Understanding Classic Rewards release availability

[aweingar]

I was looking at booking 2 return flights from SYD to SCL in J early to mid next year, hopefully one of them as Classic Rewards. I'm flexible with dates up to a point.
When I look at availability on the QF website there is none, pretty much for any date. A helpful operator in the QF call centre spent quite some time trying to release CR seats for me, unsuccessfully.
We know that CR release dates are chaotic, so I'm not sure whether they have already released CR seats for those dates or not.

2 questions:
1. How do I know whether CR tickets have already been released and there's none left, or are yet to be made available?
2. I believe the CR class type should be U. Why isn't Expert Flyer showing anything for U, not even U0? Do I have the class type right?

Thanks.

 

[justinbrett]

1. How do I know whether CR tickets have already been released and there's none left, or are yet to be made available?

You don't, really. Maybe if you search the extremes of dates (ie the latest date bookable on the website), and if there's seats available on those last few days but nothing else, that seems to indicate that the seats have been released periodically and are now booked out. I think this is pretty rare these dates and they're released in batches, and there's no way of tracking whether that has happened.

2. I believe the CR class type should be U. Why isn't Expert Flyer showing anything for U, not even U0? Do I have the class type right?

I see U0. Are you sure you are looking on days QF fly to SCL?

To be safe, use the "Awards & Upgrades" function instead of the general flight availability function. I find both work for QF rewards, but for some airlines you have to use the award function.

SCL is a very thin route (not even daily) so U availability can be hard to get.

 

[ChrisMars]

For the U to appear on EF with Qantas, you need to set the point of sale to USA. Could be an advanced seatings when you run your query.

 

[aweingar]

Thanks @justinbrett
Yeah I can see the U allocation in Awards & Availability thanks. Funny I don't usually go to that tab, always use Flight Availability where U does not show for me. I can see X, but not U.

 

[aweingar]

For the U to appear on EF with Qantas, you need to set the point of sale to USA. Could be an advanced seatings when you run your query.

Interesting. Yeah that works when I set the point of sale to the USA, I can now see the U0. Weird.

 

[justinbrett]

Interesting. Yeah that works when I set the point of sale to the USA, I can now see the U0. Weird.

I leave mine on US.

 

[aweingar]

I think they have not yet released those CR seats. It doesn't make sense that there are none available for the first 8 months of next year.

 

[SYD]

I think they have not yet released those CR seats. It doesn't make sense that there are none available for the first 8 months of next year.

I thought I saw some next year doing random searches. But probably earlier in 2026.

You just missed a good sale fare to SA, that could have been a possible time to try and get seats released - although never guaranteed.

Also, I read here somewhere that QF and LA are ceasing their codeshare agreement. So that’s going to affect all sorts of availability both CRs and cash.

 

[justinbrett]

Also, I read here somewhere that QF and LA are ceasing their codeshare agreement. So that’s going to affect all sorts of availability both CRs and cash.

AFF reported that - however I've heard from a reliable source that is incorrect.

 

[aweingar]

I thought I saw some next year doing random searches. But probably earlier in 2026.

I can see some very limited X availability in April and May, but there's nothing available for U between now and next August

 

[flyguy77]

AFF reported that - however I've heard from a reliable source that is incorrect.

Are you certain? It's also been reported elsewhere...

LATAM Chile / Qantas Modifies Codeshare Routes in NW25 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0800PDT / 1500GMT 01AUG25 LATAM Airlines Chile yesterday (31JUL25) announced the modification to its codeshare partnership with Qantas. From 26OCT25, LATAM will no longer codeshare on Qantas’ Sydney – Santiago de Chile sector. LATAM cited commercial reasons leading to the cancellati

www.aeroroutes.com

LATAM and Qantas Codeshare Changes | Flat Beds

LATAM Airlines Chile announced on 31 August the modification to its codeshare partnership with Qantas.

www.flatbeds.com.au

 

[justinbrett]

Are you certain? It's also been reported elsewhere...

LATAM Chile / Qantas Modifies Codeshare Routes in NW25 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0800PDT / 1500GMT 01AUG25 LATAM Airlines Chile yesterday (31JUL25) announced the modification to its codeshare partnership with Qantas. From 26OCT25, LATAM will no longer codeshare on Qantas’ Sydney – Santiago de Chile sector. LATAM cited commercial reasons leading to the cancellati

www.aeroroutes.com

LATAM and Qantas Codeshare Changes | Flat Beds

LATAM Airlines Chile announced on 31 August the modification to its codeshare partnership with Qantas.

www.flatbeds.com.au

QF has never codeshared on LA's SYD-SCL because it's never flown that route non-stop.

You can still codeshare the old way SYD-AKL-SCL (QF metal connecting to LA, on a QF code), and also on MEL-SCL, not to mention a number of intra-South America Routes. LA also codeshares on SYD-SIN and QFd.

 

[SYD]

I can see some very limited X availability in April and May, but there's nothing available for U between now and next August

I can see a sprinkling of 2x U (QF SYD-SCL) in late July and early August 2026. Looks like there's more SCL-SYD from late June 26.

 

[aweingar]

I can see a sprinkling of 2x U (QF SYD-SCL) in late July and early August 2026. Looks like there's more SCL-SYD from late June 26.

Interesting. I can't see any. All I can see is Classic Plus

 

[aweingar]

Interesting. I can't see any. All I can see is Classic Plus

Ah. I can see a few in May

 

[SYD]

Ah. I can see a few in May

How are you searching? I'm just looking at the QF Multi-City (it's easier to get the calendar view) but the regular search should work also.

 

[aweingar]

The Qantas search engine is cr*p.
I can see CR available on a few given dates, then I search again, and they're gone

 

[aweingar]

How are you searching

I was just using the standard flight search, not the multi city. I get different results each time. On rare occasions I get those CR seats (only twice so far).
The problem is I get locked up unable to move the dates around, need to restart the search and those CR seats are gone from the next search.