QF redemption availability on J restricted to higher tier members?

[Gavra]

Hi all,

Firstly, my apologies if this was discussed or enquiry answered on a different thread, which I did not find.

I have a feeling that this is due to a QFF tier restriction/advantage, so as QF Red members, there are some 'hidden' redemption availability that are not available to us, can someone please confirm?

We have been looking for J redemption from BNE (or SYD) to LHR/CDG in Feb/Mar/May 2023 and on initial search results, availabilities are suggested on a number of days, but when we select to look for flight for the suggestet date(s), the actual reward fare is no where to be found;







We have searched through multiple dates in Feb/ Mar/ May with the same issue, also called customer support, which of course no one can understand what we were trying to explain, nor see the fares on the dates as suggested some possible availability for reward bookings.

Would anyone have any suggestions on what I can do, or explanation to what's happening?

Thanks!

 

[theoracle30]

It's a well-documented glitch on some of the Facebook community pages. I did a search as a Platinum and nothing of note came up as Business Reward.

 

[Ade]

Hi all,

Firstly, my apologies if this was discussed or enquiry answered on a different thread, which I did not find.

I have a feeling that this is due to a QFF tier restriction/advantage, so as QF Red members, there are some 'hidden' redemption availability that are not available to us, can someone please confirm?

We have been looking for J redemption from BNE (or SYD) to LHR/CDG in Feb/Mar/May 2023 and on initial search results, availabilities are suggested on a number of days, but when we select to look for flight for the suggestet date(s), the actual reward fare is no where to be found;



View attachment 303912
View attachment 303913
View attachment 303914

We have searched through multiple dates in Feb/ Mar/ May with the same issue, also called customer support, which of course no one can understand what we were trying to explain, nor see the fares on the dates as suggested some possible availability for reward bookings.

Would anyone have any suggestions on what I can do, or explanation to what's happening?

Thanks!

Try selecting "Rewards Only" radio option button in the Filters and see if the 177K points reward flight is listed.

 

[SYD]

Award seats on QF operated flights do get released to higher tier QFF members ahead lower tier. But there’s also a paucity of J seats being released by QF even for higher tiers on most of the popular routes.

 

[Ade]

Try selecting "Rewards Only" radio option button in the Filters and see if the 177K points reward flight is listed.

Update: I tried searching "Rewards Only" and only Y reward seats are available. No PE, J, F seats available for sale at this point

 

[djkelly69]

availabilities are suggested on a number of days, but when we select to look for flight for the suggestet date(s), the actual reward fare is no where to be found;

Are you searching for more than one seat?

Pretty sure someone posted recently that the award flight indicator (the red ribbon or whatever it is) seems to relate to at least one seat being available on that day, rather than the number of seats you are actually searching for (presumably 2 or more).

Maybe try searching for only one seat and see if availability is actually in line with the indicator?

 

[SYD]

Are you searching for more than one seat?

Pretty sure someone posted recently that the award flight indicator (the red ribbon or whatever it is) seems to relate to at least one seat being available on that day, rather than the number of seats you are actually searching for (presumably 2 or more).

Maybe try searching for only one seat and see if availability is actually in line with the indicator?

Also try the multi-sector search (painful but shows more award options).

 

[encryptededdy]

I assume the icon represents the existence of partner awards, only accessible through the "Rewards Only" button.

 

[levelnine]

Just a glitch, of which there are many.

As you can see now, the system has cleared the glitch for those dates, but still shows it for 6 May (there is no J award availability if you click through).



The multi-city tool confirms there is, in fact, no J availability on BNE to LHR for even one passenger during that time:

 

[Seat0B]

Hi all,

Firstly, my apologies if this was discussed or enquiry answered on a different thread, which I did not find.

I have a feeling that this is due to a QFF tier restriction/advantage, so as QF Red members, there are some 'hidden' redemption availability that are not available to us, can someone please confirm?

We have been looking for J redemption from BNE (or SYD) to LHR/CDG in Feb/Mar/May 2023 and on initial search results, availabilities are suggested on a number of days, but when we select to look for flight for the suggestet date(s), the actual reward fare is no where to be found;



View attachment 303912
View attachment 303913
View attachment 303914

We have searched through multiple dates in Feb/ Mar/ May with the same issue, also called customer support, which of course no one can understand what we were trying to explain, nor see the fares on the dates as suggested some possible availability for reward bookings.

Would anyone have any suggestions on what I can do, or explanation to what's happening?

Thanks!

It also looks like you have the "points plus pay" button selected, so maybe try again with just classic rewards selected.

 

[RooFlyer]

Possibly a glitch showing availability for 177K points (implying a Classic Reward, as you say). It is likely that there are no business reward seats available in the period being searched. London is one of the most popular routes, and Qantas doesn't release many J seats on it, and there are taken soon after they are made available - 353 days out for higher status members, 297 or so for lower status. So all should be visible, if there at the moment.

EDIT: levelnine has it.

Occasionally they do release more seats, but again, you have to be quick to obtain.

Have you heard of Award Flight Assist? Its a sister site to AFF where for a fee they will find award seats to destinations, if there are any!!

Welcome to Frequent Flyer Concierge - Frequent Flyer Solutions

frequentflyer.com.au

 

[Matt_01]

Looking for early May 23 will be a struggle as the reward seats would have been released in late May 22 and the AU-UK/EU routes are snapped up quite quickly. Also I think QF release seats to other OW carriers however I do not know how many days in advance this may be. When booking rewards flights in J I work on the assumption I am competing with everyone across the OW or *A programs for what is limited availability. I will book the major long haul sectors based on whatever is available on the day of release and then other sectors based on availability.

 

[Gavra]

Possibly a glitch showing availability for 177K points (implying a Classic Reward, as you say). It is likely that there are no business reward seats available in the period being searched. London is one of the most popular routes, and Qantas doesn't release many J seats on it, and there are taken soon after they are made available - 353 days out for higher status members, 297 or so for lower status. So all should be visible, if there at the moment.

EDIT: levelnine has it.

Occasionally they do release more seats, but again, you have to be quick to obtain.

Have you heard of Award Flight Assist? Its a sister site to AFF where for a fee they will find award seats to destinations, if there are any!!

Welcome to Frequent Flyer Concierge - Frequent Flyer Solutions

frequentflyer.com.au

Well, that's what I thought, however this glitch seemed to have been very persistent, as I have been seeing this for the last few weeks, so I thought to see if anyone has noted the same and possibly reported to QF.

 

[Mr H]

I saw something similar on multi-city yesterday. Looking at MEL-xx_ and xx_-MEL and found J ribbons showing on the monthly calendar. When I selected those dates I got an error message and then showed the same calendar but with only red Economy ribbons. Sorry I am not being very specific - dying of Covid and have brain fog - but this did seem to apply specifically to QF flights in J.

 

[ozflier]

I am Platinum and have similar feelings to the posters.
There are just minimal if any business class international rewards seats on offer next february to August.
I earn a lot of points via CCs, shopping , real estate etc and simply cannot use those points to get international business class reward seats .
Sure Qantas has issues providing seats for points holders but I no longer go to any extra trouble to earn QFF points because I cannot use them !
I suspect I am not the only one .
Maybe in time the retailers who buy those points will realise they are not worth the money QFF demands!

 

[MrJetset]

This is a very annoying bug on all devices - app and desktop.

As the OP notes, it displays there are awards that meet your search criteria and it displays the cost in points and taxes, however once you select the date no such awards appear.

 

[Lemon_Party]

I am Platinum and have similar feelings to the posters.
There are just minimal if any business class international rewards seats on offer next february to August.
I earn a lot of points via CCs, shopping , real estate etc and simply cannot use those points to get international business class reward seats .
Sure Qantas has issues providing seats for points holders but I no longer go to any extra trouble to earn QFF points because I cannot use them !
I suspect I am not the only one .
Maybe in time the retailers who buy those points will realise they are not worth the money QFF demands!

A few years ago I switched my flying from virgin to QF as it seemed QF/oneworld would be much better for rewards. I’ve gone back to VA this year as it’s too hard to secure J/F flights with QF points.

 

[Mr H]

A few years ago I switched my flying from virgin to QF as it seemed QF/oneworld would be much better for rewards. I’ve gone back to VA this year as it’s too hard to secure J/F flights with QF points.

The lack of availability of QF flights to non status pax, and the inability to book QR more than 4 months in advance is combining to create significant difficulty in getting awards to link between OW members networks. Especially when you throw in the no-fly zone over Russia and uncertainty regarding routes through HKG.

 

[Spizz]

The lack of availability of QF flights to non status pax, and the inability to book QR more than 4 months in advance is combining to create significant difficulty in getting awards to link between OW members networks. Especially when you throw in the no-fly zone over Russia and uncertainty regarding routes through HKG.

Agreed. Luckily I had some Virgin Velocity points last week to book 2* Qatar Business class seats to Europe next year. I’m moving my earn to Virgin points currently as at least they have both Qatar and Singapore Business awards 330days out with decent availability. Also enjoy that you can increase the points redeemed to reduce taxes.

My huge pool of Qantas points are currently useless for my useage case with no Emirates, Qatar, or Qantas Business class seats availability currently a year in advance and only the 4 months in advance that you mention by which time they are mostly snapped up. YMMV.