How early in advance do Air France release rewards seats to Qantas FF (for Gold/Plat)?

[nezbit]

How early in advance do Air France release rewards seats to Qantas FF (for Gold/Plat)?

 

[nezbit]

Specifically Business

 

[Port Power]

How early in advance do Air France release rewards seats to Qantas FF (for Gold/Plat)?

I doubt that this can be answered because of the unique nature of the relationship. Just try making a classic reward booking when you need to. I am pretty sure you will have to telephone to book, as I did for a KLM seat. (For that one, there were no reward seats in one direction, but both Y and J were available on the return leg to AMS.)

 

[Must...Fly!]

FWIW I ticketed a booking today for 20 September next year. So it's at least that far ahead. All done online.

Married segments are a huge "feature" of AF/KL awards so keep that in mind if you can't find anything ex France or the Netherlands. Try originating somewhere outside there such as Switzerland/Germany/Spain/Italy.

119,200pts + $421 FCO-xCDG-SIN in J. Search just from CDG (or AMS) and no availability on the long haul. I don't think it represents great value but considering I haven't seen a single premium cabin QF award come up ex-Europe in ages and the dates were right, I bit the bullet and paid up. Plus I guess I can say I flew AF once (and hopefully live to tell the tale).

 

[Port Power]

FWIW I ticketed a booking today for 20 September next year. So it's at least that far ahead. All done online.

Married segments are a huge "feature" of AF/KL awards so keep that in mind if you can't find anything ex France or the Netherlands. Try originating somewhere outside there such as Switzerland/Germany/Spain/Italy.

119,200pts + $421 FCO-xCDG-SIN in J. Search just from CDG (or AMS) and no availability on the long haul. I don't think it represents great value but considering I haven't seen a single premium cabin QF award come up ex-Europe in ages and the dates were right, I bit the bullet and paid up. Plus I guess I can say I flew AF once (and hopefully live to tell the tale).

This is why we come to AFF. Always something to learn. But is your flight paid with points rather than a classic reward?

 

[Must...Fly!]

This is why we come to AFF. Always something to learn. But is your flight paid with points rather than a classic reward?

No, it is most definitely a classic reward.

 

[PERLHR]

I just don't understand why QF are in one world. They seem like a cheap friend. Jump into bed with everyone yet try and get One World seats on points it's hard or expensive. Frankly the best thing for one world would be to see Qantas to the door, and close it behind and bring in Virgin Aus. I think Qatar wants that!

 

[Jack_OC]

I just don't understand why QF are in one world. They seem like a cheap friend. Jump into bed with everyone yet try and get One World seats on points it's hard or expensive. Frankly the best thing for one world would be to see Qantas to the door, and close it behind and bring in Virgin Aus. I think Qatar wants that!

QF was one of the 5 founding airlines of OW, so questioning why they are in OW is kind of odd.

You criticise QF for "jumping in bed with everyone" but QR has just jumped into bed with the biggest competitor to QF in its home market. QR also has partnerships with 6 or 7 other non-OW airlines.

In any case, if VA was going to join any alliance, I think it would have to be *A, given that they already have partnerships with at least 5 *A members (United, SQ, ANA, Air Canada & SAA). It doesn't seem like they have any such plans anyway - in reality I think this would have been more likely 5+ years ago, when VA was a much bigger and better airline than it is now.

 

[PERLHR]

QF was one of the 5 founding airlines of OW, so questioning why they are in OW is kind of odd.

You criticise QF for "jumping in bed with everyone" but QR has just jumped into bed with the biggest competitor to QF in its home market. QR also has partnerships with 6 or 7 other non-OW airlines.

In any case, if VA was going to join any alliance, I think it would have to be *A, given that they already have partnerships with at least 5 *A members (United, SQ, ANA, Air Canada & SAA). It doesn't seem like they have any such plans anyway - in reality I think this would have been more likely 5+ years ago, when VA was a much bigger and better airline than it is now.

Well aware that they were part of the initial members and I should have said don't understand why they remain as they have in many respects moved away from OneWorld. Fair point about Qatar bit obviously I'm sure you are away Qatar are not exactly happy with Qantas on some areas (being polite) and would probably push for Virgin Aus if this new partnership goes well. Qatar are as you know I
am sure quite influential more so in One World these days. Partnering is one thing, but no be
ing able to use in some cases or get points worthy for a founder member of OneWorld is, in my book, not that great. Even with MH you get more points (with BA exec club certainly) than what you get with QF. Just my thoughts.

 

[Jack_OC]

Well aware that the were part of the initial members and I should have said don't understand why they remain as they have in many respects moved away from OneWorld. Fair point about Qatar bit obviously I'm sure you are away Qatar are not exactly happy with Qantas on some areas (being polite) and would probably push for Virgin Aus if this new partnership goes well. Qatar are as you know I am sure quite influential more so in One World these days. Partnering is one thing, but not being able to use in some cases or get points worthy for a founder member of OneWorld is, in my book, not that great. Even with MH you get more points (with BA exec club certainly) than what you get with QF. Just my thoughts.

I'm well aware of the dispute between QF and QR - but it's certainly not all one sided. E.g. QR has been restricting access to reward seats for QFF members for some time, and most recently pretty much removed any access to QR rewards for QFF members.

BTW, as stated in the AFF article on this issue recently, "Interestingly, the Qatar Airways website has already said for years that Qantas domestic flights are ineligible for Privilege Club accrual unless part of an international Qantas or Qatar Airways itinerary". So you should probably ask which airline actually initiated this policy.

Anyway, VA in its current form is not a remotely credible candidate for OW membership. While QR probably would like to see VA replace QF, that is only because of the ongoing spat with QF.

 

[PERLHR]

No matter what QF were appalled when QR in 2018 wanted more Aussie flights and they objected enough for QR to question OneWorld viability. QF hate competition on their door stop. It's obvious to all outside Australia and I assume in Australia also.

 

[Jack_OC]

No matter what QF were appalled when QR in 2018 wanted more Aussie flights and they objected enough for QR to question OneWorld viability. QF hate competition on their door stop. It's obvious to all outside Australia and I assume in Australia also.

I'm genuinely not sure what your point is at this stage. Yes, QF tried to limit QR's attempted further expansion into Australia. Among other things, QF alleged that QR were relying on state aid to sell tickets below cost, and exploiting a loophole in an incentive to use regional airports - by launching a CBR-SYD-DOH route but pretty much only selling seats from SYD-DOH. Incidentally, QR also had a similar dispute with American Airlines around that time, and their CEO publicly threatened to withdraw from OW on multiple occasions (this was just one of them). I'm not sure QF is the outlier here.

In any case, while I gather you don't like QF, in what way do you think VA replacing QF in OW would be an improvement? Aside from VA's limited network and fleet these days, VA doesn't operate any international lounges anymore, even in Australian airports. I doubt if many OW Emeralds would be too happy with swapping the QF F Lounge with whatever third party lounge (if any) VA managed to cut a deal with.