Qantas Emirates Deal Making Bookings very difficult

[ausi ski bum]

I am trying to work out flights to Venice and back from Barcelona in September October 2013 but the current situation waiting for the ACCC to approve this is making bookings very difficult, Award bookings are none existant via Dubai or Singapore as a result with most tickets via Hong Kong.

Are we going to have to wait until Late March before we can get some stability in the booking system.

 

[markis10]

Provisional approval is due next month.

 

[ausi ski bum]

Wow I hope so I have never found it so hard to book a flight before using points. I check every day but so far just one one way ticket available, wont grab that until I can get at least one return flight. I have 300,000 points burning a hole in my pocket

 

[BindiBratz]

I am in a different position, looking at paying for business class flights from Perth to Istanbul, then from Munich or Frankfurt back to Perth (a stopover in Dubai..???). Have flown with Emirates previously on a similar trip, but would prefer to gain any Q benefits on offer, but ticket pricing also an issue . . . . .

Do I book with Emirates now, or wait and see what the tie up may bring?

 

[ausi ski bum]

I am playing the waiting game myself, I suspect once approved we may see a few specials.

 

[ausi ski bum]

I am still not getting anywhere finding flights, Really annoying

 

[markis10]

I am still not getting anywhere finding flights, Really annoying

Not surprising, until approval is given not much will change!

 

[TheInsider]

Not surprising, until approval is given not much will change!

Which will be around the 20th december from what QF emailed today.

 

[ausi ski bum]

Excellent Looking forward to the sale

 

[Pushka]

We booked business class seats for July 13 before the Qantas deal was announced. We are using virgin to get to Singapore then Emirates Business class Singapore - Dubai then Dubai - Istanbul, then Venice - Dubai -Singapore in Bus class for two people for total $6500 for the Emirates flights. We joined Emirates FF club. We're not getting any Qantas benefits but we're getting very cheap flights. Emirates website also lets you do sector bookings in different classes on the same PNR. If we priced the same trip with our exit base in Australia, then the fares would be double. We're flying Singapore - Adelaide as an award flight with Qantas in Bus Class.

 

[ausi ski bum]

Getting closer to the Draft report, due in a few days

 

[lovestotravel]

Getting closer to the Draft report, due in a few days

It will be interesting that's for sure, but the ACCC was not happy recently about this DEAL

 

[docjames]

They had better hurry up with a sale or my paid J booking to EU in April will go to another carrier. Hello VA, an opportunity to lock in some bookings but your prices sharing with EY into Europe are crazy.

 

[ausi ski bum]

Looks like a good outcome, wonder when the seats become available now. Looking forward to the SALE woo Hoo

 

[docjames]

C'mon sale. I think a lot have been waiting for one and I dont doubt the sale seats will be snapped up very quickly....

 

[moa999]

Presumably will also mean anyone booked on
SYD/MEL-SIN-FRA will also get rerouted via DXB

 

[ausi ski bum]

Ho Hum still no PE rewards seats. Do I wait or buy when the price is right, actually I have noticed a lot less PE seats available on any flights. Must be cutting back.

 

[Familyman1]

I am also frustrated by the inability to book late 2013 award flights to Europe using Emirates. Has anyone tried ringing the Qantas FF awards booking number to see if Emirates flights are being offered over the phone? I imagine these flights will be available via phone bookings before they upgrade the on-line booking system.

 

[ausi ski bum]

It says in the Q&A section on the merger on the Qantas web site points flights with Emirites will not be available until approval is given and things get off te ground in April 2013. My Biggest issue with Emirites is they dont offer a Premium Economy product, to fly with them you either have to be rich, or poor.

I just want two little PE seats to and from Dubai around 16 September returning 17 Oct. Not a big ask

Actually I am considering using Virgin Australia to Abu Dabi then the coach service to Dubai, their PE product is over $1000 cheaper per person. Not flown VA PE on their 777 before but I hear its quite a good product.

 

[Speedbird001]

Alas not.....

Still not materialising. One can only hope 'the analysts' (three individuals that play god in Melbourne, who apparently punish those elites that ask too many times for seats to be released - an experienced reservations op's words, not mine!) are still on Christmas leave.

Which will be around the 20th december from what QF emailed today.