Qantas - Emirates Award flight Discussion

[robolb]

ITA Matrix. https://matrix.itasoftware.com/search

(Note they don't sell tickets though.)

Interesting site. Many thanks.

 

[k1s3k1]

Trying to book Ams-Dxb-Per but there seems to be availabilities until Feb 26 only?
There are a lot of availabilities for Ams-Dxb and even Dxb to Asian countries like Singapore up until early June.
But Dxb-Per only available up to Feb 26..

If I book Dxb-Per for Feb 26 now, can I change that later to June 26 once it becomes available on the pre-points increase price?

anyone can help me answer my questions?

 

[MELso]

anyone can help me answer my questions?

Unfortunately, only EK knows why DXB-PER is so scarce after February (check DXB-ADL though as there's patchy J availability).

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/program-changes.html#qf-flights-upgrades

"Existing Classic Flight Reward bookings will retain the conditions in place at the time the booking was made. Any changes to Classic Flights Rewards booked before 5 August 2025, will not be charged the new points levels."

Having said that, the move of EK awards to the Qantas chart means that point increases are not too bad anyway (7-8%, rather than up to ~20% for Qantas and partner awards).

 

[offshore171]

anyone can help me answer my questions?

Are you open to snapping up the award flights through to Singapore now, and then trying for SIN-PER later (either paid or award)?

 

[k1s3k1]

Are you open to snapping up the award flights through to Singapore now, and then trying for SIN-PER later (either paid or award)?

The reason I'm opting PER is because both Ams-Dxb and Dxb-Per routes have availabilities for 2 seats in F until Feb 26.
Dxb-Sin only has 1 seat availabilities in F, although has availabilities until June 2026.

I'm considering to just book Ams-Dxb and Dxb-Per for 2 in F first for Feb 26, and change later once June 2026 becomes available. This technically should work right?

 

[MELso]

The reason I'm opting PER is because both Ams-Dxb and Dxb-Per routes have availabilities for 2 seats in F until Feb 26.
Dxb-Sin only has 1 seat availabilities in F, although has availabilities until June 2026.

I'm considering to just book Ams-Dxb and Dxb-Per for 2 in F first for Feb 26, and change later once June 2026 becomes available. This technically should work right?

What about DXB-CGK or DXB-DPS?

 

[robolb]

The reason I'm opting PER is because both Ams-Dxb and Dxb-Per routes have availabilities for 2 seats in F until Feb 26.
Dxb-Sin only has 1 seat availabilities in F, although has availabilities until June 2026.

I'm considering to just book Ams-Dxb and Dxb-Per for 2 in F first for Feb 26, and change later once June 2026 becomes available. This technically should work right?

Excuse my ignorance, but how are you seeing the actual number of seats available?

 

[MELso]

Excuse my ignorance, but how are you seeing the actual number of seats available?

I select the number of adults tickets are sought for. So searching DXB-CGK for 2 people brings up availability into June (on a 77W), but not on DXB-SIN.

 

[SYD]

Interesting site. Many thanks.

Google flights is pretty similar and a bit more user friendly, plus it will take you through to a booking site. But I prefer to use ITA Matrix for it's advance features (albeit a bit clunky).

 

[offshore171]

This technically should work right

No I don’t think so. You would have to either fly in Feb as booked or cancel the redemption and find new award seats. Big gamble I think.

I’d work harder on the options via Asia. Use the multi city tool and see what you can find.

 

[k1s3k1]

No I don’t think so. You would have to either fly in Feb as booked or cancel the redemption and find new award seats. Big gamble I think.

I’d work harder on the options via Asia. Use the multi city tool and see what you can find.

hmm why cant I book for Feb first and change to June once it becomes available, and pay the 5000 change fee points? I think it should become available in the next 3-4 months?

 

[MELso]

hmm why cant I book for Feb first and change to June once it becomes available, and pay the 5000 change fee points? I think it should become available in the next 3-4 months?

There are two risks:
1. Two seats do not become available when you want them.
2. The whole booking is cancelled when you change, taking the AMS-DXB leg with it.

I'd book AMS-DXB-CGK in June, or hold off and see what turns up (noting that EK awards are not as badly affected by the devaluation).

 

[Cessna 180]

The main reason is that you can’t ‘transit’ the US… you have to enter, and then depart again. Who wants to potentially add an hour in a passport queue, wait for luggage, clear customs, and then spend another 30 mins in the TSA queue back out again? It’s not much fun.

And if you were in economy without a lounge, the price of food and beverage is prohibitively expensive now at places like LAX, especially if you had a family.

OK, I did not realize the entry and departure can take that long. Let alone "searching devices" as RoboB mentioned above. I don't exactly understand what that is referring too anyway.
Again to be clear I have no real desire to go there but that has nothing to do with what government is in power.

Having said that, I like going to new places and if for some reason I had a need to go there I would not hesitate. I may re consider my transit via there. I am looking at either DFW or JFK arriving on QF and then departing a few hours later.

On another note: I had kind of forgotten I did go to Tinian via Guam a few years ago. I don't recall the entry to Guam being any trauma, but the departure does stick in my mind as a bit of a debacle getting through security etc.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK, I did not realize the entry and departure can take that long. Let alone "searching devices" as RoboB mentioned above. I don't exactly understand what that is referring too anyway.
Again to be clear I have no real desire to go there but that has nothing to do with what government is in power.

Having said that, I like going to new places and if for some reason I had a need to go there I would not hesitate. I may re consider my transit via there. I am looking at either DFW or JFK arriving on QF and then departing a few hours later.

On another note: I had kind of forgotten I did go to Tinian via Guam a few years ago. I don't recall the entry to Guam being any trauma, but the departure does stick in my mind as a bit of a debacle getting through security etc.

I was being generous allowing an hour for entry to the USA. i was caught in a queue at ORD for over three hours one time. My last couple of entries I sprinted from the plane to immigration and was through in about 20 mins… noting there was only two pax in front of me to be processed. But the queues after me wouod have been 1+ hours at least.

Rejoining the TSA queue is no fun either… but at least you don’t have to remove shoes now, A very quiet departure on the QF flight ex SFO last year still saw me waiting 20 mins… and security really was quiet.

 

[drcam]

I have noticed that it is not possible to get a F redemption via Dubai on QF on my list of approximate dates to any airport in the UK. Dublin in Ireland is okay. Is this intentional / a universal experience?

 

[J-P]

I have noticed that it is not possible to get a F redemption via Dubai on QF on my list of approximate dates to any airport in the UK. Dublin in Ireland is okay. Is this intentional / a universal experience?

I just ran a test search and there was availability to London from Dubai almost every day in different months.

So I assume you are struggling with a pre-Dubai segment from somewhere in Australia? It would help if we knew the airport/routing. But there is heaps of availability to the UK in F.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

EK seems very tight on releasing ex-AU J/F awards. Even worse with the MEL-KUL and MEL-SIN services no longer being run.

 

[drcam]

No, going from HND to DXB and then onto Europe. Works for just about everywhere in Europe but not the UK.

 

[offshore171]

No, going from HND to DXB and then onto Europe. Works for just about everywhere in Europe but not the UK.

What dates approximately? Have you tried the multi city tool? Is J showing up for you?

Also try Narita as EK flies out of both.

 

[drcam]

Yes multi city tool was used. also F not J.
Late May early June.