Is it possible to book one way reward and a cash return fare?

[esseeeayeenn]

This may be a dumb question but recently the booking system has been giving me inconsistent results so I am looking for a definitive answer.
I'm trying to use points on a trip to Europe for my son and I in J.
There are no award seats available but I have found some seats in I class which, as a Platinum Frequent Flyer, I understand I can ask to be released as reward seats and then book as such.
However there is no availability in I class for any return flights at all.
So I can't do my preferred option of booking my son on a return award ticket and booking myself with cash to earn SCs.
Is it possible to book us both on reward seats PER-LHR and then cash seats on the flights back to Perth?
I can't experiment with this as the seats aren't released yet.
And I don't want to bother calling and having the inevitable argument to get the seats released if it will all be in vain.
If I have to book two one way tickets for us back from Europe on any airline it will be so expensive I might as well not use points at all and just fly with another airline!
Thanks in advance.

 

[andye]

This may be a dumb question but recently the booking system has been giving me inconsistent results so I am looking for a definitive answer.
I'm trying to use points on a trip to Europe for my son and I in J.
There are no award seats available but I have found some seats in I class which, as a Platinum Frequent Flyer, I understand I can ask to be released as reward seats and then book as such.
However there is no availability in I class for any return flights at all.
So I can't do my preferred option of booking my son on a return award ticket and booking myself with cash to earn SCs.
Is it possible to book us both on reward seats PER-LHR and then cash seats on the flights back to Perth?
I can't experiment with this as the seats aren't released yet.
And I don't want to bother calling and having the inevitable argument to get the seats released if it will all be in vain.
If I have to book two one way tickets for us back from Europe on any airline it will be so expensive I might as well not use points at all and just fly with another airline!
Thanks in advance.

In short, no.
Assuming a one-way Y trip all the way is unpalatable, I'd be looking at getting back to an Asian port on a OW partner (maybe even using the ticket as the first half of a One-World Classic award*) and getting a cheap one-way Y from there.

*E.g Fly PER-LHR-CDG-DOH-SIN would leave you with 18000 miles to play with on a future trip starting from SIN and back to PER within the same year. Howver, the OWCA is having call-centre problems with adding flights at the moment so would have to do your due diligence

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Thanks I suspected as much but the booking system was playing with me and allowing me to select mixed fare types - and then deselecting them later in the booking process.
Happily now I cleared a "OneWorld Only" filter I hadn't noticed was checked in Google Flights, I found some cheap business class one way fares home with Oman Air and either Thai or Malaysian (or Malindo Air but let's not even go there).
So I might try to get QF to release the two reward seats PER-LHR and try out Oman Air on the flight home!
Would be nice to have a day in Muscat.

 

[RichardMEL]

A note that while one can request seat release if I class (for example) sows as available, it does not automatically mean they WILL be released. Just keep that in mind.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Happily now I cleared a "OneWorld Only" filter I hadn't noticed was checked in Google Flights, I found some cheap business class one way fares home with Oman Air and either Thai or Malaysian (or Malindo Air but let's not even go there).
So I might try to get QF to release the two reward seats PER-LHR and try out Oman Air on the flight home!

Oman Air do not fly to AU (or even SIN) So would be MH (Oneworld) or TG (Star) for the last segment

Oman Air - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

List of Oman Air destinations - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Oman Air are to join Oneworld--->Oman Air to join oneworld

 

[SYD]

In short, no.
Assuming a one-way Y trip all the way is unpalatable, I'd be looking at getting back to an Asian port on a OW partner (maybe even using the ticket as the first half of a One-World Classic award*) and getting a cheap one-way Y from there.

*E.g Fly PER-LHR-CDG-DOH-SIN would leave you with 18000 miles to play with on a future trip starting from SIN and back to PER within the same year. Howver, the OWCA is having call-centre problems with adding flights at the moment so would have to do your due diligence

That’s not entirely correct. Some routes it is possible to mix and match points (classic reward) and pay. It can even be done online if the route allows it.

It’s a handy strategy during a “sale” (remember those?) that goes out to the date new award seats are released. Pay the outbound and snag the return on points as it’s released. Now trying to catch the unicorn J awards is tough, but here’s a whY example I prepared earlier. Someone else can confirm if QF can do the same over the phone - ie release award and pay one way.

 

[andye]

That’s not entirely correct. Some routes it is possible to mix and match points (classic reward) and pay. It can even be done online if the route allows it.

It’s a handy strategy during a “sale” (remember those?) that goes out to the date new award seats are released. Pay the outbound and snag the return on points as it’s released. Now trying to catch the unicorn J awards is tough, but here’s a whY example I prepared earlier. Someone else can confirm if QF can do the same over the phone - ie release award and pay one way.View attachment 292108

You live and learn. Sorry for incorrect info

 

[encryptededdy]

Someone else can confirm if QF can do the same over the phone - ie release award and pay one way.

I've tried this before but it's only ever confused the agent (usually results in them quoting me some points plus pay price). To be fair this was when I was silver and talking to Cape Town or Fiji. I'd expect Hobart to be able to do it. If someone does get it done I'd be interested in hearing the conditions under which a booking like this is allowed. I assume it's not allowed under a multi-city, for one.

 

[SYD]

I've tried this before but it's only ever confused the agent (usually results in them quoting me some points plus pay price). To be fair this was when I was silver and talking to Cape Town or Fiji. I'd expect Hobart to be able to do it. If someone does get it done I'd be interested in hearing the conditions under which a booking like this is allowed. I assume it's not allowed under a multi-city, for one.

Yes, possibly multi-city is a bridge too far. I don’t know.

Some simple city pairs work in whY but not J. e.g I’ve never been able to get SYD-NAN return in J with paid outbound (QF code and F lounge access!) and points back (FJ code - no lounge drama)…

 

[encryptededdy]

Yes, possibly multi-city is a bridge too far. I don’t know.

Some simple city pairs work in whY but not J. e.g I’ve never been able to get SYD-NAN return in J with paid outbound (QF code and F lounge access!) and points back (FJ code - no lounge drama)…

Yeah it's odd. Maybe specific revenue fare classes? It'd be good to know the logic behind the system.

Similarly trying to book a paid mixed class itinerary. Sometimes the system will allow you to upgrade one sector only, sometimes it won't.

 

[QF_Flyer]

That’s not entirely correct. Some routes it is possible to mix and match points (classic reward) and pay. It can even be done online if the route allows it.

It’s a handy strategy during a “sale” (remember those?) that goes out to the date new award seats are released. Pay the outbound and snag the return on points as it’s released. Now trying to catch the unicorn J awards is tough, but here’s a whY example I prepared earlier. Someone else can confirm if QF can do the same over the phone - ie release award and pay one way.View attachment 292108

Indeed, I have booked one way cash/one way classic reward once to Fiji, booking a revenue fare was (at the time anyway) the only way I could get a QF code on the outbound (for Flounge access), inbound didn't matter so I booked a redemption.

People have sworn blind to me that I'm wrong, but I've done it and it works, but it's not always an option.

 

[SYD]

Indeed, I have booked one way cash/one way classic reward once to Fiji, booking a revenue fare was (at the time anyway) the only way I could get a QF code on the outbound (for Flounge access), inbound didn't matter so I booked a redemption.

People have sworn blind to me that I'm wrong, but I've done it and it works, but it's not always an option.

Two one way fares between NAN is definitely possible but sadly cost more. A lot more in J from what I’ve seen (and what you expect on most long/longish haul routes).

NZ is usually ok.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Two one way fares between NAN is definitely possible but sadly cost more. A lot more in J from what I’ve seen (and what you expect on most long/longish haul routes).

NZ is usually ok.

Quite probably now, given the level of demand. This was in 2019 (outbound was Halloween in fact), was just over $1k in J with one way as a classic reward, which I was pretty happy with (A330 in both directions, so not the newest product but still a lie flat). That also originated/ended in MEL, so QF connection at either end to/from SYD.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

The other half of this issue - can WPs still get extra reward seats released (if I class seats available)?
Anyone had recent success?

 

[SYD]

Yes, there’s a whole thread on the topic.

QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

Click HERE to view an article on this topic collaboratively compiled by our members using the (now retired) Wiki. Was looking through Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas and Partner Airlines - Status Credits and Tier Benefits - Tier Benefits today Seems like access to extra Caward seats is only...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au