QFF Platinum requesting release of extra Classic Reward seats?

[sudoer]

For me, it's frustrating seeing all fare classes available aside from E (economy lead-in sale) and X (economy reward), necessitating a phone call to get seats released on flights that are basically empty. Fair enough when an airline has genuine inventory control on reward seats, but there's a difference between that and turning most of them off.

I disagree with this so long as the seats are successfully released.

I'd rather Qantas limits availability like this to those with status who are also prepared to research the ins, outs, and unpublished benefits of the program.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I disagree with this so long as the seats are successfully released.

I'd rather Qantas limits availability like this to those with status who are also prepared to research the ins, outs, and unpublished benefits of the program.

It's more the time waste. When a domestic economy seat at an off-peak time booked in advance is something that requires knowing about unpublished benefits, using third party software to check fare classes and bugging the call centre to book a domestic ticket like it's 1980, I wouldn't say it's a helpful development. The phone trick is a last resort when you can't find something. When it becomes Plan A for such a basic booking, it's concerning. They already have the ability to control live reward seat inventory by status - so when they're hiding most classic reward seats even from Plats and just showing almost everything as classic plus, you have to wonder about the future of classic as a product, longer term.

 

[serfty]

Perhaps it's a busy travel period and it's temporary, but we shall see.

you have to wonder about the future of classic as a product, longer term.

I believe it is the case that punters are being pushed to Classic Plus ...

... Qantas want that to become the new normal...

 

[Jacques Vert]

I believe it is the case that punters are being pushed to Classic Plus ...

... Qantas want that to become the new normal...

and they risk killing the golden goose in the process.

 

[fkcn]

Any thoughts on whether checking in online and confirming seat at T24 for international flight affects upgrade request negatively or positively? Or makes no difference? And are upgrades less than T24 or at airport likely, if still availability?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Any thoughts on whether checking in online and confirming seat at T24 for international flight affects upgrade request negatively or positively? Or makes no difference? And are upgrades less than T24 or at airport likely, if still availability?

Wrong thread for this question but no checking in has no effect either way.
They do upgrades right up until departure.

 

[sudoer]

I wouldn't say it's a helpful development.

Of course it's not helpful, but the reality is we are competing for a finite - if not decreasing - number of award seats, with an increasing number of points collectors, in an ecosystem where redemption strategy info and award-finding tools (e.g. seats.aero) continually remove barriers to entry.

Do we really want to make it even easier for the 50k QFF Plats (guesstimate) who aren't aware of the unpublished benefit or can't be bothered calling to complete with us for the few dozen long-haul J/F seats QF might open up on request each day of departure?

Qantas may be able to restrict online availability to certain status tiers - although I'm yet to see evidence they actually do this aside from loading awards at T-353/308/297 for the different tiers.

Generally I don't like the idea of gatekeeping, but with such high demand and scarce inventory I think that making the request process easier or loading the inventory online would significantly dilute the value of Platinum for those who are aware of this benefit. It is a minor inconvenience to call, but it's usually a rather quick yes/no.

 

[justinbrett]

you have to wonder about the future of classic as a product, longer term.

It’s just dynamic reward pricing by another name.

Most airlines that have dynamic rewards still have the base level reward equivalent to QF CR, and then have additional seats ranging in price.

 

[fkcn]

Wrong thread for this question but no checking in has no effect either way.
They do upgrades right up until departure.

Thank you, got my threads mixed up. New Plat so was both requesting upgrade (fingers crossed) and trying to get CR release in different flight (no joy).