QF Business class International Award flights

[opusman]

Hi,

I've been trying to book 2 return MEL-LHR business class award flights on Qantas for November/December, but while there seems to be buckets of availability down the back there seems to be nothing at all up the front of the plane for the whole of November.

I was just wondering if anyone knows what the chances are that any business class award seats will be released between now and November

Thanks,
Jon

 

[PaulZ]

Melbourne - London is a very popoular business route.

Qantas can and usually do sell out most of the premium cabins. They thus have no incentive to provide award seats.

For the London, LA and New York routes, it is common for the seats to be redeemed as soon as they are released, which i think is something like 350 days in advance.

You should regularly check availability as someone who has redeemed an award seat may cancel and you could be lucky.

I wouldn't count on them releasing more seats, but you never know.

Try going on CX via Hong Kong - that may be an option.

 

[littl_flier]

Try going on CX via Hong Kong - that may be an option.

PaulZ, just a question. How do we book to fly on CX? I've had a quick look at awards and it only wants to put me on QF between MEL-LHR. Do we need to ring the service centre, and if so, do we then pay a 5000 point fee?

 

[PaulZ]

PaulZ, just a question. How do we book to fly on CX? I've had a quick look at awards and it only wants to put me on QF between MEL-LHR. Do we need to ring the service centre, and if so, do we then pay a 5000 point fee?

The first thing to note is CX awards are more expensive.

Secondly, my first step would be to ring and ask the service centre to look at availability. Mention they should perhaps consider looking at the partners as well, like BA, CX or JAL. Ask them to look via Japan as an option as well.

If they do find you something, get the details from the operator and you may be able to book it on the net yourself (if you know the exact dates and it is with BA for instance, you may be able to do it yourself on the net by doing a multi-destination booking)
Otherwise, just pay the 5,000 points and be glad you got the tickets. They are hard to get.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

If you are looking online be aware that availability tool may not return all available options without some experimentation.

Instead of just looking up MEL to LHR, choose the multicity option and try MEL to SIN/BKK/HKG and from there to LHR. Also try other european cities.

The usual tips for better availability won't hurt - flexible with dates and routing, flexible with stopover vs not en route, flexible with travelling on separate flights.

 

[garyjohn951]

As others have said be flexible.
For November 18, 2007 the award booking shows
Mel-Syd-Cairns-Tokyo on QF, Tokyo-LHR on BA.
Two business class seats available.
That was my first look.

 

[simongr]

The MEL-NRT-LHR routing isnt that much slower - I looked at that for tgtwwm on his trip to Europe this july and it actually looked reasonable.

Flexibility is the key - I have already told mrssimongr that when we go to US/Europe next year that we cant guarantee the exact dates and routings that we want - so she has to be ready for that.

Best of luck getting what you need

S

 

[opusman]

Thanks everyone for their replies! Unfortunately my meagre points balance, while just accommodating a MEL-LHR direct, does not stretch to routing via Tokyo - otherwise, yes that would have worked a treat!

 

[straitman]

Thanks everyone for their replies! Unfortunately my meagre points balance, while just accommodating a MEL-LHR direct, does not stretch to routing via Tokyo - otherwise, yes that would have worked a treat!

Remember you can always buy some points as a topup.