Santiago-Sydney classic awards apparently don't exist anymore?

[Hardwired]

Hi all,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I'm at my wits end! Before the changes to the website and booking system I had no problems booking a one way Sydney-Santiago classic award business seat, got it first time easy peasy, done and dusted.

Now looking for the classic award Santiago-Sydney for early July 2014 and this error message comes up when I attempt to book:

"These cities are not available on classic awards. Please unselect classic awards to continue". This happens regardless of the date range (ie: I've tried random dates for flights in 2013, early 2014, July 2014). It just doesn't seem to exist. You can book Sydney-Santiago classic awards fine, but try and get that return leg (either as a return or single leg) and the system can't handle it.

I am keeping tabs on expert flyer that show award seats allocated for the date(s) that I want to come home. I have heard that LAN only provide availability at the industry minimum 330 days or whatever it is but Qantas says the leg doesn't even exist. I've spoken to the call centre a couple of times and they tell me there's no allocation yet (possible re: LAN's release standard) but are unable to provide a solution for the route simply not being part of the program anymore. If it's not there how on earth can I book it? The staff at the call centre are also unable to book it as it doesn't exist in their system either (spoken to 3 people on separate occasions).

Has anyone heard anything? It's starting to annoy me, I want to book my flight and get closure!!!

 

[Mattg]

Not sure about the answer to you question, but I imagine it would be very difficult to get an award seat to SCL/South America in July 2014 due to the World Cup being on in Brazil. FWIW I searched for this about a week ago and the system was able to process the request, but there were next to no seats still available. I just presumed they were sold out due to high demand.

Oh, and welcome to AFF! I hope someone has an answer for you

 

[docjames]

Sold out or intentionally unavailable?

I'm surprised the flight frequency isn't bring increased / charters aren't being put on.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Sold out or intentionally unavailable?
I'm surprised the flight frequency isn't bring increased / charters aren't being put on.

Airline flight have capacity restrictions as determined by the 2 governments. An airline cannot just decide to fly somewhere or add more capacity (seats). Anyway SCL is Chile. The Football World Cup is an Brazil

Awards & paid tickets are available 353 (or is 355?) days out? Some airlines use 330 days

 

[Mattg]

The World Cup may be in Brazil, but lots of Australians will be travelling there via SCL as its one of the main (and one of the only) hubs in South America which can be reached directly from Australia.

I would be surprised if QF didn't increase capacity over June/July next year; considering the demand they are likely to see, they would be stupid not to!

 

[love_the_life]

I did a quick check - looked at booking for cash then ticked 'View in points', have no trouble in finding flights for all dates in July, about 316,000 in economy one way (Santiago - Sydney).
The front page of the site is giving the message that cities are not available for Classic Award booking.

 

[docjames]

Airline flight have capacity restrictions as determined by the 2 governments. An airline cannot just decide to fly somewhere or add more capacity (seats). Anyway SCL is Chile. The Football World Cup is an Brazil

Awards & paid tickets are available 353 (or is 355?) days out? Some airlines use 330 days

Hence why they are charters.

I have no idea if QF is at max SCL capacity, but they may even run flights to EZE or on to GIG/GRU if there's enough demand.


Of course, subject to regulatory approval!

 

[Happy Trails]

There was a similar problem booking ASAs ex SCL discussed here:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../any-seat-award-originating-city-37386-2.html

 

[drron]

Have just looked at AA for SCL-SYD availability.Virtually no Y Milesaaver availability but scattered J availability from November on.3 dates in June but latest 11/6.July not bookable yet.Of course the cost is 50000 miles +$US54.50.

 

[gwynne]

Hence why they are charters.

I have no idea if QF is at max SCL capacity, but they may even run flights to EZE or on to GIG/GRU if there's enough demand.


Of course, subject to regulatory approval!

They're currently charging upwards of $5,000 for return flights to Santiago in economy. I don't think they see the need to put on extra flights when they can just extort for tickets on the existing ones.

 

[Mattg]

They're currently charging upwards of $5,000 for return flights to Santiago in economy. I don't think they see the need to put on extra flights when they can just extort for tickets on the existing ones.

If demand is high enough (which for the World Cup I suspect it might be), then who's to say that they can't extort on extra flights too?

 

[Annaclare]

Hi all

First time poster also, having exactly the same problem. Panicking a bit. Piecing together a RTW trip and booked the Sydney-Paris leg on points for late Sep 2013 only to find a few minutes later that Buenos Aires-Sydney early March 2014 gives me the "These cities are not available..." error. These flights were available a week ago! Same result searching Santiago-Sydney.

Saved points for my medical student elective term. Scared I've made a big mistake and am going to be stuck half way around the world with a very expensive one-way ticket home.

Not booking anywhere near World Cup time, so don't think that's the explanation. It's also completely bookable in the other direction (SYD-LAX-Dallas - Buenos Aires for 64,000 points)

Help!

 

[Mattg]

Hi all

First time poster also, having exactly the same problem. Panicking a bit. Piecing together a RTW trip and booked the Sydney-Paris leg on points for late Sep 2013 only to find a few minutes later that Buenos Aires-Sydney early March 2014 gives me the "These cities are not available..." error. These flights were available a week ago! Same result searching Santiago-Sydney.

Saved points for my medical student elective term. Scared I've made a big mistake and am going to be stuck half way around the world with a very expensive one-way ticket home.

Not booking anywhere near World Cup time, so don't think that's the explanation. It's also completely bookable in the other direction (SYD-LAX-Dallas - Buenos Aires for 64,000 points)

Help!

So to clarify, you want to book SCL or EZE to SYD on points? and early March 2014? Unfortunately since the new booking system came in it doesn't let you book classic awards from certain cities such as these. I don't know why this is and I think an explanation from Qantas would be good!

I had a quick look at paid flights one way EZE-SYD.. There seems to be some sort of sale ex-EZE from 2 March. As an example, you can currently book EZE-SCL-SYD on 3 March 14, with the second leg on QF28 for US$1335... It is possible to book this in points if you select view in points from this page, however it would set you back 226,100 points!!

You could just book this using cash, or be a bit creative with your routing. For example, it is possible to a QF classic award from LAX or DFW to SYD for 48,000 or 56,000 points respectively, but you would first need to get there, and I have not found a cheap way to do that on a one way ticket. If I were you, I would probably just book the cash fare with QF while it is available.

 

[travelislife]

Have you tried calling and asking?

 

[Annaclare]

Thank you Matt for your searching and input. I will look at being flexible with the itinerary - I see there are also flights out of Miami for 64,000. One way cash fares aren't a terrible option either.

I did try to call today, but queue was predicted at over half an hour so had to give up. Maybe a sign that there are a few glitches with the new system? Will try again and talk to someone before booking anything further.

Will let you know if I make any progress.
Cheers

 

[Mattg]

Thank you Matt for your searching and input. I will look at being flexible with the itinerary - I see there are also flights out of Miami for 64,000. One way cash fares aren't a terrible option either.

I did try to call today, but queue was predicted at over half an hour so had to give up. Maybe a sign that there are a few glitches with the new system? Will try again and talk to someone before booking anything further.

Will let you know if I make any progress.
Cheers

I've had a look at flights from Buenos Aires to Miami, but most are around the $2000 mark and none are cheaper than the cash fare EZE-SCL-SYD. I think your best bet is to just book the flight with QF with cash as there is no point spending more than the price of that just to get to the US so you can spend 64,000 points to get home. I also had a look at direct/via SCL flights with LAN and Aerolineas Argentinas (not that I would suggest flying with them) and they both wanted over $2000. With all of this in mind, and the fact that I don't think you're going to be able to book this as a classic award, I think $1335 with QF is reasonable.

With that being said though, do try to contact QF and find out what the go is, and if they solve this for you, or if you can find a better way, please do let us know.. I would be intrigued

 

[Hardwired]

Hi all,

Thanks for your comments thus far. Nothing has changed.

What is bizarre is that when I am not logged in as a frequent flyer member I can search and book one way paid flights santiago to sydney for the date that I want next year and could easily make the booking. As soon as I log in as a FF member I can no longer even tick the box that says 'view points'. What's even weirder is that when logged in as a FF member I can't even view paid flights santiago to sydney! It simply says flights out are not available for the date/time specified #9200. So non-FF members can search and book flights but I can't? Way to reward loyalty.

I have called the qantas booking centre several times now and have been told:

1. We have no idea why the flight doesn't exist
2. There is no FF seat availability (world cup time or not, I know the classic award seats exist - expert flyer isn't 100% accurate but there are seats available)
3. Yes we understand your frustration but we don't know what to do about it.

So, no help available it seems and so far I'm stuck in Santiago unless I want to pay a bucket of money for a one way flight back to Sydney, as I got my Sydney-Santiago leg no problems arriving 5 days before the world cup starts.

GREAT JOB QANTAS. I have stuck with them through all the mud they have been dragged through over the past few years, defended them no end but frankly I'm getting pretty annoyed.

 

[Mattg]

Hi all,

Thanks for your comments thus far. Nothing has changed.

What is bizarre is that when I am not logged in as a frequent flyer member I can search and book one way paid flights santiago to sydney for the date that I want next year and could easily make the booking. As soon as I log in as a FF member I can no longer even tick the box that says 'view points'. What's even weirder is that when logged in as a FF member I can't even view paid flights santiago to sydney! It simply says flights out are not available for the date/time specified #9200. So non-FF members can search and book flights but I can't? Way to reward loyalty.

I have called the qantas booking centre several times now and have been told:

1. We have no idea why the flight doesn't exist
2. There is no FF seat availability (world cup time or not, I know the classic award seats exist - expert flyer isn't 100% accurate but there are seats available)
3. Yes we understand your frustration but we don't know what to do about it.

So, no help available it seems and so far I'm stuck in Santiago unless I want to pay a bucket of money for a one way flight back to Sydney, as I got my Sydney-Santiago leg no problems arriving 5 days before the world cup starts.

GREAT JOB QANTAS. I have stuck with them through all the mud they have been dragged through over the past few years, defended them no end but frankly I'm getting pretty annoyed.

I don't blame you for being frustrated. I tried searching for this flight logged in and not logged in and the same thing happened - it worked when I wasn't logged in but not when I was, for some reason. To overcome this problem, there is no reason why you couldn't search when not logged in then add your FF number during the booking process or even afterwards through 'manage my booking'. However, this won't work if you try searching with points, as you pointed out. I don't know why this is.

I'm not here to defend Qantas but hopefully I can help in some way with the situation that exists.

I don't think it will be possible to get an award seat back to Australia, unfortunately as QF have not been helpful, but I also can't see any being available. Can I assume you wanted to come back in economy? Or business?

It is possible to buy a seat on QF28 on 23 July for US$1020.. Anything before this, on a oneway ticket with QF is $2125. I know you said you wanted to come back early July but if you are prepared to stay a couple of weeks longer this is a possibility.

i also had a look at LAN and Aerolineas Argentinas and they both wanted $2000+ for your dates.

 

[paultiffen]

Can't you use your QFF points to redeem on LAN?

 

[cove]

My two sons are going PER-SIN-NRT-LAX-DFW-GRU to get to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Nothing else worked and we tried what seemed to be every alternative.