QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

[Cessna 180]

SYD JNB. Released for early Feb whilst I waited on the phone.

(Girlfriend decided she wanted to come on my trip)

 

[Matt_01]

This is my understanding of what must have availability for a request to be considered:

Domestic
N for Economy
D for Business

International
Q for Economy
T for Premium Economy
I for Business
A for First

@madrooster posted similar up thread Here in Dec 2017, P1s get a little more flexibility for international:

International
L for Economy
R for Premium Economy
D for Business
F for First

 

[Brettmcg]

P1 requesting a single U seat for QF36 on 14APR20 rejected by bot and analyst.
Loads were as follows: F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V0 S9 N9 Q9 O0 X0 E0

Oh well, that's a $4k booking that will now go entirely to CX...

 

[sudoer]

P1 requesting a single U seat for QF36 on 14APR20 rejected by bot and analyst.
Loads were as follows: F9 A9 J9 C9 D9 I9

Guessing QF are expecting to sell it out given its the first day back at school after the holidays. Did you happen to ask about releasing an F seat?

 

[Brettmcg]

Guessing QF are expecting to sell it out given its the first day back at school after the holidays. Did you happen to ask about releasing an F seat?

P1 have gone back to the analyst about a P seat, and also looked at QF38 (schedule doesn't suit unfortunately). To be honest, it's just easier to slightly rejig my schedule and book confirmed seats on CX.

 

[MrJetset]

As I have said before: There are absolutely blackout dates based on school holidays, peak periods and even specific days of the week that apply to WP and P1.

 

[Matt_01]

As I have said before: There are absolutely blackout dates based on school holidays, peak periods and even specific days of the week that apply to WP and P1.

I would agree and disagree with you. So to agree getting award seats released as you get closer to so called black out periods can be more difficult to get rewards, however I have not experienced this. To disagree, I have redeemed J or F reward seats for MrsM and MissM during the April and Sep/Oct school holidays over the past 5 years. As we know when we will be traveling a year in advance +/- 2-3 days I tend to book on the day the seats are released. Maybe I have just been lucky to snag the measly offering that QF release but they have been on trunk routes such as JP, SQ, US, UK/EU and others. There was one occasion back in 2016 when both the bot and analyst/ yield management rejected the release of x2 F QF seats to the US so I booked them on QR.

 

[MrJetset]

It's not a point of agreement or disagreement as this isn't my opinion, rather it's fact.

I have seen the PDF call centre agents are instructed by. These restrictions are enforced by the droid.

 

[Matt_01]

It's not a point of agreement or disagreement as this isn't my opinion, rather it's fact.

I have seen the PDF call centre agents are instructed by. These restrictions are enforced by the droid.

Ok so may be I used the wrong words, my comments are also fact. I have never seen the rules on the PDF, I am on the other end of the phone. My point is that you stated that there are black out dates and my interpretation is that no one should be able to book rewards, or rewards are not released. In the past, this has not been my experience.

At present I am so disillusioned with QF, the P1 rubbish and the overall service I am willing to pony up the additional points for MrsM and MissM not to travel with QF and will put them on CX, JL, QR and as much as I hate to admit it BA. Just my 2 cents worth and a whole other topic. Nothing personal

 

[Kangol]

I have seen the PDF call centre agents are instructed by. These restrictions are enforced by the droid.

What are the actual dates? Say for the upcoming 12 months?

 

[MrJetset]

The doc I saw was around 2 years ago. I posted here after seeing it.

It was specific to the upcoming peak season of the next school holidays and identified specific days of the week and flight numbers that were to be refused. When first introduced agents would state they couldn't put in the request, but it now seems rev management have input it directly into the droid. It was at a time when WPs could request manual review, which is no longer the case.

One could speculate QF didn't want elite customers knowing there were blackout dates so avoided agents refusing straight away so to give the impression the request was actually being considered.

 

[kpc]

How long does it take for the analyst to approve / disaprove a request as auto bot said no (looking at 2x Jnb-Syd in J)?..still says "on request" in Manage my Booking...request put on Sat pm (now Tues am). And how do they inform you?

 

[Matt_01]

How long does it take for the analyst to approve / disaprove a request as auto bot said no (looking at 2x Jnb-Syd in J)?..still says "on request" in Manage my Booking...request put on Sat pm (now Tues am). And how do they inform you?

Normally within 48 hours and in my experience, I call up if I still see requested.

 

[Brettmcg]

How long does it take for the analyst to approve / disaprove a request as auto bot said no (looking at 2x Jnb-Syd in J)?..still says "on request" in Manage my Booking...request put on Sat pm (now Tues am). And how do they inform you?

Are you P1? As far as I am aware, WP requests are only processed by the bot. That is to say, the request wouldn't be passed up the chain to an analyst, as this is a P1 benefit.

 

[Pushka]

How long does it take for the analyst to approve / disaprove a request as auto bot said no (looking at 2x Jnb-Syd in J)?..still says "on request" in Manage my Booking...request put on Sat pm (now Tues am). And how do they inform you?

I received an email advising me to call, several months later. I’d forgotten about the request and had made a different award booking. I got excited. I shouldn’t have. They told me it had been rejected. I suggested maybe that should have been stated in the email so I didn’t waste my time!
I’m only WP and request was for 2 WP.

 

[Matt_01]

Are you P1? As far as I am aware, WP requests are only processed by the bot. That is to say, the request wouldn't be passed up the chain to an analyst, as this is a P1 benefit.

It has been several years since I was WP however I do recall that for one requested, the bot said no and it was passed up for manual review, I am not sure if this is still the case. For the past few years when if the bot say no, SST sorts the bot out.

I am also wondering if at some stage QF reprogrammed the bot, it seems like most requests come back approved within minutes.

 

[Brettmcg]

It has been several years since I was WP however I do recall that for one requested, the bot said no and it was passed up for manual review, I am not sure if this is still the case. For the past few years when if the bot say no, SST sorts the bot out.

I am also wondering if at some stage QF reprogrammed the bot, it seems like most requests come back approved within minutes.

I think the bot is highly temperamental and is often out of action, which pushes WP requests to a low-level manual review.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Can WP's have seats released on QF codeshares? specifically with EK flights?

 

[ozflier]

It has been several years since I was WP however I do recall that for one requested, the bot said no and it was passed up for manual review, I am not sure if this is still the case. For the past few years when if the bot say no, SST sorts the bot out.

This has been my experience!

 

[Brettmcg]

Can WP's have seats released on QF codeshares? specifically with EK flights?

No. Requests only work for QF operated and marketed flights.