Newbie questions around booking first QF Award flight

[MELso]

When you're on Qantas.com, use the multi-city search, select 'Classic Flight Rewards', and select 'flexible with dates' - that will allow you to see what dates flights are available to your preferred destination in your preferred class (including on CX and JQ)...

 

[levelnine]

You need to click the multi-city button in the bottom left hand corner of the booking button:

Then classic flight rewards:

 

[Pushka]

Thanks Pushka. Will select multi search and flexible with dates. But the rest of your post doesn’t make much sense to me. Need to dumb down your replies and add a little bit more context. Perhaps an example. I am interested in a simple Mel/Sin/Mel flight. How do you insert unusual transit places?

The later posts are explaining the same thing. Just try replicating their screen captures. Basically don’t expect to be able to fly direct unless lucky but via another airport using the multi search option and with a different airline to Qantas.

 

[tgh]

Is it still possible to book J/f to popular destinations @ 364.99999999… days out or is that also dreamland?

 

[andye]

From pointhacks

Other airlines are in rest of this article

When do new reward seats come out? - Point Hacks

The early bird gets the worm. Here's how to get first dibs at reward seats.

www.pointhacks.com.au

 

[Stargazer]

Now for my question. Firstly thank you to early posters explaining how best to use the Qantas website. Found bookings via Kuala Lumpur to SIN. The search engine found business availability but the longest sector was in economy. For example MEL/Kuala Lumpur was in economy and Kuala Lumpur/SIN was in business. Also found MEL/PER/SIN where Perth/Singapore was in economy. This was supposed to be a business class booking throughout but the longest sector was in economy. How do you get around this problem.

 

[andye]

Now for my question. Firstly thank you to early posters explaining how best to use the Qantas website. Found bookings via Kuala Lumpur to SIN. The search engine found business availability but the longest sector was in economy. For example MEL/Kuala Lumpur was in economy and Kuala Lumpur/SIN was in business. Also found MEL/PER/SIN where Perth/Singapore was in economy. This was supposed to be a business class booking throughout but the longest sector was in economy. How do you get around this problem.

This is a common occurrence searching the QF website. I'm not aware of a workaround

 

[love_the_life]

Now for my question. Firstly thank you to early posters explaining how best to use the Qantas website. Found bookings via Kuala Lumpur to SIN. The search engine found business availability but the longest sector was in economy. For example MEL/Kuala Lumpur was in economy and Kuala Lumpur/SIN was in business. Also found MEL/PER/SIN where Perth/Singapore was in economy. This was supposed to be a business class booking throughouhht but the longest sector was in economy. How do you get around this problem.

Yes, that is a little trick/glitch when searching QF. There is no way that I know of to specify that you are looking for Business fares only (so those pesky * Flight from X to Y will be in Economy (and often the longest sector)). Read the options that come up carefully so you don't inadvertently book one of those.

 

[Stargazer]

But if you are booking business, if you select one of those flights where the largest sector is economy — why do these flights populate the search results. They are irrelevant to the search parameters.

 

[Pushka]

But if you are booking business, if you select one of those flights where the largest sector is economy — why do these flights populate the search results. They are irrelevant to the search parameters.

Then it means business just isn’t available as an award booking as the allowance has already been taken on that sector. It’s throwing up the next best option. People book award flights the day they open. I booked May 2023 back in June this year. Using KL. Nothing on Qantas metal nor Qatar.

 

[harvyk]

Just make sure you arrive at your destination a day or two before the cruise leaves.
So far I've had 8 international flights with QF since June this year and everyone of them had left on time (or within a couple of hours of schedule).

I wouldn't want to be arriving in the cruise departure city on the day of sailing as there is many things that could delay your journey, many of them outside the airlines control so 24 to 48 hours early will give you tons of time up your sleeve.

PS don't bother booking two itineraries at once, there are many things which can affect multiple airlines at once (eg weather), and airlines have a habit of cancelling things if you're no shows, so it could be possible to have plan A changed on you and plan B already cancelled automatically.

 

[QF WP]

Because they give an * and explain that if there isn’t an exact offer of seats as per your request, here is one that *may* suit you (biting the differences, like seats on some sectors being in Y).

Obviously in your case, it’s not acceptable. You’re just going to have to keep on searching or accept the changes.

 

[1022]

Trial and error using multi city tool is really the best advice if you’re just starting out searching for classic awards. You just have to start seeing patterns with your own eyes and getting a feel for navigating the site.

Last week I booked a round the world trip all in J next August on Oneworld airlines for 318k points and just over $1000 in taxes. So there is availability out there! Having said that the hardest sectors to find are always in and out of Australia, especially SYD so you may also need to be open to positioning to a different start/end point.

Unfortunately airlines sell their FF programs to punters as rivers of gold in terms of “promised” premium cabin flights when in fact they are primarily data harvesting tools and a clearing house for very very expensive toasters. It’s not by accident that it’s hard to find international premium cabin classic awards - both in terms of availability and the website hacks that are needed to get a clearer picture of what’s available.

 

[RooFlyer]

But if you are booking business, if you select one of those flights where the largest sector is economy — why do these flights populate the search results. They are irrelevant to the search parameters.

It's just one of those supremely irritating and distracting things about the Qantas web site that's been around for years and years. There are many.

 

[RooFlyer]

Depending on how much you value your time ( ie time doing fruitless searches) Award Flight Assist is a paid service from an AFF sister web site. Well worth a look

Welcome to Frequent Flyer Concierge - Frequent Flyer Solutions

frequentflyer.com.au

 

[Sprucegoose]

Book two sets of reward flights. Less likely that both will get cancelled.

good theoretically, but not always practical or available

 

[Sprucegoose]

Sorry OP I am not sure if you are joining a cruise (it wasn't clear in your first post and responded to by harvyk)

Some cruise lines have airline deals with a guarantee of getting you there if you follow their process. However, if you are joining a cruise, his advice is spot on - fly ahead the day before departure.

 

[aikman]

good theoretically, but not always practical or available

It completely saved my family's Christmas trip. A few weeks ago, Japan Airlines cancelled our flight with no alternative offered. I am so lucky I had booked a backup flight for travel the next day even if it is on Jetstar. It means our Christmas trip is saved. If I didn't have that backup I would have had to pay astronomical fares for Christmas travel.

And to think that the only reason I booked the backup in the first place was because I couldn't resist the 30% off classic reward promotion back in June and felt like I had to book something.

 

[N860CR]

Availability is very poor at the moment. Hopefully it’ll settle over the coming months. There’s virtually not a single seat (even in economy) available between Sydney and South Africa for the coming year… can’t say I’ve ever seen that before.

 

[GrahamBRI]

Availability is very poor at the moment. Hopefully it’ll settle over the coming months. There’s virtually not a single seat (even in economy) available between Sydney and South Africa for the coming year… can’t say I’ve ever seen that before.

Definitely more challenging to solve, but there is always a way....... Singapore airways has plenty of availability to South Africa (inc J) if you want to enjoy the scenic route....... and if you truly love flying you can hop on UA metal and go via New York