QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

[jrfsp]

Another reference point for this thread. As WP requested today for release of 2 J seats on 21 Dec on QF71 Per-Sin. There are 5 I class seats available and I am declined again. I have necker seen J international classic seats from Perth available ever (stand to be corrected)…that is 2/2 unsuccessful when I class is showing for me now…

That time of year is hard, might be a blackout period for requests
(Def are intl.J seats out of PER)

 

[ShrinkWrapped]

Second success in two months yay as a WP (got QF4 JFK - AKL in U approved 6-8 weeks back)

Initially was hoping to get U released on QF 3 AKL-JFK in late April. However, this week the one flight I was looking at went from J9C9D9I7 to J9C0D0I0 for whateever strange reason. It’s messed with my plans (I’m going for work so was requesting for my partner to join me)

Therefore asked for AKL-MEL-LAX (and buying a LAX-JFK separately) on 27/4 or 29/4 in U

declined 27/4 but approved 29/4

Not bad to have constructed a AKL-MEL-LAX / JFK - AKL on point requests. Actually makes qantas pesos worthwhile ….

Even more surprisingly, was pretty sure that it was the SA call centre. Service was good and they appeared quite knowledgeable

 

[Point Ventures]

I was advised by an operator from Hobart CC today, that if your international request is approved, then Qantas will make seats available for the domestic connections. Regardless of if there are any available fare classes for the domestic connection requests.

 

[encryptededdy]

I was advised by an operator from Hobart CC today, that if your international request is approved, then Qantas will make seats available for the domestic connections. Regardless of if there are any available fare classes for the domestic connection requests.

Ahhh, that's interesting. That explains some behaviour I saw when changing a NRT-xMEL-SYD rewards flight. I wanted to change the MEL-SYD flight and Hobart said any sector was available. I didn't quite understand why given most didn't have U space.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Just thought I'd provide another update on my quest to get booked onto QF9 (MEL > PER) for Jan 9. Called up QFF yesterday (Saturday Jan 6) and inquired about whether QF9 was available on the 9th and was told by the agent no and that he already did a request and knows it is sold out even for us Platinums. Which I suppose is okay given I managed to snag QF777 via phone a month ago. It will be interesting to see if I can manage to snag it up either via fly ahead at OLCI or at the airport.

For those curious EF is showing the following loadings:
J9 C9 D9 I8 U0 W5 R5 T5 Z0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0 X0 E0

For those even more curious about why I want QF9 over QF777 (which is what I'm booked into). There's a couple reasons:

1. The flight departs the international terminal meaning my partner and I can use the QF Flounge
2. The flight is part of the much longer QF9 MEL > LHR flight meaning the MEL > PER sector will be catered to international standards (i.e. not the usual porkies catered on board).
3. There are more bells and whistles on the 787 operating the QF9 flight than on the 737 operating the QF777 flight I'm on (yes I realize it's ironic that a 777 doesn't operated the QF777 service). In other words more leg room, charge ports, AVOD, etc.

One nice thing though was I managed to snag the coveted row 4 seats on QF777. So there's that!

-RooFlyer88

 

[Princess Fiona]

Just thought I'd provide another update on my quest to get booked onto QF9 (MEL > PER) for Jan 9. Called up QFF yesterday (Saturday Jan 6) and inquired about whether QF9 was available on the 9th and was told by the agent no and that he already did a request and knows it is sold out even for us Platinums. Which I suppose is okay given I managed to snag QF777 via phone a month ago. It will be interesting to see if I can manage to snag it up either via fly ahead at OLCI or at the airport.

For those curious EF is showing the following loadings:
J9 C9 D9 I8 U0 W5 R5 T5 Z0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0 X0 E0

For those even more curious about why I want QF9 over QF777 (which is what I'm booked into). There's a couple reasons:

1. The flight departs the international terminal meaning my partner and I can use the QF Flounge
2. The flight is part of the much longer QF9 MEL > LHR flight meaning the MEL > PER sector will be catered to international standards (i.e. not the usual porkies catered on board).
3. There are more bells and whistles on the 787 operating the QF9 flight than on the 737 operating the QF777 flight I'm on (yes I realize it's ironic that a 777 doesn't operated the QF777 service). In other words more leg room, charge ports, AVOD, etc.

One nice thing though was I managed to snag the coveted row 4 seats on QF777. So there's that!

-RooFlyer88

I have been moved to QF9 on the day of departure as my scheduled flight was cancelled. I was in paid J.
Proactively offered it by the MEL J lounge. No checked luggage and met the LAGs requirements.
Couldn’t get myself out of that lounge fast enough

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I have been moved to QF9 on the day of departure as my scheduled flight was cancelled. I was in paid J.

Do you know if Fly Ahead will show you the QF9 option or will it just list the ones departing the domestic terminal?

Proactively offered it by the MEL J lounge. No checked luggage and met the LAGs requirements.

How soon can you check in bags for a QF international flight out of MEL? For instance could I check my bag in at noon (flight departs at 16:50)?

Couldn’t get myself out of that lounge fast enough

I was on JQ63 this Friday from SYD to MEL and I can't tell you the number of times I was hoping for there to be a nice 3 or 4 hour delay for that flight. More time in the QF Flounge and less time on the JQ plane. Seems like a win-win!

-RooFlyer88

 

[Princess Fiona]

Do you know if Fly Ahead will show you the QF9 option or will it just list the ones departing the domestic terminal?

How soon can you check in bags for a QF international flight out of MEL? For instance could I check my bag in at noon (flight departs at 16:50)?

I was on JQ63 this Friday from SYD to MEL and I can't tell you the number of times I was hoping for there to be a nice 3 or 4 hour delay for that flight. More time in the QF Flounge and less time on the JQ plane. Seems like a win-win!

-RooFlyer88

I don’t know the answer to either of those questions sorry.

I never check bags

 

[madrooster]

I was advised by an operator from Hobart CC today, that if your international request is approved, then Qantas will make seats available for the domestic connections. Regardless of if there are any available fare classes for the domestic connection requests.

That is not quite correct. There are rules around what can or can't be given for the domestic connection. It is not a free for all.

Just thought I'd provide another update on my quest to get booked onto QF9 (MEL > PER) for Jan 9. Called up QFF yesterday (Saturday Jan 6) and inquired about whether QF9 was available on the 9th and was told by the agent no and that he already did a request and knows it is sold out even for us Platinums.

The domestic segments of QF5/6/9/10/33/34 are embargoed for requests. You will only see X class offered routinely, never Z or U. You can however take the X class and request for an upgrade to Z/U.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

The domestic segments of QF5/6/9/10/33/34 are embargoed for requests. You will only see X class offered routinely, never Z or U. You can however take the X class and request for an upgrade to Z/U.

Just to clarify, I was only ever seeking X class. Frankly I don't see the point in flying J to PER from MEL.

 

[madrooster]

Just to clarify, I was only ever seeking X class. Frankly I don't see the point in flying J to PER from MEL.

Even X is embargoed for requests, but I have seen X offered outright.

 

[jukebox333]

Happy New Year, AFF'ers

Still trying for QF9 MEL-PER 2 xJ for next weekend... still no love.

QF 9	MEL 16:50 → PER 17:50 J9 C9 D9 I0 U0 W5 R5 T5 Z0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0 X0 E0

QF 9	PER 19:20 → LHR 5:05 J0 C0 D0 I0 U0 W0 R0 T0 Z0 Y1 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0 X0 E0

I've got my son with me, and wanted him to try the pointy end of the Dreamliner...

My consolation is I do have J seats on the A330 flight earlier in the afternoon.

Edit. And T-12, now I don't. Qantas just enhanced both of our transcontinental legs to 737's

If I didn't need the SC's, I'd cancel the lot and reroute direct.

So the epilogue to this tale; I did try again a couple of times last week, and at T-48 after having had my third offshore call centre "computer says no", I HUACA and got a very helpful lady at the Hobart CC

I explained the situation, and that I was aware there was no allocation, and instead of nodding and smiling, she actually asked about the circumstances. I was able to explain that I'd booked specifically for the widebody flight, and that that metal was swapped out at the last minute.

She was very sympathetic, and offered to escalate it - put me on hold for 5 mins or so.

She came back, and unfortunately the outcome was unchanged - whatever powers tha be were not prepared to budge - she was extremly apologetic, but I expressed my gratitude - it did actually feel like I'd been treated like a Platinum FF rather than just another call at the end of the phone.

The flight yesterday was, as expected, meh. (both transcon legs were obviously packed solid, because of the aircraft downsizing - and even though there were just 4 J pax at T40, they took upgrade points off others and filled the J cabins at T24 to free more Y seats, I assume) But I'm not aware of any reasonable soloution to a bait-and-switch of metal, especially when it's at T-12 and travel is a must.

 

[DejaBrew]

She was very sympathetic, and offered to escalate it - put me on hold for 5 mins or so.

She came back, and unfortunately the outcome was unchanged - whatever powers tha be were not prepared to budge - she was extremly apologetic, but I expressed my gratitude - it did actually feel like I'd been treated like a Platinum FF rather than just another call at the end of the phone.

Shame you couldn’t get the desired outcome, but very good to hear you had the sense of someone trying to deliver a good customer service experience - even if it was beyond their power to provide the preferred solution.

 

[MrMickeyg]

Question - in the past I've made requests for international U seats and the request has been either approved or declined on the spot.

Today when I requested U JFK-SYD in July - I was told it was 'on request' and I would get an email within 2 days for the outcome. Does anyone know why they couldn't provide an on the spot decision?

I'm WP.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Just thought I'd provide a further update here. I decided to give QF one more call before checking in for tomorrow's QF777 online and again was flatly told no dice for changing to QF9. Their explicit answer was, we can only sell revenue tickets for this service as the award seats are exhausted. I did ask if they could request releasing seats they tried... and again same outcome. Next plan of action will be checking the app (to see if Flow Forwarding will let me select the flight) or asking again at the QF chicken counter.

-RooFlyer88

 

[bussyboy]

or asking again at the QF chicken counter.

-RooFlyer88

vs
Place your bets

 

[Princess Fiona]

Question - in the past I've made requests for international U seats and the request has been either approved or declined on the spot.

Today when I requested U JFK-SYD in July - I was told it was 'on request' and I would get an email within 2 days for the outcome. Does anyone know why they couldn't provide an on the spot decision?

I'm WP.

I think there are certain call centers that cannot request directly through the bot.
They have to send the request off elsewhere for someone else to do it.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I thought I'd provide a further update on the saga to secure QF9. Arrived at MEL at 1 today (Sofitel booted us at 12 PM, so much for a late checkout) and the prospect of waiting 5 hours at MEL domestic for QF777 was too much. Told the taxi driver to drop us offer at the international terminal, went to the First class check-in area and inquired about getting moved to QF9. At first she wasn't sure if the computer would let her but thankfully it did and we managed to secure seats beside each other 46E/46F. So I thought the ol' motto of you won't get anything if you don't ask still holds true here!




In case anyone is wondering why I went to First class check-in at the international terminal rather than the Qantas domestic terminal two reasons. First, I suspected that the First class reception would have more authority and tools to transfer flights over like that than someone in the domestic terminal. Second, and probably most importantly, if we were successful in making the transfer, you'd need to be at the international First check-in desk anyway to check in the bag, collect the special D stamped boarding pass, and to clear security and dommigration.

First order of the day after check-in was heading to the QF lounge which I did. Upon presenting our boarding passes we were told that there was an open slot for the spa, which after some convincing I managed to get my partner to agree to try. Currently sipping some champers and will probably have a light meal at the QFlounge before heading on this international flight to Perth, Australia.

 

[MrMickeyg]

I thought I'd provide a further update on the saga to secure QF9. Arrived at MEL at 1 today (Sofitel booted us at 12 PM, so much for a late checkout) and the prospect of waiting 5 hours at MEL domestic for QF777 was too much. Told the taxi driver to drop us offer at the international terminal, went to the First class check-in area and inquired about getting moved to QF9. At first she wasn't sure if the computer would let her but thankfully it did and we managed to secure seats beside each other 46E/46F. So I thought the ol' motto of you won't get anything if you don't ask still holds true here!
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In case anyone is wondering why I went to First class check-in at the international terminal rather than the Qantas domestic terminal two reasons. First, I suspected that the First class reception would have more authority and tools to transfer flights over like that than someone in the domestic terminal. Second, and probably most importantly, if we were successful in making the transfer, you'd need to be at the international First check-in desk anyway to check in the bag, collect the special D stamped boarding pass, and to clear security and dommigration.

First order of the day after check-in was heading to the QF lounge which I did. Upon presenting our boarding passes we were told that there was an open slot for the spa, which after some convincing I managed to get my partner to agree to try. Currently sipping some champers and will probably have a light meal at the QFlounge before heading on this international flight to Perth, Australia.
View attachment 364990
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well done. A+ for perseverance. You spot on - don't ask, dont get.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

vs
Place your bets

Oh and Roo got it this time!