QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic Reward seats?

[landl]

Are you getting offshore CSRs? I've found that usually they're not really across how these seat releases work, and need to painstakingly refer to their process notes.

No. Hobart.

Post automatically merged: Dec 11, 2024

I think your biggest problem is believing what some random in a Facebook group tells you...

Didn't say I believed them!

 

[WilsonM]

There are multiple people on those groups who have neither the actual status nor the knowledge to be commenting on anything.

Ah but "I got work to pay for lots of flights" = instant expert

 

[sudoer]

Qantas would be tracking my HUACA calls and putting black marks on my profile!

I would believe they track HUACAs, but if they do, I expect it's more for customer experience usage than blacklisting.

I never get straight through to Hobart on my first call, but it's almost guaranteed on my third call in quick succession. Perhaps just a coincidence, or perhaps someone at Qantas knows the offshore experience is poor...

Can't see it being used to put 'black marks' on profiles unless a caller is rude/aggressive.

 

[Boeyn]

Thanks for these suggestions. The HKG flight is actually to position us for a HKG-DXB-LHR trip in EK J that we have separately booked for 8/6. Unfortunately that means we are pretty fixed on the date, and a bit reluctant to consider non-direct options on what is already a pretty long trip. I’ll definitely keep an eye on the loads for these flights closer and potentially request a release again in a few months, but otherwise we’ll just have to cop 1/3 sectors being in Y.

Happy update to this. My partner (who is new to piecing together award itineraries, has poured many hours into getting us the most efficient route to/from Europe in CR J, and has cost us an unforgivable number of points in cancellation/change fees when better seats have been spotted in the process) nabbed 2 x J AF seats BKK-CDG on 7/6, which is much better than the HKG-DXB-LHR trip on 8/6 we had ticketed.

Called again and successfully got 2 x J released on QF295 (Finnair A330) on 6/6 (with EF showing I3). Not sure if booking on the Friday made a difference (re the long weekend point picked up on by @sudoer), or maybe BKK was just easier than HKG for other reasons. Either way, good outcome!

 

[im.daniel]

CGK-SYD QF42 31/1 - I9 - Approved for 1 pax. Was slightly surprised, despite I9, largely because of school holidays and Lunar New Year being the week before!

PER-LHR QF9 Mid August I8 - Denied for 2pax. No surprises here

 

[MrMickeyg]

CGK-SYD QF42 31/1 - I9 - Approved for 1 pax. Was slightly surprised, despite I9, largely because of school holidays and Lunar New Year being the week before!

PER-LHR QF9 Mid August I8 - Denied for 2pax. No surprises here

I've been trying to get 1 business seat one-way LHR or FCO or CDG to MEL in early August 2025. I have requested a few times where I found I class (generally >7) availability, but computer always says no. I'm WP.

I looked a bit further around in ExpertFlyer and for those dates that displayed I class availability, there was no I class fares listed in the Fare Information tab (i.e no available I class fare). I thought this was strange, if there is I class showing in the Flight Availability search, but not in the Fare Information tab, what is going on? It turns out in this case that the Flight Availability search will display the fare buckets, but does not validate them against the fare rules.

The I class fare rules said:

TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION
FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE CAN BE USED TO CREATE
ROUND-TRIP/CIRCLE-TRIP/OPEN-JAW/SINGLE OPEN-JAW/
ORIGIN SINGLE OPEN-JAW /TURNAROUND SINGLE
OPEN-JAW/DOUBLE OPEN-JAW JOURNEYS.

which meant I class was not available for a one-way trip.

Whilst I have no proof of anything, this might be one reason why I could not get a seat released despite I class showing as available in the Flight Availability search.

I wonder if anyone else has had this condition but been able to get a seat released...

 

[Brettmcg]

I've been trying to get 1 business seat one-way LHR or FCO or CDG to MEL in early August 2025. I have requested a few times where I found I class (generally >7) availability, but computer always says no. I'm WP.

I looked a bit further around in ExpertFlyer and for those dates that displayed I class availability, there was no I class fares listed in the Fare Information tab (i.e no available I class fare). I thought this was strange, if there is I class showing in the Flight Availability search, but not in the Fare Information tab, what is going on? It turns out in this case that the Flight Availability search will display the fare buckets, but does not validate them against the fare rules.

The I class fare rules said:

TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION
FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE CAN BE USED TO CREATE
ROUND-TRIP/CIRCLE-TRIP/OPEN-JAW/SINGLE OPEN-JAW/
ORIGIN SINGLE OPEN-JAW /TURNAROUND SINGLE
OPEN-JAW/DOUBLE OPEN-JAW JOURNEYS.

which meant I class was not available for a one-way trip.

Whilst I have no proof of anything, this might be one reason why I could not get a seat released despite I class showing as available in the Flight Availability search.

I wonder if anyone else has had this condition but been able to get a seat released...

Completely irrelevant. U class, which is what you are requesting, is governed by a totally different set of rules.

Also, your Interpretation of that part of the fare rules is incorrect.

 

[RealtimeY]

EF does not display all QF fare basis codes.

 

[MrMickeyg]

EF does not display all QF fare basis codes.

I guess the point i was making is that there were no I class fares available for my trip (a pre-requisite for getting a seat released) even though EF said there was availability in that bucket.

The Flight Availability search does not validate your trip against the fare rules.

 

[Brettmcg]

I guess the point i was making is that there were no I class fares available for my trip (a pre-requisite for getting a seat released) even though EF said there was availability in that bucket.

The Flight Availability search does not validate your trip against the fare rules.

I guess the point i was making is that there were no I class fares available for my trip (a pre-requisite for getting a seat released) even though EF said there was availability in that bucket.

The Flight Availability search does not validate your trip against the fare rules.

Again, all of this is completely irrelevant to what you are trying to do.

Furthermore, you may as well give up on trying for a seat release on any of those routes during AUG25 - that is smack bang in the middle of the blackout period. That means WPs definitely aren't getting seats, and P1s can't even request manual reviews.

Your best bet will be to keep an eye on the booking engine to see if any OW or partner airlines released awards into the system.

 

[Port Power]

I usually totally forget I can ask for CR seats to be released. I rang a couple of weeks ago and secured one seat PER-SIN at the end of August next year, and SIN-PER in September. Definitely not Hobart; haven’t reached them at all this year! I think Fiji. I secured J one way and Y the other, but put an upgrade request in immediately.

 

[im.daniel]

LAX SYD 1/2 x2 J I5 - approved.

Was actually looking for 30/31st, but the agent managed to get 1st Feb for the in laws. Good enough!

 

[madrooster]

I've been trying to get 1 business seat one-way LHR or FCO or CDG to MEL in early August 2025.

June-September is on embargo for all of the EU routes - QF1/2/5/6/9/10/33/34.

 

[smed63]

Is there a blackout period for seat releases during late December 2025 through January 2026 from Australia to United States / Canada? The first dates I’m going to look at for my first ever seat release request will open in a week but if there’s a blackout period, then it’s not worth trying. Also curious if there’s any blackout from Europe to Australia for January 2026?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[mviy]

Can you do November/February?

Most of January is school holidays in Australia.

 

[smed63]

Can you do November/February?

Most of January is school holidays in Australia.

I know. That’s why I’m trying to travel then as it’s my daughter’s school holiday and I’m trying to visit family in the US. As always it makes travel trickier especially with points but I’m willing to give it a go if it’s not outright prohibited as apparently EU flights are in northern summer.