Reward flights unavailable dates ?

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mrsterryn

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Are there months /times of the year when reward seats aren't released?
Looking at booking a reward seat Nov/Dec next year from Syd to FRA/LHR/GDG (any of them ) and return. Preference is business or First
Just having a look at current availability for economy , just to get an idea , and they appear to stop first week of Dec
 
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Are there months /times of the year when reward seats aren't released?
Looking at booking a reward seat Nov/Dec next year from Syd to FRA/LHR/GDG (any of them ) and return. Preference is business or First
Just having a look at current availability for economy , just to get an idea , and they appear to stop first week of Dec
Its far too early to be looking at seats for the end of next year, theyre only up to August at the moment.
 
QF usually release approx 330 days prior. other airlines may vary a bit but I think its pretty much standard. This includes most travel including accommodation as well.
 
Are you looking at November/December this year or next? If it is next, you are too early
 
OP mentions Nov/Dec next year

I am aware of that, but they also mention that flight availability disappears in December. You wouldn't have availability that far in advance loaded in the system as mention upthread.
 
Thinking about it, the OP is trying to use the current availability for December this year to gauge the level of availability for next year.

I would suggest the OP invests in Expert flyer as it would be a competitive time of year trying to snag J/F seats from SYD to the EU.
 
Thinking about it, the OP is trying to use the current availability for December this year to gauge the level of availability for next year.

I would suggest the OP invests in Expert flyer as it would be a competitive time of year trying to snag J/F seats from SYD to the EU.
Awards are such a variable thing. I cant see this line of investigation as working
 
Thinking about it, the OP is trying to use the current availability for December this year to gauge the level of availability for next year.

I would suggest the OP invests in Expert flyer as it would be a competitive time of year trying to snag J/F seats from SYD to the EU.

I agree.

I'm planning a trip next Nov/Dec next year to the US, and I was doing some 'testing' way back in Jan/Feb. Availability wasn't too bad looking forward then, but how things have changed now since CX adjusted their award program.
 
Thinking about it, the OP is trying to use the current availability for December this year to gauge the level of availability for next year.

I would suggest the OP invests in Expert flyer as it would be a competitive time of year trying to snag J/F seats from SYD to the EU.

Thank you I have the expert flyer seat alert membership ? Is that the one you are referring to ?
Apologies for the ambiguity of my post.
I was just seeing if there were flights for Dec this year to give an indication if flights were released at that time of the year
 
I agree.

I'm planning a trip next Nov/Dec next year to the US, and I was doing some 'testing' way back in Jan/Feb. Availability wasn't too bad looking forward then, but how things have changed now since CX adjusted their award program.

Yep that is what I was trying to do :)
 
Yep that is what I was trying to do :)

Understood, that makes sense now.

However, with Nov/Dec being only 2/3 months away, most awards for that period are more then likely snapped up so the availability now will be wildly different to what is released when the airlines open their calendar.

I'm confident of getting seats when they open later on in the year in late Nov/early Dec - but anything close to Xmas/NYE is much much harder.
 
Understood, that makes sense now.
I'm confident of getting seats when they open later on in the year in late Nov/early Dec - but anything close to Xmas/NYE is much much harder.
Thanks for the info. I have flexible dates...flexible departure airports in Aust and Europe so hoping that will help. Kinda would like to come home 2nd week of Dec back to Aust if possible
 
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Thanks for the info. I have flexible dates...flexible departure airports in Sydney and Europe so hoping that will help. Kinda would like to come home 2nd week of Dec back to Aust if possible

I think you'll definitely be able to get back then. It may not be with the carrier you'd like or the preferred route, but as long as you're flexible as you've said, then I think you will be fine :).
 
To answer the OP's question, yes Qantas does have blackout dates and routes. At present they are not releasing any J or F awards on QF flights to LHR, for example.

SYD-JNB and SYD-HNL are other routes where J seats are pretty much never released (except when the 747 is operating to HNL, as it is at the moment).

If you want to know whether a blackout exists on award seats for Qantas-operated flights, you can actually contact the Qantas Frequent Flyer Service Centre and ask. They are obliged to disclose this information under section 14.1.2 of the QFF terms & conditions:

14.1.2 From time to time Classic Flight Reward blackouts may apply on particular flights operated by Qantas, oneworld Alliance Airlines and Airline Partners (including Jetstar Airlines). Contact Qantas Loyalty for information on specific Classic Flight Reward blackouts.

Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions | Qantas
 
And I’ve never found availability of an award flight on Qantas from Hawaii. Not interested in Fiji as the flying times aren’t good, and I think there was an option to route through Japan.
 
I would make the general comment that, apart from trying to jump on (very rare) seats as soon as they are released (330/353 days ahead) the other things to look at are:

1. Partner awards (eg: EK to europe, or CX,or even MH)
2. A simple consideration of when demand will be highest and then reversing that logic. For example, there's no reason on earth while an airline would offer reward seats, specially in premium cabins, in periods of high demand - school holidays, special event times, peak seasons(eg: Northern Summer), school holidays, easter etc.

On the other hand thinking when people would least likely be demanding seats on certain routes or destinations may be helpful, and one can always look to build trips from various sources. For example, it's possibly going to be easier to find award seats on days people least want to travel, like Christmas Day, or to destinations out of season.

Other tricks can involve positioning to places in Asia and buying cheap(er) revenue tickets, or even awards, or gettin as close as one can to the final destnations and then getting low fare or other options (so, for example, an award to IST or MAD, then train/LCC up to CDG/FRA etc).

And finally, it can always help to have access to points in multiple alliances.. for example one may not be able to get a QF award seat to Asia, but one may be able to get J or F on TG more easily using a Star Alliance miles program (like UA, or LifeMiles), or using VA points for EY or SQ.

Often pieces of the piuzzle can be brought together with some creative thinking and ability to mix and match.
 
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