MAJOR fall in Emirates redemption availability!!

[Duffa]

Just wanted to warn you good folks about a major drop in award availability.
I had previously posted the opposite - that awards were available, in all classes, whether two days ahead, next week, 3 months out, peak times etc but NOT any more.
Redemptions have dried up, big time!
Perhaps it's a reflection of the fact that it is only recently that anybody has actually had enough points for a J or F redemption (given that it is capped at $100k/150k points a year) and we've all started to snap them up in the past month or two? I hope so, because if it's a dirty "QF-style" trick then I am outta here!

p.s. Can't wait for the barrage from the "dirty QF-style trick" comment!!

I'm trying to post a screenshot of ZERO availability but all I get is a shortcut to my hard drive.

 

[tinkybelle]

get a virgin cc and use on etihad much more availability .

 

[browski]

Which routes are you hoping for availability?

There are plenty of redemption opportunities on these routes:

MEL-KUL
MEL-AKL
MEL-SIN
SYD-AKL
SYD-BKK
BNE-SIN

 

[clifford]

I have few problems getting upgrade awards. Maybe the OP is referring to Saver awards, which can be harder to find.

 

[Duffa]

I have few problems getting upgrade awards. Maybe the OP is referring to Saver awards, which can be harder to find.

No. I'm referring to full fare awards in j or F. Have NEVER found a return saver on dates that suited, even 12 months out.
Am looking for j to Europe. None available in June or in next few days. A big contrast to 6 months ago.

 

[browski]

There are a few things to be aware of regarding EK awards.
First of all, forget about MEL-DXB or SYD-DXB and BNE-DXB on the non-stop flights; those J and F seats are in very high demand. It is afterall the new Kangaroo Route.
So break up your searches into these segments:

MEL-SIN-DXB (as well as MEL-SIN-CMB-DXB)
MEL-KUL-DXB
BNE-SIN-DXB
SYD-BKK-DXB

The award opportunities to Europe are then enormous but once again forget about the A380 to London or Paris.
Focus on:

DXB-AMS
DXB-Prague
DXB-Zurich
DXB-MAD
DXB-CPH
DXB-DUB
DXB-Geneva
DXB-VIE
DXB-MUC

 

[mikal1988]

I am finding this to be the same, a few weeks back there were Saver awards everywhere and now for some reason they released march as available to book but when March appeared then all the savers went away

I cannot find a single saver award on any flight back from Europe - AU in any class

Anyone know what happened to them all, did they all get booked or the EK take them away on purpose

 

[browski]

I cannot find a single saver award on any flight back from Europe - AU in any class

How about AMS-DXB and DXB-KUL and KUL-MEL in all of May

 

[mikal1988]

Are you searching them as individual segments?

 

[Duffa]

6 months ago I booked SYD-LHR via DXB in J, 48 hours before travelling, on A380. Admittedly, the next day was unavailable.
Around the same time I booked MEL-London in J on the non-A380 metal about 3 months out. Availability filled 3 screens with all the options (SIN and KUL etc into Heathrow or Gatwick)! I chose MEL DBX LHR. Too easy.
browkski, I hear what you are saying about the convoluted options still being there but I was getting multiple availabiity on the straight kangaroo route via DBX. Now they are just plain gone!

 

[Duffa]

Well don't say I didn't warn you 4 months ago!!
Looks like there will be even less availability from next April with all those Y-flying, QF-WP's trying to lay claim to my J and F seats.

 

[waratahbay]

Have been trying to book for JULY 2014 two QFF redemptions on EK: IST-DBX in J and DBX-HKG in F. Got the first leg but on a flight 3 hours earlier (leaving an almost 6 hour layover instead of 3 hours). No redemption seats released at all for second leg. Being Platinum One (and 2,000,000 points) has counted for little. So much for the shiny new Qantas/Emirates partnership.

 

[pauly7]

Well don't say I didn't warn you 4 months ago!!
Looks like there will be even less availability from next April with all those Y-flying, QF-WP's trying to lay claim to my J and F seats.

Haha loads of avails through QFF on EK metal

 

[Dalescott]

Yes, in the same boat. Tried to get an upgrade on a full fare ticket Mel to DXB for Sept 13. Got the upgrade DXB to IST no problems, paid for J class on way back. Thought that I would be clever, but EK are tight A..es. I fly usually with RB, J no problems. Should have used them but had some Skywards point and I am returning with Father in Law, who is GOLD and has been for 9 years. He is now looking for Platinum EK. He thinks there service has gone backward the last few years, particularly this last year.
By the way he has 250K in point, and asked for an upgrade to the very front of the plane, no go they say, he checked and there were empty seats. He is not happy, and he is the customer that they need to keep. He is looking at SIA or Qatar.

 

[Gerg]

Ominous trend now that any request for upgrade on EK legs from MEL - DXB are showing unavailable even though spare seats are on flight...when I called the call centre to explore options I got an Aussie ( rare event ) who confided they have been told upgrades are being withheld by Dubai to retain seats for QF allocation to premium clients . I am now going to work all my company staff back to SQ for flights ...bad move EK as we spent over $ 250 K with you last year . so stupid if they want to retain premium clients

 

[Dalescott]

Ominous trend now that any request for upgrade on EK legs from MEL - DXB are showing unavailable even though spare seats are on flight...when I called the call centre to explore options I got an Aussie ( rare event ) who confided they have been told upgrades are being withheld by Dubai to retain seats for QF allocation to premium clients . I am now going to work all my company staff back to SQ for flights ...bad move EK as we spent over $ 250 K with you last year . so stupid if they want to retain premium clients

Yes I now work for a Large US Corporation, and I asked if I could give EK a try. The aim being to see if we could use Business some flights and then use Economy with upgrades on some others as a cost saving measure. After my conversation on Friday night with TX head office, I had to admit my brilliant idea wasn't going to work, and I had egg on my face. They will now only be using Star Alliance network and no other.
EK are a dead loss as a business airline, and have no understanding of Business needs.