The (CX) Phantom Returns!

[Pleb Status]

A few years ago, phantom CX award availability was a real problem when looking to book CX award flights using QFF points.

This problem was then generally solved when CX changed booking systems.

Over the past six weeks or so however (since I have been looking at least), it would appear that the CX phantom has returned with vengeance!!

Upon an initial search, some scant J award availability is shown on QFF for routes to/from HKG (using flexible dates). However, when you try to select the actual dates where availability is indicated, no availability of any sort is found and an error is returned. Try again and, as expected, the same thing happens again. This is not limited to Australia-HKG flights either.

If actual J award availability was any good this would not be so much of an issue. However, as almost zero J award seats are available anywhere close to when I want to travel, it makes actual availability even harder to find...

 

[Happy Trails]

I don't know if it's necessarily a QF thing.
I had similar this week, and previously, trying to book CX through AA.
BA and QF both showing availability, but AA unable to book it.

 

[Pleb Status]

I don't know if it's necessarily a QF thing.
I had similar this week, and previously, trying to book CX through AA.
BA and QF both showing availability, but AA unable to book it.

I believe AA has a 'different' availability to QF with respect to CX award seats. On every occasion I have tried using my AA miles to book a CX J award seat, I have been told there was no J availability but I was able to successfully book the same J seat using QFF points...

Also, the phantom issue means you cannot even see what flight the J award seat was supposed to be available on...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Use the JAL mileagebank tool to confirm availability. If JAL doesn't show it then it's possible it's phantom. (Still worth calling just in case JAL has under-reported, but it's more likely to be correct than not.)

 

[Dr Ralph]

A few years ago, phantom CX award availability was a real problem when looking to book CX award flights using QFF points.

This problem was then generally solved when CX changed booking systems.

Over the past six weeks or so however (since I have been looking at least), it would appear that the CX phantom has returned with vengeance!!

Upon an initial search, some scant J award availability is shown on QFF for routes to/from HKG (using flexible dates). However, when you try to select the actual dates where availability is indicated, no availability of any sort is found and an error is returned. Try again and, as expected, the same thing happens again. This is not limited to Australia-HKG flights either.

If actual J award availability was any good this would not be so much of an issue. However, as almost zero J award seats are available anywhere close to when I want to travel, it makes actual availability even harder to find...

I experienced this in 2017. Contacted Qantas. They said it's normal for some CX flights to show via QF website but not be bookable. They also said wait 24 to 48 hrs and those flights would become bookable.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They also said wait 24 to 48 hrs and those flights would become bookable.

Did they become bookable?

Alaska uses the excuse that phantom flights are ones that were available in the last 24-48 hours, have since been taken from inventory, but their systems don't get updated in real time. (I'm not convinced by that one. The QF DFW flights are still in the system for QF members but not for Alaska)

 

[Pleb Status]

I experienced this in 2017. Contacted Qantas. They said it's normal for some CX flights to show via Qf website but not be bookable. They also said wait 24 to 48 hrs and those flights would become bookable.

Interesting. First time I have heard that excuse.

I will have to get ready to book on Tuesday morning then...

 

[Dr Ralph]

Did they become bookable?

Yes.

To be clear Qantas didn't blame CX at all, they simply indicated that this was normal for CX, as frustrating as it may have been for the customer.

I booked at least 10 CX flights in 2017 and saw this problem around 10% of the time, normally on multi leg bookings.

 

[sxc]

I experienced this in 2017. Contacted Qantas. They said it's normal for some CX flights to show via QF website but not be bookable. They also said wait 24 to 48 hrs and those flights would become bookable.

I have been tracking when awards become available to Asia Miles vs QF. It seems to me that Asia Miles gets access around 2 days before QF. I wonder if this is why/when phantom availability sometimes happens.

 

[Mattg]

Use the JAL mileagebank tool to confirm availability. If JAL doesn't show it then it's possible it's phantom. (Still worth calling just in case JAL has under-reported, but it's more likely to be correct than not.)

Does this still work since JL updated their website last year?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Does this still work since JL updated their website last year?

it seems to, at least for some routes. The recent reports of QF’s ‘wide open F availability’ to DFW led a number of people to try and book through alaska airlines, only to make it through to the payment stage and the seats to turn out to be not available. Some even bought miles in anticipation of redeeming QF F.

JL’s tool correctly identified the seats were not in fact available for partner redemption.

 

[Happy Trails]

Just this morning I tried booking CX F through AA.
Saw it first on QF and then checked it was showing on JL, but no luck when I called to book.
Had a look on BA afterwards and couldn't see it, but it was still up on QF, where I could take it all the way to the payment page.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just this morning I tried booking CX F through AA.
Saw it first on QF and then checked it was showing on JL, but no luck when I called to book.
Had a look on BA afterwards and couldn't see it, but it was still up on QF, where I could take it all the way to the payment page.

This is, unfortunately, a common problem with AAgents searching for CX. Best advice is to call again. Some agents can't see them. Others can. Sometimes it takes a couple of calls. And some call centres are better than others.

 

[madrooster]

Does this still work since JL updated their website last year?

JL has moved to using Amadeus as well now. The problem with CX phantom availability is mostly to do with other carriers that also use Amadeus... kind of ironic.

 

[Pleb Status]

The phantom issue appears to be at its worst when booking ex Europe. FRA-HKG appears to be particularly bad for some reason.

Also, I do not believe the 48 hour explanation holds true as one particular day I am looking at has had a continuous phantom for a almost a week now.

 

[QF029]

Has anyone found away about this. I'm being frustrated bu a J segment on CX and have spoken to call centres in Tucson, Peru and Port Of Spain without success.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Has anyone found away about this. I'm being frustrated bu a J segment on CX and have spoken to call centres in Tucson, Peru and Port Of Spain without success.

Wait and try again is the only provided solution as far as I am aware.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Has anyone found away about this. I'm being frustrated bu a J segment on CX and have spoken to call centres in Tucson, Peru and Port Of Spain without success.

Have you confirmed through the JAL award tool that the seat actually exists?

 

[QF029]

Have you confirmed through the JAL award tool that the seat actually exists?

I can see it in QF and JAL.