Booking award flight - did I just make newbie mistake?

[JanP]

Hello ,

Can I please ask if I just did very expensive newbie mistake or there is something wrong with their booking system?

When searching for award flight from SYD to VIE in Business I could see seats available for 45000 Avios SYD-Vie and 45000 Avios VIE-SYD. I repeated this search several times, always ticked "show only premium class / business/first"

I bought 90000 Avios for $3180.

When I tried to book it it was always showing me message " you need at least 50% Avios to purchase this ticket". After several attempts I called Qatar support and guy in Doha told me there is no business class seat available.

Can I please ask if I was idiot or what did I do wrong? I ticked "show premium class only" so was assuming it is really showing premium class only and it was showing many seats available. Please see attachments. If I was an idiot what are my chances of Qatar refunding me ?

Thank you.

 

[StevePER]

When I search on those dates I can only see economy class availability for 45,000 each way (-10% platinum discount). The economy flights show up even if I select premium only, which is slightly misleading.

 

[Guvner]

Isn't 180,000 return the normal business award rate?

 

[Duffa]

Yes, I am afraid you have.
You have paid $3180 for an economy return flight to Europe.
The Qatar website is frustratingly misleading. Not only does it still show economy seats when asked to show "premium only" but the 1-month availability screen is totally inaccurate.
One needs to click through to actual flights (which can be done with zero points) to see whether an off peak award flight is available.
Off peak to Europe is 90,000 one way in business class. There aren't many of those available.

Sorry for your misfortune.

 

[Duffa]

Isn't 180,000 return the normal business award rate?

Yes, for saver rate. Which are very rare.
180k one way in business class at normal rates. 360k return

 

[andye]

I think you won't have any luck getting a refund for the bought avios I'm afraid. Buying at 3.5c per avios is very pricey (1.5c would be my cut-off) and will likely become a sunk cost. Personally I'd wait until a one-way business redemption came up and use them for that just to get more or less equivalent "value". Of course you'd then have to find another redemption (with any airline/points currency) to get back.

 

[JanP]

Yes, I am afraid you have.
You have paid $3180 for an economy return flight to Europe.
The Qatar website is frustratingly misleading. Not only does it still show economy seats when asked to show "premium only" but the 1-month availability screen is totally inaccurate.
One needs to click through to actual flights (which can be done with zero points) to see whether an off peak award flight is available.
Off peak to Europe is 90,000 one way in business class. There aren't many of those available.

Sorry for your misfortune.

Thanks mate.
That is what I think as well - very misleading, basically laying.

Guys who are experts with points probably laughing at me but as a customer I visited their website, correctly ticked option to display premium tickets only and when I could see it is displaying tickets available for certain amount of points I proceeded with Avios purchase.

I didnt buy the ticket yet, it is just my Avios are sitting there now.

And when I look for their office location in Sydney nothing is coming up, just online support for Priviledge members. I spoke to one support guy from Doha yesterday and he advised somebody will contact me within 24 hrs.

 

[Hunter4vr]

You won’t get a return in J for 90k Avios, I’d say make the most of it and try to at least use them on one flight, I personally wouldn’t redeem them for economy.

There are J seats out of Adelaide pretty much the whole week, here’s one on the 25th September. Departs late so you have plenty of time to get down to ADL.

 

[Guvner]

Yes, for saver rate. Which are very rare.
180k one way in business class at normal rates. 360k return

Last night found quite a few Saver awards to VIE @180k return out of ADL around the dates the OP was looking for. Worst case scenario OP could at least snag a one way in J with the 90k already purchased. Not ideal but an option.
Probably get better value using them for 2 x SYD - PER or SYD - CNS return in J given QF revenue prices.

 

[JanP]

Thanks guy, I appreciate your willingness to help. Obviously no contact from Qatar as promised last night.

Can I please ask for desperate help some gurus here. I am really exhausted by this situation. Is there any available flight around those days from Asia to Vienna/Budapest. Departing SIN, BKK, Manila or Jakarta.

hat was my initial plan to buy cash business seat from BKK via Helsinki with Finnair but was distracted by this Qatar Avios offer.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Wow. Looks like the Qatar website is truly dreadful.

 

[jase05]

Thanks guy, I appreciate your willingness to help. Obviously no contact from Qatar as promised last night.

Can I please ask for desperate help some gurus here. I am really exhausted by this situation. Is there any available flight around those days from Asia to Vienna/Budapest. Departing SIN, BKK, Manila or Jakarta.

hat was my initial plan to buy cash business seat from BKK via Helsinki with Finnair but was distracted by this Qatar Avios offer.

Looks to be some availability from CGK and BKK that I can see.
ex CGK it’s 76k
ex BKK it’s 71.25k

 

[JanP]

Thank a lot.
I searched myself as well after posting my question. I assume it is one way. I found return 150k return.

 

[jase05]

Thank a lot.
I searched myself as well after posting my question. I assume it is one way. I found return 150k return.

Yeah, one way

 

[Take me home]

Hi All,

Ive been considering the ADL option to use Avios for a QR J award booking to Europe. Has anyone had experience flying SYD to ADL to connect to a QR J flight? I hear the lounge is in domestic terminal and then need to navigate through security and immigration. How long would be sensible to allow for this process post lounge time? Would it be better to do this via BNE (which also seems to have reasonable J availability using Avios)? Thanks for any responses.

 

[clifford]

Hi All,

Ive been considering the ADL option to use Avios for a QR J award booking to Europe. Has anyone had experience flying SYD to ADL to connect to a QR J flight? I hear the lounge is in domestic terminal and then need to navigate through security and immigration. How long would be sensible to allow for this process post lounge time? Would it be better to do this via BNE (which also seems to have reasonable J availability using Avios)? Thanks for any responses.

Yes, I've done this. There is a new 3rd party lounge airside, not sure if QR uses it. Otherwise it's the Qantas Club domestic lounge.

As for time taken to go to Intl departures, it must be one of the easiest in Australia. An hour would be more than enough IME (easier than BNE).

 

[jase05]

Yes, I've done this. There is a new 3rd party lounge airside, not sure if QR uses it. Otherwise it's the Qantas Club domestic lounge.

QR does not use the Plaza Premium lounge at ADL and they will direct J passengers to the VA lounge. Of course if you have OW status you also have the QF lounge if you want. The VA lounge is right next to the International departures area and from lounge to getting to the gate takes only a few minutes. Very quick and painless. The QF lounge is at the other end of the terminal but ADL isn’t huge so just allow a few more minutes to walk down to International departures

 

[Take me home]

Thanks Clifford and Jase05. Would i need to clear security and customs before or after the VA lounge?

 

[clifford]

Security before and after the VA lounge. Different requirements for domestic and Intl.