QANTAS classic reward to DPS - no business awards available?

[crabb52]

My husband and I are looking to fly CBR-DPS in Aug 2022 (or if that doesn't work, Mar 23). We go there not infrequently, and usually manage to get a classic reward ticket for business class - always on Jetstar. Looking at both August and March, there are no business class award flights available. Can anyone comment on whether they are likely to become available? Or would we be better to book an economy ticket for cash and try to upgrade? Have never attempted an upgrade and it seems a bit uncertain - are there any tricks to increasing the likelihood of getting an upgrade? We are newbies at this game - only FF Bronze. We have a fair few points through business, but not enough to burn for a non-classic award. Any help welcome!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I'm seeing a decent amount of J availability to DPS as a QF classic award. The only issue is there is only one seat available in J at the moment. My take on this would be to find a date where there is one of these QF classic award J seats available, book the seat for one traveller, then use your points to book the economy classic award for the second traveller. After that request a classic rewards upgrade for the person seated in economy and hope you get the upgrade to clear.

-RooFlyer88

 

[crabb52]

Right, I'll have another search, maybe I should have checked a larger range of dates. Do You have any idea of how to see available award seats in the monthly calendar format? I can't find it.

 

[sudoer]

Right, I'll have another search, maybe I should have checked a larger range of dates. Do You have any idea of how to see available award seats in the monthly calendar format? I can't find it.

Search using the multi-city tool (just plug in each of your return legs, or given you are in CBR, you can split the CBR-SYD/MEL legs off if you'd like additional flexibility in picking your exact domestic flight)

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/book-a-trip/flights/multi-city.html

You might also consider paying cash, both VA and JQ have recently been running specials around the $1200-1400 return mark for business to DPS. Qantas about $1800. Given how cheap the cash fares are DPS is not usually a good value J redemption IMO.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Right, I'll have another search, maybe I should have checked a larger range of dates. Do You have any idea of how to see available award seats in the monthly calendar format? I can't find it.

I use a subscription service called ExpertFlyer which shows award availability across most airlines.

Per the tool, there is exactly one classic business award on the dates of Wednesday August 10, Thursday August 12, Wednesday August 17, Sunday August 21, Thursday August 25, Sunday August 28, and Wednesday August 31 on Qantas. You would be flying Qantas from CBR to MEL then connecting onwards to QF45 to DPS. Unfortunately, I couldn't seem to find any classic economy awards at this time on those dates. However, it still may make sense to book the business classic award while you have it and wait to see if economy classic awards appear. If they don't, worse case you can cancel out your award free of charge thanks to the Fly Flexible program. Alternatively you can book the economy fare as a cash fare (I'm seeing rough $900 return) with QF then request the points upgrade on it.

Last but certainly not least, and to round out this discussion, have you considered Virgin Australia? They offer CBR to DPS service as well and there may be a decent redemption or upgrade option there, provided you have Virgin Australia points (these can be converted from Flybuys at a rate of 2000 Flybuys points = 1000 Virgin Australia points).

-RooFlyer88

 

[crabb52]

Thanks! I've found the monthly calendar, Sudoer, and none of those award flights you mentioned, RooFlyer, are coming up at all - none of the award flights are on Qantas. All are Jetstar or Malaysian Airlines. Why can't I see what you see? However, now that I can see the calendar properly, there are plenty of Jetstar award flights in business, so I'm happy with that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have found jetstar business awards from both SYD and MEL to DPS in July, after school holidays. So the availability is there, albeit patchy. The availability seems to be on the later evening flight out of MEL rather than the popular early morning flight.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Thanks! I've found the monthly calendar, Sudoer, and none of those award flights you mentioned, RooFlyer, are coming up at all - none of the award flights are on Qantas. All are Jetstar or Malaysian Airlines. Why can't I see what you see? However, now that I can see the calendar properly, there are plenty of Jetstar award flights in business, so I'm happy with that.

When using the normal award search and you get the results you need to click the Rewards Only filter to force QF to only display class awards across cabins. QF does their level best to discourage folks from booking classic flight awards:



Then you are presented with the normal results:




-RooFlyer88

 

[Port Power]

Remember, kangarooflyer88, you are QF Gold while the OP is bronze. More options open up with each level, which is why they might not see all reward availability. Or is that just for seat selection? My apologies for muddying the waters if so.

I would also recommend booking the J reward and then, preferably, pay for the other seat in J, or book reward Y and lodge an upgrade request. Or look for the specials mentioned by Sudoer.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Remember, kangarooflyer88, you are QF Gold while the OP is bronze. More options open up with each level, which is why they might not see all reward availability. Or is that just for seat selection? My apologies for muddying the waters if so.

I would also recommend booking the J reward and then, preferably, pay for the other seat in J, or book reward Y and lodge an upgrade request. Or look for the specials mentioned by Sudoer.

QF pricing on the Bali route has reached domestic pricing levels… they wasn’t nearly $3000 return from MEL/SYD… on a 737! Might have been ok on the a330… but recliners on the red eye is brutal

Platinums should get the first 6 rows of economy with the middle seat blocked (as was happening pre covid due to weight restrictions IIRC)