QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

[Austman]

The fare bucket class for the Dom J fights must have been available.

Ahh. But I think bookings that are totally domestic are different again? Inasmuch as they are handled in a different way?

Whenever I've had a dom J flight (paid or points), fly-forward was been accepted. Not so with Y.

 

[Matt_01]

I want a domestic return for 1 pax - me.

Ahh. But I think bookings that are totally domestic are different again? Inasmuch as they are handled in a different way?

Missed that you were after domestic J flights only.

I have no experience is requesting domestic J flights, in fact, I did not know you could I always assumed it was only for international. I have learnt something new today.

 

[Austman]

Missed that you were after domestic J flights only.

Domestic Y in fact.

 

[Austman]

It's now 3 days since I made my request. But 2 of those days were the weekend.

This morning (Monday), both my 1st and 2nd choice were still showing as "requested". But now, Monday afternoon, my 1st choice is showing "confirmed"! So I guess it's now for me to call Qantas to pay for the taxes...

 

[Austman]

I have now made the phone call and paid the taxes.

But no eticket has been issued just yet.

And my WP status seems to not be working for seat selection. The only free seats I can see are after the exits rows in the 737s. And the exit row itself is at a $20 cost per seat to me.

Remembering these are domestic flights about 6 weeks out, so I think that looks odd...

 

[Austman]

The problem seems to be that my QFF number is not sticking in my booking... I add it, but when I next log-in again, it's gone...

 

[Austman]

And just now I received an email from Qantas Customer Services titled: "Classic Reward flight request".

Your recent Classic Reward flight request

We have an outcome regarding your recent Classic Reward flight request.


Give us a call as soon as you can
​

Good to know that an email is part of the process!

 

[Austman]

And my WP status seems to not be working for seat selection. The only free seats I can see are after the exits rows in the 737s. And the exit row itself is at a $20 cost per seat to me

A bounce through finnair.com finally got my QFF number to stick in the booking and now I have the regular WP seat choices although the exit row is still $20 per seat (as per the new-ish policy ).

 

[muppet]

Had an interesting experience yesterday.

Expertflyer showed "I" class but Qantas rep couldn't see "I" class in the system so wouldn't request the seat. Very frustrating experience when i usually found expertflyer to be reasonably accurate. (yes changed point of sale to AU/UK/US).

Eventually connections to Asia had requests approved almost instantly. But again had to go through SYD despite "I" class available direct to MEL. Lots of the annoying married segment rules for commercial fares seems to infecting awards as well!

 

[RichardMEL]

With EF be sure to set the point of sale/ticketing whatever as the default usually is USA and *sometimes* it can show different availability.

it may be something like that... or just am agent making an mistake or somehting

 

[BD1959]

Had a very interesting exchange with the Premium Desk in Hobart today.

I was looking to book MEL-BNE-HKG (QF J); HKG-MAN (CX J); BHX-DXB-BKK-SYD (EK J), SYD-MEL (QF J) in Sep/Oct next year.

Last night MEL-SYD had been available on a huge number of early morning flights, which I had hoped to book to connect in to QF127 since I preferred the 744 from SYD - if I had to connect - QF29 for MEL-HKG had zero availability in any class. Anyway, I tried a couple of times to book the alternative (above) and the system would allow me all the way through to actually capturing the segments (or whatever it does when it say "Managing Booking" and then failed saying it could not book one of the flights and to try an alternative.

Very helpful CSE suggested this may be because one of the non-QF segments did not really have availability, as she tried, she got the same issue but was able to see it was on the last QF Domestic Segment. She also confirmed that there really was MEL-SYD but offered - at no prompting - to see if she could successfully request QF29 "seeing as you're Platinum". Of course I agreed - would make for a 10:00 departure rather than 6:45am via SYD (and I really didn't fancy a BNE transfer).

In the end, she requested both QF29 and the QF Domestics and was able to book to conclusion.

Finally, she stated that there would be no admin fee not only because I was unable to book personally but "because there's no fee for Platinums". I admitted this is the first time I'd heard this (YMMV) but she assured me this really is the case.

Very satisfied customer !!

Regards,

BD

 

[snabbu]

In the end, she requested both QF29 and the QF Domestics and was able to book to conclusion.

How long did the process take from the time of request till request approved?

 

[BD1959]

How long did the process take from the time of request till request approved?

About 3 mins - just put on hold while she requested both.

Regards,

BD

 

[snabbu]

Ok thanks for the info.

Recently I requested a seat to be released (being the last leg of a 280k booking with numerous other segments all available and held) and the operator advised he would send the request up the chain and I would get an answer within the next 48 hours...

I must have just been unlucky as every other time I've requested a seat I've been put on hold and had an answer within a max of 15 minutes. After a quick HUACA I got a regular agent who had no issues opening up the seat request and completing the reservation.

 

[BD1959]

Must admit, I think I struck lucky ....

Pretty much straight away I could tell this CSR was used to dealing with these sorts of requests, mine was probably nowhere near as complex as some.

Regards,

BD

 

[Princess Fiona]

I don’t think there is a P1 thread for this so I’ll post it here.
2 J seats return SYD-LAX in January school holidays. Requested and approved today.
I don’t often request Award seats but perhaps I should !!!

 

[Matt_01]

I don’t think there is a P1 thread for this so I’ll post it here.
2 J seats return SYD-LAX in January school holidays. Requested and approved today.
I don’t often request Award seats but perhaps I should !!!

When I travel with Mrs and MissM it is normally in school holidays and mostly on all the most popular routes JP, EU, UK and US. Over the past 3 years have been able to request and be approved at least x2 J or F for all mentioned destinations. A couple of years back it may have taken 48hrs but more recently normally approved within minutes (this has even surprised the agent).

Only knock back from QF was when I requested x2 F SYD or MEL to LAX (onward to BOS) made in May/Jun 16 for travel in April 17 school holidays. Mrs and MissM ended up on QR F so I do not think they were that disappointed.

Recently I (x1) have requested F QF1/2 via SIN, J QF96 all have been approved within minutes for travel over the next 6 months.

Not sure if QF have changed the approval rules, it seems to be quicker and easier. Just another P1 feedback.

 

[madrooster]

QF is now more rigorously enforcing the minimum classes that must be available when doing a seat release request...

Currently domestic requests have to go for manual approval by revenue management. Automated seat releases for domestic will also be coming soon (currently in testing).

Current list of classes required:

Platinum:

Domestic Business - D
Domestic Economy - N
International First - A
International Business - I
International Premium Economy - T
International Economy - Q

Platinum One / Chairman's Lounge / Chairman One:

Domestic Business - D
Domestic Economy - N
International First - F
International Business - D
International Premium Economy - R
International Economy - L

The wiki has also been updated.

 

[cove]

This past week I was able to move Mrscove onto my flight. She got the last seat in business class SYD-PER and it meant one limo drive rather than two. We were both pleased with this. We are not troubled by me being in row 2 and Mrscove in row 8 as the A330 has comfortable suites.

 

[kpc]

QF is now more rigorously enforcing the minimum classes that must be available when doing a seat release request...

Currently domestic requests have to go for manual approval by revenue management. Automated seat releases for domestic will also be coming soon (currently in testing).

Current list of classes required:

Platinum:

Domestic Business - D
Domestic Economy - N
International First - A
International Business - I
International Premium Economy - T
International Economy - Q

Platinum One / Chairman's Lounge / Chairman One:

Domestic Business - D
Domestic Economy - N
International First - F
International Business - D
International Premium Economy - R
International Economy - L

The wiki has also been updated.

I just had success in getting 1x Business seat Syd-Lhr on QF 1 in Nov 18 released (I could find no J award availability online for Qf 1 on multiple dates in Nov ). It was automated and I had my +ve answer in a minute. The CSA told me he could put the request in as there was "I" class availability which fits with the info above.... there was no mention of the 6000 point assistance fee