Xmas trip, just got points and no availability!

[daoistpunk]

Hi Everyone,

I have finally got enough points to go somewhere and now there is no availability.

I just want to get the hell out of Australia for xmas from December 18th till 4th Jan and the points are Qantas points.

I know this is peak time and that already you need to book well in advance with FF points however maybe there is some destinations that might still have availability? Uzbekistan?

Does anyone know or suggest what I should do.

I also remember on the forums there was people you could pay to help you find flights, maybe they can help me?

Any help will be muchly appreciated,

Cheers,
Brie

 

[Pushka]

Cant really help. I booked our Christmas international flights a year out. Have you tried Cathay flights to HK? Their availability is better than most. Try a different city eg Brisbane.

 

[amaroo]

Book long or Book short.

CX/BA would be your best bet for last minute seats.

 

[daoistpunk]

Thanks Pushka,

How do I check availability with Cathy Pacific? I just tried with Expert Flyer and they are not in the database and there doesnt seem to be any awards options in the Cathy Pacific website?

I wasnt aware that you could book directly with partner airlines?

 

[daoistpunk]

Thanks Amaroo

 

[amaroo]

Thanks Amaroo

You need to use QFF to book partner airlines. It's a painful, long and tedious process. Play around with a few dummy destinations/dates and get a feel for it ... look SYD-SIN- then elsewhere for BA ... OZ-HKG-elsewhere for CX.

If you test CX for 2-3 weeks out you'll see seats open up.

 

[gogo419]

Hi Everyone,

I have finally got enough points to go somewhere and now there is no availability.

I just want to get the hell out of Australia for xmas from December 18th till 4th Jan and the points are Qantas points.

I know this is peak time and that already you need to book well in advance with FF points however maybe there is some destinations that might still have availability? Uzbekistan?

Does anyone know or suggest what I should do.

I also remember on the forums there was people you could pay to help you find flights, maybe they can help me?

Any help will be muchly appreciated,

Cheers,
Brie

where are you based and where do you want to go??

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I know this is peak time and that already you need to book well in advance with FF points however maybe there is some destinations that might still have availability? Uzbekistan?

The main issue is that while there might be some final destinations (such as the one you mention!) that might have availability, all flights from Australia are initially to major international hubs from where you would need to connect. And the flights to the major hubs will all be pretty much full. Australia to Singapore/Bangkok/Hong Kong/Tokyo/Dubai/USA are all going to be packed around those dates with people going back home or on holidays.

I'd be surprised if there was even last minute award availability that close to Christmas. Airline will sell high priced economy tickets, and upgrade elite members to business class in the event of overselling flights... reducing the chances of award seats.

 

[gogo419]

Theres a fair bit of availability Ex SIN into Europe on EK. Just need to book a revenue fare to get there...

 

[Dr Ralph]

I have finally got enough points to go somewhere and now there is no availability.

I've no doubt this will become more common thanks to the perpetual world we live in for massive sign on credit card bonuses.

 

[daoistpunk]

Thanks for all the replies, I am based in Gold Coast but can also fly out of Brisbane. I am happy to go anywhere though Asia or central/south America would be preferable.

 

[Pushka]

Thanks for all the replies, I am based in Gold Coast but can also fly out of Brisbane. I am happy to go anywhere though Asia or central/south America would be preferable.

Its the 'getting out of Australia' part that is difficult.

 

[amaroo]

FWIW we've got 4 x J sorted for BNE-xHKG-FCO for mid Dec. When I booked these last Dec I couldn't get 4 seats on any CX flight other than early am departures from SYD - not interested in an Flounge breakfast :-|

Over the past 10 years we've used the same strategy of securing flights and then changing as the date approaches. I'm willing to bet that 4 seats will open up either out of SYD or MEL in the week leading up to our departure, when they do - I'll be calling QFF and making the change.

 

[Mattg]

Have you checked for availability on MH or JL? These airlines don't appear on the QF website but that doesn't necessarily mean there is zero availability.

 

[The Flying Brick]

Hi Everyone,

I have finally got enough points to go somewhere and now there is no availability.

I just want to get the hell out of Australia for xmas from December 18th till 4th Jan and the points are Qantas points.

I know this is peak time and that already you need to book well in advance with FF points however maybe there is some destinations that might still have availability? Uzbekistan?

Does anyone know or suggest what I should do.

I also remember on the forums there was people you could pay to help you find flights, maybe they can help me?

Any help will be muchly appreciated,

Cheers,
Brie

I take it you mean Christmas 2016 - doubt there would much left at all this close in to Xmas 2015 and during a peak period.

 

[Pushka]

I take it you mean Christmas 2016 - doubt there would much left at all this close in to Xmas 2015 and during a peak period.

2016 Christmas isnt out yet.

 

[burmans]

2016 Christmas isnt out yet.

Somehow I think the OP was trying to be "ironic" here and is well aware of this.