The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[kangarooflyer88]

I'm seeing zero reward (Classic or Plus) availability on the calendar out from HKG to SYD or MEL after 17 December and throughout 2025; plenty of options TO Hong Kong. Is this just a reflection of the exodus or some QF/CX quirk?

I'm seeing plenty of availability in February using the multi-city search trick:

 

[patrickw]

I'm seeing zero reward (Classic or Plus) availability on the calendar out from HKG to SYD or MEL after 17 December and throughout 2025; plenty of options TO Hong Kong. Is this just a reflection of the exodus or some QF/CX quirk?

Spoiler: Screenshot SYD<>HKG

View attachment 415167

I find the quick-view on the home booking page to be a little misleading.

Here's the multi-city view for the Dec/Jan/Feb
December flights are on QF
January errors out (no availability right now which is understandable for peak travel season & CNY)
Availability comes back in mid Feb.

December J availability is surprising. Feb options don't look great...

Spoiler: December

Spoiler: Feb

Spoiler: Feb/March - good availability on a mix oc CX Y, QF J with 1 stop

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I think I already know the answer here but thought I'd check in case other's experiences are different. I'm flying NAN to SYD in economy on JQ later this month as a Platinum. I'm wondering if I would have access to any lounges at NAN as a Platinum? In theory the answer should be a no, however, I do recall taking international flights with JQ where I got a lounge invite at check-in as a QFF Gold travelling in economy (for those curious it was an invite to the Delta lounge flying HNL to SYD).

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

I think I already know the answer here but thought I'd check in case other's experiences are different. I'm flying NAN to SYD in economy on JQ later this month as a Platinum. I'm wondering if I would have access to any lounges at NAN as a Platinum? In theory the answer should be a no, however, I do recall taking international flights with JQ where I got a lounge invite at check-in as a QFF Gold travelling in economy (for those curious it was an invite to the Delta lounge flying HNL to SYD).

-RooFlyer88

Probably better asking over in the Lounge Helpdesk thread. But it used to be a big “No”
for JQ PAX.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Apologies if this has been asked before but are name changes permitted on an international Qantas classic award? If so would it simply be the cost of the change fee? If not, could a classic award ticket be partially refunded. By that I mean could you cancel just one passenger on a ticket that has two passengers listed?

-RooFlyer88

 

[dairyfloss]

Apologies if this has been asked before but are name changes permitted on an international Qantas classic award? If so would it simply be the cost of the change fee? If not, could a classic award ticket be partially refunded. By that I mean could you cancel just one passenger on a ticket that has two passengers listed?

-RooFlyer88

I don’t believe name changes are permitted for any international QF fare type. You’d likely need to cancel and start over; if that’s even possible for your travel dates.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I don’t believe name changes they are permitted for any international QF fare type. You’d likely need to cancel and start over; if that’s even possible for your travel dates.

Fair enough but could you only cancel one ticket and rebook that versus having to cancel out everyone and rebook? I reckon it’ll be easier to find classic availability for one passenger versus two passengers

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Fair enough but could you only cancel one ticket and rebook that versus having to cancel out everyone and rebook? I reckon it’ll be easier to find classic availability for one passenger versus two passengers

yes. just split the PNR. Cancel one.

 

[AIRwin]

Apologies if this has been asked before but are name changes permitted on an international Qantas classic award? If so would it simply be the cost of the change fee?

Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions | Qantas

These Terms and Conditions form the basis of Qantas Frequent Flyer, to protect both Members and the Qantas Group.

www.qantas.com

After ticketing and up to 24 hours prior to commencement of any travel on the Itinerary - all Itineraries
14.5.10 Subject to this clause 14.5, the following changes are permitted and a Change Fee per passenger will apply (see the Fee Schedule):
(e) change to name (only for Flights with a Qantas (QF) flight number on the ticket that are operated by Qantas).

 

[FredF]

I want to book a Classic Reward Seat OPO to BCN (Economy) using the Qantas app. There is an Iberian flight, operated by Air Nostrum but it is not clear whether or not a checked bag is included. Is there a way to confirm this, or is a checked bag always included?
Thanks

 

[kangarooflyer88]

yes. just split the PNR. Cancel one.

Can the PNR be split online or does this need to be done over the phone?

-RooFlyer88

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 9:40 PM

I want to book a Classic Reward Seat OPO to BCN (Economy) using the Qantas app. There is an Iberian flight, operated by Air Nostrum but it is not clear whether or not a checked bag is included. Is there a way to confirm this, or is a checked bag always included?
Thanks

Some additional context is needed here. Does the traveller hold status with Qantas or another OneWorld airline?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can the PNR be split online or does this need to be done over the phone?

https://www.qantas.com/th/en/manage-booking/separate-passengers.html

That link talks you through the process and outlines the eligible bookings that can be split online.

 

[MelbFlyer]

I'm looking for the cheapest possible option for a one-way ticket from Singapore to Melbourne in early Jan 2025.

1st preference is to book either Qantas or Jetstar so I can link a complimentary invite for lounge access in SIN.

Other than the above, I'm hoping for a last minute / last straw Emirates 5th freedom award seat - however very highly unlikely given the high season plus the announcement of this flight ending soon. If one does pop up on the day I need it, it would be amazing as the taxes are only SGD ~$88. As said though, very highly unlikely.

There is an award seat in early Jan from SIN to SYD via BA but not on the day I need, otherwise I'd have taken that one.

I did also however, look at booking a return itinerary with the return leg being an award seat and cancelling later on before the return flight date.

Looking at the terms and conditions though, seems that the cancellation policy will be based on the Commercial Fare rules so I wouldn't be able to just cancel the return leg and get points minus 6k pts / taxes back as per a regular classic awards seat.

I just can't really justify paying $1.3k one-way when a return booking would be ~$1.5k I guess I could book a return flight and then a cheap one-way fare back to Melbourne via Jetstar or similar later in 2025, but that would mean another (unneeded) trip to Singapore. I could have a short weekend food trip but I'd just prefer not to.

I've checked numerous other programs and unfortunately there's nothing available in terms of reward seats. Anyone have any better ideas / if a mixed booking (commercial combined with rewards) is viable?

 

[Flyfrequently]

I'm looking for the cheapest possible option for a one-way ticket from Singapore to Melbourne in early Jan 2025.

1st preference is to book either Qantas or Jetstar so I can link a complimentary invite for lounge access in SIN.

Other than the above, I'm hoping for a last minute / last straw Emirates 5th freedom award seat - however very highly unlikely given the high season plus the announcement of this flight ending soon. If one does pop up on the day I need it, it would be amazing as the taxes are only SGD ~$88. As said though, very highly unlikely.

There is an award seat in early Jan from SIN to SYD via BA but not on the day I need, otherwise I'd have taken that one.

I did also however, look at booking a return itinerary with the return leg being an award seat and cancelling later on before the return flight date.

Looking at the terms and conditions though, seems that the cancellation policy will be based on the Commercial Fare rules so I wouldn't be able to just cancel the return leg and get points minus 6k pts / taxes back as per a regular classic awards seat.

I just can't really justify paying $1.3k one-way when a return booking would be ~$1.5k I guess I could book a return flight and then a cheap one-way fare back to Melbourne via Jetstar or similar later in 2025, but that would mean another (unneeded) trip to Singapore. I could have a short weekend food trip but I'd just prefer not to.

I've checked numerous other programs and unfortunately there's nothing available in terms of reward seats. Anyone have any better ideas / if a mixed booking (commercial combined with rewards) is viable?

Pity you can't go NYE @MelbFlyer

 

[MelbFlyer]

Pity you can't go NYE @MelbFlyer

Thankyou, unfortunately not.

I'm resigned to the fact that unless something pops up on the day(s) I need it, I'll just have to accept the fact that options are limited / prices are high due to the time of year.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Scoot’s most expensive fare in the first two weeks of january is around AUD600 one way. The cheapest is $438.

Is linking a lounge invite worth paying an extra $1000 for qf or JQ?

 

[MelbFlyer]

Scoot’s most expensive fare in the first two weeks of january is around AUD600 one way. The cheapest is $438.

That's new to me - the last time I checked, it was SGD$900+ for Scoot.

Let me re-check.

Is linking a lounge invite worth paying an extra $1000 for qf or JQ?

Definitely not - but as per above, the last time I checked Scoot it was close to $1k hence just considering JQ / QF.

 

[MelbFlyer]

So with additions like luggage (needed) and seat selection (important to me), the price difference is around ~$200 compared to QF.

That, plus I miss out on some SC / QFF points as well - could come in handy later on.

So, for the extra $200 or so, I think I'd prefer QF over TR and be able to burn one of my lounge invitations that's just sitting in my account. I'd also highly value a shower after spending a day in Singapore too.

Of course, if there's a JQ or QF reward seat that comes up, I'll happily take that!

I guess I'll keep looking, as the BA award seat showing to SYD wasn't there the other day - so who knows, maybe something may just pop up in the next few days.

 

[serfty]

Let me re-check.

While you are doing that, try Google Flights.

Google Flights

www.google.com

Here are the current minimums by day returned. (AUD, can be one or many carriers, e.g. SIN-xSGN-PER on VietJet and VA to MEL.

 

[serfty]

So, for the extra $200 or so, I think I'd prefer QF over TR and be able to burn one of my lounge invitations that's just sitting in my account. I'd also highly value a shower after spending a day in Singapore too.

I guess Qantas/Emirates one way economy for $1033 some days - it's that time of the year.