Advice on booking J seat

[datal1]

Hey guys,

In the past I used to just search and see what flights were available as a classic reward and then book and plan my trip around that. Next year is different and I need to be in Europe on 3rd, 4th or 5th of July.

Given I have a limited choice of dates I don't mind what city I fly into in Europe (I can take a connecting flight when there).

My primary aim is to book 2x business seats on an Emirates A380 using my frequent flyer points.

I understand Qantas site will start showing seats in about 12 days for start of July next year.

What is the best way for me to book this? Do I sign up to a website that alerts me when the seats are available for booking? Or do I just checked daily to see what's available and to which city? I'm assuming there's a time frame when seats start to come up for booking with points which may not be 12 months ahead it could be 11 or 10 or 9 etc.

Thankyou!

 

[mviy]

What's your frequent flyer status?

 

[datal1]

What's your frequent flyer status?

No status, does that affect the availability of classic award seats in J? I always thought it only affected chances when upgrading using points from one class to the next

 

[junbugging]

My primary aim is to book 2x business seats on an Emirates A380 using my frequent flyer points.

I understand Qantas site will start showing seats in about 12 days for start of July next year.

Emirates availability is a bit later than that. And depending on the route, can also improve after a few months.

If you're not that picky about where you fly from or to, you shouldn't have too much trouble.

I use Award Nexus when planning those sorts of trips.

 

[mviy]

For QANTAS metal reports are that availability is showing up 310 days out for NB.

Not sure about Emirates metal.

Would suggest doing some searches for earlier dates to see how far out the availability you can see now is.

 

[jveevers]

I am in similar situation. Thought that i would get in early for PER-LHR , J class, late June or early July 2017.... there is plenty of availability for CX flights via HK but I want Emirates via Dubai as way less points needed and better connections.. I called Qantas and apparently the flights involving Emirates are not released until 330 days out (5 August 2016 for 1st July 1 flights).. The CX flights are released early, around 355 days.
Incidently, you get a selection from both London airports LGW and LHR , on the flight search, does Emirates fly to both or should I select a particular one? Thanks

 

[mviy]

I would go with LHR. QANTAS is opening a lounge there next year.

 

[mr6ix]

I called Qantas and apparently the flights involving Emirates are not released until 330 days out (5 August 2016 for 1st July 1 flights).. Thanks

Just on this subject, I'm looking for 2 x J reward seats on Emirates SYDNEY - DUBLIN in mid-April 2017, and it appears that nothing has been released on that route, and it's now under 300 days out.

There is plenty of availability of Emirates J reward seats in Feb and March, but nothing from the end of March onwards. I'm checking the Qantas site daily.

 

[cjd600]

Just on this subject, I'm looking for 2 x J reward seats on Emirates SYDNEY - DUBLIN in mid-April 2017, and it appears that nothing has been released on that route, and it's now under 300 days out.

There is plenty of availability of Emirates J reward seats in Feb and March, but nothing from the end of March onwards. I'm checking the Qantas site daily.

Have you tried searching multi city SYD-DXB + DXB-DUB ?
e.g. 12 April

 

[mr6ix]

Have you tried searching multi city SYD-DXB + DXB-DUB ?
e.g. 12 April

I hadn't looked at that, but I've just checked it, thanks.

SYD - DXB is coming up fine, but can't get anything for DXB-DUB. Looking at April 19 2017.

Edit: I can see availability all the way from SYD - DUB (using Multi-City method) on the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of April, so perhaps they're released 280 days out.

Oddly, it's started kicking up an error when I try to proceed:

The departure time for one flight is only 70 minutes after the arrival time of the previous flight. The Minimum connecting time required is 75 minutes. "

So I may need to book by phone once the dates I want become available.

Thanks for the tip. I'll keep an eye on it as I would prefer to fly around the 19/20th if I can.

 

[cjd600]

I hadn't looked at that, but I've just checked it, thanks.

SYD - DXB is coming up fine, but can't get anything for DXB-DUB. Looking at April 19 2017.

Edit: I can see availability all the way from SYD - DUB (using Multi-City method) on the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of April, so perhaps they're released 280 days out.

Oddly, it's started kicking up an error when I try to proceed:

The departure time for one flight is only 70 minutes after the arrival time of the previous flight. The Minimum connecting time required is 75 minutes. "

So I may need to book by phone once the dates I want become available.

Thanks for the tip. I'll keep an eye on it as I would prefer to fly around the 19/20th if I can.

No worries.
If there is an MCT (minimum connection time) specified, I'm not sure booking by phone would allow you to overcome this...

 

[mr6ix]

No worries.
If there is an MCT (minimum connection time) specified, I'm not sure booking by phone would allow you to overcome this...

True, I don't know if it's a possibility.

They seem to have moved the connecting flight to Dublin by 5 minutes from April onwards, which is why the trips are not appearing in the QF booking system.

In March, EK415 leaves SYD at 06.00 and arrives into DXB at 13.20, exactly 75 minutes before departing flight to DUB (EK163) at 14.35. All good to book online.

In April, EK415 leaves SYD at 06.00 but now arrives at 14.20 (due to daylight savings changes). EK163 is now at 15.30, which is 5 minutes short of the necessary connection time stipulated by the booking system.

 

[travelislife]

Why not look at using Cathay? Their seats should be available online through the QF award search for those dates nearly today! Or if not in the next day or 2. At least get something booked as a 'back up' option. Similar with Qatar who are miles ahead of Emirates in on board product.

 

[mr6ix]

Why not look at using Cathay? Their seats should be available online through the QF award search for those dates nearly today! Or if not in the next day or 2. At least get something booked as a 'back up' option. Similar with Qatar who are miles ahead of Emirates in on board product.

Thanks for the advice.

I hadn’t looked at Cathay as I’d just been looking at more direct routes to DUB (SYD-DXB-DUB is the most direct). Obviously going with Cathay (SYD- HKG – LHR – DUB) takes a bit longer and will cost a bit more in points but will certainly look into it.

 

[travelislife]

Thanks for the advice.

I hadn’t looked at Cathay as I’d just been looking at more direct routes to DUB (SYD-DXB-DUB is the most direct). Obviously going with Cathay (SYD- HKG – LHR – DUB) takes a bit longer and will cost a bit more in points but will certainly look into it.

Ah ok, that makes more sense to be on Emirates then. You hadn't mentioned Dublin earlier and had said any city in Europe. Any city in Europe I would be trying to get on Qatar Airways over all the other OW and Qantas partner airlines.

 

[mr6ix]

Ah ok, that makes more sense to be on Emirates then. You hadn't mentioned Dublin earlier and had said any city in Europe. Any city in Europe I would be trying to get on Qatar Airways over all the other OW and Qantas partner airlines.

To be fair, I hijacked this thread a little with a similar question to the OP.

My query was DUB specific, but I only jumped in halfway through the thread.

 

[travelislife]

To be fair, I hijacked this thread a little with a similar question to the OP.

My query was DUB specific, but I only jumped in halfway through the thread.

Ah yep I missed that!