Is booking rewards flights always this difficult?

[Quickstatus]

I agree!

Been trying for weeks to redeem points on a family Vacation....

Managed to get 2 seats Mel-SFO and return LAX-MEL in business BUT I need three!

No amount of discussion regarding:
Been QFF for 20+ years
Over 1 million FF points
Lifetime SC 30,000+
Platinum continually for last 16+ years

Seems to budge them

Tried pulling at heart strings:
Ads with Qantas bringing families together etc, but don't do it in real life etc

The operator was very sympathetic, but NO GO.

Asked her to escalate with her supervisor, but he/she said no too.

Told to buy a ticket $11,000!
or
Told to travel in lesser class

don't they get we all wish to travel together?

Apparently only if the super cheap fare is available in that class, will they relaase FF seats - I can see plenty of seats available, but they refuse to release one more seat


Any advice how I can succeeded in getting my third seat?

There is no physical way for the person you speak to, or their supervisor, or their supervisor to actually unlock the seats. If the seats are not avail, then its not avail.
What are your flight date. Can check loadings with someone with an Expertflyer.com subscription.
Post a request here:Flight Availability/Loadings & Upgrade Probability Help Desk

 

[CaptJCool]

This is IMHO is hilarious. Amazing how people convince themselves that they flying in completely the WRONG direction to another country, spending HOURS extra in transit and PAYING extra for the privilege is really worth it. More savvy people would spend more time in the countries they actually want to be in and and certainly spend less. Guess some just love being in the air.

I'm not scoffing at these decisions though, each to their own. It's their points at the end of the day and by flying to NZ and using rare QF FF business class inventory, it leaves increased SQ availability for me

Just my 2c, but the EK and QR business class product leave QF for dust. I can certainly understand why you would prefer using QF FF on either of those carriers.

For people in the QFF this is reality.

10,000,000 Aussie members on maybe 1-2 F seats per flight PER DAY shared also with BA, AA, EK.....

Unless you wish to book 350 days out, you need resort to innovative routings.

Do you propose we waste points on toasters?

BESIDES this is a frequent flyer forum, And Auckland or Perth are lovely cities. And with friends and family there perfect. So yea, keep burning the idea. Just means more availability at late notice FOR the small group who take that path

And if it’s the difference between getting to use the points or burning toast on my new QF STORE toaster, perhaps you might be interested in buying a block on. The Moon....

 

[JennyMG]

Yes, all dates for airline travel will be in the future.

Availability is often an issue (phantoms notwithstanding). However, not sure how you were able to book flights that are not yet released. Was this some sort of system glitch?

No, it wasn’t. You can do it all the time.
Using the booking calendar, ticking the flexible with dates checkbox gives you a look into the ‘future’ - dates for which flights are not yet released, which you can book. - but you shouldn’t be able to.

 

[DC3]

... not sure how you were able to book flights that are not yet released. Was this some sort of system glitch?

No, it wasn’t. You can do it all the time.
Using the booking calendar, ticking the flexible with dates checkbox gives you a look into the ‘future’ - dates for which flights are not yet released, which you can book. - but you shouldn’t be able to.

During the QF award booking process, clicking on "Flexible with dates" will show availability up to 353 days out. This is normal. These seats can be booked.

Edit: A known issue of phantom availability will not allow the booking to be completed.

 

[rock86]

During the QF award booking process, clicking on "Flexible with dates" will show availability up to 353 days out. This is normal. These seats can be booked.

Edit: There is a known issue of phantom availability. However, this will not allow the booking to be completed.

Phantom availability is only really an issue on partner awards though isn't it?

 

[DC3]

Phantom availability is only really an issue on partner awards though isn't it?

The QF website has shown me phantom availability for (international) QF flights, allowing me to get to the final stage of booking, which then doesn't allow the process to complete because the award seats don't exist.

 

[rock86]

The QF website has shown me phantom availability for (international) QF flights, allowing me to get to the final stage of booking, which then doesn't allow the process to complete because the award seats don't exist.

Ahh rito, well I have just seen a batch of awards released for Oz to US and was looking at probably changing my flights for BNE(J)-SYD-LAX(F) rather then spending an extra half day in the air (although it is EK F - blasphemy I know!!!) - although I'm thinking the calendar is now too good to be true and may be phantom. Will see in a few hours I guess!

 

[Dr Ralph]

Phantom availability is only really an issue on partner awards though isn't it?

No.

 

[rock86]

No.

I'll let you know if it is in this situation in a few hrs

 

[Dr Ralph]

I'll let you know if it is in this situation in a few hrs

Things always change. But I can guarantee it has been an issue in the past.

 

[DC3]

Ahh rito, well I have just seen a batch of awards released for Oz to US and was looking at probably changing my flights for BNE(J)-SYD-LAX(F) rather then spending an extra half day in the air (although it is EK F - blasphemy I know!!!) - although I'm thinking the calendar is now too good to be true and may be phantom. Will see in a few hours I guess!

I'm seeing a definite misconnect lately between award availability on the QF website and EF, SYD to the USA. Maybe an EF issue, but not sure.

 

[Pleb Status]

For people in the QFF this is reality.

10,000,000 Aussie members on maybe 1-2 F seats per flight PER DAY shared also with BA, AA, EK.....

Unless you wish to book 350 days out, you need resort to innovative routings.

For QFF members, may be paying far more to be inconvenienced is a reality. But it does not have to be...

Other FF programs can offer (far?) better premium award availability whilst using less points and charging substantially less in surcharges.

Instead of 'self moderating' and 'sheparding the flock' as the unpaid apologists of QFF, AFF should be leading the calls for change to QFF to at least match other FF program availability. This is seen as such a safe space for QFF they cannot even be bothered to actively monitor it any more.

If QFF are willing to sell the points, they need to ensure the award availability to redeem the same points. A blanket increase in premium redemption costs, with no measurable or enforceable increase in premium award availability, just shows the contempt QFF has for their 'customers'.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Self moderating does not equal being a qantas apologist.

Self moderating means a forum has no rules, and no moderators. It means ‘enter at your peril’ because there could be personal attacks, trolling, or any other behaviour that is prohibited on moderated forums. It does not mean a forum has differing views giving both sides to an argument.

AFF is not self moderating. But we do have a huge collective experience which helps us provide advice to people with problems (or those just wanting to vent ). Being able to offer an explanation about why something happened (or didn’t), or to manage expectations of outcomes or compensation, does not make us self moderating.

 

[CaptJCool]

For QFF members, may be paying far more to be inconvenienced is a reality. But it does not have to be...

Other FF programs can offer (far?) better premium award availability whilst using less points and charging substantially less in surcharges.

Instead of 'self moderating' and 'sheparding the flock' as the unpaid apologists of QFF, AFF should be leading the calls for change to QFF to at least match other FF program availability. This is seen as such a safe space for QFF they cannot even be bothered to actively monitor it any more.

If QFF are willing to sell the points, they need to ensure the award availability to redeem the same points. A blanket increase in premium redemption costs, with no measurable or enforceable increase in premium award availability, just shows the contempt QFF has for their 'customers'.

Point well made!

And looks like more secrets are out in the open

Save Hundreds on Emirates First Class Awards to Europe

If you've ever tried to redeem your Qantas Frequent Flyer points to fly Emirates Business or First Class to Europe, you've probably been shocked by the amount of extra taxes and carrier charges payable.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

I gather UA PROGRAM is by far and away the best miles redemption program?

With Alaska good for Aust - US

And AA PERFECT for Aust - Europe....

The variables are cost per mile and cost of exchange rate, and cost of credit card conversion fees versus cost of redemption and ACTUAL availability. So I gather when US$1 = A$1 the cost was pretty low!

The new variable looming is dynamic pricing which is a bit like the excessive points plus pay arrangements

But I suppose what do we expect of a share traded airline who want to make profit on every step of the process. Profit when you buy points and multiple profits when you redeem (particularly if it involves a foreign currency exchange)

 

[Lynda2475]

ive been trying to book award seats all morning, it lets me select flights, enter passenger and contact details but when I select continue i get the following error



waiting on hold as got no response to sms help. already been disconencted once as at various points it keeps asking you to verify that you want to wait on hold and the numbers are different every time.

 

[Jacques Vert]

A longshot; but while you are waiting on hold for the next hour or two, try doing it on a different browser. Has worked for me on (rare) occasions.

Good luck.

 

[Lynda2475]

Have tried both Chrome and Internet Explorer on laptop. And Chrome and samsung browsers on my tablet - same error on all devices.

I have previously booked classic rewards using chrome without issue, so pretty sure its a Qantas problem.

 

[MathNerd]

I have this weird desire to walk in to AJ's office with a fistful of points, a medium complexity multi-city biz class, non-Jetstar, international itinerary for two, ask him to book it online for me, and sit there passively watching over his shoulder enjoying the show.

If I ever get the chance I'll video it and post it here...

This made me laugh out loud. Just what I need on a Thursday afternoon while dreaming about flying to somewhere more warm.

 

[rock86]

ive been trying to book award seats all morning, it lets me select flights, enter passenger and contact details but when I select continue i get the following error

View attachment 179528

waiting on hold as got no response to sms help. already been disconencted once as at various points it keeps asking you to verify that you want to wait on hold and the numbers are different every time.

I'm currently on the line trying to change an award booking after getting a call back, like pulling teeth. Seeing if there is 'real' QF F availability that I saw online, yes there is. Ok can I change my current EK flights then to these please, "no you still have have EK in your itinerary", ahhhh no I do not.

 

[Lynda2475]

So after an hour i got through to a very helpful agent who waived the fees as agreed i couldn't book online.

My intention was to book J seat SYD-HKG 9 (QF) and HKG-CPH (EK); and then call back in a couple of weeks to do my return leg hoping more seats opened up.

When asked about return i explained i couldn't find a way home in J, I mentioned having checked coming home from HEL via HKG/BKK/SIN/NRT/HND/ADL etc, she offered to take a look and came back with HEL-DOA-SIN (QR), have to spend a night in SIN which is fine and then SIN-SYD (BA). Not a fan of BA having flown them to SIN before in Y, but J has to be better. So I booked it all in.

Hope it is all ok when ticket comes through - the reason i like to book online is so I have all the flight numbers and times etc.

interestly i asked about adding in a Y flight from VNO-HEL and the taxes would have gone up by $300 which is the same price as buying that flight and earning points - so i told her not to add it.

Feel like I've had a huge win, as just earned Gold last month (first time ever), but due to changes in travel policy at work and fact i now have a PE Classic Reward in Dec and a J Classic Reward in June/July accounting for majority of travel in next 12 months I may not even qualify for silver (m FF year is Aug-July).

FYI still no word from the SMS help which is supposed to be quicker.