LAX to SYD Classic Reward Seats

[Edisk6]

Hi fellow members,

First post here as I have had a frustrating ordeal with QFF services recently and was hoping someone could shed some light on the situation to restore my faith in the system.

I had accumulated over 100k in points with velocity program and Qff, i am planning a trip from syd to lax 14th December and returning 14th jan from LAX. I figured that i would check each of the respective website 13 months prior to the flights twice a day to ensure i was first in for any flights that were available and planned to book one way with one airline and the return trip with the other.

The velocity flight became available approximately 12 months prior to the flight and i booked it straight away, no problems. The corresponding Qantas flight on the same day had yet to be made available so i book the to trip with velocity before i lost the opportunity.

As i only had enough points for 1 way trips (for myself and my girlfriend) for each airline i focused all my energy on religiously checking the Qantas website for classic reward seats for the return trip.

After almost 4 months of checking twice a day, not one Qantas flight has been made available for the 14th of January return to Sydney from LAX, nor has it become available +-7 days from the 14th January, i have also tried leaving from NY, Dallas, San fran to different destinations in Aus (SYD, MEL, BRI).

I am now in a position where no flighs have been released and it is too late for me to attempt to book a return flight with virgin using points (even if i had them).

I have contacted the call centre a number of times who seem to give me no indication if seats will ever be released. I have also sent through an email explaining my situation and received a standard response telling me how to book tickets online!

Any help from any of your experiences?

Im assuming im stuck with checking twice a day forever in the hopes that one day tickets will be made available???

Thanks

 

[docjames]

Have you tried HNL-SYD with QF/JQ? And buy a one-way from LAX/west coast US to HNL?

 

[mannej]

Out of interest, are you checking manually or using something like expert flyer? This is peak travel time so seats get snapped up extremely quickly

 

[Edisk6]

I check twice daily, 9am and about 7pm all done manually.

I understand that there is a flaw in this strategy however, its clear to me online that these have yet to be released. This is because there are flights available every single day upto December and from feb, i have not once seen anything come out with Qantas in January from any destination in the states to any destination in aus.

Considering im checking twice daily its basically impossible all of these get snapped up in half a day.

 

[Edisk6]

just tried this, once again a complete blockout period from 2nd Jan to 29th Jan

was a good suggestion though

Again seems unlikely that they have been all booked out for 28 days straight, however cant rule it out for this trip as i did not include this trip in my checks

I clicked previous month, and there are flights every single day of December available apart from the 27th, and majority of feb days have flights available

 

[Quickstatus]

The time to get reward flight LAX-SYD on 14th January is long gone and that time is absolute peak season

 

[madrooster]

I check twice daily, 9am and about 7pm all done manually.

There's your problem. Seats are released (if they are released at all) at 10am Brisbane time or 11am Sydney/Melbourne daylight savings time.

 

[Edisk6]

I understand how in demand these seats are, as i had read that seats are released 365, 355 or 353 days before, these days especially i would have checked maybe 10 times on those days, generally speaking i kept it to twice a day for any other day.

From what i can see the from the countless hours of searching, other peak times for other routes in those times are available

but out of frustration i did actually get someone from the call centre to contact me after pestering them for a couple of days. They checked and confirmed that no FF seats were booked on the flight i was after and less than 40 seats had been sold in total so it was nowhere near capacity.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Time to consider alternate routes. Try CX, via HKG.

 

[Edisk6]

There is a CX flight from San Fran via HKG that has been there for like 2 months, without anyone biting at it.

Probably because its 26 or 29 hour flight from SF to Syd, whilst costing 150k points instead of 90k with QF (for 2x tickets)

 

[RichardMEL]

There is a CX flight from San Fran via HKG that has been there for like 2 months, without anyone biting at it.

Probably because its 26 or 29 hour flight from SF to Syd, whilst costing 150k points instead of 90k with QF (for 2x tickets)

Then grab it. At least you have an option. if something better opens up you can change (yes there is a fee, and I realise points are limited).



You're up against having little or no status with QF and a massive peak period of demand. QF will hope to sell those seats ahead of FF awards.

I'm not entirely surprised QF has seats in December because that's prior to school holidays/breaks starting. Into January you'll have trips to Disneyland and all the rest and a lot of demand.

Something MAY open up, but I'd take an option while there's one to take (heck maybe turn it into a HK stopover and you and your partner can experience a wonderful city!)

 

[Dr Ralph]

There is a CX flight from San Fran via HKG that has been there for like 2 months, without anyone biting at it.

Probably because its 26 or 29 hour flight from SF to Syd, whilst costing 150k points instead of 90k with QF (for 2x tickets)

I would have already booked this and advise you to do so without further delay. You may even consider a brief stop over in Hong Kong - Disneyland anyone???

It's unrealistic for you to think that you will always get your ideal reward point redemption. Those that procastinate in these circumstances often miss out entirely.

Cancel CX flight and take a better option should it come up.

 

[PaulST]

...and if you need a substantial points increase, sign up for some new credit cards. Quite a few banks are currently offering $60-75K sign-up bonuses.

 

[andyhui01]

I'd recommend booking the CX flight. I doubt you will see anything come up from now, (Unless you want to try the upgrade lottery) Only downside is you might have to cut your holiday time in the US shorter if you have limited time.

It might sound frustrating to you but tbh your experience is not any different to anyone else looking to book award seats. No need to pester QF staff unless you have a SST, you are just wasting time. Qantas does not have to release reward fare buckets for every flight (Especially mid Jan)

 

[RichardMEL]

It might sound frustrating to you but tbh your experience is not any different to anyone else looking to book award seats. No need to pester QF staff unless you have a SST, you are just wasting time. Qantas does not have to release reward fare buckets for every flight (Especially mid Jan)

I do agree with you in respect thatthe experience is not unique, but I argue it is the customers right to call as much as they like to try and get what they want. As we all know availability can come and go at odd times and ways.

I do think suggesting the search and calling QF multiple times(one's right to do but also a choice) has been an "ordeal" is a bit much. I mean I think many would consider an "ordeal" to be poor customer service in response to an issue like ticketing or trying to chase up refunds or whatever it might be. Frustrating to not find space - sure... QF obviously feel they can sell those seats in a peak time. Would VA also have seats? maybe. but if they did that could say more about where VA is at vs QF (or just that QF RM are tighter). I call a fruitless search for award seats frustrating.. I wouldn't use the word "ordeal"

Anyway just my 2 cents.

 

[amaroo]

Apologies to the OP .... I swooped on 4 x J JFK-LAX-BNE for around the date you wanted. They were just sitting there waiting for a home

 

[serfty]

As a WP,you may have had greater award availability.

 

[Spongbob]

I don't want to be disrespectful to the OP, but do your homework first before posting queries that have very simple answers. 10-15 minutes searching AFF would show that for flight award seats you need to be flexible with your dates (which the OP is not), FF status is important, and have the points needed for the flights you want.

Also, much information is gained by posting questions under the AFF "Flight Search Assistance" forum.

 

[CaptJCool]

You may find some Emirates flights available from various destinations. Particularly back into Perth or ADELAIDE.

 

[CaptJCool]

Noting my status level, the only 14th Jan back to Australia for 2 pax i could find was Fort Lauderdale to Adelaide. Extra cost is $500 per person.

There appears to be ample FOR my status level FOR TWO PEOPLE from anywhere from 18th Jan. But LAX is 85,000 points per pax where the other US CITIES are 60,000, but nothing on 14th Jan.

the CX OPTION WHILST more points would be fewer $. With insufficient points, topup points are available to 20% of the required points