Not sure I am looking hard enough but it appears that the ability to book Emirates flights with Qantas points diminishes greatly (or becomes non-existent) from September this year or thereabouts. Am I just not looking properly? However, I wouldn't expect Qantas to make a public announcement when making changes that significantly undermine the value of the QFF program.
Can you provide a specific example. I've just done a search from Dubai to London and can see the normal EK options listed in November/December 2018.
This is the second time today someone has asked that question about QF/EK flights (the other one was about the EK1/2 QF8001/8002) so maybe something might have changed...
It's worth pointing out that despite Qantas changing back to Singapore and Emirates basically pulling out on flights to NZ everything else is normal and for now will stay that until the new ACCC renews the QF/EK deal which should be next month (provided everything gets approved).
It's worth remembering that September is Australian school holidays, so the lower availability you might be seeing around those dates is because those seats have already been snapped up. Also keep in mind that Emirates tends to release seats to QFF about a month after some of QFF's other partners like Cathay Pacific - I know that when I was searching for reward flights from Paris to Brisbane a while back for travel almost a year in advance, CX was giving options but Emirates wasn't yet loaded into the system. (Obviously I booked with CX.)
I was looking at Hong Kong to Europe (zurich) in late 2018 / early 2019 that were available not that long ago with emirates and I have found good availability previously.
I had no problem booking Emirates business class return to Europe this European summer using FF points, and had quite a few options in regards to dates.
I had luck booking Emirates business class to and from Europe for May and returning in August as two one way multi city itineraries OOL-SYD-BKK & BKK-DXB-CDG and returning AMS-DXB-SYD-OOL, the system lets you book them but not complete the purchase and you have to ring the call centre but they finalized it at no extra cost. If you keep the stopovers under 24 hours it won't increase the points cost.
I have been searching for Melbourne -Singapore flights in early July or late September to no avail. I have a feeling it must be due to school/uni holidays being around then. Has anyone any experience of trying to book this destination during these periods?
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Emirates Award Bookings with Qantas Points
Scepticalflyer
Scepticalflyer
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 Aug 2017
Total posts 16
Not sure I am looking hard enough but it appears that the ability to book Emirates flights with Qantas points diminishes greatly (or becomes non-existent) from September this year or thereabouts. Am I just not looking properly? However, I wouldn't expect Qantas to make a public announcement when making changes that significantly undermine the value of the QFF program.
henrus
henrus
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Oct 2013
Total posts 766
Can you provide a specific example. I've just done a search from Dubai to London and can see the normal EK options listed in November/December 2018.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
It's worth remembering that September is Australian school holidays, so the lower availability you might be seeing around those dates is because those seats have already been snapped up. Also keep in mind that Emirates tends to release seats to QFF about a month after some of QFF's other partners like Cathay Pacific - I know that when I was searching for reward flights from Paris to Brisbane a while back for travel almost a year in advance, CX was giving options but Emirates wasn't yet loaded into the system. (Obviously I booked with CX.)
Scepticalflyer
Scepticalflyer
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 Aug 2017
Total posts 16
I was looking at Hong Kong to Europe (zurich) in late 2018 / early 2019 that were available not that long ago with emirates and I have found good availability previously.
Stefano
Stefano
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 17 Jul 2017
Total posts 4
I had no problem booking Emirates business class return to Europe this European summer using FF points, and had quite a few options in regards to dates.
caron
caron
Member since 02 Mar 2018
Total posts 1
it may be too early to book with emirates.
jgb59
jgb59
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 16 Mar 2016
Total posts 12
I had luck booking Emirates business class to and from Europe for May and returning in August as two one way multi city itineraries OOL-SYD-BKK & BKK-DXB-CDG and returning AMS-DXB-SYD-OOL, the system lets you book them but not complete the purchase and you have to ring the call centre but they finalized it at no extra cost. If you keep the stopovers under 24 hours it won't increase the points cost.
Jessimon
Jessimon
Member since 02 Mar 2018
Total posts 1
I have been searching for Melbourne -Singapore flights in early July or late September to no avail. I have a feeling it must be due to school/uni holidays being around then. Has anyone any experience of trying to book this destination during these periods?