Best chance to redeem premium flights for XMAS/NY to West Coast USA from MEL

[limbeezy]

hi all,

any tips for increasing my chances to redeem my first premium flying experience to USA over XMAS/NY period for 2018-19. i understand the flights come out around 330-353~ days prior to but i hear they get booked out really quick and i have low status.

any tips or experiences shared appreciated.

thanks!

 

[Spongbob]

I guess it would depend on which airline and/or airline alliance (e.g. oneworld, star, etc) you have points to use.

 

[mviy]

Assuming you're talking about doing it using QFF:

Well the first thing is to make sure you have a plan in place to have sufficient points in your account in time. You'll need more points in your account to fly on OneWorld partner airlines and you may need to be prepared to do this, especially as you've got low status. Different airlines have different dates that they release seats.

If you have an eligible family member who has status they may be able to book your seat for you (provided you reimburse them the points and taxes of course). Make sure that you can prove that it is an eligible family member though. QF is pretty strict on this. If they catch people doing the wrong thing they can close down both accounts.

If it's realistic and cost effective for you to reach Gold status before the seats become available that may help with availability but you shouldn't chase status just to get improved award availability. Status is no guarantee that you'll get the award seats you want.

You need to be flexible with dates and get in quick. Book the outbound leg and later book the return leg when those seats become available. You can call up (with a fee) to get the return leg added to the same booking as the outbound leg if you want.

Check how far out you can see seats now so you can anticipate when seats will get released. QF doesn't release seats every day of the week and in peak times may release less/no seats on days they would have released them in off peak times.

 

[limbeezy]

i would be redeeming velocity points and/or any airline on their network. will transfer to another loyalty program if that is the best way. but was more so looking for tips on how i can give myself the best chance to be able to redeem the flights in the first place.

 

[limbeezy]

Thanks for the advice! as noted in my earlier post i will be redeeming with velocity but i apply the same concepts where possible. saving up on QFF also but more slowly