Reward booking JNB - ADL

[VeniVidiVici]

I am after some advice about a trip to RSA next Sept/Oct, specifically the booking of Y reward flights back from JNB to Adelaide for the family and I.

I am a QFF Silver and I've managed to book the outbound ADL-JNB flight via Sydney on Sept 28 with no problem for the 4 of us. The plan is to return on Friday Oct 12 and as yet seats are not available. When I do dummy entries around those dates the availability looks very low for JNB - ADL however there's much more when I just do JNB - SYD. Assuming that is because the lack of ADL - SYD seats?

Although there is a QF on the days I'm looking it is often only showing Emirates availability which is not ideal given earlier departure time, longer duration and 80k more points.

So I guess after that long winded preface I'm wondering whether QF seats will open up over time or will I have to make do with EK? Is it worth calling Qantas or will I be pushing the proverbial uphill given my status.

I just don't want to get caught with no reward seats for the flight home and have to stump up for one way flights that will likely cost more than what a return flight would have cost in the first place.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Pushka]

You are using the multi city search function? I did similar last week into UK from Adelaide. Make sure when you add the Syd - Adl sector that you’ve taken into account date changes on arrival into Australia. And you may have to call to book as online doesn’t like multi city searches.

 

[VeniVidiVici]

I was just using a standard search with JNB as departure city and ADL as arrival. I'll have a go using multi and see what that comes up with.

Thanks

 

[jetpack]

If the award seats don't work out, cash fares seems like a good backup plan. Looks like it only costs around $700 to fly CX or EK from JNB-ADL one way. Seems comparable to using 45,000 pts + $309 on a QF award ticket via SYD.

 

[VeniVidiVici]

If the award seats don't work out, cash fares seems like a good backup plan. Looks like it only costs around $700 to fly CX or EK from JNB-ADL one way. Seems comparable to using 45,000 pts + $309 on a QF award ticket via SYD.

The outbound flight cost 180k points + $930 in taxes so the cash fares whilst not too bad will still cost me nearly $2000 more.

I tried a multi-city search which gets me back to Adelaide ok, just it's only showing the EK flight which is 80k more points. Not really an issue to be honest as I have the points. Just need to make sure we can get home!

Thanks

 

[Pushka]

The outbound flight cost 180k points + $930 in taxes so the cash fares whilst not too bad will still cost me nearly $2000 more.

I tried a multi-city search which gets me back to Adelaide ok, just it's only showing the EK flight which is 80k more points. Not really an issue to be honest as I have the points. Just need to make sure we can get home!

Thanks

I’m not familiar with JNB but maybe try into somewhere else rather than Sydney as entry point?

 

[VeniVidiVici]

The Qantas flight is direct JNB - SYD so I reckon that is my best shot.

 

[Flying mermaid]

You might be in east coast school holidays for that return date, which might be affecting availability. I would be online at the time the seats are released for the day you want and grab the jnb-Syd leg and worry about ADL later if it is not there yet - if you are getting the award the day they are released, then the domestic leg won’t be available yet, as it is the next day.

 

[VeniVidiVici]

You might be in east coast school holidays for that return date, which might be affecting availability. I would be online at the time the seats are released for the day you want and grab the jnb-Syd leg and worry about ADL later if it is not there yet - if you are getting the award the day they are released, then the domestic leg won’t be available yet, as it is the next day.

I think it is holidays which would explain why there seems to be plenty of JNB-SYD but no JNB-ADL.

I will grab the JNB-SYD as you say and sort the rest out later.

Thanks!

 

[drron]

Yes it is school holidays in NSW,SA and the ACT then.Back to school on the Monday so the SYD-ADL flights may have no award availability.Might be wise to see if 2 awards on 2 flights are available.

 

[UP4014]

Just go for the JNB to SYD that's the bit you need to get secured. You might end up buying the last leg but better than buying the lot if using points.

 

[drron]

I've just searched Oct 12 and can get 2 adults and 2 kids JNB -ADL.Last leg on QF745.
I am only Bronze.

 

[VeniVidiVici]

I've just searched Oct 12 and can get 2 adults and 2 kids JNB -ADL.Last leg on QF745.
I am only Bronze.

Did you do multi or just JNB - ADL? I'm doing 3 adults and a kid but that shouldn't make a difference.
I'm getting the yellow error -

• Qantas.com flight search error:
  We are unable to find the requested outbound on any departing flights of the airlines that we search. (# 9200)

 

[Flying mermaid]

I have just had a look and yes there is plenty of availability for Y awards from Syd to Adelaide, but I can’t see any awards jnb to Syd after 21 Sep and I am Gold! I wonder what I am doing wrong?

 

[VeniVidiVici]

I just used the app and it showed availability but it seems I can only do the expensive points option through that.

Pulling my hair out here. I've just called Qantas and requested a call back.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Did you do multi or just JNB - ADL? I'm doing 3 adults and a kid but that shouldn't make a difference.
I'm getting the yellow error -

• Qantas.com flight search error:
  We are unable to find the requested outbound on any departing flights of the airlines that we search. (# 9200)

I am getting the same as you -I can’t find any awards for Jnb-Syd. I tried just Jnb-Syd and then a multi city Jnb-Syd and Syd-adl and I get the same error. I then tried 1 October and pur flexible with dates and it came up with a matrix that showed no awards after 21 Sep. I wonder how Dr Ron is seeing it. Maybe bronze has access to more awards

 

[Flying mermaid]

So maybe the app is showing stuff that the website isn’t. Wouldn’t be the first time the two are different.

 

[VeniVidiVici]

It was only showing the option to pay or use points but at the ridiculously high rate, not the classic rewards. So the flight is definitely there!

If I do a normal search on Qantas (not rewards) then the flights show up also.

 

[drron]

I did just a classic award search using JNB-ADL.
It gave me a choice of JNB-SYD-ADL or JNB-SYD-MEL-ADL.

 

[VeniVidiVici]

I did just a classic award search using JNB-ADL.
It gave me a choice of JNB-SYD-ADL or JNB-SYD-MEL-ADL.

They are the flights I saw on the app but when I try booking using classic rewards I'm getting an error every time. Confusing. Awaiting a call back now.

Assuming I am able to book them on the phone, will they then charge me? For the privilege of phoning them I mean?