QF SYD - LAX/SFO Classic Award Seats - am I too early or too late?

[Leighman]

Hi all,

Wanting to book J class classic award for mid May 2023, had a look on the QF site and there's nothing. There's maybe one SYD - MEL - NRT - LAX or SYD - NAN - SFO available per month... Am I too early? Are they not open to anyone below gold yet or not yet released? Or am I too late? Have they all been snapped up already?

Thanks!

 

[Mwenenzi]

What is your QF ffp status?
Look here-->Qantas Silver Frequent Flyers Now Have Earlier Access to Award Seats
12 June to 12 May is 334 days out

 

[Leighman]

What is your QF ffp status?
Look here-->Qantas Silver Frequent Flyers Now Have Earlier Access to Award Seats
12 June to 12 May is 334 days out

I'm a bronze, I have read that and did a search for February just to check if there was anything available for the same of my FF status, but even those days within 297 days, nothing!

Maybe exactly 297 days prior to my desired dates I should check?

 

[Mwenenzi]

At 297 days may be none left. Due to QF Plats, QF gold, QF silver and other ff partners who can access at 355 days out (BA) - 330 days out (AA AS) have already taken those very hard to get AU--USA business awards.
Looking for one ways or a return?

 

[Leighman]

At 297 days may be none left. Due to QF Plats, QF gold, QF silver and other ff partners who can access at 355 days out (BA) - 330 days out (AA AS) have already taken those very hard to get AU--USA business awards.
Looking for one ways or a return?

Return, there mid may and home early June. Figured it was a good time to go, US are still at school, AUS are still at school, it's cold in Australia etc

 

[levelnine]

Bronze members rarely get access to premium seats on Qantas routes that are in hot demand (ie Qantas flights to London and the US) because all the seats are snapped up by Platinum One, Platinum, Gold and Silver members first.

So unfortunately, you are unlikely to get anything. I'd be looking at partner awards (eg JAL via Tokyo).

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Have you tried May 23?

This has a somewhat decent connect via MEL

Have you tried May 26?



Now look I know routing yourself via CBR and MEL is less than ideal. But there is availability then on QF metal for the price you're after!

Couple of other thoughts here. One thing you can try off that bat is looking for Premium Economy classic awards. I understand that's not what you want, but it'll get you a ticket booked in the routing you want with QF, as Premium Economy classic awards are easier to come by. From there you can request an upgrade into business class using points which will likely clear around time of departure if there is any availability. I know you're really rolling the dice here, but at least you'll have a ticket in hand, and I can tell you from experience that sometimes extra space is released for upgrades as you get closer to departure when QF realizes they won't be filling that J cabin. That happened to me on my flight a couple of months ago from BNE down to SYD.

Second option is to be patient and flexible. By patient I mean don't expect that you'll find the availability today or tomorrow or even next week. Keep looking from time to time and you might surprise yourself what you'll find. Remember you've got nearly a year to book the darn thing, and frankly it won't matter if you book it right this moment or in a month or two's time. You also need to be flexible on your departure with business awards. In other words, if you see a business classic award that roughly suits your schedule, book it now and ask questions later. These tickets are elusive for a reason! Remember folks are paying $8000 or more return to have the honour of flying J be it on QF, AA or UA.

One other consideration - how loyal are you to Qantas? Do you have points with other programs like Virgin Australia or British Airways? Do you have transferable points on credit cards like American Express which can be sent to many frequent flyer programs in a flash? The reason I ask this is that sometimes Qantas isn't the best redemption. Case in point, I'm flying from Sydney to Saint John on the east coast of Canada, all in business class on Air Canada and I redeemed 80,000 points for that (which I bought when AC was selling points at about a penny a point).

-RooFlyer88

-RooFlyer88