Qantas Frequent Flyer - Does QF open up additional J award availability to AA/One World?

My daughter and I are currently booked on a F/J award itinerary whose last leg is SYD-LAX in J. One of us is on QF11 (nonstop) while the other is on a SYD-MEL-LAX routing. This is all that was available on our preferred travel dates

We'd like to get on the same flight not only because it would be nice to travel together but the SYD-MEL leg departs Sydney a full 6 hrs earlier and our goal is to visit the Barossa Valley and fly into SYD the day of departure

My question is as we get closer to departure date, does QF have a history of releasing additional inventory into award travel and would it be accessible via AA.

Am now checking QF's website and Expert Flyer almost daily

Any perspective on past history would be greatly appreciated

RPRocket

While there is no guarantee for more seats being made available, there is evidence here on this board that QF is indeed making more inventory available. I don't think there is a set date, just keep on checking. QF will also make this inventory available to OW partners, not just QF.

When in the Barossa Valley, make sure so grab a bite (and a coffee) at Blond (http://www.blondcoffee.com.au/index.html) in Angaston.

If this were a discussion about SYD-BKK on QF or BA (all 4 classes), I'd say yes, more inventory usually is released on "slow days" within a few days of departure - but only usually on BA. QF seems to rarely release extra seats. As for Trans Pacific, I don't know but wouldn't hold my breath.

I've observed SYD-LAX and MEL-LAX quite closely for the past year and there is almost never any additional award inventory released on those routes. Instead the unsold J seats are released for upgrades and Y is oversold (often Y is 100% full on this route). I guess a last-minute Y ticket is more profitable than J award revenue on this route :) -- not too surprising as full Y is higher than discount J for SYD-LAX.

Bottom line is: don't expect anything. Cancelled award seats often don't go back into award inventory (from my observation).

My guess is probably not... but definately keep bugging them!

A benefit of being QF Platinum is that you can request award inventory to be released.

....A benefit of being QF Platinum is that you can request award inventory to be released.The OP is DL Plat unfortunately, which doesn't have that benefit (and doesn't show having any Oneworld status). Presumably MEL-LAX is on QF25 so probably QF would trade the QF11 F seat for J on QF25 and travel together that way :)

The OP is DL Plat unfortunately, which doesn't have that benefit (and doesn't show having any Oneworld status). Presumably MEL-LAX is on QF25 so probably QF would trade the QF11 F seat for J on QF25 and travel together that way :)

Actually, this is not a bad idea. The OP could contact QF and suggest such a deal.

Actually, this is not a bad idea. The OP could contact QF and suggest such a deal.
Wouldn't it be nice if QF adopted the slogan of that well known discount house for white goods and electronics .. "EVERYTHING'S NEGOTIABLE"

The OP is DL Plat unfortunately, which doesn't have that benefit (and doesn't show having any Oneworld status). Presumably MEL-LAX is on QF25 so probably QF would trade the QF11 F seat for J on QF25 and travel together that way :)

Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions

I'm actually AA Gold (yes, its lowly but its something)

Should I contact QF directly to try and ask for this favor. My stepdaughter is indeed confirmed on QF25 in J while I am on QF11 in J (same day)

Yes, you need to get QF yield management to release the inventory. QF25 is not a desirable flight -- it has a change of plane in AKL and the MEL-AKL leg is on a narrow-body (now a brand new 738 with a much better config than before, but still not up to 744 standards), and a 3+ hour layover in AKL (however duty free shopping is sometimes cheaper in AKL than anywhere else in the world). Everyone takes QF94 MEL-LAX non-stop instead on revenue tickets, so QF25 is often empty in J -- hence the award availability. Chances are quite good that QF would be happy to trade QF11 J seat for a QF25 J seat. If the agent you phone balks, then gently suggest that they put a request in to yield management. But QF11 used to be the ultra-premium flight (it was the ony QF flight blacked out for awards for years, for example, and even now much harder to get than QF107).