QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic Reward seats?

[RealtimeY]

Related?

Post in thread 'QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic Reward seats?'

Jun 3, 2025

I wouldn't be surprised if an online tool comes around by the end of the year to request these awards.

• TheInsider

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[Josh]

Agreed, providing WP and P1 members with the ability to more easily use their hard-earned points for award flights is one of the key benefits in my mind.

I saved ~$25K this week by being able to request points flights inventory be opened up so I could spend the points I'd earned through flying QF rather than paying cash.

If that's taken away I'd be very much reconsidering the value of P1/WP over just keeping my Lifetime Gold and flying other airlines.

Yeah absolutely agree. I have LTG also, and if the only "real" benefit of WP is F Lounge, then my loyalty to Qantas will be gone. If I can't spend my points on premium cabin flight redemptions, then the program is of little value to me. I often purchase premium cabins anyway, so I'll just pick the best value fare across all carriers - flying business on most airlines gives you roughly the same benefits of SG anyway.

 

[justinbrett]

Am I the only one who would like the booking tool to stay as complex and broken as possible?

The harder it is for others to find seats, the more chance of finding seats yourself. Once you get something like seats.aero - especially if extending to the WP release seats - the inventory gets wiped clean very quickly.

 

[DejaBrew]

Am I the only one who would like the booking tool to stay as complex and broken as possible?

The completely self-serving side of me is in total agreement with you. The altruistic side of me things that Qantas does need to do more for the average less-informed FF member who struggles to find anything given the broken tools currently in play.

Always going to be two schools of thought on this one if we look at it from a purely objective standpoint.

 

[SYD]

The completely self-serving side of me is in total agreement with you. The altruistic side of me things that Qantas does need to do more for the average less-informed FF member who struggles to find anything given the broken tools currently in play.

Always going to be two schools of thought on this one if we look at it from a purely objective standpoint.

Staying OT, I’m concerned the new “digital tool” could actually be worse. Hopefully they contract the BOM* guys and leave the MS search as is….

*I still struggle to find the synoptic chart on the new BOM website…I’ve book marked the old site…

 

[fletty]

Am I the only one who would like the booking tool to stay as complex and broken as possible?

The harder it is for others to find seats, the more chance of finding seats yourself. Once you get something like seats.aero - especially if extending to the WP release seats - the inventory gets wiped clean very quickly.

I'm in a similar boat, but I think even if the booking tool is improved it still takes knowledge of the system to redeem rewards. The average punter is still looking for J for a family of 4 from MEL/SYD to LHR during school holidays. I have doubts the tool will elicit behaviour change to fly indirect, or on separate bookings via Asia, during less favourable times for e.g. to actually make it work.

 

[Kangol]

Just had a MEL-SYD-LAX in J/F approved without need for manual review. Taxes were a bit over $700.
When did that change?
Not too long ago, the taxes for the same route were a bit over half that amount.

 

[levelnine]

Just thinking - with these new program changes just announced yesterday: Does any one get the funny feeling that with this "new amazing classic reward search tool" releasing next month, that Qantas will remove the WP/P1 benefit of requesting release of additional rewards over the phone?
This will significantly dilute this benefit, as availability will likely be even more limited, and whatever availability there is will be snapped up by other WP/P1s who never knew of this hidden benefit previously....

No it won't.

It's a new reward search overlay that is being run by one of the well-known award search tools. Nothing more than that.

 

[jamesatfish]

Just had a MEL-SYD-LAX in J/F approved without need for manual review. Taxes were a bit over $700.
When did that change?
Not too long ago, the taxes for the same route were a bit over half that amount.

Taxes for my CBR-SYD-LAX return in F (booked this week) were $1183. CBR-SYD in Y on the Dash8.

It's been a while since I redeemed on that route so not sure if it's changed recently.

 

[levelnine]

Just had a MEL-SYD-LAX in J/F approved without need for manual review. Taxes were a bit over $700.
When did that change?
Not too long ago, the taxes for the same route were a bit over half that amount.

Carrier charges were significantly increased with the devaluation last year: Qantas Devaluing Classic Rewards & Upgrades in August 2025

 

[Kangol]

Thanks, overlooked that. Only looked at the point part changing. Should have made more classic award bookings before the deadline - only had one. Saving that to make changes for a OWA. Doh!

 

[jimmy hutspah]

Taxes for my CBR-SYD-LAX return in F (booked this week) were $1183. CBR-SYD in Y on the Dash8.

It's been a while since I redeemed on that route so not sure if it's changed recently.

I just had Mel - DFW in J and then LAX - Syd in F released last week, taxes $1350. I think it increased at the same time they increase points cost late last year.

EDIT: should have read the rest of the posts! Thanks @levelnine !

 

[Captain Halliday]

The altruistic side of me things that Qantas does need to do more for the average less-informed FF member who struggles to find anything given the broken tools currently in play.

Please collect your things and surrender your AFF membership by the end of the day.

No it won't.

It's a new reward search overlay that is being run by one of the well-known award search tools. Nothing more than that.

Source?

 

[elanshin]

The completely self-serving side of me is in total agreement with you. The altruistic side of me things that Qantas does need to do more for the average less-informed FF member who struggles to find anything given the broken tools currently in play.

Always going to be two schools of thought on this one if we look at it from a purely objective standpoint.

I think they're going to be disappointed. Its genuinely hard to find anything to anywhere that is remotely popular on QF metal.

I actually think the majority of my QF U tickets are platinum releases. I've only booked 3 long haul U flights in the last 18 months that I found. (DPS-SYD-MEL, MEL-SYD-HKG, PVG - SYD) Everything else was short haul, releases or upgrades.

That being said I do wish there is a few nicer features ( No QF, I'm not looking for JQ flights today so I don't want it to show up on the calendar).

 

[DejaBrew]

That being said I do wish there is a few nicer features ( No QF, I'm not looking for JQ flights today so I don't want it to show up on the calendar).

What I wouldn’t give for a mechanism to filter JQ out of the search results…

 

[Aeryn]

What I wouldn’t give for a mechanism to filter JQ out of the search results…

Id like to not only be able to exclude/include specific airlines (i also have no interest in JQ but also no interest in QR) or at leaat to include/exclude non-oneworld airlines. It is a pain when you are trying to build a OWA and keep getting offered EK or AF or LA or others that cant be used.

 

[serfty]

WPs are already accessing inventory that is not generally published/available via existing search tools - and to my reading, still won't be published/available via this new tool - and P1s are accessing inventory that is not made available to WP and below. No reason (yet) to suggest that this is changing by virtue of Qantas improving the digital experience for customers searching award seating.

That would be in the context of this thread.

The standard Qantas online search tool already returns the default additional availability for statused members.

 

[DejaBrew]

That would be in the context of this thread.

The standard Qantas online search tool already returns the default additional availability for statused members.

Sorry, should have been clearer that I was meaning in terms of accessing inventory used for manually requested release of award seats.

 

[jimmy hutspah]

Sorry, should have been clearer that I was meaning in terms of accessing inventory used for manually requested release of award seats.

Not sure if they’d do that but it would be incredibly helpful if the whole requesting reward release process for WP and above could be taken online, and you didn’t need to undergo the torturous coughshoot of calling and trying to find a competent CSA who can actually help, everytime you want to try for flight

 

[Princess Fiona]

Not sure if they’d do that but it would be incredibly helpful if the whole requesting reward release process for WP and above could be taken online, and you didn’t need to undergo the torturous coughshoot of calling and trying to find a competent CSA who can actually help, everytime you want to try for flight

I actually don’t think this would be helpful. Too many nuances of fare buckets available and alternative dates/ routes etc for QF IT to ever get a sensible solution.