I've been trying to book reward seats from Aus to the Indian subcontinent in April (leaving it late, I know), and when I check Qantas, nothing really pops up. I tried perhaps planning a small trip to Dubai before, and when you choose SYD - DXB on the 14th of April for instance, on the Emirates website it shows full availability the entire week in Business, on the Qantas website - nothing. My understanding was with the JV, they both have similar availability, at least that's how it has seemed in the past - maybe that isn't the case? At the very least I would have expected ONE seat during the month to show, but there's not even an economy reward seat to Dubai on the Qantas search.
Checking the AA website also shows some availability to the Indian subcontinent through MH and QF from Australia, again nothing with Qantas. Is Qantas intentially not showing these seats or are they just not getting the same access to these seats?
@jubbing my colleagues and I believe this is likely a tech issue / cookies on your browser combined with multiple QFF's checking out flights.
I found that after checking multiple times for the particular reward seat I was looking for "vanished" from my view. However my colleagues were able to see them.
Try open up an incognito window or an alternate browser, this helped on a recent reward booking I made. Hopefully this workaround helps.
I've been doing reward seat research for my self and have had no issue seeing available seats across the globe. As SDG said, try alternatives. I have found previously that if I do repeated searches (not just reward seats but full payment), options become limited and/or prices go up! As a result, when doing searches, I regularly clear cookies/clear the cache/etc. and then all the options show again.
Same issue and I can see on AA website QF business available to BNE but not on QF site and called them and they can't see it either - anyone have a solution?
To make matters worse, some destinations are no longer searchable on the QF website as origins, just destinations, despite there being EK and multiple OneWorld flights operating to/from said cities.
To make matters worse, some destinations are no longer searchable on the QF website as origins, just destinations, despite there being EK and multiple OneWorld flights operating to/from said cities.
I experienced that and it's frustrating (try searching for single flight segments from Doha) - believe it's because QF can't accept local currency from some countries. However if you try and book from Dubai it says you will be taken to Australia site and charged in AUD - clearly they have a workaround for this issue.
I have found that by using a multi-city option I can find seats and then when you choose them and go continue they are not available. Like a ghost seat. I have also found that on return trips under multicity more seats are available from the destination city if I start with that and yet when I put in a normal return search they don't show up.?? Perhaps there is just very little availability ??
To make matters worse, some destinations are no longer searchable on the QF website as origins, just destinations, despite there being EK and multiple OneWorld flights operating to/from said cities.
I experienced that and it's frustrating (try searching for single flight segments from Doha) - believe it's because QF can't accept local currency from some countries. However if you try and book from Dubai it says you will be taken to Australia site and charged in AUD - clearly they have a workaround for this issue.
Hi @Dan22 -it makes sense. I used to be able to book departures from GRU, GIG and EZE before and if I remember correctly the fees were calculated in USD.
If I needed to book a flight starting in those cities, I’d try calling in, but the very long wait times are discouraging.
Re flights Ex DXB, you’ll are spot on! I recently booked on points and the fees were indeed in AUD.
I confess I am finding it impossible to find any rewards seats to Europe, admittedly this is during European high season - but I can't find anything on QF, and I can't add Doha on a multi city search, and Dubai, Tokyo, KL, Singapore (hoping for AF or KL) all reveal nothing. No luck results for BA either. So welcome any tips. I'd even been willing to try SYD-LAX-EU on AA.
Have they simply not reopened award availability on partner airlines? If so some open coms would be appreciated so I don't waste my time searching, or on hold to them.... Social media messages asking just this haven't been answered either!
To make matters worse, some destinations are no longer searchable on the QF website as origins, just destinations, despite there being EK and multiple OneWorld flights operating to/from said cities.
I experienced that and it's frustrating (try searching for single flight segments from Doha) - believe it's because QF can't accept local currency from some countries. However if you try and book from Dubai it says you will be taken to Australia site and charged in AUD - clearly they have a workaround for this issue.
Hi @Dan22 -it makes sense. I used to be able to book departures from GRU, GIG and EZE before and if I remember correctly the fees were calculated in USD.
If I needed to book a flight starting in those cities, I’d try calling in, but the very long wait times are discouraging.
Re flights Ex DXB, you’ll are spot on! I recently booked on points and the fees were indeed in AUD.
Sao Paulo & other S.American cities don't exist as origin "From" cities on QF website, but can book "To" as destination or for a round trip. To get a one way GRU/SCL/SYD award tkt for July I had to book round-trip from SYD then phone to cancel outbound. Apart from the wait, no problem to do and fees/taxes all in AUD. Sadly wasted effort as QF just canx'd the SCL/SYD.
I've just tried this today, and I swear Qantas are still making reward bookings extrememly difficult to impossible. My steps:
- Click on 'Where can I go' in search
- Put in starting destination to anywhere, the class, and month and select classic rewards (for example, I put Sydney in December in Biz) and chose Sydney to Anywhere.
- Click on the destination and day you want, and click on 'book now'
- Results come up, but not using reward seats, filter by 'rewards only'
- Wait.. forever because the website never loads from here on. That or you get an error stating there are no award seats available.
I'm 100% sure it never used to be this hard pre-covid. Either Qantas has a TON of phantom availability and errors out when you actually try to book, or Qantas is pulling a dodgy. Either way, it's pretty poor form. Surely there has to be an easier way?
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Are Qantas Intentionally blocking reward seats?
jubbing
jubbing
American Airlines - AAdvantage
Member since 13 Jul 2015
Total posts 58
I've been trying to book reward seats from Aus to the Indian subcontinent in April (leaving it late, I know), and when I check Qantas, nothing really pops up. I tried perhaps planning a small trip to Dubai before, and when you choose SYD - DXB on the 14th of April for instance, on the Emirates website it shows full availability the entire week in Business, on the Qantas website - nothing. My understanding was with the JV, they both have similar availability, at least that's how it has seemed in the past - maybe that isn't the case? At the very least I would have expected ONE seat during the month to show, but there's not even an economy reward seat to Dubai on the Qantas search.
Checking the AA website also shows some availability to the Indian subcontinent through MH and QF from Australia, again nothing with Qantas. Is Qantas intentially not showing these seats or are they just not getting the same access to these seats?
SDG
SDG
Member since 02 Jul 2021
Total posts 2
@jubbing my colleagues and I believe this is likely a tech issue / cookies on your browser combined with multiple QFF's checking out flights.
I found that after checking multiple times for the particular reward seat I was looking for "vanished" from my view. However my colleagues were able to see them.
Try open up an incognito window or an alternate browser, this helped on a recent reward booking I made. Hopefully this workaround helps.
RichRing
RichRing
Member since 29 Jul 2019
Total posts 15
Unfortunately, I’m having the same issues!!
dnoble
dnoble
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 27 Jun 2013
Total posts 14
I've been doing reward seat research for my self and have had no issue seeing available seats across the globe. As SDG said, try alternatives. I have found previously that if I do repeated searches (not just reward seats but full payment), options become limited and/or prices go up! As a result, when doing searches, I regularly clear cookies/clear the cache/etc. and then all the options show again.
Dan22
Dan22
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Aug 2013
Total posts 165
Same issue and I can see on AA website QF business available to BNE but not on QF site and called them and they can't see it either - anyone have a solution?
vitorsyd
vitorsyd
Member since 04 Jun 2018
Total posts 29
To make matters worse, some destinations are no longer searchable on the QF website as origins, just destinations, despite there being EK and multiple OneWorld flights operating to/from said cities.
Dan22
Dan22
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Aug 2013
Total posts 165
Originally Posted by vitorsyd
To make matters worse, some destinations are no longer searchable on the QF website as origins, just destinations, despite there being EK and multiple OneWorld flights operating to/from said cities.
Janetw
Janetw
Member since 09 Mar 2022
Total posts 1
I have found that by using a multi-city option I can find seats and then when you choose them and go continue they are not available. Like a ghost seat. I have also found that on return trips under multicity more seats are available from the destination city if I start with that and yet when I put in a normal return search they don't show up.?? Perhaps there is just very little availability ??
vitorsyd
vitorsyd
Member since 04 Jun 2018
Total posts 29
Originally Posted by Dan22
Originally Posted by vitorsyd
To make matters worse, some destinations are no longer searchable on the QF website as origins, just destinations, despite there being EK and multiple OneWorld flights operating to/from said cities.
If I needed to book a flight starting in those cities, I’d try calling in, but the very long wait times are discouraging.
Re flights Ex DXB, you’ll are spot on! I recently booked on points and the fees were indeed in AUD.
RMITLad
RMITLad
Member since 31 May 2013
Total posts 1
Hi all,
I confess I am finding it impossible to find any rewards seats to Europe, admittedly this is during European high season - but I can't find anything on QF, and I can't add Doha on a multi city search, and Dubai, Tokyo, KL, Singapore (hoping for AF or KL) all reveal nothing. No luck results for BA either. So welcome any tips. I'd even been willing to try SYD-LAX-EU on AA.
Have they simply not reopened award availability on partner airlines? If so some open coms would be appreciated so I don't waste my time searching, or on hold to them.... Social media messages asking just this haven't been answered either!
Bullswood
Bullswood
Member since 06 Oct 2021
Total posts 7
Originally Posted by vitorsyd
Originally Posted by Dan22
Originally Posted by vitorsyd
To make matters worse, some destinations are no longer searchable on the QF website as origins, just destinations, despite there being EK and multiple OneWorld flights operating to/from said cities.
If I needed to book a flight starting in those cities, I’d try calling in, but the very long wait times are discouraging.
Re flights Ex DXB, you’ll are spot on! I recently booked on points and the fees were indeed in AUD.
jubbing
jubbing
American Airlines - AAdvantage
Member since 13 Jul 2015
Total posts 58
I've just tried this today, and I swear Qantas are still making reward bookings extrememly difficult to impossible. My steps:
- Click on 'Where can I go' in search
- Put in starting destination to anywhere, the class, and month and select classic rewards (for example, I put Sydney in December in Biz) and chose Sydney to Anywhere.
- Click on the destination and day you want, and click on 'book now'
- Results come up, but not using reward seats, filter by 'rewards only'
- Wait.. forever because the website never loads from here on. That or you get an error stating there are no award seats available.
I'm 100% sure it never used to be this hard pre-covid. Either Qantas has a TON of phantom availability and errors out when you actually try to book, or Qantas is pulling a dodgy. Either way, it's pretty poor form. Surely there has to be an easier way?