The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[elanshin]

What is the flight number of that flight? If it carries a QF flight number you will earn at the Qantas rate, if it carries a CX flight number you'll earn at the partner rate.

It's QF into CX.

But this is also me using the calculator vs looking at whats shown on the actual booking flight selection page.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

So there’s two parts to a flight: the marketing carrier and the operating carrier. Often they are the same. Like on Monday I’m flying Qantas back to Sydney. That’s got a Qantas flight number and is operated by Qantas. But next month I’m flying Sydney to Singapore. That flight has a FinnAir flight number (marketing carrier) but is operated by Qantas. Consequently, because I’m on a FinnAir marketed flight I will earn status credits at the FinnAir rate for Sydney to Singapore (about half the Qantas rate) even though I’m flying Qantas up there. I suspect you are in the opposite (and fortunately better) situation as I. Your flight is marketed by Qantas and carries a QF flight number but is operated by Cathay Pacific. Consequently you will earn at the more generous Qantas rate even though you are flying Cathay Pacific. The same trick works with Emirates. If you book an Emirates flight through Qantas and it has a QF flight number you’ll earn Qantas status credits. Book that same ticket through Emirates and sorry no status credits for you.

Marketing and operating carrier are two very important things to know in the frequent flyer world, especially with Qantas which heavily penalizes if you make the wrong selection

-RooFlyer88

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Except I don’t believe CX flights carry the QF code, at least for HKG-AU and v.v. (and it looks the same for connections onwards from HKG… QF sells the CX connections as CX flights, not codeshares)

 

[SYD]

Except I don’t believe CX flights carry the QF code, at least for HKG-AU and v.v. (and it looks the same for connections onwards from HKG… QF sells the CX connections as CX flights, not codeshares)

Also, intra Asia (on partner codes) generally earn proportionally better than Oz<->Asia. A bit of a sweet spot in the “Simpler & Fairer” (TM) QF earn tables - but with the notable exception of MH.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Just circling back on the Flex fare to Shanghai. It looks like the flight to HKG is with QF (on a QF flight number) and the flight to PVG is with CX (with a CX flight number). The way points and status credits work with Qantas is you need to add up each flight separately to determine the total number of status credits. Per the Qantas Points calculator website that flight from SYD to HKG on Qantas would net you 60 status credits as a Flex fare. Then the flight from HKG to PVG on Cathay would net you 30 status credits as a Flex fare. Consequently you should earn a total of 90 status credits for the entire flight.

That the QF website incorrectly reports the number of status credits you earn on a flight is a known issue and is most pronounced where you have partner flights.

-RooFlyer88

 

[elanshin]

View attachment 340561
That the QF website incorrectly reports the number of status credits you earn on a flight is a known issue and is most pronounced where you have partner flights.

-RooFlyer88

Ah so effectively this page is a bit bogus on their calculations. (I also see this on sone connections to the US).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ah so effectively this page is a bit bogus on their calculations. (I also see this on sone connections to the US).

The status calculator is the best source. And easiest.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

The status calculator is the best source. And easiest.

It is but there are a number of asterisks that must go with it.

For one thing, the flight number determines accrual, so again if you are on a QF flight but it carries an AY flight number, in the calculator you must select FinnAir (AY) to get an accurate estimate. Second, for partners like JetStar and BA you need to know what the fare code translates to for Qantas status credit and points accrual. Simply because the flight is business or first class does not mean you will earn at that accrual rate on partners. For instance, American First class domestically is almost always classified as business class for the purpose of status credit accrual. Similarly, if you fly Malaysian business, interestingly enough that will often count as Economy Flexible. Further details on how this different airline partners fares map to Qantas earn categories can be found here.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It is but there are a number of asterisks that must go with it.

For one thing, the flight number determines accrual, so again if you are on a QF flight but it carries an AY flight number, in the calculator you must select FinnAir (AY) to get an accurate estimate. Second, for partners like JetStar and BA you need to know what the fare code translates to for Qantas status credit and points accrual. Simply because the flight is business or first class does not mean you will earn at that accrual rate on partners. For instance, American First class domestically is almost always classified as business class for the purpose of status credit accrual. Similarly, if you fly Malaysian business, interestingly enough that will often count as Economy Flexible. Further details on how this different airline partners fares map to Qantas earn categories can be found here.

All things which which you still need to know when accessing the manual tables. So the calculator is still easiest?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

All things which which you still need to know when accessing the manual tables. So the calculator is still easiest?

Well you can't use the calculator without first knowing how that partner fare translates to in the earning category. All I am pointing out is that the calculator is not fool proof. You need to do your homework to ensure the details you enter are accurate. So yes, it is easier but it still requires some research in some cases.

-RooFlyer88

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Unsure if this is a newbie question per-se but thought I'd ask. I'm on the verge of earning QFF Platinum status before my next big international trip to the US in October. A concern I have, however, is that a week prior I will be flying AY to earn those status credits and so there is a very real risk that not all status credits will post in time.

My question therefore are:

• If the flights don't post and I need to follow up with QFF what's the best route (call or use web form)?
• How quickly do partner flights post on QFF?
• If I am still short status credits as QFF is still processing my claim, will I be let into the Flounge by simply showing my statement and flights pending crediting? What evidence could I provide to get in?

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

Was there a post “Simpler & Fairer” thread on calculating points/SCs?

How to Calculate Points/SC's for Qantas flights? [Pre "Simpler & Fairer"]

Note the following is currently only valid for bookings made before 29th March 2014 or for travel up to June 30th 2014, when new earn rates come into operation. For the time being, use the Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas & Partner Airlines - Points Calculators - Earning PointsThe information...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Post automatically merged: Aug 27, 2023

Unsure if this is a newbie question per-se but thought I'd ask. I'm on the verge of earning QFF Platinum status before my next big international trip to the US in October. A concern I have, however, is that a week prior I will be flying AY to earn those status credits and so there is a very real risk that not all status credits will post in time.

My question therefore are:

• If the flights don't post and I need to follow up with QFF what's the best route (call or use web form)?

I’d email based on recent experience with CX.

• How quickly do partner flights post on QFF?

Varies from a couple days to a week or two without intervention (but can randomly turn up at 6 wks.

• If I am still short status credits as QFF is still processing my claim, will I be let into the Flounge by simply showing my statement and flights pending crediting? What evidence could I provide to get in?

Probably not.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I’d email based on recent experience with CX.

Which email address should I use? The general frequent flyer one or is there a team dedicated to this?

Varies from a couple days to a week or two with intervention (but can randomly turn up at 6 wks.

Hopefully it comes in time. No doubt AA flights post right away given the tight partnership AA has with QF.

Probably not.

I'll give it a go if I have to. Worse case scenario I have to slunk it in one of the several lounges I have access to at SYD (QF J, AmEx Centurion, House, Plaza Premium, SkyTeam) or sit outside the F lounge with a sign saying "Short a couple status credits. Will book reward flight for you to get in!"

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

Which email address should I use? The general frequent flyer one or is there a team dedicated to this?

[email protected]

Hopefully it comes in time. No doubt AA flights post right away given the tight partnership AA has with QF.

No, AA can take a couple of days. AS about 3-7 days.

I'll give it a go if I have to. Worse case scenario I have to slunk it in one of the several lounges I have access to at SYD (QF J, AmEx Centurion, House, Plaza Premium, SkyTeam) or sit outside the F lounge with a sign saying "Short a couple status credits. Will book reward flight for you to get in!"

AY generally ok.

But so are CX normally, but on my last trip CX J CGK-HGK-LHR posted at 7 days. MAD-HGK-DPS didn’t post at all and the online claim got rejected after a week (so 3 wks after travel) and then the email claim was processed in 2 days.

Meanwhile my status year had ticked over and I was expecting those last CX SCs to carry me over to WP for another year!

Fortunately the 30% reduction was announced just prior and I’d already requal’d…..

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well you can't use the calculator without first knowing how that partner fare translates to in the earning category. All I am pointing out is that the calculator is not fool proof. You need to do your homework to ensure the details you enter are accurate. So yes, it is easier but it still requires some research in some cases.

-RooFlyer88

But I’m not that fussed. If there are two categories, ‘business’ and ‘discount business’ I just go with the discount business SC earn. If it gets more than that it’s a bonus! Same with economy. I usually just pick the lowest category, unless I know it’s higher.

Sure, if qualification was coming down to the last SC, I’d probably be a bit more interested!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

But I’m not that fussed. If there are two categories, ‘business’ and ‘discount business’ I just go with the discount business SC earn. If it gets more than that it’s a bonus! Same with economy. I usually just pick the lowest category, unless I know it’s higher.

For me I don't play around with status credits, I need to know when I'm booking what I'll be getting as I rarely have the luxury of travelling in business on status credit accruing flights. Case in point, last month when I calculated all of the flights taken and flights booked, it became clear that I would be 105 status credits short of attaining Platinum. Consequently, I looked around and found a cheap Alaska same-day turn from LAX to PDX that would net me 160 status credits for $550 AUD. Now as it turns out another trip had to be booked plus Uncle Alan just gave me 75 SCs as a loyalty bonus, but had I not been careful looking at the SCs I could be left in the very undesirable situation of being short a number of status credits and having to choose between a last minute status credit run or simply settling for Gold.

-RooFlyer88

 

[elanshin]

My question therefore are:

• If the flights don't post and I need to follow up with QFF what's the best route (call or use web form)?

-RooFlyer88

I'd put in a missing claim first, then email them with your BP for all flights and then call them. That way you'll have the highest odds that the agent answering has all the pieces of information needed to process your claim immediately on the phone.

 

[tdimdad]

But I’m not that fussed. If there are two categories, ‘business’ and ‘discount business’ I just go with the discount business SC earn. If it gets more than that it’s a bonus! Same with economy. I usually just pick the lowest category, unless I know it’s higher.

Sure, if qualification was coming down to the last SC, I’d probably be a bit more interested!

Same here at a categorical level. I plan the early bookings to guide the (re)qual to a status level (i.e. "should I book to sale, saver or flex Y?", etc). Once I know I'll reach a level and am unlikely to go higher up that year, the SC tally becomes irrelevant.

Though, e.g. this year, I realised that I can reach a level up which then, again, made the partner earning category table & SC calculator places to visit again until new confirmed bookings crossed the threshold.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

QFi sometimes has J saver fares, that are cheaper than J sale fares, on their website.
So always look to the 2nd column, under J fares, not just J sale.
And for the 2nd column, under saver, the SC earn rate is 95 instead of 80.

 

[elanshin]

Another question.

With gift vouchers, if I want to redeem them for more complex routing like multi-city, can I do that online or do I have to call them up?