QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

[JohnK]

I did not know fuel surcharges have been dropped from international economy! I was under the impression they dropped them on revenue tickets but kept them on reward tickets. If so, it does indeed make economy rewards a lot more attractive.

I am on the fence about the point you make (inclined towards your point of view though). Flying economy does nothing to me that a $50 massage cannot fix

When I looked a few months back the taxes/fuel surcharges SYD-BKK return were ~AUD560. They are now ~AUD320. To me they could be lower but that is acceptable.

Similarly BNE-LAX taxes are now ~AUD430.

We are all different. Occasionally it's nice to be up front but I need more trips. I don't even need to spend $50 on a massage. And very soon I may need more trips.

 

[immature]

Just wanted to share my recent experience of requesting award seat release.

Need to travel from PER to LHR in August, couldn't see any availability in J on either CX or EK (PER-HKG-LHR or PER-DXB-LHR respectively).

Requested J seats for SYD-LHR and MEL-LHR on a few dates, showing availability in I on EF, all requests came back as rejected. I believe one of the consultants that I asked to check this for me said that they have been instructed to only send requests for manual review for P1.

Found availability in I on 2 flights SYD-HKG, and 1 flight BNE-HKG, so also requested these. Rejected for SYD flights, finally accepted for BNE-HKG flight. Successfully booked subsequent flights on CX from HKG, also itinerary was capped at 280k points as a oneworld award.

Interestingly enough, all my requests were made under the same PNR, these were visible in MMB with status 'Requested'. When BNE-HKG was approved, status for this leg changed to 'Confirmed'. When ticketing the BNE-HKG flight, the consultant had some trouble doing this as the rejected requests were cluttering up the reservation. Asked about getting a new PNR generated for the confirmed flight but this wasn't possible.

Not the best routing but quite happy with the WP benefit in this instance. Guessing that it would have been difficult to get seats on SYD-LHR or MEL-LHR released as they are quite popular routes. Interestingly enough, one of the flights was showing I9 U1 which I thought would definitely be released - 1 seat from U and 1 seat released from I, but apparently not. Perhaps if I had made 2 separate bookings?

 

[Quickstatus]

I would have taken the U1 then requested another U from the I9 inventory.
Requesting 2 is always going to be difficult

But then you can't actually request 2 if a U1 exists in the inventory

 

[TheAirman]

Requested J seats for SYD-LHR and MEL-LHR on a few dates, showing availability in I on EF, all requests came back as rejected. I believe one of the consultants that I asked to check this for me said that they have been instructed to only send requests for manual review for P1.

Is there any "magic word" to have it actually manually reviewed ? I am looking at QF73 early April. So far I was out of luck but wanted to try one last time closer to departure.
So far I really had the experience that it is a hit and miss game with the consultants at the other end, so if there is a magic word or routine to get to manual review I would highly appreciated your advice.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Is there any "magic word" to have it actually manually reviewed ? I am looking at QF73 early April. So far I was out of luck but wanted to try one last time closer to departure.
So far I really had the experience that it is a hit and miss game with the consultants at the other end, so if there is a magic word or routine to get to manual review I would highly appreciated your advice.

I've usually had it offered if computer says no. You could just ask for a manual review I suppose.

I had success with QF73 and QF74 but I requested my March/April flights over 6 months ago, maybe more.

 

[Orca]

Data point... Successful request today for an F seat on QF93 MEL-LAX on 26/4

 

[Princess Fiona]

Data point... Successful request today for an F seat on QF93 MEL-LAX on 26/4

Excellent, that's quite close in

 

[Orca]

Excellent, that's quite close in

Yepp. Pleasantly surprised. Just need to get a bit of luck and hope I can get a return J on QF74 coming home.

 

[serfty]

Data point... Successful request today for an F seat on QF93 MEL-LAX on 26/4

Given the loadins Iam not surprised:

Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Flight Availability Search, Departing MEL on 26/04/16 12:00 AM for LAX, Flying QF  

                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     

QF 93         0      MEL                LAX                388       Unavailable     

F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 I9 W8 R7 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 G0

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Given the loadins Iam not surprised:

Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Flight Availability Search, Departing MEL on 26/04/16 12:00 AM for LAX, Flying QF  

                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     

QF 93         0      MEL                LAX                388       Unavailable     

F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 I9 W8 R7 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 G0

Gosh you have to worry about the commercials of running an A380 with loads like that. I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a seasonal 788 route at those loads.

 

[muppet]

Hi all

I've used this successfully a number of times - great benefit.

However, this time I want to use it and include the requested seat in a One World J award - the 280k one. Will that work? Or are these only available as QF awards?

Has anyone done that in the past? I'm not sure why I don't think it will work ... just the old "if it sounds too good to be true...".

Thanks
m

 

[Quickstatus]

Hi all

I've used this successfully a number of times - great benefit.

However, this time I want to use it and include the requested seat in a One World J award - the 280k one. Will that work? Or are these only available as QF awards?

Has anyone done that in the past? I'm not sure why I don't think it will work ... just the old "if it sounds too good to be true...".

Thanks
m

Will not work for any award other than a QF award on a QF operated flight. It's a unpublished benefit. Just got to understand it for what it is. Nothing more

 

[dfcatch]

I have to say - that I'm finding it harder and harder to get award seats opened up for this.....

Even in cabins that are empty / virtually empty.

One request is now 2 months out - and the cabin isn't full on any day from tomorrow, all the way through..... And they still won't budge.

In fact there's no Y seats available even, let alone premium cabins.

It's like Revenue Management removed all availability and then shut up shop....

 

[MrJetset]

I have to say - that I'm finding it harder and harder to get award seats opened up for this.....

Even in cabins that are empty / virtually empty.

One request is now 2 months out - and the cabin isn't full on any day from tomorrow, all the way through..... And they still won't budge.

In fact there's no Y seats available even, let alone premium cabins.

It's like Revenue Management removed all availability and then shut up shop....

Some days of the week and ports are blacklisted.

 

[dfcatch]

Some days of the week and ports are blacklisted.

It's not quite as simple as that (notwithstanding your point) - not relevant to my post.

 

[MrJetset]

It's not quite as simple as that (notwithstanding your point) - not relevant to my post.

Actually I have the internal document that specifically states the policy. But, go ahead and tell me I'm wrong...

The truth is that the both the droid is configured, and agents are trained to deny your request for specific days of the week and certain ports during peak periods.

 

[JessicaTam]

Actually I have the internal document that specifically states the policy. But, go ahead and tell me I'm wrong...

The truth is that the both the droid is configured, and agents are trained to deny your request for specific days of the week and certain ports during peak periods.

But dfcatch hasn't been able to get a seat released for two months. :shock:

 

[amaroo]

But dfcatch hasn't been able to get a seat released for two months. :shock:

The truth is that the both the droid is configured, and agents are trained to deny your request for specific days of the week and certain ports during peak periods.

I'd guess the "peak period" is the issue....

 

[Kangol]

Actually I have the internal document that specifically states the policy. But, go ahead and tell me I'm wrong...

The truth is that the both the droid is configured, and agents are trained to deny your request for specific days of the week and certain ports during peak periods.

I'm sure you won't divulge all the details, but to give us a small hint - does that include certain F ports? If so, which ones (not that there are many to choose from)?

 

[Pablo]

Hi all

I've used this successfully a number of times - great benefit.

However, this time I want to use it and include the requested seat in a One World J award - the 280k one. Will that work? Or are these only available as QF awards?

Has anyone done that in the past? I'm not sure why I don't think it will work ... just the old "if it sounds too good to be true...".

Thanks
m

I had quite a few seats offered to me the other week on a 280k award booking from the USA-AUS. I was struggling to get home (it is for April 2017 - so a long way out) but has multiple sectors offered including DFW-SYD, LAX-SYD, LAX-MEL and LAX-BNE. I did have some reject as well (really wanted the seats a day earlier, but in the end I'm doing LAX-MEL-SYD for 2 PAX. I'll try again in a month or so for LAX-SYD direct.