New indicator on QF site when award booking is mixed-class

[ozbeachbabe]

Trying to book PER-FLL Business early 2013. Via SYD and DFW. There is heaps of availability but ALL have mixed Class. Majority have the indicator saying that 2 of the 3 legs are in Economy or Premium Economy. Cannot get Business the whole way. Why would anyone pay the full FF points for Business and be happy getting only a third of the journey ( or less) in Business.

I think that routing is too complex for the system to effectively manage. I try to avoid adding in USA domestic sectors into the mix as I think you end up paying far more QF ff points for the DFW/FLL in whY where you could probably buy a cheapie for that sector on the AA website.

If you're starting in PER why not overnight in DFW for the night as that's a long enough journey as it is. There's currently some 5,000 point break offers through IHG's Priority Club for stays at their properties so there's bound to be something on offer then.

The DFW/FLL flight you could do as a separate ticket as a Classic Award for 12,000 points but definitely compare this to the cheapest fare as it's probably better value to buy that one & save your points.

Looking at PER/LAX I can see availability for a JASA on Mon 11 Feb & Wed 13 Feb for 112,000 plus cash of AUD604.41 for the flights QF574 PER/SYD 0545/1300 then QF11 SYD/LAX 1500/0950. Note that you will be in step 2. of the process which says "Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Awards - select your flight" where the availability column shows the all inclusive JASA points level of 165,848.

There is also availability on Mon 28 Jan starting with a red eye QF648 PER/MEL 2325/0600+1 then Tue 29 Jan QF 93 MEL/LAX 1120/0640 for 112,000K plus AUD592.98 (all inclusive points 164,619) but I'd want to be able to access the Flounge in MEL to make that an attractive option.

You need to select the flight then click on the 'review' button to move to step 3 "review your flight" which will then allow you to use the slider to maximise or minimise your points used.

I think your opportunities would open up even further if you just looked as SYD/LAX because then it would show QF107 which doesn't show ex PER as it would involve an overnight in SYD prior to the flight due to nil same day connecting flights ex PER.

 

[markis10]

It's somewhat of an improvement but still could be done better:

- you should be given the option to exclude mixed fares entirely from any search

- if you chose to exclude them then the monthly availability page should not show days as having J availability when its only mixed fares

Excluding them could come at a cost, it's not unusual for those mixed fares to offer a higher class than one is seeking.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Looking from 01 Jan onwards the earliest dates I can find JASA's (have not looked at Classic Awards) on QF7 SYD/DFW is Tue 02 Apr 1425/1345 for a cost of 112,000 plus AUD570.62. Also available is Tue 09 Apr Thu 11 Apr.

If you look ex PER on these same dates you can take QF574 PER/SYD 0545/1300 but this only gives you 1 hour 25 minutes to connect which is legal however not a connection I'd recommend. The points required for PER/DFW are 128,000 plus AUD599.71.

You could book it this way then call up QF to change the PER/SYD to the day before because if you stay less than 24 hours in SYD (on an intl tkt) it is still considered a transit so you'd need to arrive in SYD after 1425 the day prior.

 

[jveevers]

Looking from 01 Jan onwards the earliest dates I can find JASA's (have not looked at Classic Awards) on QF7 SYD/DFW is Tue 02 Apr 1425/1345 for a cost of 112,000 plus AUD570.62. Also available is Tue 09 Apr Thu 11 Apr.

If you look ex PER on these same dates you can take QF574 PER/SYD 0545/1300 but this only gives you 1 hour 25 minutes to connect which is legal however not a connection I'd recommend. The points required for PER/DFW are 128,000 plus AUD599.71.


Thanks for your research Ozbeachbabe.

PER/FLL via SYD & DFW is 128000 so the DFW-FLL comes free in actuality. I have to be in FLL by 24th Jan to connect with a Cruise, so need to leave PER 21st / 22nd.


You could book it this way then call up QF to change the PER/SYD to the day before because if you stay less than 24 hours in SYD (on an intl tkt) it is still considered a transit so you'd need to arrive in SYD after 1425 the day prior.

Thanks for your research Ozbeachbabe.

PER/FLL via SYD & DFW is 128000 so the DFW-FLL comes free in actuality. I have to be in FLL by 24th Jan to connect with a Cruise, so need to leave PER 21st / 22nd.

 

[froggerADL]

Re: Minor improvement to Qantas Award Booking engine.

They charge classic awards on the routing in as much as they add the individual distances up

So if the distance LHR-MEL and the distance of LHR-SYD + SYD-MEL end up in the same zone, then the charge will be the same.

IF LHR-SYD + SYD-MEL ended up in a the next zone, you would pay the extra.

A classic J reward ADL-SIN is 50,000 points, SYD-SIN is 60,000 points and ADL-SYD-SIN is 60,000 points, which suggests the above is correct.

However, JASAs give some very interesting results. When looking at JASA options for 25/6/12 I get the following results:

SYD-SIN 60,000 points + $344.07 (points only 94,084)
ADL-SYD-SIN 50,000 points + $360.78 (points only 87,760)

So for 10,000 fewer points and an extra $16.71 I get a bonus J flight ADL-SYD and earn an extra 60 SCs + 1813 points. This is because ADL is closer to SIN than SYD is to SIN. I like it

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Re: Minor improvement to Qantas Award Booking engine.

Thanks for your research Ozbeachbabe.

PER/FLL via SYD & DFW is 128000 so the DFW-FLL comes free in actuality. I have to be in FLL by 24th Jan to connect with a Cruise, so need to leave PER 21st / 22nd.

So I take it the QF7 option via DFW is the only routing that gives you FLL 'free'? Sometimes the QF website will give you routings with other non OneWorld airlines eg SYD/DFW I'm sure IIRC there was an option on QF SYD/LAX then VX LAX/DFW but I can't remember if the points were the same as the direct flight to DFW.

Given that there are no J seats in Jan on QF7 will you just book a JASA date in April & seat Flight Alerts on Expert Flyer then just change the ticket if seats become available earlier?

 

[jveevers]

Re: Minor improvement to Qantas Award Booking engine.

No I dont think JASA are good value. Eg PER-FLL will cost $2100- + 146000 points.
Full paying fare is around $3000- so in reality I am using 146000 points to save $900- which is not good use of points.
Just dont see value in JASA, would rather pay for the flight, earn more FF points and use at a later stage.
And I feel that cost will drop below $3000- between now and when I have to book.
I could probably get Emirates for $2500- so JASA is not in the equation.
Or wait until more FF J seats open up. Not sure that will happen though, you will probably have more idea than me.
I am also watching PER-MIAMI as that is only a cab ride from Lauderdale.
Not familiar with "Expert Flyer", what is that please? Thanks.

 

[markis10]

No I dont think JASA are good value. Eg PER-FLL will cost $2100- + 146000 points.
Full paying fare is around $3000- so in reality I am using 146000 points to save $900- which is not good use of points.
Just dont see value in JASA, would rather pay for the flight, earn more FF points and use at a later stage.
And I feel that cost will drop below $3000- between now and when I have to book.
I could probably get Emirates for $2500- so JASA is not in the equation.
Or wait until more FF J seats open up. Not sure that will happen though, you will probably have more idea than me.
I am also watching PER-MIAMI as that is only a cab ride from Lauderdale.
Not familiar with "Expert Flyer", what is that please? Thanks.

By contrast a JASA PER DFW will cost 102000 points (after an earn of 26000 as a WP with 280 SC ) and have a cash component of $599. An alternative to a $3000 fare in business to the US is going to be hard to find.

 

[serfty]

A classic J reward ADL-SIN is 50,000 points, SYD-SIN is 60,000 points and ADL-SYD-SIN is 60,000 points, which suggests the above is correct.

However, JASAs give some very interesting results. When looking at JASA options for 25/6/12 I get the following results:...

It has been pointed out in the JASA 'how to' thread that the points are calculated on the origin / destination distance rather than total segment routing distance as used by classic awards. Hence TSV-DRW provides good returns.

 

[Stephen65]

Yes. Any fare from A to B where there is no direct flight and instead you go via C which is further from B than A seems to be good value on a JASA for earning SC. The fare is calculated on the shorter A to B distance but you get SCs for A to C and C to B.

 

[KVK]

Re: Minor improvement to Qantas Award Booking engine.

I saw that today doing some "costings" for awards. I think it is a good improvement in communication - the eye is drawn straight to the ! - sadly I initially thought it was like the "Hurry up" tag for seats indicating there weren't many available.

What was even more telling for me though was on a SYD-LHR-SYD award there were virtually no J seats available (for 3 people) 11 months out for the legs into SYD - whereas there was generally decent awards availability flying Asia-LHR-Asia...

First posting, so forgive me if I have missed something, but just tested booking a JASA Singapore London return.
noticed under conditions

• "Points and Status Credits are not earned when travelling on Qantas Any Seat Awards. Classed as Business when Status Credits are earned on this fare."
• Is this new?

 

[pagingjoan]

Re: Minor improvement to Qantas Award Booking engine.

First posting, so forgive me if I have missed something, but just tested booking a JASA Singapore London return.
noticed under conditions

• "Points and Status Credits are not earned when travelling on Qantas Any Seat Awards. Classed as Business when Status Credits are earned on this fare."
• Is this new?

No, not new. And not correct either. In another thread, Red Roo did undertake to follow up some time ago but nothing seems to have been resolved if you are still finding that message.

Any chance of a progress report, Red Roo?

 

[KVK]

Re: Minor improvement to Qantas Award Booking engine.

No, not new. And not correct either. In another thread, Red Roo did undertake to follow up some time ago but nothing seems to have been resolved if you are still finding that message.

Any chance of a progress report, Red Roo?

Many thanks pagingjoan

 

[pagingjoan]

Re: Minor improvement to Qantas Award Booking engine.

Many thanks pagingjoan

Here you go:

8th March 2012, 08:12 AM #16

Red Roo
Re: Earning status credit on any seat award

As many of you have noted, Points and Status credits are earned on eligible Any Seat Award flights.
We are investigating the erroneous messages that you have picked up and hope to fix this shortly.

Sorry for the confusion.

Cheers,
Red Roo
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