Booking award seats on JAL with QFF - how to find availability?

[Timtammi]

I'm looking to purchase several J class award seats for September - October next year. I'm actually after 5 seats in total but one of us will be travelling alone there and back (different dates) and the other 4 can split up 2 and 2 if needed on different days/flights etc. I know they aren't available for those dates yet but I want to start looking at availability for earlier dates to get an idea of availability and if this is going to be feasible. Given I'm in MEL and JAL just started flying MEL-NRT direct I want to try and snag some of these flights. However, I have followed instructions I have found online for using the BA website for checking availability and I just keep getting errors that the route is not available. I also tried awardnexus and didnt have any luck there either. Can anyone help point me in the right direction? I've only ever redeemened QFF points online and I know for these I will have to call QFF but I dont know how to find them!

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Kade Reid]

I'm looking to purchase several J class award seats for September - October next year. I'm actually after 5 seats in total but one of us will be travelling alone there and back (different dates) and the other 4 can split up 2 and 2 if needed on different days/flights etc. I know they aren't available for those dates yet but I want to start looking at availability for earlier dates to get an idea of availability and if this is going to be feasible. Given I'm in MEL and JAL just started flying MEL-NRT direct I want to try and snag some of these flights. However, I have followed instructions I have found online for using the BA website for checking availability and I just keep getting errors that the route is not available. I also tried awardnexus and didnt have any luck there either. Can anyone help point me in the right direction? I've only ever redeemened QFF points online and I know for these I will have to call QFF but I dont know how to find them!

Thanks in advance for your help.

I recently got an award booking mel - nrt - yvr - nrt - Mel all in J. I searched availability using jal mileage bank. Took a little getting used to but in the end I found it just as useful as QFF. Jal.com.au

 

[blackcat20]

You can also use BA to search for JAL reward seats.

 

[Timtammi]

I've tried BA but I can't get it to show any JAL seats for Mel - nrt at all??

 

[drron]

Joining JMB is free.It is a little quirky but is obviously reasonably accurate re award availability.Only goes to 11 months out.

 

[Eija]

JAL Milage Bank. Once you work it out it's easy. I recently booked MEL-NRT-HEL for August next year. JAL release 330 days out. Four J award seats seem to be the norm.

 

[Timtammi]

Thanks everyone, I will try JMB. Eija, I assume you were redeeming QFF points as well? Was the QF booking agent able to see the same availability as you?

 

[Eija]

Thanks everyone, I will try JMB. Eija, I assume you were redeeming QFF points as well? Was the QF booking agent able to see the same availability as you?

Yes & yes.

 

[Kade Reid]

Some qantas agents can't find JAL availability for some reason. If this happens, just hang up and try another agent.