QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

[bPeteb]

After first being told no, on my call back the next day I had one Y seat released for my partner BNE-MEL return flying down Dec 22 this year. Every flight had J seats available but we just wanted Y.

 

[serfty]

Requested x1 F seat on QF2 SIN-SYD, bot said no, manual review said yes.

What Period?

Oh ...never mind ...

 

[sudoer]

Is it just me or does it sound like members are having better luck requesting F seats vs J? I would have though it would be the opposite.

I've found most routes with first cabins usually have A class availability, but it's quite difficult to find I class availability to even lodge a request (as a Platinum.)

 

[Matt_01]

What Period?

Oh ...never mind ...

I did have a J seat on QF82 I had originally asked for QF2 and was knocked back in J and F. I figured there was no harm in trying for another crack on QF2 in F.

 

[serfty]

I figured there was no harm in trying for another crack on QF2 in F.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[OATEK]

After snagging two Z (PE) rewards to SIN as part of the recent extra release of seats for the outbound 1st leg of our end-of-year odyssey starting late November 23 (SYD-MEL-SIN), it was time to throw ourselves on the mercy of the BOT for a return leg in January 2024. I looked for flights that had W9, R9 and T9 and found QF2 SIN-SYD on 8/1 but this got a No. Went back for SIN-MEL on QF38 on 7/1, and got an immediate Yes! Added in a MEL-SYD in X and will get home quite comfortably within the time frame we wanted.

 

[anchew]

Ok, I just want to share a recent experience.

I've been eyeing classic flights to Santiago for later this year and with the release last week, EF was showing U availability on the dates I wanted. Score! However, because of the married segment issue, I couldn't book online as I was xMEL. This has happened to me before and I usually just call QF and it usually gets released instantly.

However, this was not the case this time. When I rang, the CSA from 'Qantas Premium' told me that the flights were on request and to call back in 24-48 hours if I don't hear anything from them, which is what I did. When I called back, my call was also picked up by 'Qantas Premium'. The CSA said that the flights are still pending and I should wait a futher 72 hours and call back, which is what I did. By now, I was getting nervous because EF was showing no U for SYD-SCL on the date I requested.

Now I've been saying 'Qantas Premium' in quotes because I had the feeling that they were not from HBA because they sounded a bit scripted and I suspected that they were from an overseas call centre.

This evening, I called again as it's been 72 hours and this time, the CSA, which sounded like she knew her stuff and most likely from HBA, said that it looks like my original request was declined instantly. I then asked her to look at SYD-SCL two days earlier as EF was showing U availability for that day. Then shortly after, it was all booked!

So two lessons I took away from this experience.
1. If the CSA answers with 'Qantas Premium', don't assume that they are from HBA or AKL.
2. If the tickets aren't released immediately, and you suspect that the CSA is not from HBA or AKL, then HUCA until you get HBA/AKL and ask them to check.

 

[MrJetset]

QF Premium is simply how they answer based on the IVR input and call routing.

 

[Keasm]

Hi - this is the first time i'm trying to request release classic flight award seats and I'm looking to go to Paris for Jan 2024. I called the QFF Platinum line and spoke to a nice lady but she's requested the flights on Qatar ariways (she also said Cathay was an option).

Is this possible? I didn't think that you could request classic award seats on a non-Qantas airline. I have to call back anyway because there's an error with one of the flights, but is it worth re-starting the conversation/request and taking any Qantas options?

Any advice greatly appreciated.
Cheers

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi - this is the first time i'm trying to request release classic flight award seats and I'm looking to go to Paris for Jan 2024. I called the QFF Platinum line and spoke to a nice lady but she's requested the flights on Qatar ariways (she also said Cathay was an option).

Is this possible? I didn't think that you could request classic award seats on a non-Qantas airline. I have to call back anyway because there's an error with one of the flights, but is it worth re-starting the conversation/request and taking any Qantas options?

Any advice greatly appreciated.
Cheers

Correct. You can’t request an Award seat release on anything other than QF.

No idea what the call Centre has done but you won’t get any Award seats out of this.

 

[Keasm]

Thanks! I'll give them a call back later this arvo.....

 

[dylarr]

Now I've been saying 'Qantas Premium' in quotes because I had the feeling that they were not from HBA because they sounded a bit scripted and I suspected that they were from an overseas call centre.

The outsourced call centres have been answering as "Qantas Premium" when calling as a Platinum for a while now. Most of the time the service they offer is definitely not premium and whether they know how to release reward seats is a complete gamble.

 

[SYD]

So after being QF WP continuously for about 15 yrs I made first attempt at seat release! and stats are 0 from 1….

Tried for 2x J QF41 SYD-CGK. There was plenty of whY classic rewards but J has been MIA for the June/July period months out.

Although I got straight through to Hobart, I was told that because “there are no J Sale fares on the date”, he couldn’t put in a request. Does that sound right?

I don’t have a paid EF account, but I thought the completely empty J cabin was a good start….


Apparently not…

Anyway, went ahead and booked the trip in whY (will probably request a classic upgrade, which will probably come through days out - sigh…).

 

[ChrisMars]

So after being QF WP continuously for about 15 yrs I made first attempt at seat release! and stats are 0 from 1….

Tried for 2x J QF41 SYD-CGK. There was plenty of whY classic rewards but J has been MIA for the June/July period months out.

Although I got straight through to Hobart, I was told that because “there are no J Sale fares on the date”, he couldn’t put in a request. Does that sound right?

I don’t have a paid EF account, but I thought the completely empty J cabin was a good start….
View attachment 318475

Apparently not…

Anyway, went ahead and booked the trip in whY (will probably request a classic upgrade, which will probably come through days out - sigh…).

My understanding is that you need some I class fare available for the agent to be able to put a request on international J award. I don't think there is a 100% match between I class and sales fare.
The seat map is not an exact reflection of current booking. Some seats might not be allocated, even if the seat is sold. I agree however It looks suspiciously empty and one would expect to see a bunch of allocated seats for a flight that is just 4/5 months away. Strange. Keep checking, it could be that Qantas release some seats at a closer time.

 

[justinbrett]

So after being QF WP continuously for about 15 yrs I made first attempt at seat release! and stats are 0 from 1….

Tried for 2x J QF41 SYD-CGK. There was plenty of whY classic rewards but J has been MIA for the June/July period months out.

Although I got straight through to Hobart, I was told that because “there are no J Sale fares on the date”, he couldn’t put in a request. Does that sound right?

I don’t have a paid EF account, but I thought the completely empty J cabin was a good start….
View attachment 318475

Apparently not…

Anyway, went ahead and booked the trip in whY (will probably request a classic upgrade, which will probably come through days out - sigh…).

Yes, just forget about the seat map. It's not relevant.

Generally as WP you need I class available, but even then that's not a guarantee, as the QF inventory system is not an exact match with the GDS.

Some routes & flights they just say no.

 

[SYD]

Strange. Keep checking, it could be that Qantas release some seats at a closer time.

Very strange indeed. I know there’s been talk of various “blackout dates” but there’s been some very weird cough happening with Oz-Asia flights for months - as I have vented multiple times. Even whY isn’t being released on many dates… Alas, not prepared to wait any longer - been monitoring since last year!

Yes, just forget about the seat map. It's not relevant.

Maybe, but as others have commented earlier, EF is showing all fare buckets overflowing on many dates for QF41, 81 etc. Plus the same time last year (and pre Covid) there was plenty of reward seats.

The conspiracy theory is they’re trying to make it hard for us to repositioned for cheap J fares ex-Asia - which is exactly what I’ve just done…. .

 

[justinbrett]

Very strange indeed. I know there’s been talk of various “blackout dates” but there’s been some very weird cough happening with Oz-Asia flights for months - as I have vented multiple times. Even whY isn’t being released on many dates…

Maybe, but as others have commented earlier, EF is showing all fare buckets overflowing on many dates for QF41, 81 etc. Plus the same time last year (and pre Covid) there was plenty of reward seats.

The conspiracy theory is they’re trying to make it hard for us to repositioned for cheap J fares ex-Asia - which is exactly what I’ve just done…. .

No it doesn't mean anything. It's a Cognac/Brandy thing.

All WP releases require I seats, but not all I seats can be released to WPs.

I got knocked back for a SYD-SIN flight in Y. It happens. QF only release seats that they want to, and you'll do your head in trying to crack the code.

 

[SYD]

No it doesn't mean anything. It's a Cognac/Brandy thing.

All WP releases require I seats, but not all I seats can be released to WPs.

I got knocked back for a SYD-SIN flight in Y. It happens. QF only release seats that they want to, and you'll do your head in trying to crack the code.

Yep. Not disagreeing.

The new norm of unpredictability is very frustrating for those of us for years just planned ahead and usually we’re able to book what we wanted, when we wanted (contrary to popular belief). Hence never needed to do the call up request.

 

[encryptededdy]

Just requested a X (Classic Rewards Economy) seat release from N bucket on a MEL-SYD flight next week, approved immediately.

 

[ShrinkWrapped]

Tried my luck for January for SYD-ICN, knowing that I might run into blackout season

QF 87
4/1/24 I8 (POS Aus) - Droid says no
9/1/24 I9 (POS Aus) - Droid says no

back to more planning and thinking