Award booking challenge - first post

[darvdarv]

Hi all,

I have been reading you guys and absorbing your knowledge from afar for a while now - thanks very much for that.

I have finally taken the plunge, signed up and I would love to ask your help (sorry, still learning the forum so not sure if I should be starting a new thread or replying to an existing one).

I am planning to take the family (wife and 2 kids) on the following multi-city award itinerary (aiming for J) at the end of the year:

Syd - Tokyo
Tokyo - Hong Kong
Hong Kong - Syd

We have 900k QFF and 210k AA miles, if that helps.

I have been looking at oneworld classic awards/multi-city awards etc.

One other quick question, why don't JAL flights appear as an award option?

Any advice/tips/forum links gratefully received.

Cheers

 

[Quickstatus]

I am sure I am not the most successful classic award redeemer around.

On 29 December 2013, I booked at exactly 1102hrs, 2 P and 2 U on QF11 SYD-LAX departing 16 Dec 2014. At 1100 hrs the seats were not released, but they were at 1102hrs.

I am only QFF PS.

My technique is:

Go into qantas website at 11am on the day seats will be released. Today it should be 20 or 21 Dec 2014. click the "flexible with dates box" because this means you can see whats ahead in the next day especially as its the next days seats you want as soon as it is released..

Book each segment separately as the seats become available because if you wait for both outbound and return seats to become available before you book, the outbound seats are likely to disappear.

Some would recommend ringing 131313 to book as the QF customer service agent can often see the seats before they go into website.

The NRT-HKG leg would be problematic, best to ring 131313 for this one on the day these seats are released.

For best opportunities you will need to book 3 separate bookings : SYD-NRT, NRT-HKG, HKG-SYD.

As you are family of four - if you put in 2 pax you might get availability for 2 U and 2 Z. If you request 4 pax you might get no availability as the computer sees you wanting 4 U when there is only, say, 2 U

Consider paying for yours and QFF award for family, this way you will build up QF status which opens up more award seats per status level.


Im sure others have better suggestions but I have been lucky.

2 years ago I managed 5 U SYD-LAX in december school holidays and 4 U LAX-SYD plus one P LAX-SYD (different flight) january school holidays..
On lowly QFF PS status level.

P= first class classic award
U=business classic award
Z= premium economy classic award
X= economy classic award

Downside is unless you have status if you are wanting to fly before Dec 20 you probably have run out of time as of today Jan 2 sydney time.

Dont have any advice about JAL award

Have fun playing the game...

 

[craven morehead]

You need to ring Qantas for JAL flights redemptions

 

[darvdarv]

Thanks for your replies.

Cheers

 

[ketsuzei]

You need to ring Qantas for JAL flights redemptions

Or AA if you decide to go that route. Perhaps better value for the NRT-HKG leg.

 

[straitman]

Or AA if you decide to go that route. Perhaps better value for the NRT-HKG leg.

You can redeem AA miles via the AA web site. Theyb are normally better value (i.e. lower cost) than Qantas redemptions.

 

[ketsuzei]

You can redeem AA miles via the AA web site. Theyb are normally better value (i.e. lower cost) than Qantas redemptions.

I wasn't able to book JAL via the AA website last month, so I had to call them.

 

[mannej]

Don't forget the CX option between NRT and HKG.

 

[straitman]

I wasn't able to book JAL via the AA website last month, so I had to call them.

Apologies.

I misunderstood your post.

 

[grussellt]

If you want to search JAL online you can join their frequent flyer programme (free) or join Awardnexus (a number of free searches per quarter). You have plenty of miles/points to do SYD-NRT on AA (45000 miles each) followed by NRT-HKG (QFF 38,000 pts) and HKG-SYD (60000) miles. On AA you can book in Y, if 4 seats not available, and then upgrade to J for no charge. In any event I would book as soon as 4J become available. There is availability for 4J on some of your routes in mid-December but they won't last long if in the holiday period.