Qantas - Emirates Award flight Availability

[RedSMS]

Alright.

So, I'm half thinking of heading to Dubai early next year.

QFF no status, but with enough points to book 2 X classic reward legs from MEL-DXB return in J.

Qantas is using EK metal for these scam redemptions, and no matter how hard I try, (on QF website), the system will force feed me a return leg that's 137,000 points + $1300 (as opposed to 119,200 +$1245 for MEL-DXB) and fly me home via SYD, and then plop me on a JQ flight to MEL !!!!!!!

They do the exact same thing if you were to try and book SYD-DXB return (whether as a round trip), or as a one way redemption.

EK operates 3 flights a day to/from MEL-DXB, SYD-DXB (and I would presume vice versa), but they slap you in the face for trying to use your points. As if the $1300 isn't bad enough!!!!

By the way, I checked for multiple dates the availability of direct flights (if you were to book them as standalone flights), and QF do offer direct classic reward redemptions!!!!

Surely there has to be a workaround here?

Because if there isn't, Qantas is technically showing classic reward flight bookings for legs (direct) that can't actually be booked?

Or, do I take the chance and booking one leg at a time???

This just seems like a pretty shady practice to me to be perfectly honest.


It's almost as if they are ghost flights!


SURELY, there is some way to bypass this endless scam that is QF Frequent Flyer!!!

 

[lovestotravel]

Seems AU to DXB has dried up after 7 March 26 in J or F

Nothing and some seats should be loaded until the 1st week of June at the moment.

Normally 1 x F and 2 or 3 x J on most days but after 7 March, nothing

Hope it fixes itself soon

 

[MELso]

Seems AU to DXB has dried up after 7 March 26 in J or F

Nothing and some seats should be loaded until the 1st week of June at the moment.

Normally 1 x F and 2 or 3 x J on most days but after 7 March, nothing

Hope it fixes itself soon

There is some availability, especially out of ADL, but it's patchy. Not like before March where there is plentiful availability from all AU cities.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Search as Multi-City (flexible dates) AND make sure to sort by duration.

Pretty sure that there isn't an option within the Multi-City tool to sort by duration, unless you're using the "regular" flight search page (not within the classic rewards multi-city portal).

 

[lovestotravel]

There is some availability, especially out of ADL, but it's patchy. Not like before March where there is plentiful availability from all AU cities.

Yeah something has changed... Other routes that I am looking at are fine with normal availability up to end of May but literally nothing MEL/SYD to DXB from 7 March onwards.

 

[RedSMS]

The point that I am trying to make is that with the sheer amount of EK flights ex Sydney and Melbourne, you should be able to book direct flights from either destination for 119,200 points +$$$. The way they force you to fly indirect when you KNOW there are direct reward flights available if you haven't yet selected the previous leg seems insane to me....

 

[MELso]

The point that I am trying to make is that with the sheer amount of EK flights ex Sydney and Melbourne, you should be able to book direct flights from either destination for 119,200 points +$$$. The way they force you to fly indirect when you KNOW there are direct reward flights available if you haven't yet selected the previous leg seems insane to me....

But this is just it - there are often no direct reward flights, so Qantas offers the next best thing: a business or (sometimes incorrectly priced) economy connection to the nearest city with premium cabin availability. It prices for more points as there are different airlines involved.

There's no non-stop DXB-MEL classic reward availability in J or F in 2026 as it stands based on my quick look. This is down to Emirates not releasing those seats to Qantas because, well, they don't want to give something away for free that people are happy paying for. Simply put, you're not entitled to get the award seat you want on the flight you want.

 

[lovestotravel]

There's no non-stop DXB-MEL classic reward availability in J or F in 2026 as it stands based on my quick look. This is down to Emirates not releasing those seats to Qantas because, well, they don't want to give something away for free that people are happy paying for. Simply put, you're not entitled to get the award seat you want on the flight you want.

DXB-MEL is hard to get, but I suspect availability will open up once the new QF increased QF points change on 5 August

Still unable to book MEL/SYD-DXB in J/F after 7 March which is strange....

 

[SYD]

DXB-MEL is hard to get,

There around. But strangely, the multi-city search isn’t picking them up - well not for me using Safari. But the regular search sees them.

but I suspect availability will open up once the new QF increased QF points change on 5 August

Why? Either EK release seats to QF (and other partners) or they don’t. If QF hold back inventory, they’ll be sniffled by others using other points currencies.

Still unable to book MEL/SYD-DXB in J/F after 7 March which is strange....

I can see EK DXB-MEL out to 02 Jun 2026. But the direct flights weren’t leaping out at me. Mostly via SYD.

 

[lovestotravel]

Why? Either EK release seats to QF (and other partners) or they don’t. If QF hold back inventory, they’ll be sniffled by others using other points currencies.

I can see EK DXB-MEL out to 02 Jun 2026. But the direct flights weren’t leaping out at me. Mostly via SYD.

MEL or SYD to DXB is the strange one. I've been watching it daily for a few months, and suddenly from 7 March onwards no seats..

I suspect some sort of blocking by QF/EK (until the points change) as other routes I watch like DXB-LHR/CDG/MLE and back to DXB have a pattern and I've got 2 x F's and 4 x J's booked

But looking ahead for mid/late next year I need MEL-DXB and nothing has been released for 2 months now

 

[offshore171]

Why? Either EK release seats to QF (and other partners) or they don’t. If QF hold back inventory, they’ll be sniffled by others using other points currencies.

Which frequent flyer scheme points have access to EK reward seats? Is it just Skywards miles, Air Canada points and QF points? Avios for example dont work I believe.

Anyone got a list? Google isn't super clear.

 

[SYD]

MEL or SYD to DXB is the strange one. I've been watching it daily for a few months, and suddenly from 7 March onwards no seats..

There are some U seats in May ex SYD.

I suspect some sort of blocking by QF/EK (until the points change) as other routes I watch like DXB-LHR/CDG/MLE and back to DXB have a pattern and I've got 2 x F's and 4 x J's booked

I doubt it because there’s a truck load of F/J CR seats available leading up to Dec.

But looking ahead for mid/late next year I need MEL-DXB and nothing has been released for 2 months now

Yes, it is strange. Other partners eg FJ had been coming out like clockwork. Although mid June to mid July is looking grim with Worldcup and fewer seats being released.

 

[MELso]

Which frequent flyer scheme points have access to EK reward seats? Is it just Skywards miles, Air Canada points and QF points? Avios for example dont work I believe.

Anyone got a list? Google isn't super clear.

Just those three for F awards now. I imagine most other partners (e.g. JL, UA) offer Y and J awards though.

 

[robolb]

Are they (QF) trying to push the Europe flights via US?
Loads of those!
Maybe too many empty seats?

 

[lovestotravel]

Yes, it is strange. Other partners eg FJ had been coming out like clockwork. Although mid June to mid July is looking grim with Worldcup and fewer seats being released.

Yep everything else is normal, other EK routes all normal and no change

I can understand late March into April no seats due to Easter, but we should be seeing early June seats available now

Fingers crossed it fixes itself soon