QR availability for Qantas FF awards?

[Ultan Lankford]

First of all, apologies if this is in the wrong thread.

I have been meaning to jump on an award flight that was due to be released recently, given the 353 day release rule.
I have been keeping tabs of QR award flights being released on the Qantas Website and like clockwork each day new award flights are released in the afternoon EST.

All of a sudden since last week, this has stopped. No new QR award flights have been made available since then, the last date it seems is the 22nd of August.

Doing a bit of searching it seems that QR have just released new updated schedules for the 2017 winter, so it could that. Also, on the QR website, you cannot book any new flights regardless if they are awards or not from the 22nd, so it could be all perfectly normal.

Anyway, I though perhaps it may be the website but I rang Qantas and they see the same as me, no new flights on QR since the 22nd of August.

Is this relatively common? I could log in some day and see all the flights available or are QR sometimes hit and miss this way? There is a particular flight I want, I do have other backup plans, if I don't get this one and the last resort will be to fly BA but I want to avoid this as much as possible as BA cost lots of extra $$$$ in charges and well QR > BA.

 

[lathiat]

Only thing I can think of is that they are running a big sale at the moment, maybe they're holding out on them while the sale is running?
Not obvious why they would but all I can think of... Qatar Airways Travel Festival

 

[Mattg]

This kind of thing does happen from time to time with various airlines. Generally what happens is that the seats are all later released (sometimes after a few weeks, sometimes after a month or two) in one block.

I'd keep an eye on it.

If you let me know what flight/s you're hoping to book, I can set up an alert in Expert Flyer and let you know when seats become available.

 

[travelislife]

Strange. Just another point though you do realise QR flights are available on the QF website from 360 days out.

 

[Ultan Lankford]

PM sent MattG

Strange. Just another point though you do realise QR flights are available on the QF website from 360 days out.

Where is this? This was the case but not anymore at from what I can see and what the QF CSR saw. Can you currently see QR flights 360 days out?

 

[Mattg]

PM sent MattG

I've just replied to your PM.

Unfortunately it seems QR availability is not supported on Expert Flyer. (I probably should have checked this first!) But hopefully the alternative I suggested will work for you.

 

[blackcat20]

What route?

We were hoping to book BOS-DOH-ADL, but about a month and a half ago, reward seats just stopped being released. The last date available is June 29 next year, not a single seat since. Very odd and very disappointing.

 

[Ultan Lankford]

The route I am looking for is JNB-DOH-LHR. Its a bit annoying to say the least. Its out of the hands of Qantas so maybe we need to call Qatar directly to see what is going on here?

 

[madrooster]

QR seems to only have flights loaded up to 352 days out at the moment (the flight itself being loaded, let alone the seats). I wonder if they have recently changed their system range...

 

[Boca68]

QR seems to only have flights loaded up to 352 days out at the moment (the flight itself being loaded, let alone the seats). I wonder if they have recently changed their system range...

Yep, I'm seeing the same.

And as the OP points, no updated availability on QR for award flights for a couple of weeks? Reading the One World Award thread, it seems QR availablity is becoming an issue, even when it appears. Issues with ticketing and availability. Not sure what is going on? Perhaps is QR readying itself to leave One World? A thought?

 

[Ultan Lankford]

Leaving Oneworld? That would be a bit of a disaster but seeing as they only became a member, what less then two years ago very very unlikely. When I was accessing the QR site last night I was met with a message that they were doing an upgrade of their website. It could all just be a technical glitch on their end.

 

[BriarFlyer]

I've also been checking availability daily ahead of trying for a J/F redemption in early September 2017, but I had thought that any award seats were being snapped up by those of higher status (I have none) not that they weren't loaded at all. So thanks for the heads-up. I won't give up hope and will keep watching in case there is a backlog released.

OP mentioned an afternoon loading of the new/next day; what time does this happen? I'd been checking in the morning but will change my strategy.

 

[blackcat20]

For the route I was searching, there was heaps of availability on the first leg (from the US to DOH) but absolutely nothing from DOH into Australia. Its been approx 2 months since any seats were released, despite the fact revenue fares are still available (so its not a case of no flights operating).

 

[tgh]

It would nice nice to know their intentions; watching daily for Bne >Oslo…
Currently offered through Adelaide with unsuitable dates, sweating on some new seats coming on line for sept 17 ex syd…

 

[Geoffrey]

Still no availability after 22 August, this is so frustrating :-|

 

[blackcat20]

Still no availability after 22 August, this is so frustrating :-|

We gave up and booked CX instead.

 

[Ultan Lankford]

Yes, very annoying. I have to check each day to see what the deal is. So far they are about 25 days behind their usual release date.

 

[BriarFlyer]

We gave up and booked CX instead.

Nothing for our preferred departure week on CX. Looks like we'll be going SQ both ways...or possibly EY one way. If I narrow my eyes enough, I barely notice the cash extras. :-|

 

[blackcat20]

Yes, very annoying. I have to check each day to see what the deal is. So far they are about 25 days behind their usual release date.

For the date we wanted, they were two months behind. Something weird going on.
Fortunately with CX putting the A350 on MEL, we still get to try the new plane...

 

[puppysparkes]

I couldn't find anything loaded departing from SYD through October and November on the A380 in J.