Limited [revenue] business seat availability on Qantas to Europe

[Dtrain]

Again I would say they are only limited if you insist on flying QF metal vs EK. Which there is little reason to do given Y is Y, Skybed is a generation behind now. Y+ is another story and to be fair, F probably a different discussion depending on personal taste.

I always considered the service and food on QF to be superior to EK. Also, you could upgrade using points on QF from Y to J, or J to F. You can't do that on EK metal. Further, the new MEL routes are using the new Dreamliner, so no longer the old Skybed.

I guess it all comes down to personal taste!

 

[travelislife]

QR all the way. Their business with a la carte dining is better than EK or QF and you still get the status credits. Or CX is another option. Adding a connection through LHR and having to do a coughpy leg on BA’s short haul J just doesn’t sound like it’s worth the hassle. The pricing will probably be better on QR and CX too!

 

[cmon0005]

Do you have specific dates where you can't find availability? One of us on here can look up EF to see what the go is.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I highly doubt the issue is on the BA end. I spend a lot of time on BA.com and between LHR-FCO there is a lot of capacity as they even run 767s (which I do understand are getting retired soon) with a reasonable frequency. BA even having their own recently decorated BA lounge in FCO so one of the bigger intra-Europe routes. There is only one date in July (being 21st) which seems in high demand but outside that most dates are pricing normal so I would imagine it is a QF access issue.

Absent FCO, Milan has A LOT of frequency as well between LIN and MXP if FCO does seem impossible. Perhaps try pricing the two parts separately with some cushion connection time in LHR if the FCO sector is going to be unprotected.

 

[Dtrain]

I highly doubt the issue is on the BA end. I spend a lot of time on BA.com and between LHR-FCO there is a lot of capacity as they even run 767s (which I do understand are getting retired soon) with a reasonable frequency. BA even having their own recently decorated BA lounge in FCO so one of the bigger intra-Europe routes. There is only one date in July (being 21st) which seems in high demand but outside that most dates are pricing normal so I would imagine it is a QF access issue.

My point is simply is that the Qantas site shows no availability, while the BA site does. It makes little sense to me why this occurs. It's a pain to book the 2 flights independently, as it means you likely have to re-route your luggage yourself etc.

 

[JRR]

My point is simply is that the Qantas site shows no availability, while the BA site does. It makes little sense to me why this occurs. It's a pain to book the 2 flights independently, as it means you likely have to re-route your luggage yourself etc.

Do qantas now codeshare with ba on lhr-fco? They have not done so recently!

 

[Dtrain]

Do qantas now codeshare with ba on lhr-fco? They have not done so recently!

No, not codeshare unfortunately, but you can book the BA flight as the last leg through the QF website. Oddly, there are limited BA flights available on the QF website, but if you book separately on the BA website there are loads.

 

[Brettmcg]

They don't currently codeshare, however they have an application pending with the IASC (http://iasc.gov.au/applications/files/QF_App_Var_Italy_20171221.pdf)

Availability in premium cabins ex-Europe/LHR on QF in JUL18 is cough at the moment. There is a range of dates from about 08JUL through until 25JUL that has all of the discount premium buckets zeroed out, even though the cabins are nowhere near full (I know this through insider info).

Not sure what is going on, but it is causing me all sorts of headaches.

 

[docjames]

They don't currently codeshare, however they have an application pending with the IASC (http://iasc.gov.au/applications/files/QF_App_Var_Italy_20171221.pdf)

Availability in premium cabins ex-Europe/LHR on QF in JUL18 is cough at the moment. There is a range of dates from about 08JUL through until 25JUL that has all of the discount premium buckets zeroed out, even though the cabins are nowhere near full (I know this through insider info).

Not sure what is going on, but it is causing me all sorts of headaches.

July is peak season so they probably havent made seats available.

 

[Brettmcg]

July is peak season so they probably havent made seats available.

That's what I am thinking/hoping, however I don't think I've ever come across them being released this late.

The downgrade in ex-LHR QF metal capacity is surely influencing this.

 

[getluv]

That's what I am thinking/hoping, however I don't think I've ever come across them being released this late.

The downgrade in ex-LHR QF metal capacity is surely influencing this.

Actually the downgrade has nothing to do with it. BA, like all airlines, can restrict inventory offered to other airlines, not just by flights but also fare buckets.

 

[CaptJCool]

Or your other option could be to book classic rewards points tics LHR-FCO on the QF website. Seeemd to be good availability when I last looked. ....in the past week or two

 

[Brettmcg]

Actually the downgrade has nothing to do with it. BA, like all airlines, can restrict inventory offered to other airlines, not just by flights but also fare buckets.

The issue is not with the BA flights. They have plenty of seats across all buckets. It is the QF metal flights with a whole bunch of buckets zeroed out.