"What would you do" - booking 355 days out

[exceladdict]

Hi All

Looking to book a very specific PER-MEL J award flight over the next Christmas/New Year season and as such there's 5 or so days until the award window opens. It's a very specific flight I'm after and so I'm hoping that when the seat is available, I can grab it and not let go!

However - I also want to get the best value - so if you had the 36,000 QF points available, 17500 Aadvantage points, or the ability to buy Y with cash and upgrade - what would you do?

My current idea is to book U for 36k QF when available, then at D-331 cancel and rebook with AA points. However, I'm worried that unless the second seat is still available - if I cancel the seat, someone will have waitlisted and nab it off me. Should I be worried about that?

 

[Quickstatus]

Hi All

Looking to book a very specific PER-MEL J award flight over the next Christmas/New Year season and as such there's 5 or so days until the award window opens. It's a very specific flight I'm after and so I'm hoping that when the seat is available, I can grab it and not let go!

However - I also want to get the best value - so if you had the 36,000 QF points available, 17500 Aadvantage points, or the ability to buy Y with cash and upgrade - what would you do?

My current idea is to book U for 36k QF when available, then at D-331 cancel and rebook with AA points. However, I'm worried that unless the second seat is still available - if I cancel the seat, someone will have waitlisted and nab it off me. Should I be worried about that?

If you cancel a QF U seat there is no guarantee that the seat will be returned to U inventory. There is no waitlisting for award seats in the QF FF program. Its first come first serve.

 

[love_the_life]

Is the very specific flight based on the time it leaves PER or the hard product (and as we all know this is never guaranteed so hope you are not booking only for that.) If you are so specific in your requirements, pay up the QFF points and be done IMO.

 

[eric2011]

Hi All

Looking to book a very specific PER-MEL J award flight over the next Christmas/New Year season and as such there's 5 or so days until the award window opens. It's a very specific flight I'm after and so I'm hoping that when the seat is available, I can grab it and not let go!

However - I also want to get the best value - so if you had the 36,000 QF points available, 17500 Aadvantage points, or the ability to buy Y with cash and upgrade - what would you do?

My current idea is to book U for 36k QF when available, then at D-331 cancel and rebook with AA points. However, I'm worried that unless the second seat is still available - if I cancel the seat, someone will have waitlisted and nab it off me. Should I be worried about that?

I am one of those who hate the bagging and complaining about QF and when "things" don't work out.

Why am I getting a feeling we will read about this in a QF bag post in 6 - 12 months time

 

[hossein_au]

Hi All

Looking to book a very specific PER-MEL J award flight over the next Christmas/New Year season and as such there's 5 or so days until the award window opens. It's a very specific flight I'm after and so I'm hoping that when the seat is available, I can grab it and not let go!

However - I also want to get the best value - so if you had the 36,000 QF points available, 17500 Aadvantage points, or the ability to buy Y with cash and upgrade - what would you do?

My current idea is to book U for 36k QF when available, then at D-331 cancel and rebook with AA points. However, I'm worried that unless the second seat is still available - if I cancel the seat, someone will have waitlisted and nab it off me. Should I be worried about that?

To me cash and upgrade is the leat valuable method to secure a J seat. Furthermore, I value AA points more than double those of QF. Therefore, for me personally, using QFF points would be the cheapest method out of the 3 you have listed. Having said that, if you ar after a specific flight, use whatever means at your disposal to secure the seat, even if it means you have to pay hard-earned cash up front. You know the first rule of FF; plan your itinerary around availability. If you don't have any wiggle room on the flight time, then...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Why am I getting a feeling we will read about this in a QF bag post in 6 - 12 months time

What a cynicorl post!

Like that Hvr?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

It can still go pear shaped.
Ie, if you want that first light of dawn arrival into MEL on the 330, QF might just do an equipment swap, and put in a 737 instead.
If you wanted the J product, no matter if 330 or 737, then my reply would be irrelevant.
All depends on what you want.
I have a 19:00 booking, with time in the MEL QP and then the J on the 330 for June.
But I know in the bottom of my heart, though that that flight is what I really want, QF just might do an equipment swap to a 737 on that flight.
Very hard to make 100% sure when it comes to airlines.
Go ahead and book it, and hopefully, you will get what you paid for in points.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Agree take the points deal. Everything can go wrong in travel as in life !!

 

[exceladdict]

If you cancel a QF U seat there is no guarantee that the seat will be returned to U inventory. There is no waitlisting for award seats in the QF FF program. Its first come first serve.

When I have requested an upgrade in the past (domestic) my experience has been that if U inventory is available, it's immediately confirmed, if not, you go onto the waitlist and they upgrade closer to the flight based on availability. I was worried that if someone had requested an upgrade, if U became available, it would be immediately confirmed for them. Does anyone know if that is the case?

However you've answered my question anyway because if there's no guarantee it will return to U inventory, I won't risk it

Is the very specific flight based on the time it leaves PER or the hard product (and as we all know this is never guaranteed so hope you are not booking only for that.) If you are so specific in your requirements, pay up the QFF points and be done IMO.

Looks like this is what I'll go with

I am one of those who hate the bagging and complaining about QF and when "things" don't work out.

Why am I getting a feeling we will read about this in a QF bag post in 6 - 12 months time

I would get that feeling too with the number of posts you've referred to of late. "Jetstar suck because they wouldn't upgrade me when i had a broken foot" takes the cake for me.

Don't worry - I know that it's an optional game and if you choose to play, you have to be aware that the rules can change, and getting grumpy at the rules doesn't help anyone. Having travelled in two US winters I'm very aware of the pitfalls of travel, equipment subs and timetable changes, and know they come with wanting to travel.

Thanks everyone for your advice!

 

[eric2011]

I would get that feeling too with the number of posts you've referred to of late. "Jetstar suck because they wouldn't upgrade me when i had a broken foot" takes the cake for me.

Don't worry - I know that it's an optional game and if you choose to play, you have to be aware that the rules can change, and getting grumpy at the rules doesn't help anyone. Having travelled in two US winters I'm very aware of the pitfalls of travel, equipment subs and timetable changes, and know they come with wanting to travel.

Thanks everyone for your advice!

Cruiser Elite above thinks my post was "quote" What a cynicorl post! "unquote". I guess that is what I was being, don't be offended by it, and if everything turns out good then well done, if it doesn't it sounds like you would accept that outcome as well

Wishing you good luck, I just don't have the balls to do what you are trying

 

[exceladdict]

Cruiser Elite above thinks my post was "quote" What a cynicorl post! "unquote". I guess that is what I was being, don't be offended by it, and if everything turns out good then well done, if it doesn't it sounds like you would accept that outcome as well

Wishing you good luck, I just don't have the balls to do what you are trying

No worries - not offended - apologies if I miscommunicated