to Bali and QF down from there to SYD, or SYD via MEL.

Just spent 3 hours researching all my 'other options' in case Plan A failed. (eg booking too many reservations, payment not matching up with booking, missing out on award flight altogether...etc)...
and then...PING! e-TICKET in inbox for my preferred flight. (The direct one, china eastern (yeah I know It's not everyone's favourite, but it's DIRECT!! Rome/Shang/Syd - only 139000 points for Bus class, and I'm really pleased it all worked out.)
Not even the 5th August yet. Huh????

AND - I just learned HEAPS by following your instructions, Mel_trav, put in earlier dates, checked out all the airlines that do other days, other routes, and other options, which I didn't know existed (because they weren't released yet.) I'm so pleased I have the one I chose, it's perfect, but have mapped out a plan for 'next time'.
....and I bet you all have too.
Best thing I ever did, join up to this forum.

 

[JennyMG]

dUH DUN.....(The gong...)
Spoke a bit too soon. While all of the above is correct... Qantas still hadn't caught up to their own booking system.

So for the NEXT EXCITING episode....got a call yesterday to say that they cancelled the booking, and the ref, and the seats....and rebooked it, with a new ref# because china Eastern 'couldn't see' the booking. ??? Whatever the hell that means. (I read somewhere else on this forum that someone had a problem like this.)

So now I haveANOTHER set of e-tickets, another reference number, and no seat allocation. Since last time the Qantas lady online allocated seats, - which I suspected wouldn't stick - I emailed [email protected] and asked them to allocate the seats for my flight.
Straight away I got a response. They'd done it. All allocated.

Now, if only Qantas could "keep up Brian" with the info, they themselves are submitting, then all might be well.
I can see the flight in 'manage booking' but the BOOKINGS VIEW page seems to be 'down' at the moment.

None of this fills you with confidence, does it.
And you know? It hasn't been China Eastern at ALL, all of the bungle is purely Qantas and their dodgy bookings website. I've nearly paid for my 2 x O reward tickets with phone calls. ha ha.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yeah. This is issue of China Eastern not being able to 'see' QF awards rings a bell? And also something similar with awards on LATAM? Sounds like a QF system issue.

That too might explain how you could book 16 seats... if the QF system isn't s[eaking to the MU one, the QF engine could book unlimited seats without it ever registering - or taking allocation - from MU's engine.

TBH, I'd be seriously looking at alternatives like EK. Cheaper and better, and no worry about ticketing.

 

[Pleb Status]

I was quoted about 45 minutes for a callback this morning from QF Premium.

Over two hours later and nothing yet...