Qantas - Emirates Award flight Discussion

[Noah Count]

If I can't book via DXB using QF, it just makes more sense for me, to start using EK directly.
They have loads of seats, so we'll likely end up just paying via EK directly.
Not really concerned if it's QF metal or not, or if it costs more points or not.
Just looking for seats via DXB. And can't get any via QF.
Also looking at going via DOH and AUH. Nothing using QF site.

IMO, the most important thing is to find a program that works for you. As for your comment around travelling via DOH or AUH, QR and QF seem to dislike each other to the point QR as a OW member jumped into bed with VA. QR and EY are AMEX transfer partners, I have not tried to transfer to EY and book directly but have with QR (I have no status) and it is all very simple.

 

[SYD]

QR and QF seem to dislike each other to the point QR as a OW member jumped into bed with VA.

Because QF has a long standing agreement with EK - long before QR was even flying to Oz (other than a MEL run).

QF did have have a thing with EY before VA eloped with them and then EY ditched them…(it’s not me, it’s you - nasty).

Yes, with 20:20 hindsight it would be nice if QF and QR were closer.

 

[serfty]

I’ve been seeing it for years. We want to use points to visit Seat Son but always end up paying as we can never find J rewards flights from SYD or MEL To DXB.

Think outside the box ...

Premium awards to DOH using many airline frequent flyer programs including Velocity.

From there it is a short hop to Dubai.

 

[robolb]

I'm just hoping that tomorrow morning the lack of AU to/from DXB rewards seats is fixed.... Not sure it will be though.

May raise a complaint if they don't as the last one with QF seemed to get past the AI and had a human response for another issue...

Doesn't look like it. The cost in points has increased a bit, but no more seats seem to have opened up.
i.e. via US was about 55 k points now 63 k ish for Econ.

Afternote added. I suspect they can't fill the seats going to Europe via the US, hence the lack of seats via DXB.

 

[lovestotravel]

Deleted my earlier post as the search wasn't loading properly for me and I thought more seats had disappeared.

But yes, no changes sadly today and the blackhole of availability continues with all classes unable to be booked for March/April/May/June with the exception of a few random dates, instead of the daily availability that used to show

Sigh

 

[lovestotravel]

Oh and checking DXB-MLE which I also watch quite a bit as we have a trip booked and another one to book, there is no literally no seats available at all to QF in any class at all flying EK non-stop.

Normally you can get 2 x F and 4 x J on most flights.

Strange times.....

 

[Noah Count]

Oh and checking DXB-MLE which I also watch quite a bit as we have a trip booked and another one to book, there is no literally no seats available at all to QF in any class at all flying EK non-stop.

Normally you can get 2 x F and 4 x J on most flights.

Strange times.....

Reading this and from some of the banter up thread around seat release back to AU I went back and did the same search a few weeks back. A few weeks ago DXB-ADL had at least 2 J seats and was one of the reasons I had asked my wife if she wanted me to change her and my daughter's flights direct back into ADL if they are available. As at today all the J seats that were there have vanished.

 

[Seat0B]

Think outside the box ...

Premium awards to DOH using many airline frequent flyer programs including Velocity.

From there it is a short hop to Dubai.

Yes in the longer term, that is probably the best bet. In the immediate term, I have all my (millions of) points and status with QF....

 

[MELso]

Reading this and from some of the banter up thread around seat release back to AU I went back and did the same search a few weeks back. A few weeks ago DXB-ADL had at least 2 J seats and was one of the reasons I had asked my wife if she wanted me to change her and my daughter's flights direct back into ADL if they are available. As at today all the J seats that were there have vanished.
View attachment 463039

That's odd - DXB-ADL is showing for me fairly reliably until 21 May in J.

 

[Flyfrequently]

In the immediate term, I have all my (millions of) points and status with QF....

Ditto @Seat0B

 

[Noah Count]

That's odd - DXB-ADL is showing for me fairly reliably until 21 May in J.

My search was from 30 May 26, we only arrive in LHR on 25 May 26 so anything before that date is of no value to me. I did another search from 9 May 26 and can see some flights up until 20 May 26. I am using multi city for 2 Pax, a search on safari and chrome returned the same results.

 

[lovestotravel]

Sat 7th March 2026 is a sad sad day with the last MEL-DXB seat in J being available

 

[robolb]

Oh and checking DXB-MLE which I also watch quite a bit as we have a trip booked and another one to book, there is no literally no seats available at all to QF in any class at all flying EK non-stop.

Normally you can get 2 x F and 4 x J on most flights.

Strange times.....

trying to book by calling. Seems like there is a $77 booking fee now...
Nothing...... No award flights SYD-DXB

The agent suggested I book direct with Emirates and just pay for a seat!

It sounded like a Philippines call centre and sadly the Agent had no clue what they were doing. Suggested at one stage I use my Qantas points to book direct online with Emirates.

Even suggested I fly SYD-CDG "direct". That would be something! What do you reckon, 16-17 hour flight?

Sorry to rant. Just about had it with QF.

 

[lovestotravel]

trying to book by calling. Seems like there is a $77 booking fee now...
Nothing...... No award flights SYD-DXB

The agent suggested I book direct with Emirates and just pay for a seat!

It sounded like a Philippines call centre and sadly the Agent had no clue what they were doing. Suggested at one stage I use my Qantas points to book direct online with Emirates.

Even suggested I fly SYD-CDG "direct". That would be something! What do you reckon, 16-17 hour flight?

Sorry to rant. Just about had it with QF.

Yeah it's pathetic

As I said something is wrong and there is no way to raise it' to get someone with half a clue to look at it

Still can't book DXB- MLE at all now

 

[lovestotravel]

This is what LHR-DXB looks like...

Post automatically merged: Aug 5, 2025

And poor old MEL-DXB

 

[robolb]

Yeah it's pathetic

As I said something is wrong and there is no way to raise it' to get someone with half a clue to look at it

Still can't book DXB- MLE at all now

I'm just going ahead and booking direct with Emirates.
Paying is less hassle than trying to use my QF points and finding no seats.

Pity there isn't a way to escalate a concern with QF somehow.
Clearly something is broken......

I'll have to spend a million QF points on wine.

 

[jase05]

I'm just going ahead and booking direct with Emirates.
Paying is less hassle than trying to use my QF points and finding no seats.

Pity there isn't a way to escalate a concern with QF somehow.
Clearly something is broken......

I'll have to spend a million QF points on wine.

Have you looked at other EK flights from other ports say in Asia for example?
There is often availability on points to and from Asia

 

[robolb]

Have you looked at other EK flights from other ports say in Asia for example?
There is often availability on points to and from Asia

Yes, looked at loads of them. But usually entails additional sectors, long transits etc.
The challenge is trying to do it via the Qantas Portal using QF points.
I have spent hours, days, trying to find seats.
Now giving up.
Easier to just pay Emirates.
I'll use the QF points for something else....

For some reason, which we have no way of knowing, unless there is an insider on the Forum.
EK flights to Europe, from Australia, via Dubai, (when booking classic rewards via QF) have almost zero seats in certain months.

Just had a gutful and not playing anymore.

Sorry for the rant.

 

[jase05]

Yes, looked at loads of them. But usually entails additional sectors, long transits etc.
The challenge is trying to do it via the Qantas Portal using QF points.
I have spent hours, days, trying to find seats.
Now giving up.
Easier to just pay Emirates.
I'll use the QF points for something else....

For some reason, which we have no way of knowing, unless there is an insider on the Forum.
EK flights to Europe, from Australia, via Dubai, (when booking classic rewards via QF) have almost zero seats in certain months.

Just had a gutful and not playing anymore.

Sorry for the rant.

As always I’m sure there are many reasons. Emirates may simply not feel the need to release any more seats on the Australian flights.
I’ve always been pretty flexible and love long transfers and stopovers so I’m always happy to book multi leg trips

 

[lovestotravel]

As always I’m sure there are many reasons. Emirates may simply not feel the need to release any more seats on the Australian flights.
I’ve always been pretty flexible and love long transfers and stopovers so I’m always happy to book multi leg trips

Except you can book directly with EK in J for pretty much any day in March/April/May/June for 7 passengers