Booking award flight on LA bet Scl and Ipc - help!

[kpc]

I'm trying to use my QF points to book a partner award flight (2 seats) on Lan Chile between Santiago (Scl) and Easter Island (Ipc) next year, and am banging my head in frustration:shock:.

I cannot book it online myself as it seems I cannot book an award flight using QF points with the origin as Scl. If I book it as a multicity eg Syd-Cbr as leg 1, then on leg 2, I can book Scl-Ipc, and then Ipc-Scl as leg 3 on my preferred dates.

Obviously, I don't want leg 1, so I rang QF to book Scl-Ipc on LA return (accepting the service fee) but they can't see any award seats on my preferred dates which I can see, using the method described above. When I explained what I could do above, the QF CSA said she didn't understand why I could see award seats betwen Scl and Ipc when she couldn't see any, but I could book it above as described and it should be fine if the website accepts my payment for the surcharges and deducts the points from my account. Obviously, I could book it as such and fly leg 1 eg Syd-Cbr. Any risks then my Scl-Ipc, and Ipc-Scl legs will not be valid??

 

[newformula]

I'd suggest either trying to find a different call centre agent to be doubly sure, and/or getting someone here on AFF with ExpertFlyer access to check dates/flight numbers to ensure there is availability on the exact flights you're looking at. Or sign up for Expertflyer (.com) yourself for $5/mth to check yourself. It's great value.

 

[newformula]

Just noticed you are WP so you probably tried speaking to different people already, sorry. Advice on Expertflyer still stands though.

 

[kpc]

I have EF but it doesn't show availability for awards on Lan. Rang 2 different agents incl premium desk but to no avail

 

[newformula]

Ah, sorry, did a quick google for Expertflyer and LAN availability and another page led me to think otherwise.
Could also be worth trying a search on awardnexus.com if you can get access and check via other oneworld award booking engines (e.g. BA).
Weird that the QFF tool is hit and miss - I guess if it tickets (and they take your money for the booking) then you'd be good to go - and grab it while you can!

 

[elbarto]

IPC seems to be a pain to book in general. I've been trying to price a trip there but all the online booking tools keep throwing up errors. Seems like getting to IPC could be a travel agent job.

Could be a situation where it might be easier to try doing it as two tickets, or just booking an award to SCL and buying a ticket SCL-IPC