No Classic awards to [many] international destinations on Qantas metal 353or352 days

[Andona]

No Classic awards to [many] international destinations on Qantas metal 353or352 days

Hi all,
Long time lurker, infrequent poster .

I've been monitoring premium classic award releases for several months, planning how to blow an accumulation of points. For the last 4 months at 10am QLD time the award seats have shown up on the website for 353 days in advance, like clockwork. Yesterday I checked for Wednesday July 20, 2016 and there was nothing available to ANY international destination ( that I checked, and I checked several) on Qantas metal. Some codeshares with BA etc, but no QF at all. This morning I checked for Thursday July 21st, same story.

There are domestic awards available, just nothing international. I was wondering if the more experienced hands were aware of something like this happening previously? Just curious

TIA
Andona

 

[blackcat20]

Re: No Classic awards to ANY international destination on Qantas metal 353or352 days

The same thing happened to us last month. Later in the week, a whole week's worth of seats appeared at once.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: No Classic awards to ANY international destination on Qantas metal 353or352 days

It can be tough, but I don't think "several" destinations equates to "ANY" in the thread heading. What are the routes you are seeking?

 

[Andona]

Re: No Classic awards to ANY international destination on Qantas metal 353or352 days

It can be tough, but I don't think "several" destinations equates to "ANY" in the thread heading. What are the routes you are seeking?

Fair enough, I definitely shouldn't have claimed "any", haven't checked every route.

I've mainly been checking/observing routes in/out of the USA and LHR. Not 100% sure what my plans are but am trying to monitor availability of J, Y+ and F seats as I'm hoping to use my points for a trip later next year. These are all routes that have had award seats available on QF flights ( in one class or another) for several months of Wednesdays past (when checked 353 days out) and have nothing at all available for Wed 20/7/16 on a QF flight number. BNE-LAX, MEL-LAX, LAX-BNE, LAX-MEL, SYD-DFW, DFW-SYD, SYD-SFO, SFO-SYD, MEL-LHR, LHR-MEL. You can get , say, SYD-LAX via HKG on CX or SYD-DFW via LHR on BA but that's all, no direct routes on QF numbers. ( Note: to be 100% accurate I naturally don't have records going back as far for SYD-SFO as the other routes. )

After there was no availability on these routes, out of curiosity I tried to find an award seat on Qantas metal from SYD to SIN, AKL, CHC, NAD, BKK, SCL, PVG, and NOU. Unlike the USA and LHR routes I'm not familiar with any of these route timetables and normal award availability so I couldn't be sure if finding no QF awards on these routes was unusual. But I thought it odd that I just couldn't find a QF award seat on any international route that I tried for that date and posted to enquire if this was a common occurrence. I'm assuming BlackCat is right and there's just a delay, hopefully the seats will show up soon.

I'd be really interested to hear if anyone can find a QF classic award seat in or out of Australia for 20/7/16 at the moment

TIA
Andona

 

[Anna]

Re: No Classic awards to ANY international destination on Qantas metal 353or352 days

If the date you are looking for falls within school holidays anywhere in Aust, then it is very common for no or very few seats to be released.

Many is the time that I have been able to fly one-way on points but then have had to find another option for the other half of the journey due to no award availability at any convenient time.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: No Classic awards to ANY international destination on Qantas metal 353or352 days

I have been doing the same thing as I was helping a friend book J awards to and from the USA. ( successfully I might add, with his flight home for the 18/7 booked on Friday). I monitored the awards daily and found a pretty consistent pattern of availability. The 20/7 is a Wednesday and I would have expected to see reasonable availability on that day. It isn't school holidays and even in the previous couple of weeks which were, I was seeing availability on the release day. I would be inclined to hope for Blackcat's scenario and keep monitoring hoping for a late release, unless someone with status has already snaffled them all? Seems unlikely, but then I am a novice at this - first time I have tried to look at international award availability.

 

[Andona]

Re: No Classic awards to ANY international destination on Qantas metal 353or352 days

I have been doing the same thing as I was helping a friend book J awards to and from the USA. ( successfully I might add, with his flight home for the 18/7 booked on Friday). I monitored the awards daily and found a pretty consistent pattern of availability. The 20/7 is a Wednesday and I would have expected to see reasonable availability on that day. It isn't school holidays and even in the previous couple of weeks which were, I was seeing availability on the release day. I would be inclined to hope for Blackcat's scenario and keep monitoring hoping for a late release, unless someone with status has already snaffled them all? Seems unlikely, but then I am a novice at this - first time I have tried to look at international award availability.

Thanks, Mermaid, I'm glad to hear confirmation that this is unusual. Like you I've seen reasonable availability right through the school holiday periods for midweek flights on at least some routes to/from the USA. I'm wondering if the new website or the codeshare with AA to LAX changes have caused a glitch in the system. I guess they will release the seats eventually, just hope they get the glitches sorted for when I want to book my flights in a couple of months
Andona

 

[Andona]

Re: No Classic awards to ANY international destination on Qantas metal 353or352 days

Just to follow up on this. The flights to/from the USA for Wed 20/7/16 and Thursday 21/7/16 have shown up this morning, two days later than usual. So just a hiccup on Qantas' part.
Andona

 

[BD1959]

Re: No Classic awards to ANY international destination on Qantas metal 353or352 days

F, J and Y+ available on QF93 (MEL-LAX) on 20/7/16.

J, Y+ on QF95.

J on QF636, QF15 (MEL-BNE-LAX).

Regards,

BD

 

[Andona]

Re: No Classic awards to ANY international destination on Qantas metal 353or352 days

F, J and Y+ available on QF93 (MEL-LAX) on 20/7/16.

J, Y+ on QF95.

J on QF636, QF15 (MEL-BNE-LAX).

Regards,

BD

Thanks BD, I apppreciate your help. As per my last post immediately above, the flights showed up this morning.

Andona

 

[BD1959]

Re: No Classic awards to ANY international destination on Qantas metal 353or352 days

Thanks BD, I apppreciate your help. As per my last post immediately above, the flights showed up this morning.

Andona

Grab'em while they're hot!!

Regards,

BD