Emirates restrictions on QF FF awards

[dalereardon]

Hi,

Is it a limitation of the award search engine or you can't get an award flight from JFK to DXB with Emirates using Qantas points?

Ultimately I want to get back from JFK to MEL and I was trying to search to see if could be done with Emirates.

Dale.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi,

Is it a limitation of the award search engine or you can't get an award flight from JFK to DXB with Emirates using Qantas points?

Ultimately I want to get back from JFK to MEL and I was trying to search to see if could be done with Emirates.

Dale.

The EK/QF alliance excludes North America in terms of Lounge Access, and codeshares. My guess is that also extends to excluding Awards

 

[trixydoza]

I'm seeing them with decent availability.

42,000 points + USD350.96 in Y.
84,000 points + USD731.96 in J.
126,000 points + USD731.96 in F.

 

[dalereardon]

Hi,

So you were able to get the search engine to let you select JFK-DXB?

If so I'll keep trying in a different browser perhaps.

Dale.

 

[trixydoza]

Yes, after checking the "Search Qantas & Partner Classic Awards" box.

 

[trixydoza]

One tip when using multi-city, at least from DFW (not sure about JFK): DFW-DXB-PER and DFW-DXB-ADL and then getting a separate award to MEL ends up being much cheaper than doing multi-city the whole way, because MEL and SYD take you into the next zone.

 

[madrooster]

One tip when using multi-city, at least from DFW (not sure about JFK): DFW-DXB-PER and DFW-DXB-ADL and then getting a separate award to MEL ends up being much cheaper than doing multi-city the whole way, because MEL and SYD take you into the next zone.

MEL and SYD effectively strings two awards together as it exceeds the maximum 15000 miles allowed in a zone 10 award...

 

[browski]

FWIW, I've redeemed 2 x EK J class reward flights from JFK-DXB in the last 12 months - so yes, it's very possible.
Handy tip: If JFK-DXB is not showing availability, then try for YYZ-DXB and take any of the short flights on Delta/United/Air Canada from NYC-YYZ (these airlines baggage interline). YYZ always seems to have better award availibility.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

FWIW, I've redeemed 2 x EK J class reward flights from JFK-DXB in the last 12 months - so yes, it's very possible.

Handy tip: If JFK-DXB is not showing availability, then try for YYZ-DXB and take any of the short flights on Delta/United/Air Canada from NYC-YYZ (these airlines baggage interline). YYZ always seems to have better award availibility.

Or do the scenic route on Amtrak stopping off at Niagara Falls for a day or two.

 

[dalereardon]

JFK-DXB is really easy to get flights on even in F which is what we want but DXB-Aus is very difficult it seems. I was able to get back to SIN but then not to Australia.

I was only trying Syd and Mel though so now reading the above I will try ADL at least.

Don't like too many plane changes in Australia though after a long flight as just lots of hanging around and ultimately need to end up in HBA which means either Syd or Mel for flights direct to HBA.

Dale.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Don't like too many plane changes in Australia though after a long flight as just lots of hanging around and ultimately need to end up in HBA which means either Syd or Mel for flights direct to HBA.

Or you could fly EK DXB/BNE then BNE/HBA if you had Velocity points to burn or there was a decent sale fare on.

 

[browski]

JFK-DXB is really easy to get flights on even in F which is what we want but DXB-Aus is very difficult it seems. I was able to get back to SIN but then not to Australia.

I was only trying Syd and Mel though so now reading the above I will try ADL at least.

Don't like too many plane changes in Australia though after a long flight as just lots of hanging around and ultimately need to end up in HBA which means either Syd or Mel for flights direct to HBA.

Dale.

DXB-KUL-MEL is often showing better award availablity. The only problem is you will arrive into MEL at around 2.00am, so a connecting flight to Hobart might not suit.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Or you could fly EK DXB/BNE then BNE/HBA if you had Velocity points to burn or there was a decent sale fare on.

EK434 arrives into BNE ex DXB at 0640 with VA702 BNE/HBA 0925/1310.

 

[dalereardon]

Some really excellent suggestions thanks everyone.

Now just to see whether Emirates releases F seats in advance on these routes or have to chance last minute availability. I did EK F from LHR last year on a last minute award booking and it was just fantastic and can't wait to do again.

Dale.

 

[trixydoza]

MEL and SYD effectively strings two awards together as it exceeds the maximum 15000 miles allowed in a zone 10 award...

You're correct for the DFW-DXB-ADL-SYD direction, sorry, I need to amend what I wrote above.

That direction is indeed just 192,000 + 24,000 = 216,000.

It's going the other way that's the problem... SYD-ADL-DXB-DFW gets priced as two 144,000 awards, so ends up as 288,000. Better to just spend 24,000 on SYD-ADL, and then 192,000 on ADL-DXB-DFW.

 

[DAC1]

Whenever I search on the QF site for GIG-DXB on a classic award (or even EZE-DXB) I always get an browser script error message saying that classic awards cannot be booked between these cities. EK flies between these city pairs and I'm always sure to click the QF & Partner Classic Award Cities box. Has anyone had similar issues?

 

[dalereardon]

The Qantas website has so much javascript on it that it causes real problems. They should do the error processing server side rather than browser side and things would be much easier.

I have to check the classic award search box before you select the cities and then it works.

Dale.

 

[Wannabee]

We did a QF award on EK flying F earlier this year JFK-DXB-SYD. Wasn't hard to find from memory.