QF J awards SIN- MEL/SYD dried up?

[dajop]

Just been looking at inventory for awards travelling from SIN to MEL .... and over 6 months I could only find 1 day where awards were available on QF36 (Dec 23). SIN-SYD flights and EK MEL flights were almost as rare, SIN-BNE had the occasional availability (often Sundays) and JQ was probably most plentiful, but still rare.

Do you think are seats just snapped up as soon as they are released, or has the upgraded product meant that availability has been really restricted (to those below WP anyway) ala SQ when they first upgraded their cabins 8-9 years ago?

Really struggling to use my points. Economy is useless of course on this route with fares for $700 and surcharges for $580 return :evil:

 

[serfty]

Mid December to early January are always tough times of the year for awards.

I guess QF believe they can sell these seats for money more often than not.

I booked a J award for Dec 28th, but that was at 353 days (less five minutes).

 

[dajop]

Mid December to early January are always tough times of the year for awards.

I guess QF believe they can sell these seats for money more often than not.

I booked a J award for Dec 28th, but that was at 353 days (less five minutes).

I am not talking mid Dec to early Jan. I'm talking mid Feb 2015 to mid Jan 2016! 1 day availability for QF 36 . In total 18 days on QF 52. 12 months ago availability was much better.

 

[nas555]

I managed to book 2x J seats on Emirates from MEL-SIN (return) about a month ago, departing mid April & returning mid May. I don't see many seats now though so I must have gotten lucky...

 

[MrJetset]

I've been looking at BKK after snagging some seats, and there was availability for Nov/Dec several weeks ago. Now there are 0 in J on QF, CX or even EK.

 

[serfty]

I am not talking mid Dec to early Jan. I'm talking mid Feb 2015 to mid Jan 2016! 1 day availability for QF 36 . In total 18 days on QF 52. 12 months ago availability was much better.

Apologies - I scanned too quickly on the smartphone I guess and lead myself to an incorrect conclusion by the December reference.

 

[moa999]

Some suggestion that no awards are available on the new format A330 Dom planes either.

I wonder whether the loading of the new seatmap (with less J seats) has meant the formula for determining whether there are any award seats available

 

[dajop]

I managed to book 2x J seats on Emirates from MEL-SIN (return) about a month ago, departing mid April & returning mid May. I don't see many seats now though so I must have gotten lucky...

They are there, I think I found 5-6 over the year But obviously no use on oneworld award. Best option is probably MH (which is less optimal than direct service, but better than transitting SYD or BNE),