QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic Reward seats?

[Flyfrequently]

Newly platinum and naively hoping for business Perth to London (either qf9/10 or via Singapore) for Christmas or in first two weeks of July.
Am I completely wasting my time, do we know of definite blockout periods?

Welcome to AFF @DeeEire
@sudoer has given a good/ not so good response
But lots of good threads to read on here

 

[elanshin]

2 Pax
Sep 1
QF62 NRT > BNE I6 - No
QF80 NRT > MEL I4 - No
QF26 HND > SYD I9 - No
Sep 2
QF26 HND > SYD I8 - No

Edit: Might book X then either look to upgrade or try again closer to departure as we need to fly those dates. Economy has a lot of options though.

 

[im.daniel]

26/12 - PER-MEL 4x Y (N9 available). Approved instantly.

Flights 501AUD oneway

 

[RSD]

4/7 - BWT (or DPO) to MEL - denied

7/7 - MEL-BWT - approved.

Any advice on what to do about trying to get a CR seat released on the 4/7 BWT-MEL QF2088 - I've never had this situation before! I'm WP not P1 so can't ask for a manual review. Should I just suck it up and stump up the cash for a seat? The seats are all Y seats - no business class on the flying pencils.

 

[Brettmcg]

4/7 - BWT (or DPO) to MEL - denied

7/7 - MEL-BWT - approved.

Any advice on what to do about trying to get a CR seat released on the 4/7 BWT-MEL QF2088 - I've never had this situation before! I'm WP not P1 so can't ask for a manual review. Should I just suck it up and stump up the cash for a seat? The seats are all Y seats - no business class on the flying pencils.

Not that it's relevant to you, but there is no such thing as a manual review for P1s on domestic sectors - that is only available for international flights.

If the droid has already said no, you're skewered. You can keep calling up and trying again, but you N class available in order to request an Economy seat be released, and currently there is no N class, so they won't even entertain the request.

 

[Orca]

Hi Brains Trust.
WP but I've never requested classic rewards seats to be released. Need 3 in J class - current load for the flight in question is D6 I4 U0. This is for BNE-SIN in March next year. Is this likely to be given the nod? Am I best making the call ASAP or are they more likely to say no given it's relatively far out from travel date? Advice appreciated!

 

[RSD]

Not that it's relevant to you, but there is no such thing as a manual review for P1s on domestic sectors - that is only available for international flights.

If the droid has already said no, you're skewered. You can keep calling up and trying again, but you N class available in order to request an Economy seat be released, and currently there is no N class, so they won't even entertain the request.

OK many thanks - looks like cash it is then. No likelihood of more N class seats becoming available?

 

[Brettmcg]

Hi Brains Trust.
WP but I've never requested classic rewards seats to be released. Need 3 in J class - current load for the flight in question is D6 I4 U0. This is for BNE-SIN in March next year. Is this likely to be given the nod? Am I best making the call ASAP or are they more likely to say no given it's relatively far out from travel date? Advice appreciated! View attachment 453958

As a Platinum, you need I class to be available in order to make the request in the first place. Once the call centre agent has setup the request it gets passed to a bot/droid which will make the decision - there is no arguing the toss, only P1s can request a manual review.

Asking for 3 x seats on a SIN route is going to be tricky. You may like to also consider requesting on the SYD-SIN and MEL-SIN flights, as there are multiple of these each day. If successful, the call centre can than force in an appropriate domestic connection from BNE to SYD/MEL.

 

[Orca]

As a Platinum, you need I class to be available in order to make the request in the first place. Once the call centre agent has setup the request it gets passed to a bot/droid which will make the decision - there is no arguing the toss, only P1s can request a manual review.

Asking for 3 x seats on a SIN route is going to be tricky. You may like to also consider requesting on the SYD-SIN and MEL-SIN flights, as there are multiple of these each day. If successful, the call centre can than force in an appropriate domestic connection from BNE to SYD/MEL.

Makes sense - thanks for that Brett. Does the bot/droid ever respond with "you can have 2, not 3 seats"? Or is it all or nothing? We are actually a party of 4 but I'm happy to pay of my seat. Can probably pay for one of the kids too if need be.

 

[Brettmcg]

Makes sense - thanks for that Brett. Does the bot/droid ever respond with "you can have 2, not 3 seats"? Or is it all or nothing? We are actually a party of 4 but I'm happy to pay of my seat. Can probably pay for one of the kids too if need be.

No, it will either be yes or no. If you get rejected for three, there's no harm in asking to try again for two or one - some CCA will be happy to try that, and if not, just HUACA.

 

[Orca]

No, it will either be yes or no. If you get rejected for three, there's no harm in asking to try again for two or one - some CCA will be happy to try that, and if not, just HUACA.

Thanks mate - appreciate the advice and time!

 

[Brettmcg]

OK many thanks - looks like cash it is then. No likelihood of more N class seats becoming available?

It's always possible, given the next RBD is still 9. Probably gets less likely the closer you get to departure, but it has been known to happen.

 

[RSD]

It's always possible, given the next RBD is still 9. Probably gets less likely the closer you get to departure, but it has been known to happen.

OK many thanks! Which website(s) is it that allows a person to see what is available in each fare bucket etc?

 

[ms1]

Requested 2 x J seats SYD-HND in September and surprisingly approved.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Which website(s) is it that allows a person to see what is available in each fare bucket etc?

Expert Flyer.

 

[RSD]

Expert Flyer.

Many thanks - I will check it out!

 

[sudoer]

OK many thanks! Which website(s) is it that allows a person to see what is available in each fare bucket etc?

Seats.aero also has the same functionality now, and it's clear whoever is behind the site is working hard to add useful features.

By contrast, EF has barely changed in 10+ years, and has lost a substantial number of airlines from it's award search. It does still have some useful functions like fare info, MCT, listing all departing & arriving flights at a given airport.

If money was no concern they are both worth having, but if you were only going to sign up for one and your main motivator is finding award seats, I'd probably be going with seats.aero personally.

Edit: Seats.aero now has a 'fares viewer' which gives that same fares info functionality from EF.

 

[Cessna 180]

I have had a few wins in the last few weeks.

ADL MEL in eco.

I rang up last Tuesday for a flight yesterday (SAT) Flights were all around $500 so request not available. I do not have access to fare codes. The only fare for Sunday she could request was sub $300

Rang Friday night to ask again, CPT agent said no request available.

Rang again Saturday morning and I think it was a Manila agent who answered. She could only request one flight at 1610 that had come down in price since the day before. This suited me.

She was able to request and approve that and change my ticket without charge (I did kind of beg). She also told me that in future if I request a seat and it is approved that Q will hold it for one week without ticketing and thence if a change is required there will be no charge. If she really was from Manila she was one of the most competent agents ever. All done and ticketed within a few minutes.

I brief luncheon with my brother then off to enjoy the new lounges at Adelaide.

On a more serious note, one MEL-DFW and one MEL-NRT approved in J for April/May next year.

This was a few weeks ago, just have not got around to posting