QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic award seats?

[exceladdict]

Is there any issue with requesting a seat for an existing booking? That is, I have a booking and I want to change it, but to change it I need to request the release of a seat. I have a fear I read somewhere that can't be done; it can only be done on a new booking. I'm hoping that's just offshore call centre rubbish.

Im fairly sure I did this last year when making changes to a booking, and hope to do so tomorrow to an existing booking, so am hoping it's still a thing.

It can be done. Whether you can get an offshore call agent to do it is another question. My last attempt was unsuccessful, but I didn't persist with another agent as it wasn't crucial.

Confirming this is still possible as I just changed a flight in U, which was a previous manual seat release, to a flight in X - a release request - to another destination (y-only plane).

Also, interesting to note the flights were not ticketed instantly but were "sent to the frequent flyer team for processing". Payment taken from card but points not yet deducted. I enquired what this about as previously they had been ticketed instantly, but apparently this is a new review step in the process to try to reduce ticket errors. This is just a domestic booking so not expecting any errors, but hopefully this helps with the various ticketing issues on partner reward flights that we've previously heard about.

 

[PatoRojo]

This thread has got me thinking if these changes apply to paid bookings. For context, I requested a release of U seat for QF93 and it was unsuccessfull. I then purchased an economy (S bucket) and have an upgrade request pending. I see now that there are Business Sale tickets available on the date I want to fly (16th May). Since the outright U is only 10K more points than the upgrade request, should I try for a release again and if successful, just cancel the S ticket and get a refund (minus the cancellation fee). Methinks this is a no brainer but am I missing something?
Can anyone with EF account let me know what loads are for QF93 on 16 May to see the likelihood of a successful release request?

 

[sudoer]

Since the outright U is only 10K more points than the upgrade request, should I try for a release again and if successful, just cancel the S ticket and get a refund (minus the cancellation fee). Methinks this is a no brainer but am I missing something?

Yes IMO. If you have Points Club you'll also earn more SC this way but you won't earn any points from the cash fare so the total points difference may be more than 10k

 

[PatoRojo]

This thread has got me thinking if these changes apply to paid bookings. For context, I requested a release of U seat for QF93 and it was unsuccessfull. I then purchased an economy (S bucket) and have an upgrade request pending. I see now that there are Business Sale tickets available on the date I want to fly (16th May). Since the outright U is only 10K more points than the upgrade request, should I try for a release again and if successful, just cancel the S ticket and get a refund (minus the cancellation fee). Methinks this is a no brainer but am I missing something?
Can anyone with EF account let me know what loads are for QF93 on 16 May to see the likelihood of a successful release request?

Just realised S fares are non-refundable so I would be stuck with a wonderful flight credit instead....
Still, can anyone help with flight loads just to weight out options anyway?
Thanks in advance

 

[PatoRojo]

Yes IMO. If you have Points Club you'll also earn more SC this way but you won't earn any points from the cash fare so the total points difference may be more than 10k

Good point regarding the loss in earned points if changing to U fare. I do have PC but I booked the S fare under the DSC promotion so overall I'd be looking at -48 SC and about -25K points if the U release is successfull. On the other hand, a confirmed U seat is better than the upgrade request lottery (but that is a big IF in terms of getting the U seat realesed); and I guess I could use the flight credit in the next 12 months....
Do you have EF and are you able to look at loads for QF93 on 16 May? Much appreciated.

 

[RichardMEL]

Can anyone with EF account let me know what loads are for QF93 on 16 May to see the likelihood of a successful release request?

Did you mean QF95? No 93 to LAX on 16/5.

That is I1. Very very unlikely for release imo.

 

[PatoRojo]

Did you mean QF95? No 93 to LAX on 16/5.

That is I1. Very very unlikely for release imo.

My bad, it is QF95. Thanks for checking, looks like I'm keeping my S ticket with all fingers crossed for the ugrade requests gods to come through....

 

[ozflier]

01 March BNE-LHR I9 rejected
02 March BNE-LHR I9 rejected

 

[BriarFlyer]

@ozflier - they appear to be weekend dates. You may have better luck with midweek (despite the I9 indicator, my success when providing a week of dates has always been Tues/Wed.)

 

[logicallysynced]

Do we know if it’s possible to switch out a paid seat for a released seat, if one is approved for release? That is, if it’s a return flight on the same booking and the return leg has I9 availability now?

Alternatively if a new booking was made for that return leg as a one way - can an agent remove that from the original booking, leaving in place the outbound leg (paid fare)?

 

[mitti]

Do we know if it’s possible to switch out a paid seat for a released seat, if one is approved for release? That is, if it’s a return flight on the same booking and the return leg has I9 availability now?

Alternatively if a new booking was made for that return leg as a one way - can an agent remove that from the original booking, leaving in place the outbound leg (paid fare)?

No, it's not possible to combine award and paid fares in one booking. If you change the paid booking from return to one way then it will be repriced as a one-way fare and likely will cost significantly more than half of the original fare.

 

[encryptededdy]

QF25 (June 6, 7) and QF60 (June 11, 12) for one U seat - declined, allocation exceeded. Both had at least I6.

Looking for a short trip so unfortunately MEL/BNE-NRT wouldn't work.

 

[ozflier]

@ozflier - they appear to be weekend dates. You may have better luck with midweek (despite the I9 indicator, my success when providing a week of dates has always been Tues/Wed.)

You were very right .
I changed the days to tuesday and wednesday and went thru for both .
There were 9 "I" s on each day.
The agent was from Hobart and he was so good - very helpful - answers came back in 60 seconds.

 

[Ade]

WP here. Last minute CBR-MEL-CBR 1xCR seat release. Called in arvo on the day before travel - no Y CR seats available to request (allocation exceeded), but J CR seats were available to request. Request put in, approved in under 2 mins, $ & points taken, ticket issued - all under 10 mins. Happy with this so far.

 

[Point Ventures]

01 JAN QF1 SYD-SIN I4 (2 seats) Approved

As usual my trusty back up route home (not so popular QF Operated route) came through with the goods for 8 JAN (2x J seats).

I won’t leave the planning so “last minute” next year.

 

[Danger]

01 JAN QF1 SYD-SIN I4 (2 seats) Approved

As usual my trusty back up route home (not so popular QF Operated route) came through with the goods for 8 JAN (2x J seats).

I won’t leave the planning so “last minute” next year.

What's the "trusty back up route"?

 

[DejaBrew]

Made the mistake of not locking in 2 x SYD>HND return J class CR seats when they came up for suitable dates just prior to the Asia Red Tail Sale announcement dropping. Rookie error.

Day 1 of the sale, I requested (with all showing >= I2) -:
09 NOV QF59 (Rejected)
15 NOV QF25 (Rejected)
16 NOV QF59 (Rejected)
30 NOV QF60 (Rejected)
01 DEC QF26 (Rejected)
01 DEC QF60 (Rejected)
07 DEC QF26 (Rejected)
07 DEC QF60 (Rejected)

Figured Qantas were likely rejecting seat release requests in preference to revenue tickets during the sale period, do held out till today and just submitted -:

15 NOV QF59 I1 (Rejected, unsurprisingly, but no harm in asking)
15 NOV QF25 I1 (Rejected, see prior comment)
16 NOV QF59 I2 (Rejected)
07 DEC QF26 I4 (Rejected)
07 DEC QF60 I3 (Rejected)
08 DEC QF26 I7 (Rejected)
08 DEC QF60 I6 (Rejected)

Back to the drawing boards...

 

[levelnine]

Back to the drawing boards...

There's still some First availability on JL for 2x pax around those dates (eg 3, 4, 5 Dec).

 

[DejaBrew]

There's still some First availability on JL for 2x pax around those dates (eg 3, 4, 5 Dec).

Thanks for that. It's more points than I was ideally wanting to spend and also - for me at least - I was aiming to bank some SCs via PC.

 

[Point Ventures]

I’m

Made the mistake of not locking in 2 x SYD>HND return J class CR seats when they came up for suitable dates just prior to the Asia Red Tail Sale announcement dropping. Rookie error.

Day 1 of the sale, I requested (with all showing >= I2) -:
09 NOV QF59 (Rejected)
15 NOV QF25 (Rejected)
16 NOV QF59 (Rejected)
30 NOV QF60 (Rejected)
01 DEC QF26 (Rejected)
01 DEC QF60 (Rejected)
07 DEC QF26 (Rejected)
07 DEC QF60 (Rejected)

Figured Qantas were likely rejecting seat release requests in preference to revenue tickets during the sale period, do held out till today and just submitted -:

15 NOV QF59 I1 (Rejected, unsurprisingly, but no harm in asking)
15 NOV QF25 I1 (Rejected, see prior comment)
16 NOV QF59 I2 (Rejected)
07 DEC QF26 I4 (Rejected)
07 DEC QF60 I3 (Rejected)
08 DEC QF26 I7 (Rejected)
08 DEC QF60 I6 (Rejected)

Back to the drawing boards...

Try ex MEL or BNE. I had the same outcome with SYD, but got lucky ex BNE.