QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic Reward seats?

[encryptededdy]

Curiously it seems my ticket had to be manually ticketed

 

[ozflier]

I have a very convoluted set of flights getting from Brisbane to North Africa via Singapore, Japan and New York.
I am looking at trying to get a more direct flight via the USA .
Just to confirm before I call asking for business seat release across the Pacific, your only chance to get the bot to approve the release is there are D or I fare basis class revenue eats ?

 

[encryptededdy]

I have a very convoluted set of flights getting from Brisbane to North Africa via Singapore, Japan and New York.
I am looking at trying to get a more direct flight via the USA .
Just to confirm before I call asking for business seat release across the Pacific, your only chance to get the bot to approve the release is there are D or I fare basis class revenue eats ?

For international it's I only for WPs, D for P1.

 

[ozflier]

For international it's I only for WPs, D for P1.

Thank you .

 

[encryptededdy]

So as we know Qantas has released some extra award space recently (see Qantas apologises to frequent flyers with status extensions, lounge passes, points & more reward seats)

Now, I had called up on Friday to request some Business award seats released on a WP on QF11, and was denied on November 23, 24, 25, but approved on November 26.

Just checking today, it looks like Business award seats have been added on QF11 on November 25th and 26th, even though I was unable to WP request release for 25th (was told no I space).


In fact, it's quite odd to see classic award space but no Sale or Saver space on a flight.

My preferred date was the 25th, so it'd be great to change my flights from 26 to 25th, but of course I can't use MMB to do that unless I log into my FF account, and the system is currently down.

Anyway, just thought this would be an interesting data point that reward seats are now being released for dates that were not WP-releaseable.

 

[levelnine]

Anyway, just thought this would be an interesting data point that reward seats are now being released for dates that were not WP-releaseable.

My guess is this release of seats will make it even harder for WPs to get award seats released in the near future as it will diminish the number of business seats for sale and therefore push yield management to be even tighter.

 

[TheInsider]

My guess is this release of seats will make it even harder for WPs to get award seats released in the near future as it will diminish the number of business seats for sale and therefore push yield management to be even tighter.

Incorrect - there will be still availability through the droid.

 

[levelnine]

Incorrect - there will be still availability through the droid.

My point is if 2 J seats are taken from most cabins, there is less likely to be I & D availability to request after those 2 J seats are gone.

 

[encryptededdy]

My preferred date was the 25th, so it'd be great to change my flights from 26 to 25th, but of course I can't use MMB to do that unless I log into my FF account, and the system is currently down.

Just following this up. I called through to Hobart, but they weren't able to see this seat for some reason (but they could see another seat from MEL-LAX that was also released today???). Thankfully the website came back online while I was on the phone and I was able to book online for the 25th + have Hobart cancel the previous booking.

 

[01ellioc]

Brains Trust. I didn’t progress very far in my award seat release request today (Fiji call centre) as I was told that I as the QFF platinum needed to be on the booking - my plan was to request two business seats for my parents on the same flight I already had a paid ticket for.

Reading through this thread it appears others have been able to request for immediate family but I just thought I would double check.. HUACA best course of action?

 

[dylarr]

Brains Trust. I didn’t progress very far in my award seat release request today (Fiji call centre) as I was told that I as the QFF platinum needed to be on the booking - my plan was to request two business seats for my parents on the same flight I already had a paid ticket for.

Reading through this thread it appears others have been able to request for immediate family but I just thought I would double check.. HUACA best course of action?

Definitely HUACA. You can request release of seats for eligible family members and the Platinum member does not need to be on the same booking or even travelling (but the points do need to be deducted from the Platinum's FF account, which you can recoup via a Family Transfer if required).

 

[sdhog2002]

I was delighted to find, on ExpertFlyer, a number of flights LHR MEL in June 2023 with I9 availability. I called up to request a Reward seat and confirmed the availability of those I class seats - "lots of availability" were the words. The request has been denied, unfortunately. Does anyone have any advise? I understand asking again will pretty much result in an immediate no.

 

[MrJetset]

I was delighted to find, on ExpertFlyer, a number of flights LHR MEL in June 2023 with I9 availability. I called up to request a Reward seat and confirmed the availability of those I class seats - "lots of availability" were the words. The request has been denied, unfortunately. Does anyone have any advise? I understand asking again will pretty much result in an immediate no.

We will never know the factors beyond this.

All you can do is keep asking for other dates.

 

[liamg]

Spoke to QF today about releasing three seats on a return SYD-OOL-SYD trip in December. Both flights showed N9 in Expertflyer. I could barely hear him, so didn't want to take up time by asking where in the world he was.

After about 45 minutes of being on hold/coming back to ask for more details he came back and said he would have to call me back when he has a booking reference and more details. In the meantime I have a PNR in MMB with seats in N. I'm guessing that's wrong? Question is whether he'll call me back and finalise it all, or it'll drop off and I'll never hear from him again.

 

[muppet]

I was delighted to find, on ExpertFlyer, a number of flights LHR MEL in June 2023 with I9 availability. I called up to request a Reward seat and confirmed the availability of those I class seats - "lots of availability" were the words. The request has been denied, unfortunately. Does anyone have any advise? I understand asking again will pretty much result in an immediate no.

Flagship route during peak European travel …. I’ve had success in the past but not a year out. Keep trying every month or so.

 

[dylarr]

Spoke to QF today about releasing three seats on a return SYD-OOL-SYD trip in December. Both flights showed N9 in Expertflyer. I could barely hear him, so didn't want to take up time by asking where in the world he was.

After about 45 minutes of being on hold/coming back to ask for more details he came back and said he would have to call me back when he has a booking reference and more details. In the meantime I have a PNR in MMB with seats in N. I'm guessing that's wrong? Question is whether he'll call me back and finalise it all, or it'll drop off and I'll never hear from him again

Yes, whoever did this has set it up incorrectly. The requested seats should be in X. HUACA.

 

[liamg]

A couple of hours after I posted I noticed the PNR disappear from my bookings list and the N class flights were replaced with X class, so I assume someone who knew what they were doing took over. Then South Africa called to take my credit card and tell me it’ll be ticketed in 24-48 hours. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow-ish if it’ll turn out ok.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Requested LHRxSIN-BNE or LHRxSYD-BNE across two or three days in July 2023 which were all showing I9 for both the individual sectors and the through trips.

Was told by the agent that "they're blocked across those three months Jun, Jul and Aug ex. LHR because the airline thinks it can sell them."

It might have just been to get me off the phone, but it was a HBA agent and given the reports of forward bookings, it seems plausible.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Requested LHRxSIN-BNE or LHRxSYD-BNE across two or three days in July 2023 which were all showing I9 for both the individual sectors and the through trips.

Was told by the agent that "they're blocked across those three months Jun, Jul and Aug ex. LHR because the airline thinks it can sell them."

It might have just been to get me off the phone, but it was a HBA agent and given the reports of forward bookings, it seems plausible.

No that’s correct. There are blackout dates for requesting Award seat release.

 

[MrJetset]

No that’s correct. There are blackout dates for requesting Award seat release.

3 months! I knew Blackout dates +/- a week or two around school holidays, but three months is a lot!