Redemption flights from anywhere back TO Australia

[waltervp]

I was trying to book a redemption flight for me and my partner from Helsinki back to either/or SYD/MEL/CBR/DPO, but could not find a single redemption flight to Australia for December/Jan. Then I found alternative flights all the way to KL, which is an excellent place for a few days' break. Now I want to get a redemption ticket to Sydney (or CBR or DPO) from KL, but to my surprise, I cannot find any redemption seats at all from Asia to Australia for January 2024, then discovered not even a single redemption seat for any day from Asia back to Australia. I spoke to Qantas and used their website, but no one can find a redemption seat back to Australia. In fact, I even looked for Australia-bound flights from USA/NZ/Middle East,... and found nothing! Is this just a brain glitch, or illusion, or is Qantas promoting extra availability for outgoing flights only? I can see millions of outgoing redemption seats to any overseas destination, but nothing coming home!!!!

Wouldn't surprise me. And all the media I see claims Qantas is providing extra seats to foreign destinations, but never a mention of coming back! What is going on??? I think I'll just pay for two seats on a Jetstar flight I suppose...

 

[justinbrett]

Jan is peak season for anything back to Australia, people returning from their annual Christmas break.

 

[waltervp]

Jan is peak season for anything back to Australia, people returning from their annual Christmas break.

I also checked february and march,... and not just KL to SYD... I think they have a temporary situation going on... and checked business/first too...

 

[ShrinkWrapped]

January tickets on non-QF airlines would have either been embargoed (e.g. not released with some airlines) or alternatively all gone in the 330 - 355 day window. The frank reality is if you want an award ticket in a premium cabin (actually even economy) during Dec - Feb, you have to book 11 months out. Only exception is if you are QF P1 and can request award seat release

Also - emirates award releases are now unpredictable. Qatar doesn’t really release to QF. So it already reduces options by a few.

are there any availability of JQ awards? Though having said that, if it’s an economy award, it may be worth just buying a JQ fare from KUL back to SYD for peak season …..

 

[kamchatsky]

Check Fiji airways from Hong Kong. You can find some.

 

[tdimdad]

Yes, sometimes it appears that there are more seats available through QFF outbound than inbound. But overall, especially in the peak period, any reward starts are booked nearly a year in advance. If you can find starts for your desired routes for next July /August, that's your answer...

 

[stopthecap]

Usually there are unlimited Manila - Syd flights and now cannot find any (direct). I would try Singapore as there are so many flights which can get redemption. BA, Qantas and Jetstar

 

[levelnine]

I also checked february and march,... and not just KL to SYD... I think they have a temporary situation going on... and checked business/first too...

That's not correct. Lots of availability in March. My guess is you're simply too late. Peak season tickets are long gone.

 

[waltervp]

January tickets on non-QF airlines would have either been embargoed (e.g. not released with some airlines) or alternatively all gone in the 330 - 355 day window. The frank reality is if you want an award ticket in a premium cabin (actually even economy) during Dec - Feb, you have to book 11 months out. Only exception is if you are QF P1 and can request award seat release

Also - emirates award releases are now unpredictable. Qatar doesn’t really release to QF. So it already reduces options by a few.

are there any availability of JQ awards? Though having said that, if it’s an economy award, it may be worth just buying a JQ fare from KUL back to SYD for peak season …..

I can't even find any seats KL to SYD for any date in 2024, up till Xmas 2025... not from HK, nor Manilla... only checking qantas reward flights. Maybe

That's not correct. Lots of availability in March. My guess is you're simply too late. Peak season tickets are long gone.

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Wow, yes... I dont have enough points for two first class, but yes, I hadn't seen them. Still don't see them, maybe it's me.... I fear we will be flying Scoot home...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Not ideal, maybe get a train or bus to SIN, and then get something like TR Scoot from there, or from KUL without going down to SIN, on D7 AAX.
Or 3K Jetstar to SIN, and then JQ down to Aust.
I do realise the idea is to get down with points, and you paying only the flight taxes.

 

[dizz]

I was trying to book a redemption flight for me and my partner from Helsinki back to either/or SYD/MEL/CBR/DPO, but could not find a single redemption flight to Australia for December/Jan. Then I found alternative flights all the way to KL, which is an excellent place for a few days' break. Now I want to get a redemption ticket to Sydney (or CBR or DPO) from KL, but to my surprise, I cannot find any redemption seats at all from Asia to Australia for January 2024, then discovered not even a single redemption seat for any day from Asia back to Australia. I spoke to Qantas and used their website, but no one can find a redemption seat back to Australia. In fact, I even looked for Australia-bound flights from USA/NZ/Middle East,... and found nothing! Is this just a brain glitch, or illusion, or is Qantas promoting extra availability for outgoing flights only? I can see millions of outgoing redemption seats to any overseas destination, but nothing coming home!!!!

Wouldn't surprise me. And all the media I see claims Qantas is providing extra seats to foreign destinations, but never a mention of coming back! What is going on??? I think I'll just pay for two seats on a Jetstar flight I suppose...

As others have said, peak season availability is pretty scarce into and out of Australia. (Always been the case, but particularly compounded by the pent up demand and stockpiled points through the pandemic.)
I put together a round the world trip earlier in the year, returning first week of Feb 2024. When I booked (back in early April) the only option I could find getting home from Asia was to go via Honolulu in Economy.
Everything else was gone.
I checked pretty regularly since then and about a month ago there was a big release of seats from HND to most Australian cities across Jan/Feb. Snapped up 3 J seats to come back direct. The rest look to be long gone by now.

Long story short, you're way too late for reliable availability, but if you set up an alert with something like expert flyer and/or check every couple of days, you may get lucky.

 

[waltervp]

Long story short, you're way too late for reliable availability, but if you set up an alert with something like expert flyer and/or check every couple of days, you may get lucky.

I think that is the case. The pent up demand due to covid related points build up... I better check out expert flyer alerts!... thanks for words of wisdom

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can't even find any seats KL to SYD for any date in 2024, up till Xmas 2025... not from HK, nor Manilla... only checking qantas reward flights. Maybe

Wow, yes... I dont have enough points for two first class, but yes, I hadn't seen them. Still don't see them, maybe it's me.... I fear we will be flying Scoot home...

I just used the calendar view and found seats almost every single day from KUL to SYD, for two pax. Many of those days included business class, with a connection via singapore and Qantas business from SIN to SYD. So maybe a glitch with your browser?

 

[brett-au]

I just used the calendar view and found seats almost every single day from KUL to SYD, for two pax. Many of those days included business class, with a connection via singapore and Qantas business from SIN to SYD. So maybe a glitch with your browser?

I'm guessing OP didn't click reward seats button - which would only show QF

 

[waltervp]

I just used the calendar view and found seats almost every single day from KUL to SYD, for two pax. Many of those days included business class, with a connection via singapore and Qantas business from SIN to SYD. So maybe a glitch with your browser?

I'm looking for an affordable ticket home, hence looking for reward flights. Even Scoot one way to Sydney is $800+ with luggage etc. But that's what I'll end up doing I think .

 

[jase05]

Paid J fare of around $900 on PR from KUL and SIN back to SYD/MEL/BNE around February