Outbound award seats available, inbound not released yet - any options?

[BigKahunaBurger]

Am looking to book 2 J seats to UK at the end of next year. The day I'd like for the outbound leg is almost available in the QFF system (hopefully the J seats will be too!).

However, a thought struck me - as I want the inbound leg to be approx 3 weeks after the outbound, does this actually mean that I have to wait until the inbound seats are available in the system to book?!

If so, given the time of year, am thinking I risk the outbounds having then been snapped up.

Is a sensible strategy to book the outbound as soon as available and then wait for inbound to open up? Only risk I can see with this is that the inbounds just aren't available, and I have to then pay for expensive, one-way seats.

Any suggestions/insights greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Limewood]

If its more than a year out they wont show, if within a year they could be available, just don't show on Q site because they like QFF to phone up for them, then if Ok will extra points for doing so.

 

[tuapekastar]

Am looking to book 2 J seats to UK at the end of next year. The day I'd like for the outbound leg is almost available in the QFF system (hopefully the J seats will be too!).

However, a thought struck me - as I want the inbound leg to be approx 3 weeks after the outbound, does this actually mean that I have to wait until the inbound seats are available in the system to book?!

If so, given the time of year, am thinking I risk the outbounds having then been snapped up.

Is a sensible strategy to book the outbound as soon as available and then wait for inbound to open up? Only risk I can see with this is that the inbounds just aren't available, and I have to then pay for expensive, one-way seats.

Any suggestions/insights greatly appreciated.

Cheers

I'd be inclined to book the outbounds the second they become available (it has been said that they become available online based on GMT - or whatever it is called these days - so at ~1000 AEDST, but it has also been said you can ring QF earlier in the day to secure one - at a points cost). I would then 'sweat' on the inbounds and do the same. The worst that can happen is that you can't get them for whatever reason and as you say, will have to pay $$$, or alternatively, cancel the outbounds and get the points refunded (minus a penalty - 5K points?). I booked FASAs MEL-SIN-MEL for next year doing the same sort of thing (and it was definitely necessary to do it that way).

 

[Hvr]

As soon as they are available book them.

 

[Deewhy]

I'd be inclined to book the outbounds the second they become available (it has been said that they become available online based on GMT - or whatever it is called these days - so at ~1000 AEDST, but it has also been said you can ring QF earlier in the day to secure one - at a points cost). I would then 'sweat' on the inbounds and do the same.

I agree, book the outbounds and mark your diary for the day the returns become available, and be that early bird to hopefully catch those award seats when they show.

Also, if you are in the unfortunate case where you have to pay for the inbounds, check the UK Qantas site, as the one ways in bound may be better priced (nearer to half a return) than oneway outbound from Australia ( which don't give you anywhere near half price of return).

 

[Alanslegal]

With premium cabin long haul .... book them the moment they are available. If you ummm, ummm and ummmm about it, they will be snapped up faster than you can read this sentence, literally.

Book the outbound NOW ..... diarise three weeks later and search for the inbound flights then. In the worse case ........ very worse case, you can't find premium cabin inbound flights!

What would I do then? Personally, I'd suck it up and book an economy award return flight (as a precaution)*. Get to your destination in comfort and convenience, if you haven't flown in a premium long haul before you will thoroughly enjoy it, and start your three week holiday on a positive note. On the return legs .... well .... 24 hours of pain I guess, but at least when I land back in Australia .... I can go straight to my own and sleep for 24 hours and recuperate.

* in the meantime, continue to search for premium cabin awards as they can sporadically appear throughout the year for whatever reasons, and if they become available, book the J/F ticket and then cancel the economy award (at a penalty of 6K per ticket?).

 

[BigKahunaBurger]

Many thanks for the great tips all - greatly appreciated.