QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

[RichardMEL]

What would the logic be for no economy seats on a flight?
Was looking to release 3 x seats - SYD to BKK on Dec 26
Expert Flyer shows the below (no Q class which I understand is the Economy category I need to request release for Platinum)
J9 C9 D6 I4 U0 W9 R7 T3 Z0 Y9 B9 H9 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 G0 X0 E0

That is pretty full already with only H - a flex class - available. Either that or QF is just not releasing cheaper Y classes for sale right now Boxing Day is no doubt very popular to leave after Christmas.

Zero surprise no X (reward) being released.

 

[dylarr]

That is pretty full already with only H - a flex class - available. Either that or QF is just not releasing cheaper Y classes for sale right now Boxing Day is no doubt very popular to leave after Christmas.

Zero surprise no X (reward) being released.

Yep no surprises. For a WP there needs to be Q class availability in order for an international economy release to even be considered.

This flight must be heavily loaded due to the time of the year or there is some funky revenue management happening behind the scenes. It's possible some of the lower fare buckets could open up over time, allowing the opportunity to make another request if things change.

 

[ShrinkWrapped]

Yep no surprises. For a WP there needs to be Q class availability in order for an international economy release to even be considered.

This flight must be heavily loaded due to the time of the year or there is some funky revenue management happening behind the scenes. If you're not in a hurry to lock in your plans you could keep your eye open as lower fare buckets may open up over time.

This will be revenue management. This happens most years for December flights where a number of lower economy classes are blocked off early and released later

Looking at Dec 26 in economy
Lowest classes available for:
HND - V
HKG - S
SIN - K/L depending on flight

so most other asian destinations have the lower economy fares (N/O/Q) all zero'ed out or already sold at this time of year (I suspect it might be blocked)

what's more interesting is that if I look at expertflyer, there are no fares filed for SYD-BKK below an S class at the moment for 26/12

 

[RichardMEL]

So the logic is - they can sell those seats - or right now think they can - and they're probably right.

 

[philr2000]

Ok got it thanks, I figured it was something related to the answers above (ie peak time). Will keep an eye out over the coming months! Much appreciated

 

[Matt_01]

Well today was my first crack at requesting seats as a WP rather than P1 the date was fixed but to routes were flexible as I just need to get to North Asia. Request was for late May x1 J seat on any QF79, QF59, QF25 or QF87, bot side no to all. I very different experience to been a P1.

 

[Brettmcg]

Well today was my first crack at requesting seats as a WP rather than P1 the date was fixed but to routes were flexible as I just need to get to North Asia. Request was for late May x1 J seat on any QF79, QF59, QF25 or QF87, bot side no to all. I very different experience to been a P1.

Not sure how "north" you need to go, but try QF129 or any of the HKG services. Forward loads outbound are terrible...

 

[Matt_01]

Not sure how "north" you need to go, but try QF129 or any of the HKG services. Forward loads outbound are terrible...

I did look at the HKG services but as you mentioned the loads were not good so I did not bother to ask about those. I paid the points penalty and booked a flight with JL. I also have another QF rewards booking that I could use to transfer via PVG but am not sure if I want to use it. Little off topic the end location may now be UBN, it is for a personal trip and the original plan was China however after seeing one of the questions on the new China Visa application I am not sure if I want to enter China.

 

[Brettmcg]

I did look at the HKG services but as you mentioned the loads were not good so I did not bother to ask about those. I paid the points penalty and booked a flight with JL. I also have another QF rewards booking that I could use to transfer via PVG but am not sure if I want to use it. Little off topic the end location may now be UBN, it is for a personal trip and the original plan was China however after seeing one of the questions on the new China Visa application I am not sure if I want to enter China.

I actually meant that QF's forward bookings to HKG are terrible (read: low), especially ex-MEL, and that therefore there should have been good chances, but I guess it depends on dates.

You can transit through China (sub 24hrs) without a visa, and then there's also the 72 and 144 Hour transit visas: Policy Interpretation_National Immigration Administration

 

[Matt_01]

I actually meant that QF's forward bookings to HKG are terrible (read: low), especially ex-MEL, and that therefore there should have been good chances, but I guess it depends on dates.

I may take another look HKG, from memory and my experience today you can only put in a request for 4 routes on a single day.

 

[exceladdict]

I may take another look HKG, from memory and my experience today you can only put in a request for 4 routes on a single day.

I have not encountered this limitation, albeit with domestic requests only, variants of the same route with different stopover cities, and a fair few in Y

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

I did look at the HKG services but as you mentioned the loads were not good so I did not bother to ask about those. I paid the points penalty and booked a flight with JL. I also have another QF rewards booking that I could use to transfer via PVG but am not sure if I want to use it. Little off topic the end location may now be UBN, it is for a personal trip and the original plan was China however after seeing one of the questions on the new China Visa application I am not sure if I want to enter China.

What does the form ask now?

 

[Matt_01]

What does the form ask now?

See here Chinese visa-online application

 

[Matt_01]

I have not encountered this limitation, albeit with domestic requests only, variants of the same route with different stopover cities, and a fair few in Y

I haven't encountered this limitation before, as a P1 I used to put in the request and when the bot said no to the request I would request a manual review and most of the time it would come back as approved.

 

[dairyfloss]

I haven't encountered this limitation before, as a P1 I used to put in the request and when the bot said no requested a manual review and most of the time it would come back as approved.

Out of curiosity, were they all flights that showed inventory in 'I' that you were trying for, or you didn't go in armed with that detail?

 

[Matt_01]

Out of curiosity, were they all flights that showed inventory in 'I' that you were trying for, or you didn't go in armed with that detail?

They all had 'I' inventory as follows:
QF87 - 'I1' (I was expecting this would be knocked back)
QF59 - 'I6'
QF25 - 'I4'
QF79 - 'I8' (thought this one may have had a chance)

 

[Spacetravel]

As just a regular platinum:
QF291 08/03 X (economy) - success
QF292 10/03 X (economy) - success

 

[gethsemene]

Called through, got though to Hobart straight away requested:
QF296 business for May

Reward approved, domestic leg added and ticketed within 10 min total call time!

 

[QF029]

I'm curious if anyone has been charged the $77 phone booking fee when having an internal award seat released. I believe I've been charged it on a recent booking (although it's a USD card) but it's the same day, very similar amount and I can't think of another Qantas charge it could be.

If I've been charged previously I hadn't noticed and the operator didn't mention it.

 

[RichardMEL]

I'm curious if anyone has been charged the $77 phone booking fee when having an internal award seat released. I believe I've been charged it on a recent booking (although it's a USD card) but it's the same day, very similar amount and I can't think of another Qantas charge it could be.

If I've been charged previously I hadn't noticed and the operator didn't mention it.

Dumb question, but it's not the taxes/carrier charges for the reward?

I mean there's no reason a fee should be charged for a seat release request as it literally can't be done online. Never been charged a fee at all, nor would I expect it.