So here is my history of rewards bookings.
I am a humble un-frequent flyer with currently silver status, thanks to double status credits.
In the past 5 years I have booked 3 RTW trips (Thanks AFFF, you showed me how to do it) all in J and within time frames we wanted using the 280K 'scam'
As has been posted, you cannot expect to have flights available on the day you want to fly to where you want to fly. I have spent many hours with a pad and pencil, looking up routings and connections and getting annoyed.
However, if you are smart you can do it. The last trip we took was SYD-HKG-FRA-AMS-LHR-HKG-SYD and we managed to do that without a QF plane.
Next trip is SYD-DFW-BTR-ATL-LHR-DUB-LHR-HKG-SYD. Ireland was an add on because to make the 280,000 reward terms we needed to go that way. But you know what? I don't mind spending a week in Ireland.
Few things I have found:
- You have to book as soon as the reward window opens. For me, I think thats 350-odd days out.
- QF are are hard to get rewards seats in J. Our next SYD-DFW trip was originally SYD-BNE-LAX-DFW but after booking I checked the QF website everyday at 10am for direct flights; lo and behold 2 seats popped up and I grabbed them. Cost 5,000 points each but believe me, when we landed in DFW at 11.00pm after travelling for over 30 hours those 5,000 points would be nothing.
- Don't book one leg for long haul. Our next return is BA LHR-HKG and QF HKG-SYD. Sure it's a 4 hour stopover but I get lounge access, a shower and a bit of a change.
- In 4 flights we have only ever got 1 LHR-SYD J reward flight for two of us. Lucky
- Our current trip I saw the HKG-SYD QF flight which the call centre lady thought I should not be, but I talked myself into it by describing the booking and details fully. She put me into it, but maybe that's because I am insistent and it was easier to do that to get me off her line
The RTW deal does lock you into awkward dates, but so far we have managed to have the time we wanted and it's not been hard. Our current trip is 5 weeks, which is a week longer than we usually do and that's simply because we had to work around rewards availability.
BUT if I were going to book hoping to be somewhere at 10am on the 12th then I'd pay cash and take the seat.
The QF system does not appear to have the reward seat availability of others - recall the 7 leg flight to Frankfurt without one QF plane in site - and I do laugh that a business would willingly give business to another company. I now know that CX has expresso made to order in J, BA J is cough seating and AA give you Tom and Jerry's ice cream but QF A380 massage seats are a welcome feature. QF cabin crew are the best out there (or maybe I am just missing home after 3-4 weeks away)
I spend probably a good few days researching flight, legs and times but when I realise I have just booked a $30,000 retail trip for a couple of big ones and some (easy to get for me) points I like it.
Like I tell my friends, once you turn left you cannot turn right.
And the SMS system is just utter, total, complete shiite. Like someone said, a billion dollar company with a $3.50 website. I've always found the call centres to be excellent, but as a QF Club member maybe I get the business half of the room and they treat you better.