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

[cjd600]

Or it could be that QF are releasing seats to partners/low tiers but releasing more to status holders (as T&Cs allow)

Although it may be true, I don't think it has been definitively shown that QF has released fewer premium seats to non-status holders/partners on 2017 flights than 2016

From my low status observations on the routes I have been checking the last few years (primarily east Coast AU to USA - LAX/DFW), there is no doubt fewer seats are now/currently being released.
The number is zero,even on Tues/Wed flights way out from school hols.
Just my observation,and a recent change....
Having to investigate CX options to lug the family on our next U.S. trip

 

[Scr77]

....Classic Flight Reward seat availability is limited and some flights may not have any Classic Flight Reward seats. When seats are available, preferential access is provided at qantas.com and from Qantas Telephone Sales and Qantas offices, excluding some international locations (Award Assistance Fee applies to assisted bookings)."

T & C's need to be updated to say that Bronze will not have access to anything other than Y from now on. Currently says some when it should say all.

Doesn't make sense that leaving Oz in feb / mar 17 (when outbound loads are low but inbound loads are high) there is nothing available. But there is still plenty of Y+ and some J available for this year for NB

 

[Quickstatus]

But I'd rather have some chance than none at all.

The airline hopes points are spent buying toasters and Dyson vacuum cleaners.

 

[farstar]

I am WP and I don't see a lot of J seats on routes like SYD-LAX as they are all taken almost as soon as they are available. The only upside is I can request seats to be released but even that is not a given. With so many points generated by credit cards there is not way they can supply enough seats for redemption.

 

[Doctore1003]

I am WP and I don't see a lot of J seats on routes like SYD-LAX as they are all taken almost as soon as they are available. The only upside is I can request seats to be released but even that is not a given. With so many points generated by credit cards there is not way they can supply enough seats for redemption.

Out of interest, have you had a look at award availability on that route recently?

 

[Pushka]

I am WP and I don't see a lot of J seats on routes like SYD-LAX as they are all taken almost as soon as they are available. The only upside is I can request seats to be released but even that is not a given. With so many points generated by credit cards there is not way they can supply enough seats for redemption.

Exactly. I jump on award flights immediately they are released through a WP account. Too many people with non flight related points to burn these days.

 

[Boca68]

Exactly. I jump on award flights immediately they are released through a WP account. Too many people with non flight related points to burn these days.

Reading the thread, I see the obvious point being missed by many "elite' status members here. Yes, the QF rules are clear and mostly have been. But the question some are asking is the obvious, almost overnight disppearance of access to J (or F) award seats.

Before it was limited, but now, from the reports on this thread, its nigh on impossible. Clearly something has changed from QFs' perspective. Its not a discussion about who is due or owed a Reward seat, its about the sudden change in availability.

I'm a simple PS, but I don't see any major changes. I see availability on many routes in J. I cannot say what it is like for a NB. But, I think that is the OPs suggestion.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm a simple PS, but I don't see any major changes. I see availability on many routes in J. I cannot say what it is like for a NB. But, I think that is the OPs suggestion.

Oh! Another silver member! I think we are the only two?!

I was gonna ask about availability for silver... seems like we are doing ok and not hit the same way bronze are? Certainly makes silver more attractive than it might have been before (maybe that's the idea?)

 

[Pushka]

Well, as I mentioned before, I could find NO availability for Dec - Jan 17 for J looking through a WP account for Syd-Sin.

So lack of availability for ALL compounded by high demand.

 

[mviy]

Too many people with non flight related points to burn these days.

Well, seeing that I can I have accumulated a decent amount of points over half of which is non flight related.

Once I reach SG I will consider trying to book an international classic award in J for mid-2017, though I may struggle to do that as very soon after the seats become available they are sold out.

 

[cjd600]

Well, as I mentioned before, I could find NO availability for Dec - Jan 17 for J looking through a WP account for Syd-Sin.
So lack of availability for ALL compounded by high demand.

The Dec/Jan peak period is very different to the current +353 day mid March period....that's nothing new for any status.
Demand has nothing to do with it from NB perspective - could previously see J and above released,multiple seats and 'overnight' there is zero released. Not released and snapped up, but not released (for NB). And yes, I check to the minute of release to keep tabs on the tue/wed USA flight releases - the last few weeks is the first time this has happened (in the last 5 years).
A month ago or so one could snap up 4x J BNE-LAX ( and up to 5 for the return!), now zilch.
Very curious.

 

[Quickstatus]

Only the airline knows what their inventory is on any flight on any day. Unfortunately we will never know. There is no way to prove or disprove the theory that sudden reduction in premium availability has occurred.

I guess in the final analysis, you perception then is as valid as anyone's and the caveat "Your mileage may vary" applies. In the end, if the perception that the FF program is of little benefit then there is no point in accumulating points unless the points are free and it's accumulation does not change your spending habits (in which case just buy Dyson vacuum cleaners).

Why by do people persist in the FF program when it is of no value to them. Best fare of Day has many significant benefits!!!!.

1) Fly direct
2) don't have to be enslaved to one airline of alliance
3 don't have to feel you have to sit in a lounge when you spent so much trying to get there
4) cheaper fares
5) no more weird flights to get status credits.
6) don't have to spend hours trying to get the elusive rewards seat.

Be free!!!!

A lot of frequent flyers are really like hamsters in a wheel.

 

[drron]

Or it could be that QF are releasing seats to partners/low tiers but releasing more to status holders (as T&Cs allow)

Although it may be true, I don't think it has been definitively shown that QF has released fewer premium seats to non-status holders/partners on 2017 flights than 2016

Basically none to an AA LTP whereas before I have been able to snag QF J awards-eg on QF 23,24 when they did not appear on Mrsdrron's QF WP account.
So they have definitely made a change in releasing awards to partners with no announcement.

 

[cjd600]

Yep, I'm only commenting on what has changed to what I see every day.
On the plus side,getting creative and looking at partner space,I see heavy availability 4xJ at release on same flight for Syd-Hkg-Lax/JFK in CX and for about $2500 less "carrier charges". Longer flight time (important consideration with kids), a few more points (but same for LAX or JFK), but a big cash saving...
If AA start releasing more to QFF on the route once the dust settles from all their changes the $$ saving will be about $3k over QF for same points outlay.
I suspect the current QF situation will 'correct' itself before too long though

 

[Pushka]

So AA isnt much value anymore if Qantas aren't playing the game properly. You sure it isn't just that with all the points redemption demand pre release to AA that there is very little left to release?

 

[Boca68]

Well, as I mentioned before, I could find NO availability for Dec - Jan 17 for J looking through a WP account for Syd-Sin.

So lack of availability for ALL compounded by high demand.

Yes, I'm seing the same, but Dec/Jan is peak time. So, not surprising.

But looking earlier, same route, I can see plenty of availability in J Aug/Sept/Oct.

edit: I'm only searching for 1 pax. Not 2+

 

[Doctore1003]

Yes, I'm seing the same, but Dec/Jan is peak time. So, not surprising.

But looking earlier, same route, I can see plenty of availability in J Aug/Sept/Oct.

edit: I'm only searching for 1 pax. Not 2+

I imagine a lot of this is EK?

 

[drron]

So AA isnt much value anymore if Qantas aren't playing the game properly. You sure it isn't just that with all the points redemption demand pre release to AA that there is very little left to release?

Even the couple of J awards I see left on my QF PS account don't show up on AA.And I am talking less than 330 days.
But who cares.JAL F blows QF out of the water.

 

[N860CR]

Can add another one to the "fail" list. Just a NB now and I was able to book a SYD-JNB-SYD a few weeks ago at 12 months notice - now there's nothing.

Very annoying. I have a lot of QF points that I use for SYD-JNB as its the easiest option on that route.

 

[Andona]

I check to the minute of release to keep tabs on the tue/wed USA flight releases - the last few weeks is the first time this has happened (in the last 5 years).
A month ago or so one could snap up 4x J BNE-LAX ( and up to 5 for the return!), now zilch.
Very curious.

Definitely concur with this. I am NB. Last year I checked (daily) for 2 seats at 10am Brisbane time 353 days in advance for a period of 6 months . I kept a spreadsheet of award seat availability in PE, B and F on all SYD -USA routes as well as SYD-LHR. The spreadsheet spans lMarch to August

For the entire 6 months there were several options for trans-pacific travel midweek in Business and PE. SYD-LAX was available either direct of via BNE or MEL on at least 4 days ( generally Mon-Thurs) until they started selling the SYD-SFO route. Then the PE/B availability switched primarily to SYD-SFO ( 4 days midweek) with SYD-LAX only having seats on Tuesdays. SYD-DFW always had a couple of business award seats available on Wednesdays and generally had F seats too.

The return routes had similar availability but the days varied slightly. e.g. you could guarantee that they would release 2 Business seats on the DFW-SYD route for Monday flights.

SYD-LHR had similar plentiful availability on Qantas metal but generally only via MEL. Ditto LHR-SYD.

After 5 months I could basically predict which days PE and B seats would be released on those routes, there was a lot less variability than you'd expect. I used that info to grab 2 award seats in F for SYD-DFW and 2 award seats in B for the return route which I'm very much looking forward to later this year

I'm very glad I grabbed those award seats when I did because if the current situation persists it looks like premium award seat availability is going to be pretty much non-existent ( on those routes) for us lowly NB people on Qantas metal from now on.

Andona