Victim of Qantas QF phantom avialbility - any suggestions

[I love to travel]

I have been staking out a FF redemption for about 4 months now doing my research - coughet to Hong Kong to JFK in J. 121,000 points by using CX (Other options are more points because they route you via Europe). By using multicity booking could easily find availability on nearly every day of the week.

Went to book it today when QFF open up their award seats for June next year and could not book it. Rang QF, agent could only find one day in 6 months were it was actually available. She agreed you could easily book the segments separately, but if you do that, it would be 21,000 points more. She spoke to the ticketing department would would not honor the 121,000 points.

Any ideas/workarounds? I would accept it better if the availability was not there, but when the individual segments are, it seems to be a QF IT issue

(As an aside, its available on JAL and BA too)

Thanks

 

[harvyk]

Try calling QF again, not every phone operator is created equal, and I have in the past had to call 2 or 3 times to get one that could actually put through some out of the ordinary bookings.
Also perhaps wait a few days, yes in theory it's 353 days (I believe), but things don't open up on the dot of midnight.

 

[immature]

Any ideas/workarounds? I would accept it better if the availability was not there, but when the individual segments are, it seems to be a QF IT issue

This sounds like CX married segments at play (award space available for HKT-HKG and HKG-JFK routes separately, but none for HKT-HKG-JFK). Searching for award seats via multicity page will show availability that is not bookable. If you search for award availability on route HKT-JFK on the QF website, does it return seats for you?

If HKT-HKG and HKG-JFK are showing availability separately, you should be able to book these on the same ticket if you have a stopover in HKG of more than 24 hours.

I'm having trouble with this issue at the moment, and I've also found that BA will show award availability that QF is not able to book - suspect that it is searching multicity instead of point of departure to destination.

 

[Danger]

As immature notes, it's a CX married segment issue. However, if you're so inclined, give AA a call (02 9101 1948) and ask them to search for exactly what you're looking for. I'm reasonably confident that the married segment issue won't be an issue for AA. It doesn't help you, of course, but it will highlight the fact that QFF is not what is should (or could) be.

 

[junbugging]

As immature notes, it's a CX married segment issue.

This sounds like CX married segments at play

Isn't it the opposite?

 

[Danger]

Isn't it the opposite?

Technically yes, I guess it is. But it is married segment 'logic'. In I Love to Travel's case, CX is insisting on the segments not being married, hence the higher cost. I believe it's all about married segments, though.

 

[junbugging]

CX is insisting on the segments not being married

It's a workable hypothesis, but given some of my recent experiences, I'd want to test it against the "less than entirely competent QFF operator" alternative.

 

[medhead]

Have you tried multi-city with less than 24 hours in HKG?

 

[deejo77]

HKG...CX....yes it hurts sucking up my Chicago to Brisbane with a forced stop over in HK in September

 

[downgraded]

I'd go married (or divorced) segments theory. Had this same problem on paid tickets with CX - both available independently but as soon as they're on the same PNR not ticketable -seems the fare bucket not available between end points even though they are in segments. When you want to get a return paid airfare you're stuffed.

 

[I love to travel]

Thanks for the replies. I just think its wrong that QF allows you to go all the way to the payment page on an itinerary it never will let you book. 4 months of planning down the drain. If anyone has any suggestions on how tomwork with QF on this would be grateful

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'd go married (or divorced) segments theory. Had this same problem on paid tickets with CX - both available independently but as soon as they're on the same PNR not ticketable -seems the fare bucket not available between end points even though they are in segments. When you want to get a return paid airfare you're stuffed.

I can see QR availability in J on Tue 20 Jun 2017 HKT/xDOH/JFK however it's 139K points plus taxes THB8795.00 (approx AUD335.00). That was using a regular availability search ie HKT/JFK plus I clicked the 'flexible with dates' box. Did not try the multi city option.

Can you take screenshots of the pages that prove the systems shows J availability for 121K points then call up and ask them to book it for you (waiving the assistance fee) as you're not able to do it on the website?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the replies. I just think its wrong that QF allows you to go all the way to the payment page on an itinerary it never will let you book. 4 months of planning down the drain. If anyone has any suggestions on how tomwork with QF on this would be grateful

Phantom availability is a problem for CX flights on both the QF and BA booking engines. The JAL tool is more accurate.