P1 status works - release of award flights

[simongr]

So finally yesterday the big test of whether P1 status was worth chasing for me came to pass. There were only two things I wanted from P1 - front row of whY and 3 J seats to Europe to visit family - I expected when I pushed for P1 that I would have to go via LHR to Cyprus.

Lo and behold just as I was hitting P1 they announced the EK tie up - sweet I could get flights to DXB instead (and then cash for flight to LCA) - although there was increased risk as I couldn't be sure when I could book awards.

Suddenly whY awards became available but no J. Flash forward a few weeks to another Amex statement and I made the call to the P1 line. Initially a tad disappointed that I couldn't just ask the P1 line to arrange things. But they passed me on to the premium awards people who said to call back on Tuesday and they expected it should be ok.

Call today from QF - three J seats on the requested dates all locked in - $2K in taxes - which is better than the $3K I was expecting via LHR.

So very much P1 was worth chasing for me!

Now to book the hotels and import the gandparents for baby sitting in DXB. Also a game of rock paper scissors for who gets to sit next to four year old boygr for 15 hours...

Seats 12ABE locked in!

 

[moa999]

Well done. Assume this is post March.

 

[Katie]

Now to book the hotels and import the gandparents for baby sitting in DXB. Also a game of rock paper scissors for who gets to sit next to four year old boygr for 15 hours...

Whoever. We took Little Miss 4.5 to LHR via SIN in J last year. On the whole, pretty easy with IFE. Oh, but I was the one next to her for 3 from 4 flights. Guess I'm remembering with rose coloured glasses.

 

[MrJetset]

Ummm, I checked and found J and F seats to DXB were pretty easy to secure (even before they had traffic rights, and post).

I think a better test would be requesting 3 J seats to LHR within a month of departure.

 

[simongr]

Direct flights on the A380? I saw seats via HKG on CX at quite a premium over a direct flight.

I couldn't see any direct flight availability when I checked and the premium awards desk had to request the seats.

Now mrssimongr tells me we have a wedding to go to on the Saturday...

 

[amaroo]

Nice one - ASA or Classic?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

amaroo: if they could release ASA seats at classic levels...... I would make it my life mission to remain P1 forever! Alas it's just classic.

 

[MrJetset]

Direct flights on the A380? I saw seats via HKG on CX at quite a premium over a direct flight.

I couldn't see any direct flight availability when I checked and the premium awards desk had to request the seats.

Now mrssimongr tells me we have a wedding to go to on the Saturday...

Yes. And I've managed to book RTW Award tickets in F within a month's on 2 separate occasions notice by requesting seats SYD-LHR and returning LAX-SYD +/2 days of requested dates. Of course, you have to ensure availability on the 2 other OW carriers first.

 

[simongr]

That's great for you and this was't meant to be a show of getting the most elusive award - it was more celebrating that the effort that went into getting P1 has paid off and the trip we have been planning for a long time is going ahead exactly as expected.

 

[MrJetset]

That's great for you and this was't meant to be a show of getting the most elusive award - it was more celebrating that the effort that went into getting P1 has paid off and the trip we have been planning for a long time is going ahead exactly as expected.

Of course. It's all relative. My point was that the true weight of P1 needs to be tested against some key routes at short notice to demonstrate it's value over WP.

 

[simongr]

Yeah - there hasnt been anecdotal reporting of awards releases.

And as an update I am fairly sure that they have moved my flight to the Sunday

 

[MarcB]

amaroo: if they could release ASA seats at classic levels...... I would make it my life mission to remain P1 forever! Alas it's just classic.

As a WP, I have had award seats released and booked them as ASAs. The T&Cs state that a QF Classic Award can be booked as an ASA.

See here:

Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award Conditions

Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award booking and fare conditions, including terms applicable to changes, cancellations and refunds, will vary according to the Any Seat Award booked. Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award conditions are available at the time of booking. We recommend that you review carefully the applicable fare conditions at the time of booking.
Some of the fare conditions that typically apply to Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Awards, that do not usually apply to non-Award fares offered by the applicable airline, are as follows:

• A Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award cannot be changed to a Classic Award or vice versa.
• All additional collections, including servicing fees and change fees, are to be paid with money (eg by credit card, BPAY, cash or other accepted form of payment) in the currency that Qantas or Jetstar has recorded for your booking.
• You cannot combine a Qantas & Partner Classic Award with a Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award in the same booking but seats available on Qantas as Classic Awards with a QF flight number may be redeemed as a Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award.
• When booking a Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award, you can combine seats on Qantas with a QF code with seats on Jetstar with a JQ code in your booking and you can also combine your Qantas or Jetstar flights with selected flights on other selected airlines for onward travel.*
• Award Flights must be booked at least 24 hours before scheduled departure (some locations and fares require earlier advance booking).

 

[pagingjoan]

But not necessarily at the Classic Award rate, surely?

 

[MarcB]

But not necessarily at the Classic Award rate, surely?

They actually treat them as a points plus pay - well that's what I was told. From what I understand, if you ring up and request say "U" class on BNE to LAX where there is no "U" availability, they will create a booking in "U" and wait-list it. They then have to submit it for immediate clearance. If it comes back "cleared" then the status changes from "requested" to "confirmed". At this point, you can ask to redeem it as an ASA and the minimum number of points that apply will be the relevant classic award points level. I did this exact thing with "Z" class BNE to JFK. Was 96,000 points plus taxes, plus award assistance fee. Was definitely Z class and full SCs and points posted.

 

[simongr]

Did you do that before or after ticketing? I might have missed an opportunity...

 

[MarcB]

Did you do that before or after ticketing? I might have missed an opportunity...

Before simongr. When I rang to request the release, I simply asked for it to be booked as an ASA. The operator corrected me and said they called it a points plus pay. But I was very clear I was looking for Z class availability to be released.

 

[Kangol]

They actually treat them as a points plus pay - well that's what I was told. From what I understand, if you ring up and request say "U" class on BNE to LAX where there is no "U" availability, they will create a booking in "U" and wait-list it. They then have to submit it for immediate clearance. If it comes back "cleared" then the status changes from "requested" to "confirmed". At this point, you can ask to redeem it as an ASA and the minimum number of points that apply will be the relevant classic award points level. I did this exact thing with "Z" class BNE to JFK. Was 96,000 points plus taxes, plus award assistance fee. Was definitely Z class and full SCs and points posted.

Ah, I remember having this conversation with you at the time, before you flew, so it's good to hear that it can be done!

 

[MarcB]

Ah, I remember having this conversation with you at the time, before you flew, so it's good to hear that it can be done!

Yup. Here's the original post...sorry if we've hijacked the thread simongr!

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-requesting-additional-award-seats-39679.html

 

[simongr]

No worries on hijacking - more annoyed that I missed this opportunity...

 

[DTM1]

No worries on hijacking - more annoyed that I missed this opportunity...

Me too! Have missed a couple of good opportunities....