BA/Comair award availability

[ozflier]

Its weird and frustrating.
I agree the inventory does not show up but may some runaround is needed eg use the BA codeshare number or a long sell.
I can remember that the previous time I got Comair award seats , it was very problematic.
There are business class award seats on offer in both the BA and AA award search sites but of course that does not say there are available to BA.
I'm thinking of booking a refundable business class fare for AUD 648 return now and try QFF monthly and cancel the paid fare if an agent can find award seats.

 

[ozflier]

Fourth Try
FYI I had booked a business seats on the correct flights just to protect myself - they are fully refundable.
So I rang the QFF agent - she sounded very competent -but no award seats available!
I cajolled her to try a "long sell" - did not know what it was.
I gave her a pnr from 2017 where I was able to get award seats JNB-CPT and asked to use whatever were the booking searches attached to that booking.
She now did find some seats - but not allowed on a OWA.
I asked why and as not a BA flight - can't use.
I asked to check further and when she did and give her her due , she really did delve into the fine print.
Finally, she agreed that the seats were available .
Good so far.
She worked out the taxes but were just too complicated and would calculate later and bill me - fair enough.
I checked my Amex bill- taxes per person were AUD 819 !!! for a return flight JNB-PLZ.
The cheapest J class return fare came to AUD 662.
This point was made by one of the earlier posters
I'll ring back to see if there has been a mistake .
Also , because Comair is a BA subsidiary , and not allowed on a OWA , the points shot up well beyond 280K.
Further discussion and cajolling and finally accepted that it should be a OWA only point calculation.
I can't blame the agent as she did try hard - but there is something really clunky and glitchy about the QFF award management system.
Why do we book OWAs ?
I see it as a challenge trying to get value for money out of QFF.

 

[ozflier]

Fourth Try
FYI I had booked a business seats on the correct flights just to protect myself - they are fully refundable.
So I rang the QFF agent - she sounded very competent -but no award seats available!
I cajolled her to try a "long sell" - did not know what it was.
I gave her a pnr from 2017 where I was able to get award seats JNB-CPT and asked to use whatever were the booking searches attached to that booking.
She now did find some seats - but not allowed on a OWA.
I asked why and as not a BA flight - can't use.
I asked to check further and when she did and give her her due , she really did delve into the fine print.
Finally, she agreed that the seats were available .
Good so far.
She worked out the taxes but were just too complicated and would calculate later and bill me - fair enough.
I checked my Amex bill- taxes per person were AUD 819 !!! for a return flight JNB-PLZ.
The cheapest J class return fare came to AUD 662.
This point was made by one of the earlier posters
I'll ring back to see if there has been a mistake .
Also , because Comair is a BA subsidiary , and not allowed on a OWA , the points shot up well beyond 280K.
Further discussion and cajolling and finally accepted that it should be a OWA only point calculation.
I can't blame the agent as she did try hard - but there is something really clunky and glitchy about the QFF award management system.
Why do we book OWAs ?
I see it as a challenge trying to get value for money out of QFF.

I spoke too soon .
On checking the revised pnr , I realised that one of the original sectors HKG to TLV had gone missing.
Another phone call , another 30 minutes but an excellent agent and luckily there was still an award seat available .
Apparently , at some stage in the reticketing process , Cathay just took the seat back !
I have heard of this kind of issue before .
Anyway the sectors are back intact now and I'll ring again soon to do a check on the taxes.

 

[Denali]

This booking adventure has more ups and downs than a reality show drama

 

[ecst]

in the end she didn't need it as someone in the office knew what is was

was scrolling around when I came across this old thread... with the recent staff cuts, I wonder if there'll be any pools of wisdom remaining in the QFF call centre(s)

 

[ozflier]

was scrolling around when I came across this old thread... with the recent staff cuts, I wonder if there'll be any pools of wisdom remaining in the QFF call centre(s)

My impression is that there still are competent helpful agents there . ( I always ask where they come from)
The three I am impressed with are all ladies.
The 2 males seemed resistant to look hard into complex issues and i just said thanks anyway and rang back later.