QF Award Booking - quick question

[akenne21]

Hi all - probably a silly question, but am looking to make an Award Booking (Classic Rewards) on QF from Sydney-LA return next year. the QF site keeps offering flights via Melbourne or Brisbane. Can anyone explain why this is happening, and why it isn't possible to fly direct SYD-LAX?

Cheers,

Amanda

 

[cjd600]

No availability on that day.
What class of travel, and month?

 

[akenne21]

Looking to travel between 13 April and 29 April (yes, school holidays - probably why no availability! DUH!!!)
Can be flexible in departure - e.g. could leave as early as 10 April. Probably don't want to return much after 1 May.
Looking for economy. Have around 400,000 QF points.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Hi all - probably a silly question, but am looking to make an Award Booking (Classic Rewards) on QF from Sydney-LA return next year. the QF site keeps offering flights via Melbourne or Brisbane. Can anyone explain why this is happening, and why it isn't possible to fly direct SYD-LAX?

Cheers,

Amanda

That may be the only flights available. You may not be aware that this is an extremely popular route for award bookings. Unless you are booking around a year out and/or have some status your chances of getting a direct flight are very remote.

 

[akenne21]

That maybe the only flights available. You may not be aware that this is an extremely popular route for award bookings. Unless you are booking around a year out your chances of getting a direct flight are very remote..

Thanks for that - I wasn't aware - very new to making these sorts of bookings. Appreciate your explanation!

 

[Dr Ralph]

Thanks for that - I wasn't aware - very new to making these sorts of bookings. Appreciate your explanation!

No problems.

I've made several award flights to the US this year. None of them have been direct with Qantas because no flights were available even though I booked one year out. It's very likely that you'll need to consider non direct flights if you want to make a booking during that period. Suggest you look at Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong. I've done this route twice so far this year. Yes, it's longer (but not that much really) and the trade off is that the taxes you'll need to pay are MUCH lower. Qantas taxes are outrageous.

 

[akenne21]

Thanks for the tip, Dr Ralph. Yes - I am indeed discovering the outrageous fees and taxes!!!!

 

[AV8]

American Airlines has a return LAX -SYD flight available on 29 April with very low $ contribution.

 

[akenne21]

Thanks for that AV8

 

[akenne21]

American Airlines has a return LAX -SYD flight available on 29 April with very low $ contribution.

That is VERY low - $120 USD tax contribution versus $1700 AUD for the QF flight taxes on the same route (for 4 pax)?!?!

 

[grussellt]

Looking to travel between 13 April and 29 April (yes, school holidays - probably why no availability! DUH!!!)
Can be flexible in departure - e.g. could leave as early as 10 April. Probably don't want to return much after 1 May.
Looking for economy. Have around 400,000 QF points.

Another possibilty is SYD-DFW-LAX on April 16 if you don't mind one stop. (QF/AA)

 

[UP4014]

If it's routing you via Melbpurne or Brisbane I'd take it and take it now. If you leave it long hey will be gone as well.

I'm surprised there is still seats at all for school holidays.

 

[akenne21]

Done - thanks all for your advice. Booked SYD-DFW-LGA on 10 April (QF/AA); and LAX-SYD (AA) on 29 April. Fees a bit higher on flight over but evened out with the $120US fees for the return. School hols April 2018 sorted!!!

 

[Steady]

Co

Done - thanks all for your advice. Booked SYD-DFW-LGA on 10 April (QF/AA); and LAX-SYD (AA) on 29 April. Fees a bit higher on flight over but evened out with the $120US fees for the return. School hols April 2018 sorted!!!

Congrats akenne21, glad to hear you have been successful

 

[woodyren]

No problems.

I've made several award flights to the US this year. None of them have been direct with Qantas because no flights were available even though I booked one year out. It's very likely that you'll need to consider non direct flights if you want to make a booking during that period. Suggest you look at Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong. I've done this route twice so far this year. Yes, it's longer (but not that much really) and the trade off is that the taxes you'll need to pay are MUCH lower. Qantas taxes are outrageous.

New to QF rewards as have only used Velocity for successful rewards bookings. Now that I have also collected a decent haul of Qantas FF pts I need to commence my research....

Dr Ralph. How do you check availability for partner flights using QFF pts?

 

[Dr Ralph]

Dr Ralph. How do you check availability for partner flights using QFF pts?

Can't say that I know of an easy way to do this.

If the partner flights don't show via the QFF website I'd ring them. You may not have to pay the fee to make the booking with them if you couldn't have done it online yourself.