Qantas Z Award Booked for Dec 2006 ..Thank You and 1 Quick Question
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: DL PLT, AA GLD, SPG PLT
Posts: 48
Qantas Z Award Booked for Dec 2006 ..Thank You and 1 Quick Question
Just wanted to give a big thanks to everyone's help in this forum..without it we would not have been able to obtain the tickets we wanted. After about a month of calling AAdvantage reservations at 3am EST every morning I was able to get 2 First Class Award tickets on Qantas. We planned on flying to Australia, spending some time there, flying to Queenstown, and then flying back. We got the following intinerary by calling about 100 times in the last month!
DEC 25 QN 108 JFK - LAX (Z)
DEC 25 QN 94 LAX - MEL (Z)
JAN 20 QN 122 ZQN - SYD (U)
JAN 20 QN 3 SYD - HNL (U)
JAN 20 AA 162 HNL - LAX (Z)
JAN 20 AA 30 LAX - JFK (Z)
Hopefully this gives hope to everyone trying to redeem AA miles for an AAdvantage award.
One quick question...on the SYD - HNL leg on Qantas would you recommend sitting in business in the main cabin or the upper cabin? Anyone have any experience?
Thanks again to everyone for all their help!
Adam
DEC 25 QN 108 JFK - LAX (Z)
DEC 25 QN 94 LAX - MEL (Z)
JAN 20 QN 122 ZQN - SYD (U)
JAN 20 QN 3 SYD - HNL (U)
JAN 20 AA 162 HNL - LAX (Z)
JAN 20 AA 30 LAX - JFK (Z)
Hopefully this gives hope to everyone trying to redeem AA miles for an AAdvantage award.
One quick question...on the SYD - HNL leg on Qantas would you recommend sitting in business in the main cabin or the upper cabin? Anyone have any experience?
Thanks again to everyone for all their help!
Adam
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,545
It sucks that you're paying for F and riding in J for one transpac segment. Personally, that would be a no go for me, but I know how tough these awards are to get. Since you are doing an all-partner award, you can change your routing for $100, if Z comes available on the return. Keep checking!
Did you check TN as well?
Have you considered making it a Oneworld award (a premium of 35,000 miles per ticket)? That opens up returning through HKG on CX. I've found that QF has several dates with Z availability on its MEL-HKG flight (and vice versa).
As for your question, go with the upper deck if you've never experienced it before.
Did you check TN as well?
Have you considered making it a Oneworld award (a premium of 35,000 miles per ticket)? That opens up returning through HKG on CX. I've found that QF has several dates with Z availability on its MEL-HKG flight (and vice versa).
As for your question, go with the upper deck if you've never experienced it before.
#3
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
You're probably flying QF, according to my classic male intuition...
I usualy prefer the SUD (Stretched Upper Deck) on business class flights that offer one (though Prince Charles is obviously unimpressed!) because the seats are 2 + 2 without any "V" shape coming to a pointy end with storage cabinets (on QF 747-338; on 747-400s it's much preferable than sitting in the 2 x 3 x 2 seating.) On the -338, both business cabins are smaller and more intimate feeling than on the -438s, where I definitely prefer the SUD. Row 15 is the one to get for 'way more seat pitch on the -338, and I think it's 16 on the -438. (I think the new business seats may not be installed on all the -338s, either.) YMMV.
I believe QF has some aircraft diagrams on its website, but check www.seatguru.com for sure.
I usualy prefer the SUD (Stretched Upper Deck) on business class flights that offer one (though Prince Charles is obviously unimpressed!) because the seats are 2 + 2 without any "V" shape coming to a pointy end with storage cabinets (on QF 747-338; on 747-400s it's much preferable than sitting in the 2 x 3 x 2 seating.) On the -338, both business cabins are smaller and more intimate feeling than on the -438s, where I definitely prefer the SUD. Row 15 is the one to get for 'way more seat pitch on the -338, and I think it's 16 on the -438. (I think the new business seats may not be installed on all the -338s, either.) YMMV.
I believe QF has some aircraft diagrams on its website, but check www.seatguru.com for sure.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
Well, I guess those elusive QF awards are available after all. You just have to call 100 time a month at 3AM 9 months out and settle for one leg in a lower class of service flying through Hawaii.
Last edited by millionmiler; Feb 25, 2006 at 7:38 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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QF awards are another area where Expertflyer really pays for itself. There is QF Z class availability out there, you just gotta find it. EF is a great tool for it.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,161
Originally Posted by PresRDC
There is QF Z class availability out there,
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,545
Originally Posted by ijgordon
Yeah, on Christmas Day
For example, I just this week put a 180,000 mile F Oneworld Award on hold for late May/early June.
I was able to secure QF availability on the dates I wanted between MEL and HKG (QF29/30). From what I've seen, there is a good deal of availability on this flight. Not every day, mind you, but a few times a week -- and this is with three months notice. I've also found QF to have pretty good U and X (their class for economy seats) class availability for flights within Australa. I was able to add a MEL-DPO (Y) and HBA-SYD (J) segement with no problem.
I've found a few days with Z availability on QF 94 (LAX-MEL) as well. Before I had to cancel it, I had Z seats on the daytime LAX-SYD flight and the QF 107 SYD-LAX.
To be fair, I've never seen anything more than Z1.
#8
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Hellsea - NY, NY, USA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,993
Man, I've been searching for award availability on 25 DEC to OZ in U class. I haven't found anything since the seats came available to non-QF folks. During the QF-only period, however, there were enough for 4 people across 2 different flights LAX-SYD. But those dried up a long time ago.
*sigh* I guess I'll keep my eyes glued to EF.
And a newbie managed to snag 2 Z seats at that! Alright, I hereby surrender my "Original Member" moniker.
*sigh* I guess I'll keep my eyes glued to EF.
And a newbie managed to snag 2 Z seats at that! Alright, I hereby surrender my "Original Member" moniker.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: DL PLT, AA GLD, SPG PLT
Posts: 48
Well, I'm newbie in the forum but I've been an AA Plat member for sometime and have booked several other international award trips. It was all about calling at 3am EST every morning. I found that on the days I called at 8am any Z flights that had been loaded were already gone.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NY
Programs: AA, Hilton
Posts: 1,571
but now, heres the ultimate query.
I'm happy to have our TN routing in F. Its direct, Im happy, no qualms. In fact, we are doing F on TN throughout, and even will do 2 days in Tahiti just to stretch our legs. priot to knowing about TN, Tahiti wasnt even a thought.
But here is a teenie part of me saying , should I just call AA as our trip date gets closer (around july 4) and see if any F seats have opened on Q.
It only cost us $100 bucks per ticket IF any QF seat is available.
So, has anyone here experienced both and can comment? worth an extra 100 bucks to go QF?
I'm happy to have our TN routing in F. Its direct, Im happy, no qualms. In fact, we are doing F on TN throughout, and even will do 2 days in Tahiti just to stretch our legs. priot to knowing about TN, Tahiti wasnt even a thought.
But here is a teenie part of me saying , should I just call AA as our trip date gets closer (around july 4) and see if any F seats have opened on Q.
It only cost us $100 bucks per ticket IF any QF seat is available.
So, has anyone here experienced both and can comment? worth an extra 100 bucks to go QF?
#11
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Sydney
Posts: 5,766
Originally Posted by Adam91281
One quick question...on the SYD - HNL leg on Qantas would you recommend sitting in business in the main cabin or the upper cabin? Anyone have any experience?
Thanks again to everyone for all their help!
Adam
but also keep checking for direct seats and just pay to change. bus is nowhere near as good as first and to pay out all those points!
#12
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 2,080
Originally Posted by millionmiler
Well, I guess those elusive QF awards are available after all. You just have to call 100 time a month 9 months out and settle for one leg in a lower class of service flying through Hawaii.
#13
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
Originally Posted by Ready2Go
You forgot the 3 AM part.
The lack of QF awards is my biggest problem with OW. Others may disagree...
#14
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Tijeras, NM, USA
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Platinum, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, NM Adobe
Posts: 97
I was happy with my 2 F-class tickets in TN, until they changed the flights on us in such a way that I couldn't go anymore due to a schedule conflict. I've been starting to look again on TN but am concerned with "rumors of its demise". Any info out there?
Originally Posted by the phoenix
but now, heres the ultimate query.
I'm happy to have our TN routing in F. Its direct, Im happy, no qualms. In fact, we are doing F on TN throughout, and even will do 2 days in Tahiti just to stretch our legs. priot to knowing about TN, Tahiti wasnt even a thought.
But here is a teenie part of me saying , should I just call AA as our trip date gets closer (around july 4) and see if any F seats have opened on Q.
It only cost us $100 bucks per ticket IF any QF seat is available.
So, has anyone here experienced both and can comment? worth an extra 100 bucks to go QF?
I'm happy to have our TN routing in F. Its direct, Im happy, no qualms. In fact, we are doing F on TN throughout, and even will do 2 days in Tahiti just to stretch our legs. priot to knowing about TN, Tahiti wasnt even a thought.
But here is a teenie part of me saying , should I just call AA as our trip date gets closer (around july 4) and see if any F seats have opened on Q.
It only cost us $100 bucks per ticket IF any QF seat is available.
So, has anyone here experienced both and can comment? worth an extra 100 bucks to go QF?
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,394
Originally Posted by millionmiler
Fixed. Thanks.
The lack of QF awards is my biggest problem with OW. Others may disagree...
The lack of QF awards is my biggest problem with OW. Others may disagree...
Dave