international from Aust

[NVRENUF]

Just curious

When looking up flights from Perth to say Hawaii or LA etc.

and selecting Business award seats.

How come always the domestic leg in Aus is always scaled back to
economy ?

Tim

 

[esseeeayeenn]

They're not.
It must be an availability issue on the dates you're searching.
I just looked for award seats on Thursday 16 April and while no business seats were available SYD-LAX they were available PER-SYD.

 

[mannej]

Normally it is the other way around!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Take a look and see if the flight linked to that flight to the US, is it a 737?
I live in ADL, where there are no QF flights overseas, and to link to an eastern capital city, I have to take a 737, capacity on those are only 12, where as the 330 has more J seats.
Replier above has a point, saying its due to availability.
QF is also very cunning, because the combo they use to link you from PER to say, SYD, leaves a MCT of say, 2.5hrs, and the plane taking you from PER to SYD would be a 737.
I do see your angst though, seeing that you have the points needed, and its QF doing the dirty, by either limiting seats on the 330 or by putting you onto a 737 linked to the same PNR to that flight to the US.
I tend to go to NZ more so than further afield. Probably when its time to claim my reward, I will be in your shoes!
Edit: OR it could be that they just don't want to put availability on. Prefer to sell those seats!/?
Eg, on a wide body, from PER (flying EK), but as a QF reward, you could fly Y to DXB, and then Y to LAX, they have got availability in Y for a reward seat, but none for a J seat!!!

 

[NVRENUF]

thanks guys.
whats the best way to garentee everything when the time comes.

chatting to Qantas on the phone and booking it all in the best way. Do they look after customers in their interest of points etc etc.

or am I better doing it all my self with help on here. And risking making the all the right choices.

or 3rd

going to a travel agent and getting them to organise everything via points. So someone else is responsible for making it work ?

I am just doing my research now, So i have an idea for when im ready.

 

[CaptJCool]

Yea I live for the day when there are business only rewards in the business column. Not these opaque multi class awards that gouge points from people who don't look at the detail. That said, there appear to be more EK or CX awards than QF. PERHAPS you might grab one of them instead. Qf hardly seems that interested in international loyalty anymore

 

[mannej]

Yea I live for the day when there are business only rewards in the business column. Not these opaque multi class awards that gouge points from people who don't look at the detail. That said, there appear to be more EK or CX awards than QF. PERHAPS you might grab one of them instead. Qf hardly seems that interested in international loyalty anymore

That may have been the case previously (I.e the cost was of the higher care award), but apparently they now charge by the fare on each sector from what has been discussed on here.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Two other options are:
(1) book as a multi-city itinerary, wherein each sector will allow you to choose alternatives; or
(2) go to the other extreme, and book each sector separately.

 

[NVRENUF]

Two other options are:
(1) book as a multi-city itinerary, wherein each sector will allow you to choose alternatives; or
(2) go to the other extreme, and book each sector separately.

Got ya,
so book Perth to sydney return, and book Sydney to international return all as business flights that way ?

is my risk there getting them to join up in time slots ?
and if a flight is delayed making sure they will help ?

also does that mean luggage has to get collected and re put on again ?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

If you book as multi-city, it will all be one PNR so no connection or luggage issues.
If you book separate sectors you have to manage those issues yourself.
ALTHOUGH I have had success persuading QF staff to check luggage through with 2 PNRs.
But there is no guarantee they will do so: tehcnically they shouldn't.
As for connections, if you allow a lot of time to enjoy the lounge between flights the worst that can happen is you miss out on that experience!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Think point 1 if it can be done, ie, acceptable by the QF online booking system, could be the better way to go.
Point 2 can be more expensive, ie, suck more points.
I also note, that for some of those rewards with the exclaimation mark, it only gives you J for the within Australia sector, and the SYD to LAX sector is in Y!
Personally, I would do an overnight or 1.75 days in SYD, even if I have to pay for the discY or whY, different PNR so QF is none the wiser, and then look at SYD to LAX in award J.
This just might get you J cross the pacific one way or return.
Play around with the booking, I don't have enough points to go deeper, but you probably could.
One last thing, and last thing, if you are happy to do it, **some on here says its a very bad ROI (QF FF points being investment), is to do a P+P, where you price it at say, Aud$9xx_, and reduce it by the points you have.
Doing this earns you SC to climb the QF status ladder in the next year, you are NB, status from Au east coast in J can get you easily to PS or SG esp if return J.
Sorry about my waffle, or trash as the Americans call it, ...

 

[NVRENUF]

Sweet thanks.

all the info helps. And makes it confusing haha.
I am just trying to do my research and learn what everything means, Which gives me time before I am in panic mode trying to do it.

 

[BD1959]

Sweet thanks.

all the info helps. And makes it confusing haha.
I am just trying to do my research and learn what everything means, Which gives me time before I am in panic mode trying to do it.

Hi NVRENUF,

When are you looking to travel? If you're really looking for PER-US rtn does it *have* to be on QF?

Regards,

BD

 

[NVRENUF]

Hi , no set dates yet. I just picked as far as calendar would let me choose. No doesn't have to be qf. As long as it's good airline and I can use points open to ideas

 

[BD1959]

Hi , no set dates yet. I just picked as far as calendar would let me choose. No doesn't have to be qf. As long as it's good airline and I can use points open to ideas

What availability do you see for PER-LAX on Feb 15, 2016?

Regards,

BD

 

[Limewood]

Being in PER you'd have to consider the raft of USA arrival city options going on the likes of CX to USA or JL.

We have an award booked, coming back from Europe to OZ, we took QR in J CDG/DOH 2days there, then to PER overnight then on QF J to BNE. One needs to be creative.