Just checking award availability for two people SYD-BKK in first week April next year, hoping to do either J or F redemptions. When I search with qantas.com all I see are really subpar flights (MH with a stopover at KUL, JL with a stopover at NRT, or QF to MEL and then JQ to BKK). I can only force it to display QF and EK metal in economy searches.
I've checked Expertflyer on the dates I want to fly out and there seems to be 6 out of 8 seats on EK418/419 that are free...
Is there any way I can force QF to give me the direct routes with either QF or EK metal as opposed to having to fly to woopwoop and back? Thanks!
The number of 'seats free' through an ExpertFlyer seat map search isn't indicative at all of reward seat availability. In an extreme case, all tickets could be sold but no one selected seats.
You would need a premium Expertflyer account to check the actual number of seats available in the reward seat fare codes (I believe business reward is 'D' and first reward is 'Z'). Other services like Award Nexus could help too.
Generally Qantas will show the correct availability of Emirates flights. If you're not seeing anything, it's likely they are all sold out currently, especially for two people.
I did a quick search, and in the whole two weeks before and after your desired dates, there's only one single Emirates F reward seat available on Thursday 21 March (see attached images).
So that should give you an idea how hard it is to secure the seats only 4 months in advance.
The number of 'seats free' through an ExpertFlyer seat map search isn't indicative at all of reward seat availability. In an extreme case, all tickets could be sold but no one selected seats.
You would need a premium Expertflyer account to check the actual number of seats available in the reward seat fare codes (I believe business reward is 'D' and first reward is 'Z'). Other services like Award Nexus could help too.
Generally Qantas will show the correct availability of Emirates flights. If you're not seeing anything, it's likely they are all sold out currently, especially for two people.
I did a quick search, and in the whole two weeks before and after your desired dates, there's only one single Emirates F reward seat available on Thursday 21 March (see attached images).
So that should give you an idea how hard it is to secure the seats only 4 months in advance.
aeries
aeries
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 18 Mar 2018
Total posts 21
Hi all,
Brandon Loo
Brandon Loo
Member since 10 Jul 2018
Total posts 105
The number of 'seats free' through an ExpertFlyer seat map search isn't indicative at all of reward seat availability. In an extreme case, all tickets could be sold but no one selected seats.
mannej
mannej
QF
Member since 21 May 2014
Total posts 176
Seat maps are not an accurate indicator of load...
John Phelan
John Phelan
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Oct 2011
Total posts 261
Business reward code for QF is U class.
John Phelan
John Phelan
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Oct 2011
Total posts 261
You've left it way too late. Many reward seats in J or F are gone on the day they're released (in QF's case, 353 days prior) or soon after.
mnc
mnc
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 06 Aug 2017
Total posts 37
may also have to do with EK downgrading plane from a380 to 777 on this route