Booking Aer Lingus using QF points?

[Scriber]

Hi team,

As per the title, I'm trying to book Aer Lingus reward space (I know, I know, I must have too many points) from DUB-FRA or DUB-CGN on/around 27/10 this year (and possibly the return the following week. I know the flights are available direct booked on EI or as a BA codeshare. However, the QF site only wants to show me availability on BA operated flights, despite the fact they are two hops instead of one.
Is there a way to force it to show me either the EI flights or BA codeshare (direct) ones? Obviously EI and BA both are partner airlines.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

This would depend on what class you're trying to book. Last time I checked, Qantas only has access to economy reward flights on Aer Lingus, not business class: so if you're trying to fly up front, you won't be able to.

 

[Scriber]

Just economy. It's only a couple of hour hopper.

 

[Mattg]

I would expect that if there was availability with QF, the direct flights would be shown online. But if you're sure that there are award seats and they don't show online, the only real option is to call Qantas.

It is possible that the flight/s you want are available to BA members but not QF members.

 

[Jack_OC]

I found this thread via the search function after reading a new article posted on AFF: How to Book Aer Lingus Flights using Qantas Points

I couldn't find a way to comment on the article itself, so I thought this was the next best thing.

The article states that you can book business awards on short haul EI flights using QF points. It gives a specific example of DUB-AMS on 12 Mar 2019, with lots of business award availability on every flight that day according to ExpertFlyer.

I'm very confused about this - AFAIK, there is no business class on any of EI's narrowbody aircraft, which are used to operate the vast majority of their short haul routes (including the DUB-AMS flights shown in the screen shot within the article, which is operated by A320s). Searching on the EI website for DUB-AMS on the relevant date, it only offers Y fares.

This leads me to assume that the "Business Award" availability showing on Expert Flyer is just phantom, or am I missing something? If the EF info is inaccurate, is this a more widespread problem? I had always thought info on EF was pretty reliable.

 

[AFF Editor]

I found this thread via the search function after reading a new article posted on AFF: How to Book Aer Lingus Flights using Qantas Points

I couldn't find a way to comment on the article itself, so I thought this was the next best thing.

The article states that you can book business awards on short haul EI flights using QF points. It gives a specific example of DUB-AMS on 12 Mar 2019, with lots of business award availability on every flight that day according to ExpertFlyer.

I'm very confused about this - AFAIK, there is no business class on any of EI's narrowbody aircraft, which are used to operate the vast majority of their short haul routes (including the DUB-AMS flights shown in the screen shot within the article, which is operated by A320s). Searching on the EI website for DUB-AMS on the relevant date, it only offers Y fares.

This leads me to assume that the "Business Award" availability showing on Expert Flyer is just phantom, or am I missing something? If the EF info is inaccurate, is this a more widespread problem? I had always thought info on EF was pretty reliable.

I believe the Aer Lingus short-haul Business Award tickets book as an "Economy Advantage" fare, which includes lounge access, security fast-track and priority boarding. But there is no real information on this anywhere. Yes, it's not a true business class product and I have updated the article to mention this.

The Expert Flyer availability is not phantom - I called yesterday to confirm those Business Award seats shown on Expert Flyer can be booked using Qantas points. They can, and I was given a quote for Business class.

One day I might book one of these flights to see what you actually get on an Aer Lingus "Business" Award... I'm curious myself.

 

[Jack_OC]

I believe the Aer Lingus short-haul Business Award tickets book as an "Economy Advantage" fare, which includes lounge access, security fast-track and priority boarding. But there is no real information on this anywhere. Yes, it's not a true business class product and I have updated the article to mention this.

The Expert Flyer availability is not phantom - I called yesterday to confirm those Business Award seats shown on Expert Flyer can be booked using Qantas points. They can, and I was given a quote for Business class.

One day I might book one of these flights to see what you actually get on an Aer Lingus "Business" Award... I'm curious myself.

Interesting, but I have flown on an Advantage fare with EI, and it really isn't something that could be described as even vaguely resembling business class, so I think you are being generous by saying it's "not a true business class product"!

On board there is no difference whatsoever - you don't even get free tea or coffee, never mind booze or anything to eat - everyone has to pay for anything other than water.

Also worth bearing in mind that neither fare class nor status has any impact on what seats are available on these flights. For people who book on the EI website, every seat is wide open - the only difference is that people who book the cheapest fare category have to pay between EUR8 and EUR17 to select a seat, but then those fares only cost EUR29.99 e/w for any of the flights in your example. People on the middle fare category ("Plus" - costing just EUR68 in this example) are allowed to choose any seat on the plane for free, and Plus fares also include a checked bag and priority boarding (which as you can imagine is pretty meaningless, given that pretty much anyone who has a checked bag gets it!).

Importantly, I'm not actually sure if you would be eligible for advance seat selection at all if you book an award flight via QF. I have previously booked an EI operated flight via BA and been unable to select seats - I even phoned EI and said I was quite happy to pay a seat selection fee but they told me it was impossible as seat selection is only available if you book on their website. Needless to say I ended up getting row 23 or something once I checked in at the airport!

The only other benefits with Advantage fares are fast track security in Dublin only (not other airports), and lounge access, which again is not available everywhere they fly to/from. People on the lower fare categories can add on lounge access for EUR30 anyway.

All things considered, I would say anyone who used QF points to book a so called business award on a short haul EI flight would be extremely disappointed. In fact, given how cheap EI short haul fares usually are these days, I'm struggling to understand why anyone would want to use points at all.

Transatlantic is of course a different matter, if you can find availability there, and there is a huge advantage of flying T/A from Dublin, as they have US preclearance, which means you arrive in the US as a domestic passenger and so avoid the often lengthy queues at immigration there.

 

[Ekka]

Interesting, but I have flown on an Advantage fare with EI, and it really isn't something that could be described as even vaguely resembling business class, so I think you are being generous by saying it's "not a true business class product"!

On board there is no difference whatsoever - you don't even get free tea or coffee, never mind booze or anything to eat - everyone has to pay for anything other than water.

Also worth bearing in mind that neither fare class nor status has any impact on what seats are available on these flights. For people who book on the EI website, every seat is wide open - the only difference is that people who book the cheapest fare category have to pay between EUR8 and EUR17 to select a seat, but then those fares only cost EUR29.99 e/w for any of the flights in your example. People on the middle fare category ("Plus" - costing just EUR68 in this example) are allowed to choose any seat on the plane for free, and Plus fares also include a checked bag and priority boarding (which as you can imagine is pretty meaningless, given that pretty much anyone who has a checked bag gets it!).

Importantly, I'm not actually sure if you would be eligible for advance seat selection at all if you book an award flight via QF. I have previously booked an EI operated flight via BA and been unable to select seats - I even phoned EI and said I was quite happy to pay a seat selection fee but they told me it was impossible as seat selection is only available if you book on their website. Needless to say I ended up getting row 23 or something once I checked in at the airport!

The only other benefits with Advantage fares are fast track security in Dublin only (not other airports), and lounge access, which again is not available everywhere they fly to/from. People on the lower fare categories can add on lounge access for EUR30 anyway.

All things considered, I would say anyone who used QF points to book a so called business award on a short haul EI flight would be extremely disappointed. In fact, given how cheap EI short haul fares usually are these days, I'm struggling to understand why anyone would want to use points at all.

Transatlantic is of course a different matter, if you can find availability there, and there is a huge advantage of flying T/A from Dublin, as they have US preclearance, which means you arrive in the US as a domestic passenger and so avoid the often lengthy queues at immigration there.

 

[Kremmen]

The article is wrong. Some business class can be booked online.
e.g. SEA-DUB, with USD6.37 in carrier charges! (DUB-SEA is much higher.)

 

[Ekka]

Thank you Jack3193.

My very first Trans-Atlantic flight was with Aer Lingus in 1973, in a B707 which was half freight and half passengers, from JFK to SNN. Those were the days, which the young find difficult to believe, when a Qantas 747 from Sydney could not even reach HNL without stopping in Fiji. Thus three hops to SFO in a 747; unbelievable to those with expensively-torn jeans, ineradicable tattoos and built-in sneers as are de rigueur now.

When you're young, going that way around the world - the wrong way, although no one said so in those days - didn't matter; you survived, although in our case we spent most of the time in San Francisco asleep in a hotel.

You don't get much sympathy from the young and uninformed now; especially on this site, which, like most such sites, e.g. FlyerTalk, has no time at all, no sympathy, no appreciation for those who went before.

Most contributors (God help us) are Platinums or higher, and delight in telling us all about their elevated "status" at every opportunity.

The threads are overwhelmingly aimed at those who have as many status credits as they. Or more, or almost as many. Sheesh.

However most of us persons are ordinary people. Some of us, such as I, are retired and don't fly a hell of a lot now except overseas; others of us simply don't have jobs which require a hell of a lot of flying.

It is highly unlikely I'll reach QF gold again. Have you ever heard of TAA? I have no chance of reaching Platinum, even though I have been flying a lot since 1967 (how many of you were even alive then?) and now always fly Business, paid for by me (or by points), a self-funded retiree of minor means.

In the meantime, may you (I don't mean you specifically, probably not at all) enjoy your perquisites. If you see me in the Business section of the Qantas Club- which you won't as I eschew that sort of largesse and there are few with whom I'd like to have a glass of Chardonna)), you may be sure I have paid for it myself, and I'll be sure that very few others have done so.

I see that the system has decreed that I am a "junior member", or similar, even though I've been popping in for 13 years; hardly.

Ken.











Gosh,

 

[AFF Editor]

The article is wrong. Some business class can be booked online.
e.g. SEA-DUB, with USD6.37 in carrier charges! (DUB-SEA is much higher.)

Thanks for the feedback (and how strange that this route shows J availability but not most others). I have updated the article.

I see that the system has decreed that I am a "junior member", or similar, even though I've been popping in for 13 years; hardly.

The member titles are based on the number of posts made. As you've just made your 50th post, you've actually just been "promoted" to intern.

 

[brebbles]

All things considered, I would say anyone who used QF points to book a so called business award on a short haul EI flight would be extremely disappointed. In fact, given how cheap EI short haul fares usually are these days, I'm struggling to understand why anyone would want to use points at all.

Unfortunately I was an EXTREMELY disappointed poor sap who previously used QF points to book so called business on EI, from LGW to DUB (thread here Booking Aer Lingus "Business" Class using QF points). As we needed to travel in a window of a few hours on December 23, using my rarely-used QFF points made more sense then paying through the nose outright.

Not only did QFF charge me business rewards points for an economy ticket, it turned out to be a base economy ticket!

The end result in summary:

• Base economy ticket at the cost of business rewards points
• No seat selection available via either QF or EI websites
  • A call to QFF to try and select seats saw them call EI, who quoted a €20 + $60 change fee (why they quoted a price in two currencies is probably to most confusing aspect of all!). I politely declined
• One 20kg baggage allowance per person, so I had to call EI directly and pay for an extra bag.
• No lounge access
• No priority check in
• No on-board food or drink

Several attempts to query the situation with QF through this forum when Red Roo was active, and via emails would reach a brick wall after one or no replies. Fair to say it'll be by far the most disappointing 'business' class flight I'll ever likely make.

 

[Duffa]

I have booked numerous transatlantic J flights on the Qantas website - it takes time and flexibilty to find them but I've done it; in both directions. BUT I also agree that they are hard to find and I'm looking forward to calling Qantas to see if they can make it easier.

 

[Mattg]

Well for anyone interested in booking Aer Lingus seats with Qantas points (presumably in Y if travelling short-haul ) the last day to do this will be 30 June 2019.

Note: Qantas Points can be earned and used on eligible fares and flights with Aer Lingus up to 30 June 2019. From 1 July 2019, members will no longer be able to earn and use Qantas Points on flights with an EI flight number or operated by Aer Lingus.

Aer Lingus | Airline Partners | Qantas Frequent Flyer

 

[love_the_life]

Was there a point?
Referring to an earlier post.