How best to book an award ticket?

[calgarychris]

Hi,

I have to book 2 of the unicorn tickets...Australia to US. Specifically, MEL to MIA. My wife and I are not too terribly fussed with how we get there, except that we'd prefer J. I've mapped out the possible 1 and 2 stop permutations, but did have a few questions:

1. How many days out can you book? I'm looking at late March 2019 (probably 25th or 26th?)
2. If you're looking at booking 355 days out (or whatever Asia Miles allows), how do you book the outbound flights without the return? Or are you best to book the outbound and return (a few days later) and then look to fix the return when your actual return dates fall within the 355 days?
3. If you do book the return, is the change fee $100?
4. If you want to change the routing or carrier, can you pay a fee or do you have to cancel, release the seats and then rebook?
5. Anyone know whether something is going on with Qatar MEL-DOH - I've looked and cannot see any J space at any point in 2019 which seems odd?

Thanks everyone!
C

 

[Franky]

5. Anyone know whether something is going on with Qatar MEL-DOH - I've looked and cannot see any J space at any point in 2019 which seems odd?

Thanks everyone!
C

Same for Perth all this year as well..

 

[wandering_fred]

Same for Perth all this year as well..

While this deals with "cash" tickets I think it can be carried forward to awards as well. Though with advance notice PEY awards/upgrades can sometimes be found HKG-PER.

I randomly look at CMB-PER tickets on CX and am amazed at the number of times the preferred options are via MEL with a QF connection into PER. I should note that I find it more economical to route CMB-KUL-DPS in business and use Jetstar Max into PER. One of the few ways to now get into PER in daylight hours and get reasonable SC earn. Pity CX does not have a PEY cabin into CMB.....

Happy wandering
Fred