Very few Reward seats to Europe in 2023

[clifford]

I don't think they'd be too surprised that the Chinese & English speaking call centre is based offshore.

But they wouldn't like it...

 

[sudoer]

But they wouldn't like it...

A few threads on FlyerTalk seem to suggest it's actually based in Taiwan which some Japanese might feel a little more comfortable with. Anyway, what the Japanese population thinks about JAL having a call centre in China/Taiwan is a little off topic for a thread about reward seats to Europe.

 

[Withnail & I]

Most definitely, as @Anna has highlighted above. Looking for QF metal awards or booking QF rewards on partner airlines be like:

View attachment 306712

This question probably belongs in another thread, but I wonder if there’s insurance available to pay the difference between cancelled reward seats and replacement revenue seats in the same class? My brief reading of my nab credit card‘s complimentary travel insurance (an Allianz product) is they will pay for any points lost but that’s no help as all points would be refunded.

 

[tdimdad]

Edit: you can call JAL to confirm what the changes are, but be ready for a 30-60 min wait and some communication struggles with the China based reps.

The couple of times I've dealt with them earlier this year was with a 5-10 min wait time. The number used was with the HK country code.

 

[ozflier]

I've booked MEL-DOH-MXP on QR through QF for May next year (along with MXP-SIN on SQ through VA and SIN-MEL on JQ through QF). There's now nothing other than a smattering of CX flights to MXP now as classic rewards, even in Y, so I count myself fortunate to have gotten what I did.

At any rate, to (hopefully) reduce the risk of the flight not being re-ticketed in the event of a time change or other issue, I signed up for Privilege Club on QR and added my PNR to it. This will hopefully alert me if there's something requiring my attention, even if QF doesn't. It certainly did when there was a minor schedule change a few days ago - while QF was quick to reissue the tickets as it did not require interaction on my part, QR also sent an email indicating I could contact my travel agent if I was eligible for a rebooking or refund according to their T&Cs (I wasn't eligible but it's nice to know that I should get notified if I need to attend to anything with the booking).

I am in a similar position to you -wanting to Brisbane from Milan end May/June - my best hope is on Cathay via HKG.
Nil on offer yet but CX are talking of starting up MXP-HKG again so am sweating on award seats coming up early 2023!

 

[Withnail & I]

I am in a similar position to you -wanting to Brisbane from Milan end May/June - my best hope is on Cathay via HKG.
Nil on offer yet but CX are talking of starting up MXP-HKG again so am sweating on award seats coming up early 2023!

CX would make nervous given their earlier COVID cancellations. Still, if some sweet seats came up I don't think I’d be able to resist!

 

[jase05]

I am in a similar position to you -wanting to Brisbane from Milan end May/June - my best hope is on Cathay via HKG.
Nil on offer yet but CX are talking of starting up MXP-HKG again so am sweating on award seats coming up early 2023!

You might need to be flexible but still pretty good award availability with VA points on QR ex Asian ports.
QR F availability from BKK-DOH and decent availability KUL/SIN/BKK/CGK-DOH on QR and then good availability DOH-MXP
I don’t know whether the same results and availability are showing on QF website though

 

[Happy Dude]

This question probably belongs in another thread, but I wonder if there’s insurance available to pay the difference between cancelled reward seats and replacement revenue seats in the same class? My brief reading of my nab credit card‘s complimentary travel insurance (an Allianz product) is they will pay for any points lost but that’s no help as all points would be refunded.

You'll get your points back from QF anyway but it's the issue of costs incurred (new last minute flights and accommodation etc) that you'll need travel insurance for. But yes it's a question for another thread however be sure to find and read the threads here by pax that have unfortunately lived the experience.

 

[Withnail & I]

You'll get your points back from QF anyway but it's the issue of costs incurred (new last minute flights and accommodation etc) that you'll need travel insurance for. But yes it's a question for another thread however be sure to find and read the threads here by pax that have unfortunately lived the experience.

I’ve articulated my point, hopefully a little clearer, in another existing thread:

Post in thread 'Article: Does Travel Insurance Cover Lost Points?'
Article: Does Travel Insurance Cover Lost Points?

 

[Xizor]

Glad i found this thread to realize its not just me doing something wrong. I've been trying to find some business reward flights, preferably to either Vietnam or Hawaii, and cannot find anything besides the occasional Jetstar flight (which seems like a terrible use of points). The Qantas website is atrociously slow lately as well so trying to find in-direct routes is a nightmare.

 

[Pom-DownUnder]

not sure if anyone following this still is looking but Cathay has more availability now, worth re-checking.

 

[dsotm]

not sure if anyone following this still is looking but Cathay has more availability now, worth re-checking.

Found some on the CDG - HKG sector, but limited or no J on HKG - MEL flights

 

[Pele]

Found some on the CDG - HKG sector, but limited or no J on HKG - MEL flights

HKG-CDG had more F than J available when I looked earlier today!

 

[LadyC]

I'm pleased to have snagged 3 x J seats on BA from SYD to LHR in December 2023 for the day I wanted. I have been planning and watching like a hawk on release time so glad it paid off.

 

[masterpabu]

Originally had 2 x J seats Syd-DPS-LGW (via DBX) in September, booked it late Nov hence the slightly sluggish route but I thought flying J with Emirates wasn't the worst option.

Not sure if it was luck or a glitch in the matrix, but got a notification this morning that one of the flight times changed. The change was minuscule but I clicked to see what the "other flight options" were, and to my tiny shock I was able to change it to SYD-DOH-LGW with Qatar (Fingers crossed, touch wood it doesn't get disrupted!)

 

[ozflier]

Agree there has been an increase in seats Europe to Australia and there are more in May/ June 2023 that I am looking at but almost exclusively in economy but definitely more in Premium Economy as well. Even some economy award seats from Doha !
I am heading back to Brisbane and direct awards from Singapore , Hong Kong, Doha and Japan in Business are few and far between.

 

[randomly_chaotic]

Recently nearly all rewards flights in all classes from Australia to Europe in 2023 seem to have disappeared. I’ve been using the interactive map but I’ve tried a number of specific searches too. Is this because I only have bronze status?

Or even if it looks like there's some, the Qantas website throws an error!

Although I did somehow fluke an Emirates First from Melbourne to Rome.... Just can't get a return yet!

 

[ozflier]

I am an eternal Cynic ( just to give readers context ) but I wonder if any of the pittance of business class rewards e
are being held back until QFF can charge for changes .
I understand that that Qantas need the money but I think it would have been fairer to exempt reward flights from fees if booked prior to end september 2022!











































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