The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[Isolar]

Am I tripping or is this new? (Google wallet)

Never mind - I think I misread what you were asking.

 

[puchu]

How does status-related seat blocking / availability for selection work on domestic and trans-Tasman 737 J? I presume row 1 is blocked until a certain period before the flight, but when and for whom? Is there any other logic applied to the other seats?

 

[SYD]

How does status-related seat blocking / availability for selection work on domestic and trans-Tasman 737 J? I presume row 1 is blocked until a certain period before the flight, but when and for whom? Is there any other logic applied to the other seats?

T-80 is in play. So within 80 hrs most seats open up but prior to that, Row 1 is CL/P1. Row 2 is visible to WP. Not sure what SG see - probably Row 2/3 also? Then Row 3 and Row 3 only to anyone else.

Which can create all sorts of issues if there are 2 or more on the one booking. Instead of a seat map to select seats, you get “Window or Aisle”.

 

[JohnM]

T-80 is in play. So within 80 hrs most seats open up but prior to that, Row 1 is CL/P1. Row 2 is visible to WP. Not sure what SG see - probably Row 2/3 also? Then Row 3 and Row 3 only to anyone else.

Which can create all sorts of issues if there are 2 or more on the one booking. Instead of a seat map to select seats, you get “Window or Aisle”.

Not so sure about that re trans-Tasman.

My recollection is that because it's INT, row 1 is open to first comers.

I think I was still WP when I booked SYD-ZQN on a B738 in Jan 2023 for Jan 2024. Theoretically, on DOM rules, I was confined to row 2 but I was able to immediately select 1A,C.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Row 4

Typing this from Row 4.

 

[marcojim]

Hi all,

Bit worried about an upcoming flight. I booked QF1286 to Canberra as an economy reward seat to try out the new A220.

Just checked FR24 and it looks like it gets cancelled and/or delayed quite frequently. I’m a bit worried I won’t make it to CBR in the evening since I’ll be the lowest in the pecking order as a NB in a reward seat (in the case there’s a cancellation). Is there anything I can really do besides check in early and get to the airport early?

 

[PurpleMonkey]

I am planning to book a classic reward seat from MEL to BOG.
I found MEL-LAX costing 41,900 pt + $217 for the day I want. And its connection LAX-MIA-BOG for 25,200 + US$43.
I found MEL-LAX-MIA-BOG in May, that is not the day I want, for 55,200 pt + $213, which includes checked bags all the way through.

I am wondering if their call centre can make the booking for me on the days I found. Or any other way can make this happen? It's going to be points savings and a checked bag for the second leg.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi all,

Bit worried about an upcoming flight. I booked QF1286 to Canberra as an economy reward seat to try out the new A220.

Just checked FR24 and it looks like it gets cancelled and/or delayed quite frequently. I’m a bit worried I won’t make it to CBR in the evening since I’ll be the lowest in the pecking order as a NB in a reward seat (in the case there’s a cancellation). Is there anything I can really do besides check in early and get to the airport early?

No not really unfortunately.

 

[Scr77]

I am planning to book a classic reward seat from MEL to BOG.
I found MEL-LAX costing 41,900 pt + $217 for the day I want. And its connection LAX-MIA-BOG for 25,200 + US$43.
I found MEL-LAX-MIA-BOG in May, that is not the day I want, for 55,200 pt + $213, which includes checked bags all the way through.

I am wondering if their call centre can make the booking for me on the days I found. Or any other way can make this happen? It's going to be points savings and a checked bag for the second leg.

Welcome to AFF. The Off shored call centres are very challenging. Have you tried booking this using milticity?

 

[PurpleMonkey]

Welcome to AFF. The Off shored call centres are very challenging. Have you tried booking this using milticity?

it will cost 108,200 pt +$262 ...... worse than separated bookings
one world uses travel zones to determine points.

 

[MelbFlyer]

I'm sure that if I get bumped from Row 4, I'll be posting my experience and calling up for some points compensation.

So I managed to again score a seat in Row 4 @ T-80 for my return flight - that means 2 chances for Qantas to "bump me" from my seat due to Operational reasons etc.

Will report back on my experience.

So for both legs, I managed to keep my Row 4 seat - no issues at all / was not asked to move to accommodate P1 / Platinum etc.

The legroom is good, however you do feel the narrowness to compensate.

 

[DejaBrew]

Welcome aboard AFF @PurpleMonkey

 

[dandandan]

Hi all, I booked 4 x J Classic Rewards to the US (SYD-LAX) in later December 2024 at normal classic award points this morning.

I wanted multi city, so SYD-LAX-LAS, however didn't want to miss securing the tickets and just booked SYD-LAX. Obviously I can add a seperate ticket, LAX-LAS, however can someone please let me know if I can easily call Qantas (within 24 hours of booking) and get them to re-ticket as SYD-LAX-LAS, as there is reward availability LAX-LAS and the points would be the same, just some differences in taxes.

 

[tdimdad]

Gift voucher redemption gives higher prices than the website. How to fix this, please?

I've found candidate flights for a status run (OOL-xSYD-CHC / CHC-xMEL-OOL) using the normal website but when I go to redeem a GV for those flights, the prices are higher (website $1,463 vs GV $1,929). I recall bumping into this issue earlier, too, but the fix has escaped me. Or, do I need to muster the eternal patience to brave the last resort, i.e. call centre roulette, wish for the best and try to wiggle myself out of the service fee because the online fares were not available for redemption?

What adds to the mystery is that EF gives slightly different fares than the QF website so I can't trace it directly back and ask the call centre to use a specific fare basis for the booking.

 

[Ade]

Was on the phone yesterday with (I think) HBA and was told that it is not possible to request CR seat release from partner airlines (CX, in my case). Is this correct?

A few weeks back, I was able to get 1xY released on one of the China Eastern/Southern for my uncle. Seat request done via HBA/AKL CC.

 

[dairyfloss]

Was on the phone yesterday with (I think) HBA and was told that it is not possible to request CR seat release from partner airlines (CX, in my case). Is this correct?

A few weeks back, I was able to get 1xY released on one of the China Eastern/Southern for my uncle. Seat request done via HBA/AKL CC.

Correct - QF can only get seats released from their own inventory, even where partners fly with the QF codeshare. It's possible that at the time of calling they might see something you didn't, but it would be based on whatever the partner has made available to QF, and not what QF has done.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Ade]

Correct - QF can only get seats released from their own inventory, even where partners fly with the QF codeshare. It's possible that at the time of calling they might see something you didn't, but it would be based on whatever the partner has made available to QF, and not what QF has done.

Cheers,
Matt.

Thanks @dairyfloss - much appreciated. I guess I will have to then take the W/Y CR that is available for sale on QF website. Planning to do CBR-HKG-CBR and trying to experience the CX J for first time.

And, chances are the China Eastern/Southern might have been on a QF codeshare number?

 

[dairyfloss]

And, chances are the China Eastern/Southern might have been on a QF codeshare number?

Wouldn't have mattered - award seats are always on the operating carrier's code... and again; QF doesn't have any access to procure from more than the provided partner inventory, which should* have been visible online to you.

*presuming the Qantas website and search was cooperating at that exact time and date!

 

[RichardMEL]

And, chances are the China Eastern/Southern might have been on a QF codeshare number?

no they don't that I can see. Not really a factor for rewards though.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Planning to do CBR-HKG-CBR and trying to experience the CX J for first time.

We did MEL-HKG last September @Ade
on a 777 in J, a very pleasant overnight flight.
My only comment was that the cabin was way too warm for me, something I have noted by others in reviews.
Can't fault the service or their Cloud 9 signature coughtail!