QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

[muppet]

SEPT QF8 DFW-SYD J9C9D9I9 - requested 2xU …. Denied last week

Then yesterday on qantas.com following the CR+ announcement, 2xU on the exact flight I wanted last week. Called up and had them added to a OWA in a few minutes (along with HEL-DFW connections in J).

 

[mad_atta]

Just made first attempt to release 2x U seats using my other half's newly minted WP status. Was looking for SYD-HND-SYD in June, loads were:
QF25 SYD-HND J9 C9 D9 I6 U0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N0 Q0 O0 G0 X0 E0
QF60 HND-SYD J9 C9 D9 I7 U0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0 X9 E0

Requested them last night SYD time, then got message late morning today to call regarding the request and was declined on both.

We can be a little flexible so I figured I'll try a few other dates, but I have a couple of questions for the brains trust:

1) Is this delay of a few hours to get a yes or no answer usual? Is there any way to get instant answers (eg by calling during normal working hours) or is it just luck of the draw? I'm wondering how best to check availability on multiple dates efficiently.

2) How much of a guide is I class availability? I know that it's a prerequisite so there's no point requesting it, but is there a rule of thumb, eg don't bother requesting seats on flights with less than I4, or something?

 

[sudoer]

1) Is this delay of a few hours to get a yes or no answer usual? Is there any way to get instant answers (eg by calling during normal working hours) or is it just luck of the draw? I'm wondering how best to check availability on multiple dates efficiently.

Yes if you are dealing with an off-shore agent. If you are dealing with Hobart/Auckland they can usually give you an answer on the spot (unless there is an issue with the bot). Your best chance of catching an onshore agent is to call at 7am AEST.

2) How much of a guide is I class availability? I know that it's a prerequisite so there's no point requesting it, but is there a rule of thumb, eg don't bother requesting seats on flights with less than I4, or something?

I class is a prerequisite, but no guarantee and not really a reliable indicator otherwise. I've had departures with I3 approved, but others with I9 declined.

You can submit up to 4 requests at a time. On flights to TYO it's much easier to get QF to open seats on MEL-NRT and BNE-NRT.

It's also worth requesting seats on SYD-ICN, SYD-SIN and SYD-HKG if you can find connecting flights to TYO on CX/JL

 

[mad_atta]

Thanks sudoer, much appreciated.

 

[levelnine]

You can submit up to 4 requests at a time.

I'm not sure that's correct, or may be agent dependent.

Only a few months ago, I submitted one that had 10+ flight requests on it (basically every flight between NA & Australia over a couple of days). It was an offshore agent (haven't had a HBA person in months and months).

 

[mad_atta]

Update from me is I called back this afternoon and got a very helpful and efficient agent who, judging by her accent, was based in Hobart. She tried multiple other dates that week for HND-SYD plus the NRT-MEL and NRT-BNE, and no dice. Nothing for other days for SYD-HND either.

So, attempt 1 to use this perk was a fail. Oh well.

 

[encryptededdy]

If you're flexible with your dates, there were a few open seats in June when I checked on the weekend

 

[mad_atta]

If you're flexible with your dates, there were a few open seats in June when I checked on the weekend
View attachment 378556

Thank you! Not that flexible, sadly

 

[ozflier]

Tried today BNE/SYD to LHR 25 and 26 february.
All sectors had at least I 8 but no go.
The agent said there was not the appropriate fare class available for her to put a request in .
She could not tell me whether the particular fare class she referred to fell into the "business sale" basket.

 

[RichardMEL]

Tried today BNE/SYD to LHR 25 and 26 february.
All sectors had at least I 8 but no go.
The agent said there was not the appropriate fare class available for her to put a request in .
She could not tell me whether the particular fare class she referred to fell into the "business sale" basket.

Poorly trained agent imo. HUCA and good luck.

 

[elanshin]

Thank you! Not that flexible, sadly

Whilst not ideal, perhaps look at cash tickets either in J or Y.

Cathay has $3500 return J (which would've meant your points are 2c per point or thereabouts). QF Y themselves for SYD -HND is about $1050 return.

Still get to use the F lounges in all the ports.

 

[Danger]

Is there any issue with requesting a seat for an existing booking? That is, I have a booking and I want to change it, but to change it I need to request the release of a seat. I have a fear I read somewhere that can't be done; it can only be done on a new booking. I'm hoping that's just offshore call centre rubbish.

 

[exceladdict]

Is there any issue with requesting a seat for an existing booking? That is, I have a booking and I want to change it, but to change it I need to request the release of a seat. I have a fear I read somewhere that can't be done; it can only be done on a new booking. I'm hoping that's just offshore call centre rubbish.

Im fairly sure I did this last year when making changes to a booking, and hope to do so tomorrow to an existing booking, so am hoping it's still a thing.

 

[sudoer]

Is there any issue with requesting a seat for an existing booking? That is, I have a booking and I want to change it, but to change it I need to request the release of a seat. I have a fear I read somewhere that can't be done; it can only be done on a new booking. I'm hoping that's just offshore call centre rubbish.

It can be done

 

[mad_atta]

Whilst not ideal, perhaps look at cash tickets either in J or Y.

Cathay has $3500 return J (which would've meant your points are 2c per point or thereabouts). QF Y themselves for SYD -HND is about $1050 return.

Still get to use the F lounges in all the ports.

Yep, that's a thought. Though CX seem to excel at ensuring that you can never quite get the optimum connection at the great price - you always end up with a day flight not a night flight or 5hrs transit in HKG.... and I know there are worse things than that but when it's a quick trip (and one of the joys of Tokyo is that with overnight flights in each direction which you spend sleeping, and no jetlag, you really can go for a quick trip and still make it worthwhile) those kind of compromises can really scupper the whole trip.

 

[sudoer]

5hrs transit in HKG

Enjoy your new WP - take a bath!

 

[levelnine]

Is there any issue with requesting a seat for an existing booking? That is, I have a booking and I want to change it, but to change it I need to request the release of a seat. I have a fear I read somewhere that can't be done; it can only be done on a new booking. I'm hoping that's just offshore call centre rubbish.

It can be done. Whether you can get an offshore call agent to do it is another question. My last attempt was unsuccessful, but I didn't persist with another agent as it wasn't crucial.

 

[elanshin]

Yep, that's a thought. Though CX seem to excel at ensuring that you can never quite get the optimum connection at the great price - you always end up with a day flight not a night flight or 5hrs transit in HKG.... and I know there are worse things than that but when it's a quick trip (and one of the joys of Tokyo is that with overnight flights in each direction which you spend sleeping, and no jetlag, you really can go for a quick trip and still make it worthwhile) those kind of compromises can really scupper the whole trip.

Whilst i normally agree, 3-5 hours in HKG's various F lounges doesn't sound like a terrible detour for the first time (heck thats partly why I lengthened our transit at HKG a little next month) and HK is probably the best 1 stop location to Japan besides domestic Aus east coast.

 

[mad_atta]

I agree with that - HKG is a good transit point, especially if your final location in Japan isn't Tokyo. But when you're looking at a trip of just a few days, which we are in this case, you can find that before you know it you have strayed too far from the original idea and you're spending a significant chunk of waking time in transit, as opposed to the super efficient, overnight flight both ways option of SYD-HND-SYD nonstop - which works so well that on quite a few occasions I've done super enjoyable 3 day weekend trips to Japan.

 

[ozflier]

Poorly trained agent imo. HUCA and good luck.

I tend to agree.
As advised , I rang again today and spoke to a lady from overseas .
As yesterday, she told me that the potential flight request availability was not there !.
I asked what she was looking for and she said "I" class - I had the Expert Flier page open so i could see that there was such availability and told her so .
She looked again and Voila , she found them - to be fair , it may well have been QFF's clunky IT system and not her failure .
In any case , she did put the request in for the 2 days and it appears to be correctly listed as "requested".