Emirates Redemption on Qantas Classic Awards

[BassDogg]

Hi there! Noobie here with working points, but I have amassed quite a few.
I am heading back from New York to Adelaide with my girlfriend in September, and looking to use my Qantas points to book J class on the way back. I know that trying to get J seats on a QF Qantas Classic award is almost impossible, 'rare as hens teeth' is the phrase most commonly used. But If I look at flights scheduled in April - there is alot of availability on Emirates for J class (and first class). If I go to september, the emirates flights don't even appear.

I am just wondering:
a) do they release the emirates seats/flights alot closer to the date
or
b) am I missing something obvious?

thanks in advance everyone!

 

[cjd600]

try looking multi-city, JFK-DXB, then DXB-ADL/SYD/PER etc, rater than just JFK-SYD/ADL etc
Should be some availability on the first leg...might struggle for 2 though....noted a few Sep dates with 1 F ticket available EK JFK-DXB,but didn't click thru the whole month
Leg from DXB-Oz more problematic

 

[grussellt]

If you are willing to take the transpac route why not try FJ in their new planes :JFK-LAX-NAN-(SYD/BNE)-ADL. It may not be quite the same standard of luxury but availability is better in J. September is a difficult time for awards because of school holidays.

 

[BassDogg]

Thanks for the feedback guys! There is availability in J Emirates JFK - Dubai, but when I search the Australian leg (DXB-ADL/SYD/PER) there are no emirates flights that are being displayed at all. There is only the one qantas flight that departs each monday. It seems that after June 18, qantas stop listing emirates flights to/from Oz (on their awards)

I guess this brings me back to the question of whether or not Qantas list the emirates flights closer to the date? Or if there is something else at play.

Grussellt, there is availability through Fiji. I understand it won't be the same standard, but I assume it is still relatively nice?

 

[grussellt]

I think you could probably survive a trip via Fiji:

Review

If the times are suitable you might even be able to manage an overnight stay.

 

[BassDogg]

yep - I think that I could rough that!!!

Still no luck with the emirates flights in September though.

 

[grussellt]

There are now awards available in J for 2 on EK from JFK to DXB on quite a few days in September but nothing from DXB to ADL. If awards come up for your dates I would grab them ASAP.