China Airlines reward seats using Qantas points

[goldenhorn]

Well this is bad news! I just noticed in another thread someone was trying to book seats back from NRT and the latest released seats were only one and not 2 per flight.

I just returned from a trip to and from Japan via Taipei. I was so impressed by their product. I was hoping to book again for sometime next year but maybe that’s going to be more problematic with these apparent changes

 

[aspro2]

It’s not QFF, CI releases very few J seats with other SkyTeam partners too

Sure, though I wasn't treating QFF as unusual, just naming it as it's my only experience.

 

[Rembrandt]

It’s not QFF, CI releases very few J seats with other SkyTeam partners too

Yes very hard to obtain, I had to make do with Premium Economy which was actually really good when compared to other airlines e.g. Singapore Airlines.

 

[iamsuperandrew]

I have realised that there is less and less CI J seats on QFF

 

[aspro2]

Well this is bad news! I just noticed in another thread someone was trying to book seats back from NRT and the latest released seats were only one and not 2 per flight.

I just returned from a trip to and from Japan via Taipei. I was so impressed by their product. I was hoping to book again for sometime next year but maybe that’s going to be more problematic with these apparent changes

Really remember to check alternative ports, cos MEL does seem to fare worse, for instance. Not sure whether the SYD/BNE flights are generally better or if it's just lucky them when I've looked.

 

[mx838383]

I managed to grab 2 J and 2 PE for family trip in late August 2025 departing Mel. I saw as much as 4 PE available. There are only a handful of 2XJ for late November (maybe 2-3 dates) when I last looked this morning but it does look like it’s drying up. Last year when I looked (not booked) there were heaps of availability.

 

[Hadun]

For BNE & SYD <> TPE it looks like CI silently reduced J rewards on QFF to 1x sometime ago? Even Y has been cut down to a single seat for BNE, while SYD and MEL both currently still have 5x available daily.

Either way a pity that you now need to book 350+ days ahead for a medium distance destination like Taiwan.

Have there ever been examples where the partner airline later reversed reward availability cuts?

 

[iamsuperandrew]

Has anyone come across any CI MEL -AKL reward seats in J?

 

[Hadun]

Has anyone come across any CI MEL -AKL reward seats in J?

Seems to be all just the 4x daily QF15X flights? Even for non-J.

 

[iamsuperandrew]

Seems to be all just the 4x daily QF15X flights? Even for non-J.

Thats exactly what I saw nothing in economy even

 

[jsoprano]

I am very lucky in that I secured two J rewards on MEL-TPE for next May very early on. But I was then still looking for onwards flights ideally to cough, KIX or NGO. While availability on QFF for TPE-Japan had dried up loooong ago, there was still good availability in both Y and J on KHH-KIX (and a few others), and as I was staying in Taiwan for a few days anyway I didn't mind the idea of a side trip to Kaohsiung. But at some point a few weeks ago, from one day to another: all gone. Like someone flicked a switch. Frustrating.

Have now grabbed two awards with CX on the nonstop TPE-NGO, that'll work as well. But they are also far and few between by the looks of it.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Disappointing to see CI availability evaporate. I enjoy flying with them.

 

[MelbFlyer]

It seems as though CI business rewards availability apart from within Asia, has almost dried up / more seats are not being released.

Almost nothing going to / from the US or Australia for the next year (unless they've already been snapped up).

I've just redeemed a few business class seats from TPE to PVG though - seems that's all that's left!

Nice to have a long haul seat for a 2hr flight though (777-300ER).

 

[sudoer]

Data point: Just booked CI J (TPE-SYD) for a family member using QFF points. Couldn't do seat selection on the CI website or app but was able to via the RJ website.

 

[aspro2]

Data point: Just booked CI J (TPE-SYD) for a family member using QFF points. Couldn't do seat selection on the CI website or app but was able to via the RJ website.

You weren't able to on QFF's site itself? I was able to for a few flights just a few weeks ago.

 

[mx838383]

You weren't able to on QFF's site itself? I was able to for a few flights just a few weeks ago.

Same I could do via qantas manage booking. CI app and website didn’t work for me.

 

[sudoer]

You weren't able to on QFF's site itself? I was able to for a few flights just a few weeks ago.

You know what - I didn't even bother looking at QFF, just assumed it wasn't possible. But sure enough, it is doable through the QFF site.

 

[Hadun]

You know what - I didn't even bother looking at QFF, just assumed it wasn't possible. But sure enough, it is doable through the QFF site.

Distinctly remember it didn't used to be possible years back? And then even China Airlines removed it from their own website for Qantas bookings for some strange reason and had to resort to doing it through Czech Airlines instead.

 

[sudoer]

Yep that was my recollection also!

 

[Yoz]

Am I missing something or does China Airlines not allow any bookings on CI57 (TPE-MEL) ?

Using FlightSeats I can see:

• MEL-TPE on CI58
• SYD-TPE on CI52
• TPE-SYD on CI51

However, notably lacking is CI57 TPE-MEL across all the classes?

Was hoping for PE return on CI58/57 but that plan seems thwarted.