Qantas Award booking when return seats not yet released

[twilsoncrow]

Trying to work out how to make Syd to London in June 2023 and then return July 2023 award booking. Doing a dummy booking I can do the Syd to London however as the flights London to Sydney isnt out yet - I am worried that being 2 x one way bookings that I will be charged the taxes at a higher rate as the London to Sydney flight will be charged via Qantas UK.

Is there a way around this at all?

Thanks

 

[SYD]

Trying to work out how to make Syd to London in June 2023 and then return July 2023 award booking. Doing a dummy booking I can do the Syd to London however as the flights London to Sydney isnt out yet - I am worried that being 2 x one way bookings that I will be charged the taxes at a higher rate as the London to Sydney flight will be charged via Qantas UK.

Is there a way around this at all?

Thanks

Book the outbound as one way and then call up to add the return is the usual way.

There’s a 5000 pt fee for the process but the main hurdle at the moment is the wait times for calling QF…

If booking in whY, you could take the risk and wait for the return flights to come online.

 

[TheInsider]

What higher rate?
Taxes are not charged at a higher rate; you just have to factor in currency exchange rates of paying in GBP, and that's a credit card problem.

LHR-SYD (as a return originating out of SYD) is:


LHR-SYD (as a one way out of LHR in GBP) is:

 

[DC3]

Trying to work out how to make Syd to London in June 2023 and then return July 2023 award booking. Doing a dummy booking I can do the Syd to London however as the flights London to Sydney isnt out yet …

I always book when I see availability. Waiting for all flights to show availability just gives someone else a chance to grab the outward-bound seats.

 

[twilsoncrow]

Book the outbound as one way and then call up to add the return is the usual way.

There’s a 5000 pt fee for the process but the main hurdle at the moment is the wait times for calling QF…

If booking in whY, you could take the risk and wait for the return flights to come online.

Thank you so much for the quick reply. It has been so long since I have booked a reward flight I couldnt remember

 

[dylarr]

Book the outbound as one way and then call up to add the return is the usual way.

There’s a 5000 pt fee for the process but the main hurdle at the moment is the wait times for calling QF…

If booking in whY, you could take the risk and wait for the return flights to come online.

The 5000 pt fee is being waived currently - until the end of the year for international bookings.

 

[SYD]

Thank you so much for the quick reply. It has been so long since I have booked a reward flight I couldnt remember

Something you can do now is look at the availability of flights LHR-SYD each day as they come online and see if you can do a dummy booking for an earlier (equivalent) outbound flight plus that return flight. If there continues to be outbound seats available, then you could hold off booking until you can do the return trip. But if you see the outbound options drying up, then Plan A holds!

Edit: especially if they waive the 5000 pts fee!

 

[Scr77]

Just book as two one ways as soon as you can. Don’t call to add your return flight (unless you have Status) as the call centre may loose the lot.

 

[TheInsider]

Just book as two one ways as soon as you can’t. Don’t call to add your return flight (unless you have Status) as the call centre may loose the lot.

Exactly.
Unknown as to why my explanation above was ignored.

 

[andye]

Exactly.
Unknown as to why my explanation above was ignored.

I prefer to book as 2 one ways as easier to change one of them if needed (and minimal financial disadvantage as said)

 

[sanne]

After many years of booking long haul award flights, I always booked 2 one ways and jumped on them as soon as they were released. By far the less stressful way to do it.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

If you find the flight you're looking for, in the cabin you're looking for and at the redemption rate you're satisfied with, book it now. All too often folks make the mistake of waiting for the other end of their itinerary to appear only to be sorely disappointed to see that when it does become available, the outbound they should've booked is now not available!

Book now, ask questions later!

-RooFlyer88

 

[craven morehead]

Book the outbound as one way and then call up to add the return is the usual way.

There’s a 5000 pt fee for the process but the main hurdle at the moment is the wait times for calling QF…

If booking in whY, you could take the risk and wait for the return flights to come online.

Question: if done this way and one stitches together 3 OW Carriers other than QF will the points required revert to 318k for J seat ? I'm looking to book for 2023 Ashes in England next July.

 

[andye]

Question: if done this way and one stitches together 3 OW Carriers other than QF will the points required revert to 318k for J seat ? I'm looking to book for 2023 Ashes in England next July.

Yes as long as you follow the OWA rules. Notably you can't start from and return to Australia then set off again

 

[craven morehead]

Yes as long as you follow the OWA rules. Notably you can't start from and return to Australia then set off again

Many thanks. That is excellent news I best set my alarm for 353 days from take off.