Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently not

[LuluJ]

Hi all - I am a bit stuck on what to do with 300k QF points. We actually want a business class return flights to asia for 2, which I hoped to book for next Xmas/Jan and even a year out they have no availability.

If we could we would book 2 years in advance but I take it reading this forum that they only come on line a year ahead?

- the woman on the phone at Qantas said they release more seats over time - does anyone have any hints as to when and how likely it is they will make them available?
- should we give up?
- we tried to book flexible economy and upgrade but were told the upgrade would only be clear 24 hours before the flight. Is there a trick to be able to lock in upgrades, by paying more? using another partner airline?

I am getting exasperated and wondering whether I just forget I have points or use them for Melb_Sydney trips during year (which I believe is very inefficient)

Any advice MOST appreciated!

 

[opusman]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

353 days ahead is when award seats are initially released.

 

[Mark3000]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

How about trying BNE-SIN or SYD-SIN?

 

[Hvr]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

Firstly welcome to AFF LuluJ.

The booking of reward seats is hard at popular times such as Christmas/school holidays. I suspect you don't have any status in the Qantas frequent flyer program so you can't ask for seats to be released.

The agent was correct that upgrades are often only confirmed 24 hours out and sometimes at the gate if you choose that option.

The only advice I can offer is that if you really want to fly J (business class) then you will have to pay for the seats. It is very unlikely you will get to redeem your points over this busy period. Many people wait until the exact minute to redeem their seats so now a few weeks after they've been released they're all gone.

In the meantime continue to read and post and you will learn heaps about timings and opportunities for premium cabin travel.

 

[dajop]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

This particular route is exceedingly difficult to find any availability on (even in Jetstar). Recently checked the whole year and I found very little, as per other thread here. Best availability on Qantas services is via Brisbane. Other option is travelling on British Airways out of Sydney, but again restricted. Both of these options should come up online.

The other option, and you have to call to check availability is travelling on Malaysia Airlines via KL, who have much better availability. You will need 136,000 points instead of 120,000 points travelling on Qantas (130,000 for the flights, 6000 for phone booking fee). Believe it or not, travelling via KL is no worse (and in distance flown is actually shorter) than travelling via Sydney or Brisbane.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

Welcome to AFF LuluJ.

I am afraid you are going to have to pick a time outside of holiday periods to use those points.

I have been racking my brains for 2-3 days trying to work out how I can go from BNE/SYD/MEL-SIN/KUL/BKK/HKG in business class before school holidays in September and there is patchy availability with ridiculous taxes and surcharges to boot.

The Qantas store looks quite good for my ever growing stash of QFF points.

 

[grussellt]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

Welcome to AFF LuluJ.

I am afraid you are going to have to pick a time outside of holiday periods to use those points.

I have been racking my brains for 2-3 days trying to work out how I can go from BNE/SYD/MEL-SIN/KUL/BKK/HKG in business class before school holidays in September and there is patchy availability with ridiculous taxes and surcharges to boot.

The Qantas store looks quite good for my ever growing stash of QFF points.

There is something very strange going on with QFF online availability. For example AA shows J awards (on QF) SYD-BNE-SIN on September 3 and 8 but they don't show up on QFF.

 

[amaroo]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

Hi all - I am a bit stuck on what to do with 300k QF points. We actually want a business class return flights to asia for 2, which I hoped to book for next Xmas/Jan and even a year out they have no availability.

Any advice MOST appreciated!

SIN is a tough gig. If you want anywhere in Asia rather than SIN - try Hong Kong. Very easy to snag J awards on CX ... Which is a better bang for your buck compared to QF and their angled beds.

 

[ketsuzei]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

There is something very strange going on with QFF online availability. For example AA shows J awards (on QF) SYD-BNE-SIN on September 3 and 8 but they don't show up on QFF.

You could try putting it on hold on AA and then cancelling it... I've had success with that in the recent past.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

The Qantas store looks quite good for my ever growing stash of QFF points.

The OP could use 298,500 of their 300,000 points to get an Electrolux washing machine - https://store.qantas.com/nz/Catalogue.a2?Page=ViewProduct&ProductId=128977#.VO1ObfmUdBk - which retails for about $1,100. Keep racking up those 'valuable' QFF points!

 

[andye]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

The OP could use 298,500 of their 300,000 points to get an Electrolux washing machine - https://store.qantas.com/nz/Catalogue.a2?Page=ViewProduct&ProductId=128977#.VO1ObfmUdBk - which retails for about $1,100. Keep racking up those 'valuable' QFF points!

33 toasters would offer better value at up to 0.5c/point

 

[RichardMEL]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

This may also be a function of status; I can see 2xJ seats on 24Dec for BNE-SIN on QF51 as a P1. Searching for 1 seat gives more options. Coming back in Jan though there's not even an X (economy) seat. It may be worth trying to snag the outbound seats and maybe a "cheap" JQ J paid seat back? or some other carrier? or waiting for seats to open up, but Jan is hard given such a peak period. I'm also surprised EK MEL-SIN isn't available as that one usually has space.

good luck

 

[andye]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

Seriously:

Don't consider upgrades as it is a lottery with an expensive ticket (flexible economy) that has a miniscule chance of coming through with no status.

Personally with that many points I would be looking to use them for something special rather than just routine domestics.

Things to consider:

140K points each for an economy RTW with multiple stops

Save up for 2x business RTW at 280K each

Fly business but choose a less popular destination than SIN and at less popular times

Save a few more points to redeem on a partner airline (eg CX)

 

[dajop]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

33 toasters would offer better value at up to 0.5c/point

Much better to redeem for Big W vouchers and use them to pay for a bulk order of toasters from there. Could probably get 40+ toasters for the same number of points!!

 

[RichardMEL]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

I also agree to not play the upgrade game at that time of year, or ANY time really with such a low status (given the agent indicated clearing within 24 hours)... the demand will see much higher status pax grab any (very few) seats ahead of you, and asking for 2 of them... well very tough ask.

 

[Pushka]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

I agree with AA awards showing differently to Qantas redemption site. Managed to get two F tickets Dubai to Sydney at peak holiday time in January when nothing was showing on the Q award site. And given that Qantas awards open up several days before AA shows that is even worse.

 

[serfty]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

With Amadues Qantas can easily (and so do it seems) make more awards available for some than for others.

This "others" cam be based on a combinations of several facits including purcasing location (USA, UK. ..), Agency (AA, LA ...), etc.

 

[LuluJ]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

Thanks Pushka and thanks everyone. I have tried Malaysian, am now going to try the AAs site and also try combinations of paid/points. Malaysian release 1 business class seat each trip but that's it. Which isn't so very helpful but worth knowing. It's not Singapore but it is at least a positive step and in the vicinity!

However, I think I will pass on the toasters : )

 

[Mr_Orange]

Re: Is it possible to book Melb-Sing on QF award points a year in advance? Apparently

However, I think I will pass on the toasters : )

A very wise decision .