Classic rewards online bronze v platinum

[Mrsfefe]

Just wondering if I’m missing something. My daughter and her partner wish to fly to Tokyo in Dec, 2022, returning Jan, 2023. They wanted business classic rewards. They don’t have many points, I have lots. They are bronze, I am platinum.

In December, when the departure flight they wanted became available online, there were no online classic reward business flights available. I called up the helpline, and as platinum and for the first time this has ever worked for me, I was able to get seats released and booked for them.

This week the return flights opened, and again no flights online, and no luck with calling up. However the next day and every day since, my bronze daughter has seen classic reward business flights available, on QF website, but JL metal, and I still can’t see anything.

She has now booked, ticketed and seat selected her return flight online ( we did a family point transfer) and I still can’t see any availability on my platinum profile.

Is there a trick I’m missing?

 

[sudoer]

Is there a trick I’m missing?

Try using the multi-city search, the regular booking engine has a habit of not always showing all partner airline options.

If you are based outside SYD/MEL, this also allows you to enter the connecting domestic QF leg separately which should provide further award options.

 

[RichardMEL]

I would try clearing cache/cookies too as a thought and/or a different browser. It doesn't make a lot of sense no but I wonder if something weird might be going on there.

 

[jbman]

I have seen of late do a search then see the calendar, then click on a date, the entire calendar resets and only shows one class and different dates. This has been mainly for QR flights.

I have also seen JL flights come and go from the calendar during the search.

When in doubt try BA.com and see if you see anything else for that same day

 

[Matt_01]

It doesn't make a lot of sense no but I wonder if something weird might be going on there.

We are talking about QF

 

[RichardMEL]

We are talking about QF

my bad. I did forget the usual "Consistently Inconsistent(TM)"

 

[Mrsfefe]

Thanks everyone your help. The generosity to help on this forum is wonderful. In that spirit, I am sucking up my embarrassment at making such a rookie error, to show what I did wrong, in case it helps someone else!

As my dear daughter patiently explained ( cue eye roll), it isn’t enough to search with “ use points”, that just gets you this result




You then need to flick the “Rewards only” toggle, and it gets you this result,



Mystery solved, can’t blame Qantas for that one.

These seats were not available at the time of my phone call, so also shows it pays to keep checking.

 

[sudoer]

Mystery solved, can’t blame Qantas for that one.

You can, Qantas has deliberately made it difficult to find classic awards in the hope that less knowledgeable QFF members will pay 10x the number of points for a business class flight. It's a recent change and absolutely scummy IMO.

 

[RichardMEL]

I tend to agree with sudoer. It's complicated when it doesn't need to be.

Another airline I use from time to time (well used to) has a simple check button that is something like "Book Award Travel" or whatever and that's all that is required. simples.

QF makes it difficult and I think to a certain extent is to push some into the points+pay type model for revenue seats rather than so called "classic" rewards. This in turn leads to people claiming award prices have gone up by so much because they're looking at the wrong thing.

imo

 

[Lynda2475]

A little off topic, but what is a "Business Kangaroo" fare shown in the screenshot above?

 

[sudoer]

what is a "Business Kangaroo" fare shown in the screenshot above?

It's an ex-Japan fare for marketing to Japanese tourists, I believe the fare rules are effectively the same as what we know as the Business Saver.

 

[SYD]

View attachment 269917

A little off topic, but what is a "Business Kangaroo" fare shown in the screenshot above?

Apparently not Skippy in a pant suit!

 

[djkelly69]

Mystery solved, can’t blame Qantas for that one.

Still doesn't explain why they couldn't find any seats when you called up??

 

[Mrsfefe]

I did enquire specifically about the direct JL flight 51, HND- SYD. I had Hobart on the line, but by that point in the call we had spent ages and tried all the possible QF metal options, and there did seem to be some weariness setting in for both of us. Having said that, my daughter didn’t notice availability online either until the next day, so I assume I was just a bit too early with my call. I had later that night noticed “ I” bucket availability on JL 51 on Expert Flyer, and thought it odd that it wasn’t an option, but assumed I just had it wrong. Next time a HUACA may be in order.