My first post - Qantas FF seats availability

[Cybella]

Hi all

Even though I have been a member of this forum for a while, this is my first post. I am a bronze member.

I am trying to book a 2 x Qantas Frequent flyer seats in business from LAX to Australia - I don't mind which Australian city - but preferably Perth but cannot find anything available for the 17/18 December. In years gone by, it seemed a little easier to book a seat but now, it appears nothing is available.

My questions are:

1) Are there less seats available now compared to before? (I understand December is a high period)
2) Will Qantas release more seats between now and December?
3) Lastly, why do they package business seats with economy when the majority of the of the journey is in economy?

 

[deejo77]

1) december ones were taken Dec/Jan - March is a little late - it is peak
2) your guess is as good as mine
3) because they can - at least you know to look out for it

 

[cove]

I looked at every alternative just to see if this was going to work and I used my Platinum status. There are single seats in J on 11th and 12th and 24th and 25th so changing dates and splitting up could get you to Australia. I tried BNE,SYD,MEL and AUK then moved to one at a time when I was getting dust.
The flights showed for LAX-SYD even though one was thru MEL ,flexible with dates and then I plugged in Premium Economy,
Business and First with one passenger. There are PE seats on 24 th and 25th but nothing on your preferred 17/18.

 

[cove]

Cybella I forgot to welcome you to AFF. I hope you find this site interesting. Because we live part time in Marina Del Rey I thought I should have a look. My last 5 trips ...one only with QF as the availability is too tight but Mrscove is a Qantas first pick lady. Usually we go SQ as we can get seats straight away on points.

 

[grussellt]

It really is late to be booking this but there is one (less than perfect) choice. Depart LAX on December 13 and travel via NAN/AKL/SYD on FJ/QF. Not a great choice of route and maybe not all on your chosen airline but it is all in J! I wouldn't expect a lot of choice on your return leg.

 

[jgm]

I can see 2 first awards LAX-NRT on the 18th with AA followed by 2 Business with QF NRT-SYD.

 

[11sjw]

5 replies and some great options tossed up. Nice work AFFers.

Welcome Cybella.

 

[Cybella]

Thanks to everyone for all your suggestions, there is certainly some food for thought here!

 

[Malecc]

I tried to book my parents Lon-Mel-Lon in Business using points for their 11 week stay here with us later this year. They wanted to come November '12 through to Mid February '13, I could only start to look once the February flights were shown, that was a few weeks ago.

I could find nothing after about an hour of trying various combinations. The majority of time even though Business class was chosen part of the leg would be in Economy. I dodn't want this, my parents are both in the late 60's and not in the best of health.

In frustration I called the FF Members helpline and spoke to the most helpful Qantas representative I've ever spoken to. 15 minutes later my parents were booked on QF10 to Melbourne and QF9 to London, Business class the entire journey and I managed to book them 11J & 11K on the A380 for both flights, all for 512,000 points. This was an amazing outcome given that using the site there was nothing showing as available.

Next time I'm looking to bring over family from the UK or Ireland i'll not both with the site and just call the FF members helpline. I'd suggest a call to Qantas if your having problems getting seating.

It's good stories like this that probably keep me flying with Qantas. I'm frustrated to buggery about somethings with Qantas but then in other areas they are really helpful.