Latest time to cancel awards flight

[featheast]

Thanks to the flexibility rule of QF that awards flights attract no processing fees until end of the year (international ones), but does QF have a policy regarding the latest time of cancellation request?
Do I have to cancel it, for a full refund, a few days in advance, or a few hours, or as long as it's before the departure time (down to hours and minutes)?

 

[encryptededdy]

I vividly remember a thread on this exact topic a while ago, but I'm struggling to find it. Maybe someone else could link it here?

 

[jeza]

From QF help section

https://help.qantas.com/support/s/article/Refunding-cancelling-or-changing-a-Reward-flight-booking

 

[featheast]

From QF help section

https://help.qantas.com/support/s/article/Refunding-cancelling-or-changing-a-Reward-flight-booking

Thanks, I have read this as well. I mean by the terms, it appears I can cancel prior the flight departure time, but have to ring their number within the 24h. As a lowly silver, I am wondering if it makes practical sense if I decides to cancel say within 2 hours time of departure, then try to get through the support line from overseas (factor in the long wait time and many support staff's ability to handle situation like this).

 

[RichardMEL]

You should be able to cancel online.

what is it you are really looking at here? for an international flight you'd know well within departure time surely? is this for a backup rewards booking for another route or something? trying to understand the situation here.

 

[featheast]

You should be able to cancel online.

what is it you are really looking at here? for an international flight you'd know well within departure time surely? is this for a backup rewards booking for another route or something? trying to understand the situation here.

Ya, so basically I will have a trip in Nov flying back from SFO to AKL (UA) and same day back to MEL and the AKL to MEL leg will be on a separate ticket.
The airlines currently fly this route are QF, NZ and JQ (pass).
Due to all the flights issues everywhere, in case my UA flight getting delayed or cancelled, I am considering to have a backup plan to get back to MEL from AKL.
I should be fairly certain that before I get on the UA plane whether I need this backup or not, but I also remember back in the days I saw the cancellation button greyed out for various reasons. The last leg hasn't booked yet.