LAX to SYD Classic Reward Seats

[andyhui01]

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.
Anyway just my 2 cents.

Yes. If something can't be resolved or is too hard to resolve on the website. By all means, call till you get what you want. But a NB calling to get a call centre to release Z fare buckets is pointless, unless its a technical error where you see the fare but can't book (Happy to be proven wrong). I don't even pester VA for releasing fares for my upgrades, I just wait and cop Y if I don't get it.

 

[edwina86]

Christmas and January is a really hard time to get classic reward seats, especially on the LAX-SYD route. Unless you are a Platinum FF I would say it is basically impossible these days. Qantas can sell the seats during this busy time and with all the credit card etc points offers, it is becoming a lot tougher to find seats on popular routes if you are of a lower status. Another idea would be to try to score a Jetstar flight home from Hawaii? But again, a busy time with holidays etc.

 

[Danger]

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

Under the circumstances I think posting that is bad taste.

 

[DC3]

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

Yes, but the OP was not looking for J seats, the way that I read it.

 

[amaroo]

Yes, but the OP was not looking for J seats, the way that I read it.

Missed that bit - no harm done then

Although it does de-bunk the myth for anyone reading this thread that QF points are worthless (not that the OP posted that) but every other day there are posts along this theme.

 

[Danger]

Yes, but the OP was not looking for J seats, the way that I read it.

My mistake. Apologies, amaroo.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes. If something can't be resolved or is too hard to resolve on the website. By all means, call till you get what you want. But a NB calling to get a call centre to release Z fare buckets is pointless, unless its a technical error where you see the fare but can't book (Happy to be proven wrong). I don't even pester VA for releasing fares for my upgrades, I just wait and cop Y if I don't get it.

It was not my interpretation of the OP's post that they had demanded award seats be opened up at all, just to search for them.. I suppose one interpretation could be to "find me seats" but at any rate I am not certain that that is what the OP had suggested.

Anyway that aside as we all know getting seat at a peak time on a busy route like that is always likely to result in disappointment.

I hope they have booked the CX option.

 

[andyhui01]

I had the impression he was looking for J. I don't think the CX is a good option in Y. I'd rather buy a seat on QF/VA/UA/AA

 

[cjd600]

I had the impression he was looking for J. I don't think the CX is a good option in Y. I'd rather buy a seat on QF/VA/UA/AA

Clearly only has enough points for 2 x Y each way as per OP

 

[DC3]

.... I had accumulated over 100k in points with velocity program and Qff, i am planning a trip from syd to lax ....

I had the impression he was looking for J. I don't think the CX is a good option in Y. I'd rather buy a seat on QF/VA/UA/AA

An award redemption for two, LAX-SYD on QF would be 96,000 points x 2 = 192,000 needed. No mention of having about 200,000 points, just "over 100,000". I therefore took the travel class as not being in J. Looking at the OP's post, I'd say that he would take Y (X class redemption) if available, just to get back to Oz.

 

[blu]

What about AA 787 - may not be shown on QF site? Seats release later at T-330 ?

 

[serfty]

The YQ on an award on QF metal in economy is $250 each way per pax. For two pax that is $1000 return. Dates are expensive for revenue. For me at this stage you take what you can get.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

You've got two issues here. The first being the lack of award space on the dates you want however the second one is the price of taxes are much higher on QF award flights ex USA on QF metal as noted by Serfty in the above post. In fact the fees and charges are more on a one way fare ex USA than they are for return flights ex AU.

SYD/LAX/SYD in whY on QF11/QF12 is 90,000 points return and taxes/fees/carrier surcharges of AUD430.14 which is damn expensive, however just going one way ex USA eg on QF12 LAX/SYD the fees are USD386.05 or AUD511.00 so using QF points one way ex the US almost defeats the purpose of award travel. If you have the option of flying on AA73 LAX/SYD using QF points jump at it as the taxes are only USD28.05 or AUD37.00 so it's really a no-brainer as you'll nearly AUD500.00 pp.

There is economy award space SAN/xHNL/NAN on Sat 13 Jan on Alaskan then Fiji Air for 50,500 point and only USD5.60 in taxes but you'd still need to get NAN/SYD which you could either do as a paid fare or even use some Velocity points or more QF points.

Alternatively there is availability on 13 Jan ex these cities so you could fly on AS ex OAK, SJC, SEA or SAN to HNL for 28,000 points plus USD5.60 taxes then purchase a commercial fare HNL/SYD on JQ or NZ (via AKL) as there have a LCC type fare structure so you're not paying a premium for a one way ticket like you would on QF or HA.

 

[Edisk6]

An award redemption for two, LAX-SYD on QF would be 96,000 points x 2 = 192,000 needed. No mention of having about 200,000 points, just "over 100,000". I therefore took the travel class as not being in J. Looking at the OP's post, I'd say that he would take Y (X class redemption) if available, just to get back to Oz.

Thanks for all the replies, after the Y seats!

Actually had no idea what all these class seats were until you guys mentioned this and I had a quick look myself as to what was going on haha

 

[Edisk6]

Where can I see this flight?

 

[Edisk6]

Wow, great insight, thanks for the effort you put into that.

I have yet to book anything, this aa flight you mention I can't seem to see anywhere on Qantas website

 

[JohnPhelan]

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.

I got an award seat in Business, LAX-BNE, for 12 January. And saw other seats for surrounding dates. But you pretty much have to book them on the day they come out - 353 days in advance.