Well I'm stumped. Classic Reward, multicity, release dates, I must be doing it wrong.

[cambriamarsh]

Also doesn't seem to be mentioned up thread but Apr May Jun 25 seats won't be released as yet. Max is about 350 days before the flight.

 

[JennyMG]

You can use them for other Oneworld and Qantas partner airlines (eg. Emirates, China Airlines) but only for flights that are bookable via the Qantas website.

Here are a couple of strategies for you to consider:

• Use flight connections.com to find out what Qantas, Oneworld and Qantas partner flights there are out of Australia to Asia. Then set up searches for those flights on seats.aero. When flights become available, then search for flights using Qantas points out of those destinations (eg. You might find availability on Malaysian Airlines into KL, so then search for flights between KL and Europe).
• You could also use your Velocity points to get to somewhere like Singapore or even, if you have enough points, Tokyo. Then use your Qantas points from there. (I’m in the process of doing this myself for a flight home from New York – I’m looking to use Qantas points to fly JAL from JFK to SIN via Tokyo, then Velocity points for a Singapore Airlines flight home).

You wrote above that you have St George Amplify points — are you aware that you can convert those to KrisFlyer (Singapore Airlines) points, or have you already converted them to Qantas points?

Yes, already. I chose QFF points before I knew enough to realise Krisflyer was probably better. :/
thankyou for those strategies. THATS exactly the type of thing I was looking for guidance on and I really appreciate it.
I know it shouldn't be that hard, but I probably got a little confused since things seem to have changed so much regarding flights and availability, and nothing seems to have improved re the booking portals. But obviously I was being too optimistic. haha.
Thanks for all your help. I'll let you all know how I go.

Post automatically merged: Apr 7, 2024

Also doesn't seem to be mentioned up thread but Apr May Jun 25 seats won't be released as yet. Max is about 350 days before the flight.

Yes, I realise. I was just doing reconnaissance. I like to be ready, and was getting the picture before I stalked the searches I'm after. Seems many I have looked for come out randomly anyway. I've just been looking at Feb Mar 25 to get the lay of the land for next April May, and was hoping to find a pattern. Alas...

 

[JennyMG]

Sorry I didn't explain this! I mean you have to break the search down leg by leg, rather than searching end to end, that's all.

But yeah, IMO the Australia legs are the toughest. If you don't want to fly certain carriers that can make other legs difficult as well. As others have suggested, it's worth looking at Flight Connections as well to see where matches up where. But of course, you shouldn't be forced to fly an airline you don't want to, it's entirely up to you what you do with your points.

Thanks for explaining this. Appreciated.

 

[JennyMG]

Hard to book as normal search on QF doesn’t allow 360 days out. Need to search about 350 out and then keep moving date boxes later. Sometimes site wouldn’t let you move all the way sometimes it would.

Isn't that stupid! I know you have all talked about the booking portal for a very long time. But that scenario Maroonone, is just pathetic. I also have had the box choose a completely different date for me, when on the multicity, which is just the clunkiest slowest portal on the planet. I think it's really better to do individually. At least then you can see the calendar above when you're flexible with dates.

 

[ben95]

are we ONLY to fly Chinese airlines? There's millions of those, and emirates, if you're willing to part with $3000 each ticket on top of the points.

Where are you finding those ?! From where I can see there's sporadic availability on MU (seems to the only Chinese QF partner if you don't count CI?) going to PVG ex Australia but usually nothing on the return. Also can't really find anything on EK even just SYD/MEL - DXB often turns up empty.

From what I can see going to Europe redeeming CI (Yes its called China Airlines but it's technically Taiwanese and very different from the mainland China carriers like MU) via Taipei gives you the most option. I've flown SYD-TPE in J just last month and I can tell you the onboard experience was wondeful. But I think the same can be said for the mainland carriers (MU/CZ I've recently flown with) they've come a long way with both the hard and soft products bar some minor cultural quirks (they served me warm beer ) so may be worth checking some trip reports on Youtube and consider to give them another go if that's the best in terms of availability.

 

[Human]

@JennyMG It looks like there’s been a big dump of Classic Flight Rewards this morning.

Go for it!

 

[BriarFlyer]

@JennyMG It looks like there’s been a big dump of Classic Flight Rewards this morning.

Go for it!

Um, dates for OP haven't opened up yet so not relevant (and the dump isn't that big except to N America.)

 

[JennyMG]

@JennyMG It looks like there’s been a big dump of Classic Flight Rewards this morning.

Go for it!

thanks so much, but not quite my dates yet, was just looking 'early' so that I know what to look for.

 

[JennyMG]

Where are you finding those ?! From where I can see there's sporadic availability on MU (seems to the only Chinese QF partner if you don't count CI?) going to PVG ex Australia but usually nothing on the return. Also can't really find anything on EK even just SYD/MEL - DXB often turns up empty.

From what I can see going to Europe redeeming CI (Yes its called China Airlines but it's technically Taiwanese and very different from the mainland China carriers like MU) via Taipei gives you the most option. I've flown SYD-TPE in J just last month and I can tell you the onboard experience was wondeful. But I think the same can be said for the mainland carriers (MU/CZ I've recently flown with) they've come a long way with both the hard and soft products bar some minor cultural quirks (they served me warm beer ) so may be worth checking some trip reports on Youtube and consider to give them another go if that's the best in terms of availability.

oh, I didn't know that CI was Taiwanese. I feel quite foolish, because I always research everything...I guessed the name sort of said everything I needed to know. Except it doesnt!
I'm very interested that you thought J CI was good.
I've just spent 15 minutes going back through some of my million searches to see where I saw all the Chinese flights, but not sure I wasn't seeing CI now. I used to see tons of China Eastern, but nothing at the moment.

 

[elanshin]

oh, I didn't know that CI was Taiwanese. I feel quite foolish, because I always research everything...I guessed the name sort of said everything I needed to know. Except it doesnt!
I'm very interested that you thought J CI was good.
I've just spent 15 minutes going back through some of my million searches to see where I saw all the Chinese flights, but not sure I wasn't seeing CI now. I used to see tons of China Eastern, but nothing at the moment.

It's fine, a common mistake especially the flag carrier for China is "Air China" (although China Eastern and China Southern are arguably better).

CI consistently releases awards at the dates they should (i think they're still at 353). The other airline you could consider is JAL (JL). Top notch service, slightly dated J product (Y product is top notch) who are also very consistently releasing their tickets 353 days out. You could even do a side day or two in Japan if you'd like. The only problem is that JL recently increased their carrier taxes.

 

[dandandan]

All of the release dates (published and unpublished) prior to Covid can no longer be relief upon. The only exceptions are the ME3 and BA who release close to departure.

I suspect QF have pulled Classic Rewards in the last month or more in preparation for Monday's announcement. Looking at DPS, there are no awards ex SYD until Nov and even I class is 0 except for < 10 days prior to that. The flights are A330s and not sold out, but rather Rev Management are only selling higher classes.

I did manage to get each award released when I did find I class.

Yes, I am pretty sure they had pulled most non short term (in the next few months etc) premium Classic Rewards until todays's announcement. I looked around the time of the announcement this morning and was able to book 4 J Classic Rewards to the US (SYD-LAX) in later December 2024 at normal classic award points this morning so happy with that.

I wanted multi city, so SYD-LAX-LAS, however didn't want to miss securing the tickets and just booked SYD-LAX. Obviously I can add a seperate ticket, LAX-LAS, however can someone please let me know if I can easily call Qantas (within 24 hours of booking) and get them to re-ticket as SYD-LAX-LAS, as there is reward availability LAX-LAS and the points would be the same, just some differences in taxes.

 

[JennyMG]

It's fine, a common mistake especially the flag carrier for China is "Air China" (although China Eastern and China Southern are arguably better).

CI consistently releases awards at the dates they should (i think they're still at 353). The other airline you could consider is JAL (JL). Top notch service, slightly dated J product (Y product is top notch) who are also very consistently releasing their tickets 353 days out. You could even do a side day or two in Japan if you'd like. The only problem is that JL recently increased their carrier taxes.

JAL is one of my top choices,...(CX via HKG is another, and Velocity SIN, + QFF Air France from Sin to CDG, the other but that choice is fraught with danger that I wouldn't get the AF flight) I'm just about to research the JAL flights, and am really grateful you prompted me to look into them again.
@elanshin - One ONLY worry I had with JAL was that the J seats look so small. My husband has wide shoulders. Did you think the seat was small? or, like someone said on Points Guy in a review, the photos make the seats look like coffins, but they're pretty good.
I'm not that fussy about the age of the product as long as it's not terrible. I'll check them, and their taxes out. Thanks!
and, had not considered CI at all, due to my previous mistake, so will do that too.
I love this forum, you're all amazing.

 

[ben95]

oh, I didn't know that CI was Taiwanese.

It’s alright. It’s a complex topic that requires a lot of background knowledge to fully understand. Also a political minefield so I won’t go into the details here.

 

[JennyMG]

It’s alright. It’s a complex topic that requires a lot of background knowledge to fully understand. Also a political minefield so I won’t go into the details here.

I can imagine. But I admit I was guilty of bias there. Now I know, I'm glad about that. Thanks Ben.

 

[Seat0B]

ONLY worry I had with JAL was that the J seats look so small. My husband has wide shoulders. Did you think the seat was small?

I've flown in business on JAL (in 2020) and it was totally fine - although I'm only 165 cm. My hubby is 180cm and he also thought it was fine. So I don't think that should be too much of an issue.

Service was great.

 

[ronlon]

Hi JennyMG, it is too early to find reward seats "from France or thereabouts to home next May/June 2025" as it is too far in advance and not yet on the booking calendar. In relation to " from Syd to Italy or thereabouts next April/May 2025 " only early April departures are on the system and that is only for some limited partner airline.

 

[elanshin]

JAL is one of my top choices,...(CX via HKG is another, and Velocity SIN, + QFF Air France from Sin to CDG, the other but that choice is fraught with danger that I wouldn't get the AF flight) I'm just about to research the JAL flights, and am really grateful you prompted me to look into them again.
@elanshin - One ONLY worry I had with JAL was that the J seats look so small. My husband has wide shoulders. Did you think the seat was small? or, like someone said on Points Guy in a review, the photos make the seats look like coffins, but they're pretty good.
I'm not that fussy about the age of the product as long as it's not terrible. I'll check them, and their taxes out. Thanks!
and, had not considered CI at all, due to my previous mistake, so will do that too.
I love this forum, you're all amazing.

JAL depends on what you get, but all in all, its actually hard to say any of these seats are "small". They're all general all larger than economy by a reasonable margin and are pretty comparable to other seats. One of the things to keep in mind is that theres usually other space near the seat so its not just the seat and a wall right at the edge of the seat.

The apex suite is likely the one you're referring to and honestly it looks more weird than it feels in person. In fact in person it's probably one of the more private setups out there although yiu do have slightly less storage space than say on QF J.

 

[drron]

As a fairly broad fellow I have never had a problem with a JAL J seat.

 

[JennyMG]

Hi JennyMG, it is too early to find reward seats "from France or thereabouts to home next May/June 2025" as it is too far in advance and not yet on the booking calendar. In relation to " from Syd to Italy or thereabouts next April/May 2025 " only early April departures are on the system and that is only for some limited partner airline.

Yes I realise, as mentioned I am only scouting the possibilities, so that I'm ready for when the seats might drop. If I don't know what I'm looking for it makes it much harder, so research is the key.

 

[vast524]

I too have found it really challenging to book QFF flights. The multi-city search tool so frustrating. It crashes, boots you out and then I have found that flights appear and disappear. ie Single search for flights from Hong Kong to Melb on dates that work with our itinerary, yet when added to a multi sector search they are no longer appearing and doesn't matter if we stay longer than 24hrs they just are not available. Makes it so hard to get back to Aus. Any tips or explanation why this occurs would be appreciated