Are reward flights available via phone that aren't available online?

[Chuckler]

Hi all,

First time poster, long time frequent flyer point collector.

I'm looking at a reward fare from BNE - KUL next year. I often fly MH when flying between Australian and various destinations in Asia. When I attempt to book BNE-KUL, the Qantas app wants to route me BNE-SYD-KUL on MH. If I search online BNE-BKK though, there's an option to go BNE-KUL-BKK on MH.

I'd love to fly direct BNE-KUL on MH, but not so keen to skiplag the KUL-BKK leg, especially on a reward booking.

So I guess my question is: if I rang the reward service desk and asked to book BNE-KUL direct on the flight that's showing available when going BNE-BKK, would they be able to do it, or is it a waste of time?

 

[jpp42]

Fares are issued by city pairs, the fact that the BNE-BKK fare happens to have a change of planes in KUL is most likely immaterial to anything related to BNE-KUL fares.

The service desk would only be able to issue a BNE-KUL reward ticket if such a fare is published for that MH flight. I'm not up on the full details of QF-MH agreements so can't comment on why that's not available currently (but is available on SYD-KUL), but it seems like it should be possible as a OneWorld redemption. Maybe they have better a search engine and can help you find dates with open seats, or maybe someone with ExpertFlyer here will chime in to help on BNE-KUL reward availability.

 

[Franky]

Just tried BNE-KUL on a random date in August, and was offered 6 choices - 4 via SIN, 1 via DPS, and 1 via HKG. This was done on EF for 12AUG19.

 

[BD1959]

EF is showing BNE-KUL J award availability on the following through MH:

MH134: 18/8; 22/8; 23/8.

MH135: 24/8

Previously QFF did not show MH Award availability at all online ... perhaps (depending on answer times!!) worth giving QF a call in case there is availability there that's not appearing online due to some rare QF IT glitch ....

[Added] If there's none, you've lost nothing. If there's availability you may need to remind the CSE that a booking fee is not applicable because you cannot book same online.

Regards,

BD

 

[Pele]

Gday

I am also sceptical as to the accuracy of MH flights visible on the QFF website. Besides the issue noted above with generally only showing indirect flights when direct ones are available, most of the time QFF doesnt show any MH flights intra asia to or from KUL. When i cross reference KUL-HKG or ICN with the BA Executive club website they are totally different. QFF usually shows nothing or an indirect flight. BAEC shows MH availability. Hopeless.

Is this something that was common knowledge or is a case of nobody ever really knowing because MH flights on the QFF website are a relatively new thing.

Has anyone seen a MH award ticket on BAEC but not QFF and then rang up QFF and asked them to search for it?

Pele.

 

[Chuckler]

I'm super grateful for the replies here. Thanks. I'll try ringing them this week and report back.

 

[madrooster]

Calling often can get you more options - I can definitely agree with that. I have often looked at what I can see in Amadeus for award availability and what the QF site shows and I find that I see a lot more availability than what the QF site can see. The QF call centre can see what I can see, it's just the website that does not.

 

[grant32]

I had an experience today whereby the call centre could not see availability that was showing online (EK HAM-DXB-BNE). I was told that the availability online nay not be up to date, but lo and behold I was able to book it online.

 

[jpp42]

I had an experience today whereby the call centre could not see availability that was showing online (EK HAM-DXB-BNE). I was told that the availability online nay not be up to date, but lo and behold I was able to book it online.

Was it successfully ticketed or just reserved? Wait until you get the actual e-ticket to be sure ...