Classic Award flight availability on Qantas - why so poor?

[smckay]

This has probably been done to death so apologies.

In the last 2 years I have booked 2 x J Award RTW trips (280,000 points deal) and struggled to find QF flights. There are plenty of Cathay seats, some BA and a few EK.

Last year we went SYD-FRA and LHR-SYD and could only get QF on the way back (and were told we go the only 2 seats that day) whilst we took the CX option to FRA (via Melbourne).
This time we are going SYD-LHR then JFK-SYD, and we are not on any QF plane (except for SYD-BNE to catch the CX). The list from go to whoa is QF, CX, BA, AA, CX. However, that took me 6 hours to arrange and book which is a fair chunk of daylight.

The issue is - is this normal for Qantas to have so little rewards seats on offer, or as you rise up the food chain there are more choices? I am low in status but high in points. I don't understand why you can get a flight on another carrier much easier than your host FF program. To me, that's sending your customer to your opposition where they can be swayed to keep going back.

Whilst I don't mind - I get to travel with 4 different carriers and can experience much more it's something that got me wondering as I changed cities and dates incessantly.

Interesting to see if the higher status folks get more choice.

 

[andye]

Multiple reasons including:
High proportion of population collecting FF points
Relatively few QF Int destinations (compared to BA say-and BAEC members complain biterly too)
US has a lot of points in the system and QF the main TPAC option for redeemers.

WP can get extra Classic awards released-success reports variable

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The issue is - is this normal for Qantas to have so little rewards seats on offer, or as you rise up the food chain there are more choices? I am low in status but high in points. I don't understand why you can get a flight on another carrier much easier than your host FF program. To me, that's sending your customer to your opposition where they can be swayed to keep going back.

With the exception of international economy awards, and domestic economy and business class awards, the QFFF program is heavily weighted in favour of elite status members. This ranges from additional seats being released by phone for platinum members and above, and much better access to upgrades.

If you want qantas premium travel, you really need to book right when the window opens (353 days).

 

[smckay]

Thanks. As I suspected.

Luckily I have been able to book maximum times ahead and just glad I have been able to score seats. Next 2 trips are South America and then Norway so will be busy on the laptop in about 400 and 800 days
From the availability of flights LHR-JFK if BA peeps moan they really need to get out more, from what I have seen.

 

[Princess Fiona]

From the availability of flights LHR-JFK if BA peeps moan they really need to get out more, from what I have seen.

I agree. Just booked two F seats on BA using QFF points JFK-LHR-GLA for Feb 2016 and the availability was wide open (this was for Feb) even better availability for J.

 

[Aus ATC]

I agree. Just booked two F seats on BA using QFF points JFK-LHR-GLA for Feb 2016 and the availability was wide open (this was for Feb) even better availability for J.

Similar here - recently booked 2 x 280k One World award flights, with nothing on Qantas. Not for want of trying, just nothing available (except for the "! your flight from xx_ to yyy will be in economy")

 

[smckay]

Yep, I got sick of seeing the exclamation mark too. 6 hours I searched. LHR-JFK all 4 coloured seats, every day.....
Out of Sydney = naff all some times even in economy