Help request for Award Booking

[casanovawa]

Hey, just found this site tonight and so far lots of good/interesting information i've seen on it. I do have to confess on this thread people use lots of acronyms that i can't work out (WP, etc).

Anyway, i am thinking of using my QF frequent flyers points to book flights from Perth through to Chicago on the 19th April and I am thinking i will choose QF11 to get from Syd - LAX.

I have never really considered the different classes when booking travel before, if i book a FF ticket on this flight, what class will i be assigned to? Is there anyway I should book/choose a seat that might benefit me in terms of getting a spare seat next to me or possibility of upgrades? I am a lowly bronze FF so probably not, but thought I would ask as people here seem to know all about it, even if i can't understand what they are talking about...

I don't know if anyone can tell me how many FF seats are left on this flight and how quickly i need to book it and how booked out the flight will be?

I have lots more questions, but that will probably do for now... any help would be great...

 

[Boris spatsky]

As a Platinum (that's WP , I can see plenty of economy Classic Award seats available. But I may be able to see far more than you can access because of my status. The flights go via SYD then LAX to Chicago (LAX-ORD on American). 64000 pts one way, no availability in business. Seats also available via Tokyo, Hong Kong and Melbourne.

You need to login to your account and clicxk on the Award Bookings tab to search yourself.

Try searching the forums for the explanation of acronyms, and for other help.

Award seats are available 353 days out from the flight date so I doubt your chances are very good with only a few months to go being a Bronze

Good luck.

 

[markis10]

Welcome to AFF, there is a thread that has a decode of the language/abbreviations used, you will find it helpful.

In terms of award flights, the issue you will have is working out how may seats are left, QF fare classes are listed below, and a website like expertflyer will give you an idea of the numbers available, for instance on the flight you mentioned:

QF 11 SYD 04/19/11 F9 A9 P0 J9 C9 D9 I9 U0 W9 R9 T9 Z0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O0 G0 X8 E0

That would indicate that there are 8 economy seats left but some of these may be held for high status passengers who have better availability as part of their benefits, so its really a maximum number and does not mean you have 8 chances to snare a seat.

 

[serfty]

...

QF 11 SYD 04/19/11 F9 A9 P0 J9 C9 D9 I9 U0 W9 R9 T9 Z0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O0 G0 X8 E0

That would indicate that there are 8 economy seats left but some of these may be held for high status passengers who have better availability as part of their benefits, so its really a maximum number and does not mean you have 8 chances to snare a seat.

Actually, X8 returned from ExpertFlyer generally indicates that Qantas are prepared to 'sell' up to 8 economy award seats on this flight to "anyone".

My experiences as a WP is that economy award availability may show for me on Qantas.com even though E/F is showing X0.