Four business class tickets to Italy next June - Help needed please

Mattyana2003 · Jun 19, 2014

Hi,
I have managed to accrue over two million frequent flyer points but have never spent any and I am a lowly bronze member. I want to take the family (2 adults, 3 kids) to Italy next June 2015 school holidays for three weeks, in business class from preferably Brisbane but if not Sydney. I realise this is a big ask to get 5 tix in prime time in business class and may not be do-able so I am wiling to buy one ticket for cash if necessary. It's getting close to the 355 days out for booking and I have to do it soon.
I imagine it is better to book a one way over first and book the return flight three weeks later rather than waiting for the return window to come up three weeks later to book both flights at once.
The problem is when I look on on the Qantas website it's damn near impossible to get even two business class flights one year out, perhaps I am looking too early.
Help will be rewarded and greatly appreciated.

amaroo · Jun 19, 2014

Mattyana2003 said:
Hi,
I have managed to accrue over two million frequent flyer points but have never spent any and I am a lowly bronze member. I want to take the family (2 adults, 3 kids) to Italy next June 2015 school holidays for three weeks, in business class from preferably Brisbane but if not Sydney. I realise this is a big ask to get 5 tix in prime time in business class and may not be do-able so I am wiling to buy one ticket for cash if necessary. It's getting close to the 355 days out for booking and I have to do it soon.
I imagine it is better to book a one way over first and book the return flight three weeks later rather than waiting for the return window to come up three weeks later to book both flights at once.
The problem is when I look on on the Qantas website it's damn near impossible to get even two business class flights one year out, perhaps I am looking too early.
Help will be rewarded and greatly appreciated.

Big ask but not impossible.

Another member managed 6 F/J return tickets to the USA. The trick was splitting the family up over a couple of days, coupled with bookings from both QFF & AA. Good luck.

Agree with booking oneway and then sorting the return 3 weeks later. If you book before end June you might be able to snag JASA.

Mumfreqflyer · Jun 20, 2014

Cx usually release 5 x J seats and 2 x F seats ex Hong Kong to the US/ Europe. Usually only 2 x J from Aus to Hong Kong but then you can split up over premium economy and economy.

That will be your best via rather than Qantas.

Emirates can also have up to 5 x J seats available too.

browski · Jun 21, 2014

Since Qatar Airways fly to both Milan and Rome, you might have more luck with award availability on them. Ex-Perth might be the trick here.

Mattyana2003 · Jun 21, 2014

Auckland10 said:
Cx usually release 5 x J seats and 2 x F seats ex Hong Kong to the US/ Europe. Usually only 2 x J from Aus to Hong Kong but then you can split up over premium economy and economy.

That will be your best via rather than Qantas.

Emirates can also have up to 5 x J seats available too.

Thanks very much for that, in your experience do Emirates usually have 5 X J seats all the way to Europe or only from Dubai to Europe?

puppysparkes · Jun 21, 2014

As a WP I didn't have a lot of luck searching for the same trip BNE - FCO for May/June 2015 2 x J. Getting there is a stretch but doable without 2 children perhaps. Some better routings dropped off the returned search results. I'm guessing they will pop up again at some stage. The return flights want to go via the UK, this is what I got back today:

Hope that helps a little.
[h=2]Your Flights2 Adults

[/h]

Flight 1

From

To

Flight

Travel Class

Award Type

Baggage

Wed 27 May 15

09:05BrisbaneDuration: 11h 00m

18:05Hong KongStops: 1