Qantas Frequent Flyer Business/First seat availability

[JASON123]

It appears that Qantas is no longer offering and Business or First class seats to frequent flyers on its international flights. Plenty of economy seats are available but the only business or first seem to be with partner airlines and then at greatly increased cost to points. Over recent weeks I have searched all international destinations and up to 330 days in adavance. On two sector flights where Qantas is one of the sectors, the Qantas flight will be in economy while the partner flight might well be in business or first.
Does anyone know if this is a new policy or just a temporary situation?

 

[junbugging]

It doesn't take me too long at all to find QF Business seats on (say) MEL-SIN, BNE-SIN, BNE-NRT, or SYD-HND, so I'm thinking something might have been amiss with your search.

 

[JASON123]

I have only been looking ex Sydney or return to Sydney. But specifically, UK, USA (all Qantas cities) and Japan I have been unable to find. But thanks to your good news I shall keep trying. Thanks

 

[mviy]

There is a long thread on this: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....m/qf-early-2017-award-availability-74536.html

The US is in very high demand. Also some at AFF will try to use points to get to the US then do a status run on AA.

 

[JASON123]

I staill cannot find and Qantas flight to Japan either Toko or Haneda. Do you think there is any truth in what a Qantas employee thought when he said it depends upon your status level what is offered, e.g. if you are a Qantas platinum many mre business/first seats will show up when doing a search.

 

[thebmw]

up to 330 days in adavance.

In addition to what the others said, Qantas seats become available more than 330 days out - 353 from memory? If it's a popular route, by the time you get to your 330 day search, all the pointy end award seats will be gone.

 

[dmitri]

I just checked and found plenty of business/first class award seats SYD-LHR return for next February across the whole month

 

[JASON123]

[h=2]QF early-2017 award availability - restricted to elite status holders?[/h]
As I have had confirmed by Qantas and now other members of the forum, there is a big difference on availability depending on your Qantas status.
If you say there are plenty of business/first seats toi London next February you must be a gold or platinum member.
I am a humble bronze member and not so lucky with availability.
This is to carry on the recent discussion in the Oneworld Award thread about whether there has been a change in the way QF is managing visibility of / access to international J award seats on its own flights. Recent experiences suggest a big difference in the visibility of J award seats in Feb 2017 depending on your status, with lots available for gold but almost nothing for bronze.

 

[dmitri]

QF early-2017 award availability - restricted to elite status holders?


As I have had confirmed by Qantas and now other members of the forum, there is a big difference on availability depending on your Qantas status.
If you say there are plenty of business/first seats toi London next February you must be a gold or platinum member.
I am a humble bronze member and not so lucky with availability.
This is to carry on the recent discussion in the Oneworld Award thread about whether there has been a change in the way QF is managing visibility of / access to international J award seats on its own flights. Recent experiences suggest a big difference in the visibility of J award seats in Feb 2017 depending on your status, with lots available for gold but almost nothing for bronze.

I don't think that status counts too much, I just logged in with my wife's account who is bottom of the barrel BRONZE status and found the same amount of business and first class award seats for SYD-LHR

 

[mannej]

I don't think that status counts too much, I just logged in with my wife's account who is bottom of the barrel RED status and found the same amount of business and first class award seats for SYD-LHR

Isn't Red status VA?

 

[mviy]

Isn't Red status VA?

Perhaps dmitri was thinking of the colour of the bronze frequent flyer card.

 

[dmitri]

Isn't Red status VA?

I meant bronze

 

[Paddy55]

I'm looking out 353 days for SYD-LHR, LHR-SYD, SYD-CDG and SYD-BCN
Ideally 2 x F each way - yes I know I'll be lucky..
However I've noticed a few things

1. 2 x F were frequently available until end Mar 2017 on QF1 & 2
2. There are some April CX J/F to CDG BUT you can't book them because the next screen says F is full
3. SYD-BCN on Emirates was preferred, and they are usually available up to the end of Mar 2017... then only 5th Apr

So, QF, what's going on? Change in policy, reduced availability in 'summer'? :evil:

Looking to book outbound leg in 3 weeks so starting to wonder...

 

[madrooster]

I'm looking out 353 days for SYD-LHR, LHR-SYD, SYD-CDG and SYD-BCN
Ideally 2 x F each way - yes I know I'll be lucky..
However I've noticed a few things

1. 2 x F were frequently available until end Mar 2017 on QF1 & 2
2. There are some April CX J/F to CDG BUT you can't book them because the next screen says F is full
3. SYD-BCN on Emirates was preferred, and they are usually available up to the end of Mar 2017... then only 5th Apr

So, QF, what's going on? Change in policy, reduced availability in 'summer'? :evil:

Looking to book outbound leg in 3 weeks so starting to wonder...

EK's system range only goes 337 days into the future unlike QF which is 353 days.

 

[Paddy55]

EK's system range only goes 337 days into the future unlike QF which is 353 days.

Yep, thanks, taken that into account