QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic Reward seats?

[sudoer]

EF can't see QF-only inventory. That would've been inventory that was only made available to QF members.

Would've thought the call centre staff could see QF-only inventory though!

 

[MrJetset]

That is bizarre. I dare say the system did indeed release the inventory and with the demise of the Premium Queue the agent simply did not know what they were doing.

 

[Pushka]

That is bizarre. I dare say the system did indeed release the inventory and with the demise of the Premium Queue the agent simply did not know what they were doing.

When did the Premium Queue go?

 

[Berlin]

with the demise of the Premium Queue the agent simply did not know what they were doing.

Demise of the... Houhw, who when what???

 

[MrJetset]

I mean Premium Desk. The dedicated Premium agents have long gone. Now WP and above have standard agents answer "Qantas Premium" even though they are not trained to a higher standard like they used to be.

 

[Pushka]

I mean Premium Desk. The dedicated Premium agents have long gone. Now WP and above have standard agents answer "Qantas Premium" even though they are not trained to a higher standard like they used to be.

That’s what I thought you meant. I’ve had good experiences recently? I think it depends when you call as to your experience and there was a thread about this recently.

 

[kevrosmith]

I ended up getting my 2 x F seats, but the way it happened was very unusual.

Called QFF on Friday to request award space again. The rep happily lodged the requested but it returned a "load factor exceeded" response - no luck. Loads were F8 A8 according to EF with no P availability showing.

After the call I thought to do a classic award search on the QF website to see if anything was showing on Cathay, as they occasionally open space a couple of weeks prior to departure.

To my surprise, two F seats on QF128 showed up on the date I requested - despite the space not being visible to the rep, award request getting declined, and EF showing P0.

I snapped them up as a new booking, ticketed within 15 minutes and loads on EF were updated to F6 A6. I've since called Qantas and asked them to cancel my existing J booking - I asked them to waive the cancellation fee given the circumstance (would've settled for charging a change fee instead) which they said they'd do.

So the lesson is - don't rely solely on EF for availability. The booking engine has some magic ability to convert A or F inventory into awards so its worth searching (while logged in of course) if you are looking for an award close to departure. I can still see this occurring - for example three (!) F seats available on QF128 for 7 Jan:

View attachment 147649

Yet EF shows:

View attachment 147648

Being HKG-SYD, you need to update the Point of Sale country in EF and see what it shows then. It can be vastly different compared to when you search with POS country set as Australia (or USA, which is the EF default). Some QF agents also know to somehow change the Pos country in their system. I’ve experienced this with itineraries/award searches out of USA.

 

[wingtip626]

I have been successful with my two recent requests.

Requested 1 x J seat SYD-NOU return in early Dec 19. No J availability showing on my preferred travel dates. Request came back successful in 6-8 hours.

Requested 1 x J seat BKK-SYD in mid/late Dec 19. Most dates in Dec had no J availability due to the block-out period. Request came back successful instantly.

 

[JohnM]

I'm now taking bets.

On Friday afternoon, I called QF WP line and thankfully got the Australian centre.

Requested a J seat be released on QF9 MEL-PER in early November. EF showing I5 (J,C D all 9).

Rob keys in the request and says the powers-that-be normally respond with a few minutes. Nothing happens, but it is about 1900h EDST.

A waitlisted PNR is generated and he says call back Monday morning.

Anyone care to place some odds on my chances?

 

[sudoer]

I think the flight being 10 months away, and only requesting a single seat work in your favour.

My concern would be the I5, but I've had two seats released with I4 loads previously so I like your chances.

 

[Pushka]

I'm now taking bets.

On Friday afternoon, I called QF WP line and thankfully got the Australian centre.

Requested a J seat be released on QF9 MEL-PER in early November. EF showing I5 (J,C D all 9).

Rob keys in the request and says the powers-that-be normally respond with a few minutes. Nothing happens, but it is about 1900h EDST.

A waitlisted PNR is generated and he says call back Monday morning.

Anyone care to place some odds on my chances?

The only time I’ve been lucky is instant, Computer says Yes. 12 months out. But I reckon you’ll be fine.

 

[JohnM]

I'm wondering if they would prefer to favour such requests on normal DOM flights. Anyway, I thought I'd give the 9 a crack. Some FLounging appeals...

 

[cove]

You had me wondering JohnM until I read F Lounge. I had a back massage there a few weeks ago.

 

[RichardMEL]

I'm wondering if they would prefer to favour such requests on normal DOM flights. Anyway, I thought I'd give the 9 a crack. Some FLounging appeals...

Sure, they'd much rather release a dom seat on the route given they'd rather sell a MEL-LHR J seat ....

 

[JohnM]

Whoot-whoot! Colour me a winner!

TBH, I'm surprised.

 

[JohnM]

I omitted to mention the other surprise: the points required were the usual 36K but the co-payment was only $19 instead of the usual $37 for a DOM J redemption . How is that, I wonder? .

Memo to self: must do this more often .

 

[flyboysp]

So I put in a request for 2 J classic rewards seats to be released for QF34, KIX-SYD on September 28 a few days ago.During that time there was an interim booking reference.Earlier today I got an email to contact the centre, who advised that there were no seats available. EF shows 9 across all fare buckets.

Should I try again or accept that I won't get those J Seats?

 

[TheInsider]

I omitted to mention the other surprise: the points required were the usual 36K but the co-payment was only $19 instead of the usual $37 for a DOM J redemption . How is that, I wonder? ..

Domestic taxes and fees compared to International fees and taxes, quite a difference!

 

[Pushka]

So I put in a request for 2 J classic rewards seats to be released for QF34, KIX-SYD on September 28 a few days ago.During that time there was an interim booking reference.Earlier today I got an email to contact the centre, who advised that there were no seats available. EF shows 9 across all fare buckets.

Should I try again or accept that I won't get those J Seats?

We had similar. I rang up and same comment. Computer says no.

 

[JohnM]

Domestic taxes and fees compared to International fees and taxes, quite a difference!

Hmmm - interesting, given that I'm only doing MEL-PER.