Sep 26, 2019, 6:52 pm
Last edit by: Mwenenzi
Qantas routes Australia to/from USA Canada
Looking for awards only on LAX-SYD route restricts your options.
AS award chart:---> https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...s/award-charts
Note these routes and/or aircraft type may change. Not all routes have flights every day.
May not be up to date
The QF A380 have first, business, premium economy & economy classes. Only the A380 has first class.
The QF B787's have, business, premium economy & economy classes. The B787’s do not have first class.
All QF B747's have been retired and sent to the Mojave desert. (July 2020)
QF starts to release their awards 353 days out to QF frequent flyers. But awards can be released any time out to departure. Anyone can join the QF ffp and then search for award availability. Be careful about mixed economy/business QF awards. These have an identifying symbol on the award flight.
A business class flight will give access to the Qantas Club or Qantas Business lounge. Major domestic airports have both a Qantas Club lounge, for mid level Oneworld status holders and paid QF club members, and a better Business lounge, with access by business class of service or top level Oneworld status. Domestic lounges can get very busy at morning and late afternoon peaks.
From QF web site QF seat maps
Qantas Australia domestic
Award availability on QF domestic routes in both business & economy is usually OK. Can be harder on longer routes (say 3~ 4 hour flights).
The workhorse of QF Mainline domestic fleet is the B737-800. QF have 75 of these in a 12J162Y configuration. Some schedules have a A330, some of which have international style business seats. These 2 aircraft types are also used on trans Tasman routes (Australia to New Zealand).
General Qantas information Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qantas
The QantasLink brand is used on regional routes to smaller cities and towns. The aircraft used are Dash 8's (de Havilland Canada DHC-8-200, Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 & Q400) in all an Y configuration, Foker 100 in all 105Y configuration and B717's in 12JY98 or 125Y configuration.
General QantasLink information Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QantasLink
Qantas information Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qantas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QantasLink
AA sub forum thread They have the same problems getting awards on QF and to AU/NZ & South Pacific--->
AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF) & related (consolidated)
AA MileSAAver award to / from Australia, New Zealand (master thread)
FJ / Fiji Airways (ex-Air Pacific) and AA, miles, awards, etc. (consolidated)
AA Miles Award: TN / Air Tahiti Nui award redemptions (master thread)
Revisions
11 Jun 2022 QF announcements removed (except for 2) as AU is open and QF is flying AU<--->USA
15 Jun 2022 Deleted some dead links
11 Dec 2022 Remove redundant links. Revise routes
27 Dec 2022 MEL DFW added
25 Feb 2023 Formatting
13 Aug 2023 Added SYD-SFO
Looking for awards only on LAX-SYD route restricts your options.
AS award chart:---> https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...s/award-charts
Note these routes and/or aircraft type may change. Not all routes have flights every day.
May not be up to date
BNE-LAX B330
MEL-DFW B787
MEL-LAX B787 (was the first A380 route for Qantas on 21 October 2008)
MEL-DFW B787
SYD-DFW B787 A380
SYD-HNL
SYD-AKL-JFK B787 (from June 2023)
SYD-LAX A380 B787
SYD-SFO
SYD-YVR
GeneralMEL-DFW B787
MEL-LAX B787 (was the first A380 route for Qantas on 21 October 2008)
MEL-DFW B787
SYD-DFW B787 A380
SYD-HNL
SYD-AKL-JFK B787 (from June 2023)
SYD-LAX A380 B787
SYD-SFO
SYD-YVR
The QF A380 have first, business, premium economy & economy classes. Only the A380 has first class.
The QF B787's have, business, premium economy & economy classes. The B787’s do not have first class.
All QF B747's have been retired and sent to the Mojave desert. (July 2020)
QF starts to release their awards 353 days out to QF frequent flyers. But awards can be released any time out to departure. Anyone can join the QF ffp and then search for award availability. Be careful about mixed economy/business QF awards. These have an identifying symbol on the award flight.
A business class flight will give access to the Qantas Club or Qantas Business lounge. Major domestic airports have both a Qantas Club lounge, for mid level Oneworld status holders and paid QF club members, and a better Business lounge, with access by business class of service or top level Oneworld status. Domestic lounges can get very busy at morning and late afternoon peaks.
From QF web site QF seat maps
Qantas Australia domestic
Award availability on QF domestic routes in both business & economy is usually OK. Can be harder on longer routes (say 3~ 4 hour flights).
The workhorse of QF Mainline domestic fleet is the B737-800. QF have 75 of these in a 12J162Y configuration. Some schedules have a A330, some of which have international style business seats. These 2 aircraft types are also used on trans Tasman routes (Australia to New Zealand).
General Qantas information Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qantas
The QantasLink brand is used on regional routes to smaller cities and towns. The aircraft used are Dash 8's (de Havilland Canada DHC-8-200, Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 & Q400) in all an Y configuration, Foker 100 in all 105Y configuration and B717's in 12JY98 or 125Y configuration.
General QantasLink information Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QantasLink
Qantas information Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qantas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QantasLink
AA sub forum thread They have the same problems getting awards on QF and to AU/NZ & South Pacific--->
AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF) & related (consolidated)
AA MileSAAver award to / from Australia, New Zealand (master thread)
FJ / Fiji Airways (ex-Air Pacific) and AA, miles, awards, etc. (consolidated)
AA Miles Award: TN / Air Tahiti Nui award redemptions (master thread)
Revisions
11 Jun 2022 QF announcements removed (except for 2) as AU is open and QF is flying AU<--->USA
15 Jun 2022 Deleted some dead links
11 Dec 2022 Remove redundant links. Revise routes
27 Dec 2022 MEL DFW added
25 Feb 2023 Formatting
13 Aug 2023 Added SYD-SFO
Consolidated Qantas (QF) Awards Availability/Booking/Routing Thread
Aug 26, 2018, 3:48 pm
#107
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Aug 26, 2018, 8:52 pm
#108
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Scored an F seat this week for November MEL-LAX on the A380 with Alaska miles. Odd thing is that the flight never showed up on the AA website (where it would have cost 110K compared to 70K at Alaska). It does involve a connecting Y seat LAX-SFO on Alaska. Had another F seat back on Labor Day weekend SYD-LAX, also on the A380. Have some photos of that flight HERE and the F lounge starting HERE for those that have not experienced that cabin on Qantas.
In May I few over on a 747 in business SFO-SYD using Alaska miles. Those photos are HERE.
I had the best seat on the plane.
In May I few over on a 747 in business SFO-SYD using Alaska miles. Those photos are HERE.
I had the best seat on the plane.
Last edited by tom911; Aug 30, 2018 at 12:15 pm Reason: changed links
Aug 26, 2018, 9:02 pm
#109
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Family member tried to fly MEL-SYD at o'dark thirty in the morning... (first flight of the day). It went Tango Uniform- a 787. Thankfully they were rebooked onto the A330 a half hour later. This did cause them to miss out on their spa appointment however in SYD
Aug 27, 2018, 12:41 am
#110
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Good thing you're on the A330... decent ride.
Family member tried to fly MEL-SYD at o'dark thirty in the morning... (first flight of the day). It went Tango Uniform- a 787. Thankfully they were rebooked onto the A330 a half hour later. This did cause them to miss out on their spa appointment however in SYD
Family member tried to fly MEL-SYD at o'dark thirty in the morning... (first flight of the day). It went Tango Uniform- a 787. Thankfully they were rebooked onto the A330 a half hour later. This did cause them to miss out on their spa appointment however in SYD
When I have a do nothing day I call it my spa day because I did "Sweet Piss All"
teheheJames
Sep 14, 2018, 8:17 pm
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Did anyone have experiences on reticketing a AS QF award? How long it normally takes to get changed itinerary to reticket?
On Thursday around 6:30pm I called to change SYD-MEL segment from morning flight to late afternoon flight, on a SYD-MEL-LAX-FLL award. When the agent did the change she received a "Ticketing Error" from the system but after putting me on hold for a long time, she came back to tell me the change was done. But when I asked her the new eTicket numbers, she realized there was none - the booking is now in queue for reticketing according to her. I further asked exactly what that meant. She said it would mean manual reticketing.
I have not encountered "Ticketing Error" with AS rewards before but they were all on CX flights. Not quite sure how the QF system allows the flight change and obviously comes back with confirmed seats, yet the agent could not ticket it.
Has anybody had similar experiences?
The seats are secured in the form that I can see the reservation on QF site showing the new flight, but the AS 027 tickets are still in queue to be reissued when I called back tonight. Eventually talked to an international desk agent who told me it could take 3 to 5 business days (changed from the 24 to 48 hours told by the agent last night). She also said the "Specialty Desk" that handles this type of things has all gone home so there is nothing anyone can do now... She advised me to call back tomorrow, saying the "Specialty Desk" folks started working at 5am Pacific Time.
I wonder how long QF system would hold the reservation without a valid ticket? Some airlines systems would automatically cancel the booking when it has passed certain time without a valid ticket attach to it. This is worrisome.
On Thursday around 6:30pm I called to change SYD-MEL segment from morning flight to late afternoon flight, on a SYD-MEL-LAX-FLL award. When the agent did the change she received a "Ticketing Error" from the system but after putting me on hold for a long time, she came back to tell me the change was done. But when I asked her the new eTicket numbers, she realized there was none - the booking is now in queue for reticketing according to her. I further asked exactly what that meant. She said it would mean manual reticketing.
I have not encountered "Ticketing Error" with AS rewards before but they were all on CX flights. Not quite sure how the QF system allows the flight change and obviously comes back with confirmed seats, yet the agent could not ticket it.
Has anybody had similar experiences?
The seats are secured in the form that I can see the reservation on QF site showing the new flight, but the AS 027 tickets are still in queue to be reissued when I called back tonight. Eventually talked to an international desk agent who told me it could take 3 to 5 business days (changed from the 24 to 48 hours told by the agent last night). She also said the "Specialty Desk" that handles this type of things has all gone home so there is nothing anyone can do now... She advised me to call back tomorrow, saying the "Specialty Desk" folks started working at 5am Pacific Time.
I wonder how long QF system would hold the reservation without a valid ticket? Some airlines systems would automatically cancel the booking when it has passed certain time without a valid ticket attach to it. This is worrisome.
Sep 14, 2018, 9:13 pm
#113
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 917
Did anyone have experiences on reticketing a AS QF award? How long it normally takes to get changed itinerary to reticket?
On Thursday around 6:30pm I called to change SYD-MEL segment from morning flight to late afternoon flight, on a SYD-MEL-LAX-FLL award. When the agent did the change she received a "Ticketing Error" from the system but after putting me on hold for a long time, she came back to tell me the change was done. But when I asked her the new eTicket numbers, she realized there was none - the booking is now in queue for reticketing according to her. I further asked exactly what that meant. She said it would mean manual reticketing.
I have not encountered "Ticketing Error" with AS rewards before but they were all on CX flights. Not quite sure how the QF system allows the flight change and obviously comes back with confirmed seats, yet the agent could not ticket it.
Has anybody had similar experiences?
The seats are secured in the form that I can see the reservation on QF site showing the new flight, but the AS 027 tickets are still in queue to be reissued when I called back tonight. Eventually talked to an international desk agent who told me it could take 3 to 5 business days (changed from the 24 to 48 hours told by the agent last night). She also said the "Specialty Desk" that handles this type of things has all gone home so there is nothing anyone can do now... She advised me to call back tomorrow, saying the "Specialty Desk" folks started working at 5am Pacific Time.
I wonder how long QF system would hold the reservation without a valid ticket? Some airlines systems would automatically cancel the booking when it has passed certain time without a valid ticket attach to it. This is worrisome.
On Thursday around 6:30pm I called to change SYD-MEL segment from morning flight to late afternoon flight, on a SYD-MEL-LAX-FLL award. When the agent did the change she received a "Ticketing Error" from the system but after putting me on hold for a long time, she came back to tell me the change was done. But when I asked her the new eTicket numbers, she realized there was none - the booking is now in queue for reticketing according to her. I further asked exactly what that meant. She said it would mean manual reticketing.
I have not encountered "Ticketing Error" with AS rewards before but they were all on CX flights. Not quite sure how the QF system allows the flight change and obviously comes back with confirmed seats, yet the agent could not ticket it.
Has anybody had similar experiences?
The seats are secured in the form that I can see the reservation on QF site showing the new flight, but the AS 027 tickets are still in queue to be reissued when I called back tonight. Eventually talked to an international desk agent who told me it could take 3 to 5 business days (changed from the 24 to 48 hours told by the agent last night). She also said the "Specialty Desk" that handles this type of things has all gone home so there is nothing anyone can do now... She advised me to call back tomorrow, saying the "Specialty Desk" folks started working at 5am Pacific Time.
I wonder how long QF system would hold the reservation without a valid ticket? Some airlines systems would automatically cancel the booking when it has passed certain time without a valid ticket attach to it. This is worrisome.
British Airways does this procedure and it can take much longer than 3-5 days. Your priority on the waiting list is based first on your departure date - the sooner your flight, the sooner it needs to be ticketed. On BA it can be more like “we’ll get to it before you have to fly”, so 5 days isn’t too bad by comparison.
Sep 14, 2018, 9:20 pm
#114
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Has it been more than 5 days, yet? Because if not, you are worrying without much reason. Manual reticketing is a normal (though less common) process that happens on many airlines. A reservation made by an agent is not the same as one you might make yourself (a hold on AA, for example), and won’t “time out” after just a few days.
James
Sep 14, 2018, 9:58 pm
#115
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Appreciate the link but the short form does not work. FireFox blocked it saying it was not properly configured or whatever, claiming it isn't a secured connection...
Has it been more than 5 days, yet? Because if not, you are worrying without much reason. Manual reticketing is a normal (though less common) process that happens on many airlines. A reservation made by an agent is not the same as one you might make yourself (a hold on AA, for example), and won’t “time out” after just a few days.
British Airways does this procedure and it can take much longer than 3-5 days. Your priority on the waiting list is based first on your departure date - the sooner your flight, the sooner it needs to be ticketed. On BA it can be more like “we’ll get to it before you have to fly”, so 5 days isn’t too bad by comparison.
I understand the priority handling but the issue I am facing is, this is the Inbound part of the trip that happens in November. The Outbound happens much sooner, like 40 days before Inbound. Once we leave home, it would be very difficult to contact AS to sort things out if it remains unsettled. I really need this resolved much earlier than the Mid November departure on this.
I haven't had an award flying QF for quite a while. Previous awards were done with AA miles and I do not recall having same "Ticketing Error" issue.
What the International desk agent explained to me tonight was, when the reservation requires manual ticketing (due to ticketing error because the partner airline system did not ping back a confirmation according to her), the "specialty desk" would need to contact the liaison to get a manual confirmation and to ask the partner to ticket it. The last part threw me off because the partner does not issue the ticket, it is an AS 027 ticket issued by AS...
What is really puzzling to me is, if QF system shows the reservation in Manage Booking now shows the changed flight, that would mean QF system has confirmed back the seats. At one point last night when the agent got Ticketing Error, QF site lost the segment, only the MEL-LAX segment was showing.
One more peculiar thing is, this AS reservation despite SYD-MEL-LAX-FLL, it is displayed as MEL-LAX from the very beginning when I booked it online. Shouldn't it be SYD-MEL instead, if only one segment is shown as the name?
At first I thought the Flame Free would have more responses due to supposedly the AS experts would browse and respond.
But t may be more pertinent to post on the QF redemption thread.
Last edited by Happy; Sep 14, 2018 at 10:06 pm
Sep 14, 2018, 10:17 pm
#116
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 917
James,
Appreciate the link but the short form does not work. FireFox blocked it saying it was not properly configured or whatever, claiming it isn't a secured connection...
Over the past 10 years I have redeemed probably more than 10 awards a year with various programs, including BA. So I believe I know a thing or two on various processes. I can tell you that some airlines' systems would purge the reservation after certain time not receiving a valid ticket. IB and LA are notorious for that. So much so that AA at one point has said IB award could not be held for more than 24 hours, ditto for LA. Both have had this kind of issues periodically in the past.
I understand the priority handling but the issue I am facing is, this is the Inbound part of the trip that happens in November. The Outbound happens much sooner, like 40 days before Inbound. Once we leave home, it would be very difficult to contact AS to sort things out if it remains unsettled. I really need this resolved much earlier than the Mid November departure on this.
I haven't had an award flying QF for quite a while. Previous awards were done with AA miles and I do not recall having same "Ticketing Error" issue.
What the International desk agent explained to me tonight was, when the reservation requires manual ticketing (due to ticketing error because the partner airline system did not ping back a confirmation according to her), the "specialty desk" would need to contact the liaison to get a manual confirmation and to ask the partner to ticket it. The last part threw me off because the partner does not issue the ticket, it is an AS 027 ticket issued by AS...
What is really puzzling to me is, if QF system shows the reservation in Manage Booking now shows the changed flight, that would mean QF system has confirmed back the seats. At one point last night when the agent got Ticketing Error, QF site lost the segment, only the MEL-LAX segment was showing.
One more peculiar thing is, this AS reservation despite SYD-MEL-LAX-FLL, it is displayed as MEL-LAX from the very beginning when I booked it online. Shouldn't it be SYD-MEL instead, if only one segment is shown as the name?
Correct.
At first I thought the Flame Free would have more responses due to supposedly the AS experts would browse and respond.
But t may be more pertinent to post on the QF redemption thread.
Appreciate the link but the short form does not work. FireFox blocked it saying it was not properly configured or whatever, claiming it isn't a secured connection...
Over the past 10 years I have redeemed probably more than 10 awards a year with various programs, including BA. So I believe I know a thing or two on various processes. I can tell you that some airlines' systems would purge the reservation after certain time not receiving a valid ticket. IB and LA are notorious for that. So much so that AA at one point has said IB award could not be held for more than 24 hours, ditto for LA. Both have had this kind of issues periodically in the past.
I understand the priority handling but the issue I am facing is, this is the Inbound part of the trip that happens in November. The Outbound happens much sooner, like 40 days before Inbound. Once we leave home, it would be very difficult to contact AS to sort things out if it remains unsettled. I really need this resolved much earlier than the Mid November departure on this.
I haven't had an award flying QF for quite a while. Previous awards were done with AA miles and I do not recall having same "Ticketing Error" issue.
What the International desk agent explained to me tonight was, when the reservation requires manual ticketing (due to ticketing error because the partner airline system did not ping back a confirmation according to her), the "specialty desk" would need to contact the liaison to get a manual confirmation and to ask the partner to ticket it. The last part threw me off because the partner does not issue the ticket, it is an AS 027 ticket issued by AS...
What is really puzzling to me is, if QF system shows the reservation in Manage Booking now shows the changed flight, that would mean QF system has confirmed back the seats. At one point last night when the agent got Ticketing Error, QF site lost the segment, only the MEL-LAX segment was showing.
One more peculiar thing is, this AS reservation despite SYD-MEL-LAX-FLL, it is displayed as MEL-LAX from the very beginning when I booked it online. Shouldn't it be SYD-MEL instead, if only one segment is shown as the name?
Correct.
At first I thought the Flame Free would have more responses due to supposedly the AS experts would browse and respond.
But t may be more pertinent to post on the QF redemption thread.
Sep 14, 2018, 10:41 pm
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
When I did the change it was around 6 or 7am Friday morning in Australia so I imagined QF system should be in full operation mode.
What I am puzzled is why AS needs to call QF liaison to get it manually confirmed when QF system obviously accepts the change and show the new flight?
Sep 14, 2018, 10:53 pm
#120
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Happy does request assistance from time to time. In my experience, whenever I have offered feedback, it has been dismissed and followed by a lecture on my apparent error, much like his response to you. Perhaps lack of responses is commensurate with the content of his replies.
James
James
Last edited by Flying for Fun; Sep 14, 2018 at 11:33 pm