I was booked on the 8th also but made the final decision this morning to cancel. I know a lot of folks are holding awards until the very last minute these days, for backups and if something is let last minute, but that just doesn't seem fair to me. No idea if they'll be returned to inventory, but at least it will be lucky upgrades for someone.

Part of the reason cancelling was the lounge opening not being firm, per the other thread, and wanting the whole F experience. Not a "beta" first day experience -- if it even opens on the 8th. If Qantas still hasn't confirmed a week out, it seems highly doubtful.

The other part was after seven weeks of diligent searching a range of dates and options -- setting a plethora of EF alerts and spending hours every day on out of the box searches --- I have not been able to secure a confirmed timely J award back to the states. In any combination of OW airlines & cities near my dates, even paid positioning short hops to other south asia and south pacific countries for departures.

Kind of mad at myself because I let several other perfectly solid and fine trips go in the interim, on the chance of cobbling something together to make the Australia trip work. This summer is the first time I've ever not been able to piece something together for an award return in J with a seven-week lead time. Also happened with an IAD-MLE ticket in July.

Oh well -- hopefully if I'm ever lucky enough to again to come across a F 380 award, the LAX F lounge is already fully open!