Qantas' New Flight Reward Finder Tool

[elanshin]

I can't imagine this is currently hooked up to Qantas' actual award seat availability (didn't ask me to log into QFF), so I'll hazard a guess that this is gyoza but specifically for QFF.

Likely still not that useful for those holding gold+ status as there are a whole bunch of flights locked behind status. I come across them from time to time cross referencing the QF Multi city and not finding them on award sites.

Still this is better than the old where can you go tool.

"Elite status frequent flyers with access to early release classic reward seats, will still have to use the qantas.com platform or request seats via the call centre."
I'm guessing this is referring to WPs ,among others, but maybe I am missing something, but how am I supposed to use the "current platform" to access "early reward" seats ??

You can't on this site if its coded the way i think it is. You'll need to manually search it all up on QF's booking engine whilst logged in. There's a whole bunch of award that isn't available to non elites - and they're often not just early access either. (Last one I actively noticed was a QF1 SYD-LHR economy seat mid August that no 3rd party website showed).

 

[DejaBrew]

As i mentioned above… it’s not just next month. A search to anywhere in Europe retuned over a dozen pages of results for EK into next year. For example barcelona etc.

Not disputing that. My comment was in response to @mviy who stated....

Hmmm, I chose any date and direct flights in Business/First to LHR. Zero availability for what I would’ve thought most would’ve wanted.

"Elite status frequent flyers with access to early release classic reward seats, will still have to use the qantas.com platform or request seats via the call centre."
I'm guessing this is referring to WPs ,among others, but maybe I am missing something, but how am I supposed to use the "current platform" to access "early reward" seats ??

Yes, this would be specific to WP and above. The current "platform" is to phone Qantas to request the release of CR seats.

 

[SYD]

At least it easily shows the lack of QF premium seats on offer

It’s unclear if to me if it’s linked to QF status or just showing NB availability.

Because there are plenty of premium seats I can see the old way, that don’t show up….

 

[DejaBrew]

It’s unclear if to me if it’s linked to QF status or just showing NB availability.

Because there are plenty of premium seats I can see the old way, that don’t show up….

I’m betting it’s NB as there’s no login (yet).

 

[am0985]

Hmmm not sure I like the democratisation of this information. Now the unsavvy points whales will be able to hoover up all the award seats with relative ease.

Selfishly I agree with this. I've flown EK F on award flights a few times from dicking around with the multi city tool. Though I guess restricting this to Silver status might help.

Given it sounds like Qantas are retaining the ability to get SCs on award flights, it might help with finding suitable status runs. Quick trip up to Asia in J for a few days and 96 SCs (or 192 on DSC) wouldn't be so bad.

 

[elanshin]

Yes, this would be specific to WP and above. The current "platform" is to phone Qantas to request the release of CR seats.

I don't take it to mean that at all. There are a whole swathe of seats available to gold+ but no 3rd party site will pick up due to the need to log in (not logged in, can't see. Logged in it shows up). This is separate to Platinum seat releases.

 

[DejaBrew]

I don't take it to mean that at all. There are a whole swathe of seats available to gold+ but no 3rd party site will pick up due to the need to log in (not logged in, can't see. Logged in it shows up). This is separate to Platinum seat releases.

Yeah that’s a fair point.

 

[SYD]

I’m betting it’s NB as there’s no login (yet).

May it stay that way!

I haven’t actually tried using it but SYD+1 started showing me and suggested looking at some USA QF J seats I just seen (multiple days) and there was nothing on the new tool.

 

[ozflier]

Not disputing that. My comment was in response to @mviy who stated....



Yes, this would be specific to WP and above. The current "platform" is to phone Qantas to request the release of CR seats.

Thank you - "will still have to use the qantas.com platform or request seats via the call centre" suggests there are 2 separate options for Plats and above .

 

[DejaBrew]

Thank you - "will still have to use the qantas.com platform or request seats via the call centre" suggests there are 2 separate options for Plats and above .

As @elanshin pointed out, option 1 is to log into the QF site and do a traditional CR search. As an elite FF, you would (theoretically) see more CR seats than a lower-tier FF member. Option 2 is to call for release of CR seats (only for WP and above).

 

[MelbFlyer]

A good tool, basically a free version of Gyoza's service (as they were limited to only 3 months from today's date).

Unfortunately much like what Point Hacks does, this will continue to erode availability of premium seats as it's made it "easier" to search for reward seats.

 

[fletty]

One thing it lacks is the ability to filter by airline and stopover locations which makes it less useful than flightseats.io free tier for example. I'm trying to find some convoluted routes to Europe which is much easier to do when you can exclude ME stopovers..

 

[Spacetravel]

As good as this new tool is, it is a bit of an own goal for Qantas as it very quickly highlights how little international reward seat inventory they release. If they care or not is to be seen.

 

[pauly7]

Nice. A clean looking search tool and seems to be fast too. A good enhancement but there is room for improvement such as ability to filter on operating carrier (i.e. filter out Emirates flights) and/or a filter on the co-payment/surcharge amount (not sure if I have that terminology correct).

Agree on being able to filter on operating carrier

 

[flyguy77]

So they just bought out a scraping tool and it's not even linked to the actual live availability via a login?

Pretty slack effort from Qantas.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

Disappointed to see multi-city searches aren't available. However it appears you can stitch them together seperately with individual one way searches. Will assume married segments may become a problem.

 

[mviy]

As a WP I guess I still will need to consider what 3rd party tool to start using.

 

[SYD]

As a WP I guess I still will need to consider what 3rd party tool to start using.

or just the MS search.

 

[RooFlyer]

Now reported in the Oz

Qantas launches new website search tool to help travellers find elusive frequent flyer reward seats

 

[RealtimeY]

Agree on being able to filter on operating carrier

Probably too embarrassing to allow that