QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic Reward seats?

[JohnK]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

I guess I meant odd in that I had to wait a while for an answer to the request. Previously it has been approved on the spot, this is the first time I've had a request rejected - have requested QF12 in P during busy periods on weekends with no problem!

As per my post above the request to release seats is now sent to a different queue to be processed. It may not even be processed by computer program and only goes to human being for approval/refusal.

 

[Kangol]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Again, not odd.

One is a droid. The other is a human in revenue management.

As per my post above the request to release seats is now sent to a different queue to be processed. It may not even be processed by computer program and only goes to human being for approval/refusal.

Rang a few days ago to see what the outcome of a manual review was - answer was no. Due to the loadings. The Auckland staff member suggested I wait a few days, ring and put another request in. At that stage no FF seats (PUZX) had been loaded and all 14 F seats were available.

I called again today, got to the premium desk. Asked to request the seat again, I was not put on hold (could hear all the keystrokes) and the automated system came up as no. Was told that I can send it for manual review and all 14 F seats were still available. Still no PUZX seats loaded.

So it appears that my original post still stands - first line of request is a "droid" (which generally doesn't take that long) and second is for a person to manually look at the request.
Loadings are: F9 A8 J9 C9 D9 I0 W9 R9 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V1 S9 N1 G0 E0
I remember reading something about "there must be Q availability for any award request to be made".
Hmmm...

 

[lurker]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

As another data point, I recently (unsuccessfully) tried to get some QFd classic award space made available as a WP.

What I was told and seems to be mostly consistent with experiences in this thread, was the following baseline class availability buckets need to be >0 before an agent can escalate to Yield Management for a seat to even be considered for classic award release.

QF Domestic:
N --> Economy
D --> Business

QF International:
Q --> Economy
T --> Premium Economy
I --> Business
A --> First

Basically, if there's a zero next to one of those fare buckets for the travel class that you're after, the answer will be "no" and customer service agents can't get past the "droid" to manually escalate to Yield Management. I'd be interested to see how strongly this hypothesis holds up based on others' experiences.

 

[michaele]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

This is true at least in my experience - the agent can't even submit it to yield management if there is 0 in any of those buckets (the only allowable for release).

 

[RichardMEL]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Makes sense - specially in the F and J cabins - if they're not selling or have no discount inventory available then there's no reason they'd open up a FF seat. I don't even call D that discount, given there's also the I bucket.

 

[MrJetset]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

To clarify: They can submit any request to the droid or revenue management but they are instructed not to.

For the record: I got 2 F seats released in mid January (school holidays) on QF12 in F. I was rather surprised it came thought but the buckets were there because I checked first.

 

[Deleted member 9370]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

As another data point, I recently (unsuccessfully) tried to get some QFd classic award space made available as a WP.

What I was told and seems to be mostly consistent with experiences in this thread, was the following baseline class availability buckets need to be >0 before an agent can escalate to Yield Management for a seat to even be considered for classic award release.

QF Domestic:
N --> Economy
D --> Business

QF International:
Q --> Economy
T --> Premium Economy
I --> Business
A --> First

Basically, if there's a zero next to one of those fare buckets for the travel class that you're after, the answer will be "no" and customer service agents can't get past the "droid" to manually escalate to Yield Management. I'd be interested to see how strongly this hypothesis holds up based on others' experiences.

Hi Lurker, could you confirm that it is the D bucket for Domestic Business. I seemed to recall in another thread it was the I bucket for domestic. Many thanks.

 

[Happy Trails]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

I was today declined single seats on two BKK-SYD flights, both with 'I' availability according to EF.

 

[MrJetset]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

I was today declined single seats on two BKK-SYD flights, both with 'I' availability according to EF.

Availability of the fare code doesn't guarantee seats will be released. QF24 is one of the most difficult routes to have space opened.

 

[lurker]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Hi Lurker, could you confirm that it is the D bucket for Domestic Business. I seemed to recall in another thread it was the I bucket for domestic. Many thanks.

That's what I was told. D for Domestic Business, I for International Business.

Seems consistent in my view, as N for Domestic Economy isn't the lowest Domestic Economy revenue bucket. Note that this doesn't mean that you'll get the seats, just that you won't get an automatic "no" and that the agents can forward on for manual review.

Availability of the fare code doesn't guarantee seats will be released.

+1 - that is also my understanding. It means that it's possible, not that you'll get it.

 

[Solid]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Just another data point was declined a request to release 2 x J domestic seats. The flight was selected after the phone agent went through the flights on the day to see which one had the most availability in the relevant bucket.

Was asked to call back in 24-48 hours, first time I did after 48 hours they said to call back again the next day, when I did they said declined.

I have to fly that day and looking at revenue fares on the same day a substantial difference on VA so they will end up with my $ for that trip.

 

[MrJetset]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

We had to extend our vacation by a week for QF6 availability.

Interestingly, I called a month later (yesterday) and dates that were previously denied came back immediately confirmed.

I've never had availability increase for award release despite what agents have previously advised.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

I've never had availability increase for award release despite what agents have previously advised.

I have seen it increase - often very close to the flight date - presumably because a sufficient number of seats remain unsold.

 

[samh004]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

I've had mixed results. As a P1 booking early-on for the final 767 flight I was unable to get a J-award released, but have had seats made available to Outback destinations when needed, and sometimes those ticket prices are a lot higher

 

[dmitri]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

I've had 4 seats released for me and my wife for Jan and Feb next year- 2 x J seats for my wife SYD-HKG return and 2 x PE for me SYD-HKG. All requests were confirmed with in 5 minutes of being on the phone. Very good service for my time requesting awards to be released.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

This is the availability showing for a flight:

J7 C3 D0 I0 Y9 B9 H9 K0 M0 L0 G0 E0

I am assuming this means I have no chance of calling up and asking for an award seat in business to be released as a WP?
Or am I misreading this?

 

[MrJetset]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

Absolutely none.

 

[kpc]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

As another data point, I recently (unsuccessfully) tried to get some QFd classic award space made available as a WP.

What I was told and seems to be mostly consistent with experiences in this thread, was the following baseline class availability buckets need to be >0 before an agent can escalate to Yield Management for a seat to even be considered for classic award release.

QF Domestic:
N --> Economy
D --> Business

QF International:
Q --> Economy
T --> Premium Economy
I --> Business
A --> First

Basically, if there's a zero next to one of those fare buckets for the travel class that you're after, the answer will be "no" and customer service agents can't get past the "droid" to manually escalate to Yield Management. I'd be interested to see how strongly this hypothesis holds up based on others' experiences.

Don't think this is 100% correct...was looking for a J award seat on QF 1 from Syd-Lhr (next October), and Expert Flyer is showing:
F9 A7 J9 C9 D9 I0 W9 R3 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 G0 E0

i.e. no "I" inventory...so rang Premium Desk, and 5 minutes later, a J seat was released automatically. No mention of phone assistance fee either. Thanks QF!

So either the above theory is not always the case or EF is not correct in showing I0.

 

[madrooster]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

So either the above theory is not always the case or EF is not correct in showing I0.

EF uses a US PoS. There's often times where there'll be I inventory in the US but not in AU, and vice versa.

 

[Kangol]

Re: QFF Platinum and request release of extra Classic award seats

EF uses a US PoS. There's often times where there'll be I inventory in the US but not in AU, and vice versa.

You can change the POS in EF, FWIW...