QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

[Lynda2475]

Given the recent reward seat dump which also covered the much sought after but usually denied for release peak holiday season in July/Aug, where NBs got J tix, one could see where an expectation may have developed.

But that was still 8-10 months out from travel date, not 8 weeks away.

And I disagree that awards are not usually available during Jun-Aug; I have travelled on J classic awards in this periods in the last 2 years, again needed t be booked 6-10 months out.

 

[MarcB]

e-ticket looks good?

No e-ticket yet. Had to ring back to arrange payment - did get Hobart that time. IME as this ticket only has QF and AY on it, it shouldn't auto cancel. Based on previous AY unticketed experiences, they don't drop like AA, QR etc.

 

[Kangol]

Given the recent reward seat dump which also covered the much sought after but usually denied for release peak holiday season in July/Aug, where NBs got J tix, one could see where an expectation may have developed.

For J, not F. Different cabins and all.

 

[Happy Dude]

But that was still 8-10 months out from travel date, not 8 weeks away.

And I disagree that awards are not usually available during Jun-Aug; I have travelled on J classic awards in this periods in the last 2 years, again needed t be booked 6-10 months out.

A quick flick back through these pages indicates that getting a premium LHR reward released at anytime is uncommon. So for there to be a first-in and all-in dump for peak season time CRs has to be a bit galling for WPs and P1s. There may even be cross-over where release requests for Jun-Aug were denied to elites but then seats were released in the dump.

 

[funnybrus]

A quick flick back through these pages indicates that getting a premium LHR reward released at anytime is uncommon. So for there to be a first-in and all-in dump for peak season time CRs has to be a bit galling for WPs and P1s. There may even be cross-over where release requests for Jun-Aug were denied to elites but then seats were released in the dump.

I was denied SYD-SCL in any cabin 3 times, as recently as a month before the dump. They put out all cabins for basically every flight around the time period I wanted.

 

[Lynda2475]

A quick flick back through these pages indicates that getting a premium LHR reward released at anytime is uncommon. So for there to be a first-in and all-in dump for peak season time CRs has to be a bit galling for WPs and P1s. There may even be cross-over where release requests for Jun-Aug were denied to elites but then seats were released in the dump.

I don't disagree with that sentiment, mass drops disadvantage status members. Obviously i would prefer seat releases be standard x days before flight.

However wrt to requesting seat release would not expect this at short notice on one of the busiest weeks of the year.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Quick update:

Went back to check on Virgin and saw that they too ran out of the cheap Y seats (even connecting) and decided to book with QF. Called QFF back and got connected to a HBA agent (or at least I think it's HBA based on the Australian accent). First requested QF9 (MEL -> PER) the agent tried all cabins on that date (Jan 9) for 2 pax and it was flat out no across the board. Fair enough I thought and simply requested QF777. A few minutes later and the award flight is booked... I think. I asked the agent to hang on the line until I receive the e-receipt, she mentioned that she'd try to push it through. Then ten minutes later the call ends (well technically the survey came up which presumably means the call is over). No e-receipt yet but I do see the flight listed as confirmed on my QFF profile so I'll rely on that being the case now.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Happy Dude]

We don't know the level of expectation per se the poster actually had when submitting the request. I was just pointing out that with recent events involving QF's generosity with CR releases one might have cause to be a bit more optimistic when requesting a release.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Update 2: No e-ticket received yet (called them 2 hours ago). Itinerary appears on QFF app but not on QFF website. Points not yet deducted nor money taken from credit card. Entering the PNR into the QFF website shows the flight is confirmed:


My question is how long I should wait before following up with QFF? A day. Or is it safe to assume that everything is fine now that it's listed as confirmed?

-RooFlyer88

 

[Princess Fiona]

Update 2: No e-ticket received yet (called them 2 hours ago). Itinerary appears on QFF app but not on QFF website. Points not yet deducted nor money taken from credit card. Entering the PNR into the QFF website shows the flight is confirmed:
View attachment 352808

My question is how long I should wait before following up with QFF? A day. Or is it safe to assume that everything is fine now that it's listed as confirmed?

-RooFlyer88

It might take a few days.
As the flight isn’t until January I wouldn’t bother clogging the phone lines with a request for that.
It’s a QF flight so no risk of it dropping off and losing it.

 

[justinbrett]

Update 2: No e-ticket received yet (called them 2 hours ago). Itinerary appears on QFF app but not on QFF website. Points not yet deducted nor money taken from credit card. Entering the PNR into the QFF website shows the flight is confirmed:
View attachment 352808

My question is how long I should wait before following up with QFF? A day. Or is it safe to assume that everything is fine now that it's listed as confirmed?

-RooFlyer88

Unticketed bookings made via a call centre will not appear on "your bookings" within the QF website, until they are ticketed.

The "trips" section of the mobile app will show any oneworld booking on Amadeus that contains your QFF number - including QR/BA etc bookings (not AA/AS as they don't use Amadeus). They don't have to be ticketed to appear.

 

[Danger]

Anecdotally there needs to be Q class for requesting Int Y release for Plat.

So v unlikely you will get them. No harm in trying I suppose.

I think it's a little more than anecdotal.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I think it's a little more than anecdotal.

Having Q availability is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a requested international economy classic reward seat to be released. What the sufficient conditon(s) is/are is something that’s up for debate. Some on this forum have speculated that there is an internal limit per flight of how many extra seats World Platinum and Platinum One members can request. One also wonders if you are a member of the Chairman’s Lounge whether there are any such limitations or would they would simply give you whatever QF flight you request

Which I think raises an interesting point for discussion on this thread? What factors does Qantas use in determining whether a classic award seat request is successful? Is it truly a black box as some people suggest or is there a method to the madness?

 

[Kangol]

Having Q availability is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a requested international economy classic reward seat to be released. What the sufficient conditon(s) is/are is something that’s up for debate. Some on this forum have speculated that there is an internal limit per flight of how many extra seats World Platinum and Platinum One members can request. One also wonders if you are a member of the Chairman’s Lounge whether there are any such limitations or would they would simply give you whatever QF flight you request

Which I think raises an interesting point for discussion on this thread? What factors does Qantas use in determining whether a classic award seat request is successful? Is it truly a black box as some people suggest or is there a method to the madness?

It's not up for debate, because unless someone here is a QF insider and reveals company information, any discussion here will be speculation at best. Either someone here knows it or doesn't. Whether they reveal it in public is a different story.

Based on another group, the available J classes required for request differ between CL and CLPO.
CLPO J fare classes also differ between dom/int.
Those are some of the necessary but not sufficient conditions.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Update: e-Ticket issued and can now see reservation on QF website (also points deducted and taxes & fees collected) so I think it's safe to say that the flight is now ticketed.

-RooFlyer88

 

[dairyfloss]

Update: e-Ticket issued and can now see reservation on QF website (also points deducted and taxes & fees collected) so I think it's safe to say that the flight is now ticketed.

-RooFlyer88

You can also use the RJ or MH 'Manage Booking' tools to check your ticketing, if you don't have the e-mail with tickets on it yet

 

[kangarooflyer88]

You can also use the RJ or MH 'Manage Booking' tools to check your ticketing, if you don't have the e-mail with tickets on it yet

I have the email with the e-tickets and checking both passengers I see a ticket number is attached to each passenger, the status says Economy Confirmed. Interestingly the ticket issue date is today (and not yesterday when I "called it in" to borrow an Optus term).

 

[dairyfloss]

I have the email with the e-tickets and checking both passengers I see a ticket number is attached to each passenger, the status says Economy Confirmed. Interestingly the ticket issue date is today (and not yesterday when I "called it in" to borrow an Optus term).

Right - if you have tickets, then it's clearly ticketed

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Right - if you have tickets, then it's clearly ticketed

With Qantas you never know!

 

[RichardMEL]

It's a "Bundle of Rights"