Some JL award seats available to BA members but not to QF members?
Oct 23, 2016, 9:01 pm
#1
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Some JL award seats available to BA members but not to QF members?
From what I understood (correct me if I am wrong) QF award search does not show JL flights, so I went to BA website and found a redemption seat on JL there on a specific date, but QF classic award search did not show it (which was what I was expecting anyway).
As I have more QF points than BA Avios that I do not mind spending, I called QF to book it and was told that the flight had no availability on JL (or QF for that matter). I could still see the seat being available on BA website. The QF agent said JL flights now showed up on QF award search and she could only book it if it was showing on their website.
Do some OW airlines have specific agreement with another airline to have extra availability now?
And does the QF website show JL availability now?
As I have more QF points than BA Avios that I do not mind spending, I called QF to book it and was told that the flight had no availability on JL (or QF for that matter). I could still see the seat being available on BA website. The QF agent said JL flights now showed up on QF award search and she could only book it if it was showing on their website.
Do some OW airlines have specific agreement with another airline to have extra availability now?
And does the QF website show JL availability now?
Oct 24, 2016, 1:45 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
I know CX has a lot of phantom availability but I don't know whether this applies to JL.
Did you proceed with the JL award, could you get to the payment screen?
QF only restrict their own awards by status.
Did you proceed with the JL award, could you get to the payment screen?
QF only restrict their own awards by status.
Oct 24, 2016, 3:10 am
#3
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
The flights booked fine through my BA account and so they were definitely not phantom availability (completed the booking without any issues). I have never seen phantom availability on JL, in fact.
Oct 25, 2016, 10:21 am
#5
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
QF website did not show any availability but I am not even sure if the issue of QF website showing JL availability has been resolved.
Oct 25, 2016, 4:27 pm
#6
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Oct 28, 2016, 9:48 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: NSW
Programs: QF P1 + LTG VA Plat, AA nothing, HH Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 769
The knowledge of some of the call Centre staff now is sadly lacking. I'm reasonable certain it's pure luck if you actually get a Premium trained agent. The staff answer "Premium" from a script dependent on QFF number entered.
I had one put me on hold to check if my DXB-SYD EK J sector was eligible for chauffeur drive as it wasn't showing on the Manage My Booking screen.
I had one put me on hold to check if my DXB-SYD EK J sector was eligible for chauffeur drive as it wasn't showing on the Manage My Booking screen.
Oct 29, 2016, 3:54 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Programs: Velocity Gold
Posts: 1,069
Booking JL flights over the phone can be a mixed bag. I think they are required to do it through a different window/system than normal due to JL's systems not linking up with the normal award booking engine they use. And it would appear your agent didn't know this cause they thought they should show online. I have had the exact same scenario of 'no availability' on the phone when it was showing on the BA site. I politely pushed for the, to ask a supervisor who showed them how to do it. Then when I asked for the booking fee to be waived because JL flights weren't available online she didn't believe me. Did a search herself and then waived it for me. Just an uneducated agent by the sound of it.
Oct 30, 2016, 5:57 am
#10
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Booking JL flights over the phone can be a mixed bag. I think they are required to do it through a different window/system than normal due to JL's systems not linking up with the normal award booking engine they use. And it would appear your agent didn't know this cause they thought they should show online. I have had the exact same scenario of 'no availability' on the phone when it was showing on the BA site. I politely pushed for the, to ask a supervisor who showed them how to do it. Then when I asked for the booking fee to be waived because JL flights weren't available online she didn't believe me. Did a search herself and then waived it for me. Just an uneducated agent by the sound of it.
In my latest case she was pretty adamant and talked down to me as if I had no idea what I was talking about when I said I believed I would not see JL availability online and got quite shirty with me when I politely asked if she could look on an alternative system.
As it was the only seat left I decided to book using my BA points as I was worried it might disappear.
Sadly there are some poor agents with QF as well as decent ones... as with all airlines I guess!