Classic Award seats in First Class - 1 free but I need 2

[hayden]

So I've decided I'm going to make use of my FF points that I've accrued over the last 10 years (I've only redeemed points once before... an upgrade from J to F) but it seems to be a bit of a mission to find seats that I want. I'm looking at heading over to Europe next year and I can easily find 1 seat on flights, but I require 2 seats since I wont be travelling alone. I'd like to fly the whole trip in F.

I've seen people mention in the past that being Platinum you are able to request a seat be released for redemption as an unpublished benefit - is this on a "if you are lucky they will allow it" basis , or is there some logic behind when they will let it happen? i.e. if there are 4x first class seats still free they will release another one but if there is only 2 left you wouldn't have a chance?

I'm also trying to make it happen on the a380 if possible which makes it that little bit harder again. (my last upgrade was meant to be on a a380 but at the last minute it was substituted for a 747 so surely it cant happen a 2nd time!!)

Any tips on what to say to the agent that may help my case?

 

[TheInsider]

You'll have to give sales a call and see what they can do, although you will have to pay the assistance fee.

 

[simongr]

If you can see A class availability you might get that released after a call to the platinum line. You will have to pay the fee but 2500 on top of the award cost is tiny!

 

[hayden]

If you can see A class availability you might get that released after a call to the platinum line. You will have to pay the fee but 2500 on top of the award cost is tiny!

Looks like there is plenty of A so I'll try my chances with that. 2500 isnt much to burn when its so difficult to get 2 seats.

thanks

Hayden

 

[serfty]

It's 6000 QFF points or $60 per passenger for international flight bookings these days ...

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

 

[hayden]

It's 6000 QFF points or $60 per passenger for international flight bookings these days ...

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

Thanks serfty.

So hard to get these seats, trying to find flights with 1 is hard but 2 is next to impossible. I wonder how I'd go asking them to release 2 seats

 

[hayden]

So an update - I just got off the phone to Qantas, they said being a Platinum FF they are more than happy to release seats when they can. They weren't able to release 1 seat for me on the day I wanted on the a380 (where I could find 1 free myself) , however the day before they could release 2 seats for me on the same flight (QF1 SYD-LHR).

Basically the process was they log it into the system as a request and a response comes back within 1-2 minutes. Not sure if the system is automated or they pick up the phone to ring another dept. but it was very easy.

Overall 5x first class flights booked for 2 people and seats sorted in around 15 minutes - fantastic service.


Hayden

 

[rockyroad]

So an update - I just got off the phone to Qantas, they said being a Platinum FF they are more than happy to release seats when they can. They weren't able to release 1 seat for me on the day I wanted on the a380 (where I could find 1 free myself) , however the day before they could release 2 seats for me on the same flight (QF1 SYD-LHR).

Basically the process was they log it into the system as a request and a response comes back within 1-2 minutes. Not sure if the system is automated or they pick up the phone to ring another dept. but it was very easy.

Overall 5x first class flights booked for 2 people and seats sorted in around 15 minutes - fantastic service.


Hayden

Good to hear. Thanks for keeping us informed.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I have been advised by QF premium desk, and has been my personal experience looking at the GDS, that only one seat in P class (F award) is ever released on any one flight IF ANY :shock:.

I have noted that in many cases on popular A380 routes on popular days, none are released.

 

[dfcatch]

I have been advised by QF premium desk, and has been my personal experience looking at the GDS, that only one seat in P class (F award) is ever released on any one flight IF ANY :shock:.

I have noted that in many cases on popular A380 routes on popular days, none are released.

I've seen 2 seats on multiple occasions.

Booked a cpl of seats for my parents as well.

 

[QF029]

I have been advised by QF premium desk, and has been my personal experience looking at the GDS, that only one seat in P class (F award) is ever released on any one flight IF ANY :shock:.

I have noted that in many cases on popular A380 routes on popular days, none are released.

That's not correct. There were 2 seats MEL-LAX in P bucket available last week for April on the A380.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Hope you get the seats!!

I guess this is a case where a Platinum One benefit could be worthwhile.

 

[simongr]

Great result - hoping to use this for 3 J seats to HKG in 2013...

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Apologies, this was specific to the centre of the universe routes (i.e. SYD)

Routes in question were SYD-LAX, SYD-JFK, SYD-LHR IME.

Might just be some Sydney racism due to higher load factors ex SYD than MEL, as I never check out of MEL.

All I ever see ex SYD is P1 or P0