QFF Award Redemptions

[Ken1]

Several weeks ago I booked 2 J classic award SYD-LHR redemptions for 12 July 2011 (I'm QFF Bronze). We're waiting another few weeks until flights are released for our return date in late August. We're still deciding whether to fly back LHR-SYD or whether to fly home via JFK and LAX.

I'm watching the website daily to try to work out a pattern of when seats are released. Each day I see seats released for SYD-LHR, with BA seats released at 10am each morning for a day after QF flights - eg earlier today flights were available up until 31 July with both QF and BA and at 10am BA flights for 01 Aug were released. It seems that it will be tomorrow before QF seats are released for 01 August. As the BA seats are released each day some days J as well as Y are available - only Y were released on 28, 29, 30 and 31 July but J seats are available as well today.

However, very few seats seem to be being released for LHR-SYD. Looking at the date range 16 July to 01 August the only seats available are PE and F on 27 July and F only on July 31 and August 1. There don't seems to be seats released for Y or J which seems strange since seats are released daily for SYD-LHR.

I see seats are being released each day for LAX-SYD with PE and J available on QF108 and Y and PE on QF12 for 31 July so we will probably book to travel home via LAX when our late August flights are available.

I am interested in hearing other people's experience regarding release of seats for LHR-SYD.

Ken

 

[straitman]

Ken1,

Like many award seats, the availability can be quite erratic. I would suggest that you broaden your search a little and include LHR-MEL or BNE etc. Frequently one will not be available but others are open.

 

[grussellt]

You could try individual legs e.g. LHR-SIN + SIN-SYD. Also try more imaginative routes via Tokyo or Johannesburg. You may get a longer than normal connect time but a day in Tokyo can be fun. If all else fails the US route is not a bad choice.

 

[Ken1]

Thanks to you both for your suggestions. We'll have to book our return flights in 2 weeks time so I'll be checking the various combinations to find the best route home.

 

[markis10]

Ring and check with QF as well, as they have options that dont show online, for various reasons apart from wanting to charge you an assisted booking fee.

 

[Dr Bob]

Ken, depending on when you are returning you might want to wing it. This week I've been watching the LHR - SYD flights to get my son home on short notice. Nearly all flights are BA & Y is available nearly every day but every day they are releasing 2 days ahead in all 4 classes except this Sunday which is Y & Y+ only. This is obviously not a peak time for BA. My son thought he might catch up with friends in HK & all classes are very available to KH with BA next week.
To go slightly OT when I've reviewed the Y+ ticket at 96,000 points ( which is available with BA flights ) I get a [ Notice - your flight from London to Sydney will be in economy ]
I've found this in every Y+ BA flight I've reviewed this week LHR - SYD , LHR - HK & even SYD - LHR next April. Does anyone know what this means????
I've read in another thread that BA's Y+ is pretty average compared with QF.
Does this mean you are in a Y+ seat with Y+ service in a Y cabin or in a Y seat with Y+ service? If the latter is the case then the extra 32,000 points & 80 quid in taxes & charges is poor value!

Regards DR BOB

 

[JohnK]

I've read in another thread that BA's Y+ is pretty average compared with QF.
Does this mean you are in a Y+ seat with Y+ service in a Y cabin or in a Y seat with Y+ service? If the latter is the case then the extra 32,000 points & 80 quid in taxes & charges is poor value!

I have done a number of flights on BA World Traveller Plus and it is not too bad although it is a little overpriced since QF introduced premium economy.

BA World Traveller Plus is obviously an older product and not the same as QF premium economy but it is still not too bad with a wider seat and more legroom in a private mini-cabin. I was able to pre-allocate bulkhead each time.

 

[Dr Bob]

Sorry JohnK, a badly worded post by me. My OT query was in regards to the note that keeps coming up when I review a Y+ booking on a BA flight which says ( Note - your flight from London to Sydney will be in Economy ) The travel class is listed as economy but the baggage is 2 pieces (Y+) & the charges/points are for Y+.
So I was wondering if this is actually a World Traveller Plus ticket or not?
Haven't been able to find an answer in other threads I've look at so probably should have started a new one. Rang QFF & Ben didn't know what it meant but did say that if it didn't print out as Y+ on the ticket then ring back & they will refund.
Sorry again.

 

[serfty]

...
So I was wondering if this is actually a World Traveller Plus ticket or not?
Haven't been able to find an answer in other threads I've look at so probably should have started a new one. ...

Maybe there's an interpretation problem with the booking classes.

BA award WT+ books into the P fare bucket ... with Qantas PE it is Z.

Once booked it's easy.

If you look the booking up on www.Qantas.com/yourbooking, you will see the booking class beside each segment.

If it is a WT+ award on BA then you will see a (P) beside the London to Sydney segment.