The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[SYD]

Real basic question that I should know, but just cannot find the answer to sorry

I want to fly SYD to LAX or DFW just before Christmas 2025. Qantas has no Classic Rewards in their search.

Reviewing AA and Seats.Aero, AA has Business and First Class available using points, and if I want to fly via NAN, AA search is also showing Fiji Airways as an option.

If I want to get the AA flights (e.g. 1st Class was 281k points and $81 in taxes one-way, do I just call Qantas and tell them to book me that flight and they have to acknowledge it exists and book me? I remember reading a while ago that you should use JAL or AA search to find award seats and then call Qantas to make the booking if the Qantas search results don't work... am I on the right track here?

Thanks!

Unfortunately, a lot of airlines are now holding back extra award seats for their own FFs. If you can’t see them via QFF, then it’s unlikely calling will make a difference.

 

[big_RED]

Unfortunately, a lot of airlines are now holding back extra award seats for their own FFs. If you can’t see them via QFF, then it’s unlikely calling will make a difference.

Oh wow! Seriously!? Damn. Good to know. I might try and call Qantas anyway, but good to have expectations set vs the time I might be on hold expecting a different outcome.

Did this use to be a thing? I swear people used to say "give Qantas a call" as their search engine never returned all partner fares and to search on BA or AA for instance to know what "really" is out there.

 

[SYD]

Oh wow! Seriously!? Damn. Good to know. I might try and call Qantas anyway, but good to have expectations set vs the time I might be on hold expecting a different outcome.

Did this use to be a thing? I swear people used to say "give Qantas a call" as their search engine never returned all partner fares and to search on BA or AA for instance to know what "really" is out there.

It can’t hurt.

Yes, there are certainly scenarios where some programs don’t show everything online and you have to call up. But FJ and AA normally show up online with QF. The other thing with the AA is they have some dynamic pricing awards (think QF CR+) that’ll show on the AA search but aren’t “classic rewards”, so don’t show on QF (similarly QF CR+ won’t show up on AA).

 

[FlyingFiona]

Oh wow! Seriously!? Damn. Good to know. I might try and call Qantas anyway, but good to have expectations set vs the time I might be on hold expecting a different outcome.

Did this use to be a thing? I swear people used to say "give Qantas a call" as their search engine never returned all partner fares and to search on BA or AA for instance to know what "really" is out there.

Yes it sure was. That's how I used to cobble together One World Award tickets back in the day (using BA's search engine mainly).