Have QF really cut back classic domestic awards or is it just me?

[opusman]

Back in the day (i.e. pre-Covid) I'm sure I could get a classic MEL/ADL award, usually in J but ALWAYS in Y, with a week or two's notice no problem at all.

Looking 3 weeks ahead at the moment for MEL-ADL on a Thursday and other than one red-eye on QF in Y and a few JQ flights, everything else is at "any seat" pricing.

Seems wrong to have to plan travel as mundane as MEL-ADL months ahead just to be able to get an award seat.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Probably Qantas are tightening up award seat availability as they know planes are pretty much at full capacity due to high demand and want to cash in on it - ie. "To hell with our loyal members".

 

[RichardMEL]

Not that this helps you (sorry), but status does. I look at Thu 15th feb, I can see a mix of Y and J CRs on 6 QF nonstop flights (but none between 0805 and 1625)

Plus a bunch of connections via SYD, JQ etc.

So... yeah. Mixed blessings for sure.

 

[funnybrus]

Not that this helps you (sorry), but status does. I look at Thu 15th feb, I can see a mix of Y and J CRs on 6 QF nonstop flights (but none between 0805 and 1625)

Plus a bunch of connections via SYD, JQ etc.

So... yeah. Mixed blessings for sure.

This is the same when not signed in. I've never seen an example of an award seat showing only for status members outside of the early access period.

 

[RichardMEL]

This is the same when not signed in. I've never seen an example of an award seat showing only for status members outside of the early access period.

Interesting. Guess I made a bit of an assumption.

 

[jotalira]

This is the same when not signed in. I've never seen an example of an award seat showing only for status members outside of the early access period.

I think this is actually happening. Me and my friend were trying to book 2 flights in December to Gold Coast and Brisbane and I could see rewards seats for some days (including Business) while he couldn't see any.

I'm Platinum and he's Bronze.

 

[elanshin]

Back in the day (i.e. pre-Covid) I'm sure I could get a classic MEL/ADL award, usually in J but ALWAYS in Y, with a week or two's notice no problem at all.

Looking 3 weeks ahead at the moment for MEL-ADL on a Thursday and other than one red-eye on QF in Y and a few JQ flights, everything else is at "any seat" pricing.

Seems wrong to have to plan travel as mundane as MEL-ADL months ahead just to be able to get an award seat.

2 words Taylor Swift.

Edit: i should elaborate a little.

Her Eras Tour is in Melbourne at the MCG on Feb 16-18.
Sydney at Stadium Australia for 4 days on Feb 23-26.

Expect both Syd and Mel to be highly congested around that period.

 

[drron]

Well that really stinks that NBs have less access to any CR when the flights are less than 297 days away.
That’s not what it says when you read what QF says on it’s website. Complaints should be made.

 

[serfty]

Well that really stinks that NBs have less access to any CR when the flights are less than 297 days away.
That’s not what it says when you read what QF says on it’s website. Complaints should be made.

It is not new. As a WP, i am often offered award seats on Qantas flights when I see none for the same flight on ExpertFlyer (or via a NB account). It has been that way for much of the last decade or more.

 

[Lynda2475]

Well that really stinks that NBs have less access to any CR when the flights are less than 297 days away.
That’s not what it says when you read what QF says on it’s website. Complaints should be made.

Can you post a link to this 297 day rule?

I can see where it says status pax have priority access to awards, but nothing about 297 days out. Given QF drop awards randomly now and not a set number of seats each day as they used to, are you sure this is still a thing?

Also do not think it stinks, given priority access for status pax is a published benefit. NB are not very engaged with the airline, makes sense to favour those that fly more.

And the Tay Tay effect is definitely affecting availability during her tour dates, lots flying in from states where she isn't playing. I'm sure plenty of parents used points to get their kids flights once concert tickets were secured.

 

[encryptededdy]

Haven't had to book this year yet, but second half of last year I was able to get economy SYD<->MEL with no issues on a weeks notice many times. So subjectively no, but maybe something changed since?

 

[elanshin]

It is not new. As a WP, i am often offered award seats when I see none for the same flight on ExpertFlyer (or via a NB account). It has been that way for much of the last decade or more.

Not that this helps you (sorry), but status does. I look at Thu 15th feb, I can see a mix of Y and J CRs on 6 QF nonstop flights (but none between 0805 and 1625)

Plus a bunch of connections via SYD, JQ etc.

So... yeah. Mixed blessings for sure.

For the record. Currently still gold (hopefully plat next week), this is what I see:



Slightly off topic, but this is very much swift-flation in action. All the cash flights around this time are in the "high" category and i expect will reach "very high" shortly.

 

[RichardMEL]

We need to take into account the difference between domestic and international here imo. Since dom works to somewhat different rules, and the pure number of flights etc means more variation is likely.

Is it fair when status pax see more avail? Guess it depends on which side of the fence you sit on. I can see both sides of the argument for sure.

 

[elanshin]

Haven't had to book this year yet, but second half of last year I was able to get economy SYD<->MEL with no issues on a weeks notice many times. So subjectively no, but maybe something changed since?

Taylor Swift is in town

 

[elanshin]

Before we derail this with too much speculation.

1 week earlier feb 8.

This event is purely Taylor Swift being in town and OP unfortunately looking at going to MEL right before her concert.

 

[serfty]

Taylor Swift is in town

... not her "Bother in Law" ... ?

 

[elanshin]

... not her "Bother in Law" ... ?

View attachment 367918

Damn I wouldn't mind seeing sexy batman in town.

 

[serfty]

Damn I wouldn't mind seeing sexy batman in town.

He's worth a bit being a professional NFL Player, but I guess time to get back on topic.

 

[RichardMEL]

Opps I had looked at MEL-A which has plenty of avail (OP had specified MEL/ADL)

For ADL-MEL on feb 15, I see nada also as P1.

Swift indeed

 

[drron]

Can you post a link to this 297 day rule?

I can see where it says status pax have priority access to awards, but nothing about 297 days out. Given QF drop awards randomly now and not a set number of seats each day as they used to, are you sure this is still a thing?

Also do not think it stinks, given priority access for status pax is a published benefit. NB are not very engaged with the airline, makes sense to favour those that fly more.

And the Tay Tay effect is definitely affecting availability during her tour dates, lots flying in from states where she isn't playing. I'm sure plenty of parents used points to get their kids flights once concert tickets were secured.

It is well known that for premium cabin awards they are only available to bronze at 297 days hence I used that as I talked ablot any awards not just Y CRs. For silver it is 323 days.
So the fact that WPs have been seeing close out awards for over 10 years when a bronze member sees nothing is even worse. WPs and WP1s can already request extra awards so why should they have a third bite of the cherry. Once by getting premium cabin awards released earlier. second because they can request awards to be released.
Maybe someone who has experienced this should notify the ACCC.