Why there are no QANTAS seats on QANTAS frequent flyer schem

Why there are no QANTAS seats on QANTAS frequent flyer schem

If one tries to search flight to/from Asia (SIN, BKK, HKG) then there are no QF metal available on J at all. I do not remember when I actually seen QF mental on those routes while from time to time one can score CX or EK. Any reason why? Is it really cheaper for Qantas to buy someone’s seats instead of selling own? Or may be with other schemes (Marko Polo for example) is easier to score Qantas flight instead of Cathay Pacific?

Without understanding what the "cost" impact is to allow its members to redeem on a partner's metal, it would seem sensible for QF to limit award inventory on its flights. Revenue bookings, when the demand is there, trumps award bookings!

I suspect the pricing structure for alliance members of award flights is marginal, otherwise you wouldnt have had the devaluation events of late such as AA's and AS' (pressure to increase award rates by partner airlines). 

Therefore, an airline makes better profits limiting award bookings for premium cabins. Whether such an approach is equitable is another matter. Presumably there are protocols and rules in place to even out the playing field, otherwise Dumb Ass Airlines will keep releasing award inventory and members of Vulture Airways will keep snapping up awards with little impact to Vulture's bottom line.

“Therefore, an airline makes better profits limiting award bookings for premium cabins.”

This is understandable – it was calculated way too many times and everyone agree that value of points is significantly higher when redeem premium cabin. So for QF is it better to shovel me economy seats when they making little profit, but can reduce their point liability quicker. However someone gotta pay for my butt flying J. So if Qantas actually runs QFF program then it implies  to me that it should be cheaper for them to offer their own seats at cost price rather than buying say CX ones that not really cheap at first place. Or if QFF running independently from Qantas then they can choose where to buy those seats and considering that Qantas usually very expensive they buying elsewhere. Or partners obligated under some agreement release award seats, then Qantas should do so for their program like Marco Polo for example.

All this of course no more than speculations and we unlikely to know the truth. But it really strange that on Qantas website there are plenty of CX seats in J from HKG to MEL and none from Qantas that flies from HKG daily to all big cities. And even more than once to SYD.

Personally I've moved on from premium cabin redemptions. It's too much of a game, which I can't be arsed playing. I redeem on short haul, where its pointless to fly in premium cabins and there is plenty of availability. The exception so that are for BA domestic/european flights when where the co-payments for redemptions is as much as the cost of the cheapest BA fares. So why bother redeeming when you can pay outright and earn a few TP/SC/EQM!

Do I really need caviar, a shower on a flight or a butler service? No!

Do I want a decent flat bed with tollerable food and nice lounges at a competitive prices? Yes!

So if I work my budget right and plan correct positioning flights I can get fairly good outcomes without contorting my schedules silly trying to make redemptions work.

I am not necessarily agree with you. Yes, trying to get premium cabin by redemption is a challenge. But I am not flying business and thus can be flexible and plan very much ahead with many months to spare. What I really value in redemption (apart of money of course) is no penalty for one-way travel. For example now I am planning trip to Europe and Asia. I like to stay few days in Bangkok flying to Europe and few days in Hong Kong flying back. With even economy one-way international tickets getting expensive and with premium cabins it basically the same price as for return. However when redeem on point it is no problem. Other example when I think I used point effectively is buying J for my son for in-Europe fly. Seats usually abundant and not that expensive from point and money perspective. Why I need dodgy Euro-J in in-Europe fly? He was returning to Australia after 1 year living in Germany and has too much baggage – flying business worked out way cheaper than paying for excess baggage.

I also do not care about shower at 10K above ground, but indeed value flat bed and I do not believe in upgrade – still gamble that live you in sardine class with high probability and you severely restricted with ever shrinking QF network. So I rather get my seat for my holiday trip half a year (or even more) ahead for Australia – Asia sector and buy commercial J seat on Asia-Europe one funding my next redemption. Work like a treat for many years.

I hear you.

Good luck finding the seats.

Apologies too for the type and spelling errors!

Serg

I agree normally not hard to find either QF or CX I was searching in Sept and Oct

Nothing in J from various cities out of Asia

Its a bit strange  

Status is also a factor.  QF make more seats available on their flights for their premium customers.  P1 can get a J seats on most flights.

It is interesting – I never knew that seats availability depends on status! Actually make perfect sense. 

Status is everything, not only is J availability better for P and P1 than other status, but there is also the possibility to ask QF to create an award seat if none is showing. This depends on cheaper J class fares being available. One also needs to plan. I have just booked 4 J returns to SIN on QF at easter next year. I booked when they came out as 2 separate bookings ( each one way). One the way out there were 4 seats showing for P but 2 for gold. On return only 2 in J but QFF created a further 2 for me. QF still makes money on my award bookings, but less than a fare paying customer. Interestingly the fees were an excessive 700 per person ( the same a as discount economy fare!) which makes CX a much better bet than QF to serviced asian cities.

Planing is everything but if award not showing, keep looking. the amount of inventory available may vary depending on demand, sometimes EK and QF release seats as the departure date draws closer.

Good luck Serg