Jan 14, 2015, 5:58 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF)
The basics:
QF releases their awards from 353 days out to QF FF's and some ffp's (Amadeus CRS). So at the 331 days (~Sabre CRS) AA for award release there are scant seats left. They tend to add more much closer to the day of flight, if there are seats available.
2017.07.08 edit by FlyerTalkUserName: For US flights it has been my recent, but limited experience that QF releases award availability around 10-11 months from departure. Consider searching for one seat in F and one in J as well.
Consider alternate cities. E.g. Flights to BNE might be easier to book with AA miles than SYD or MEL, so adding a segment from BNE might give you a trip denied by connecting in SYD. You might have to remind AA reservationists, because they might not consider BNE.
Consider alternate airlines, such as HA from HNL, TN via PPT, FJ via NAN, etc.
N.B. Travel via Honolulu, or Asia (e.g. HKG or NRT), will require two awards.
aa.com occasionally may report "phantom availability" of premium awards on Qantas.
2017.07.08 edit by FlyerTalkUserName: Conversely, aa.com occasionally may not show available Qantas awards. Use BA's search tool, QF's search tool, or service like ExpertFlyer to see availability. Call in to ticket.
The aa.com oneworld and Other Airline Award Chart may be seen here, for required miles and restrictions on connections.
Note: Reservation speculating, or tying up award space to "flip" in (or out of) Coupon Connection will not be tolerated. If you have an "extra" reservation, simply cancel or refund it. This will not be allowed in this forum either.
Qantas Routes
To be updated
SYD to LAX, DFW, HNL and YVR. SYD SFO restart delayed
BNE to LAX
MEL to LAX and DFW
SYD AKL JFK from 14 June 2023
Notes
Routes can change, so please check the schedule.
During low seasons some routes may not have flights every day.
Not all flights/routes have first class. Only the QF A380 aircraft have has first class.
QF have retired all B747's and sent them to the Mojave desert (July 2020)
+++++++++++++++++
/Moderator
Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF)
Note: Older posts have been archived off to this thread
Updates & edits
20 May 2016 - JDiver
23 Sept 2019 - Mwenenzi QF routes added
11 Mar 2020 - Mwenenzi QF route changes
31 Jul 2020 - Mwenenzi QF B747 retired. More Covid-19 announcements from QF
07 Aug 2020 - Mwenenzi QF B787 to storage
12 Nov 2021 - Mwenenzi QF announcements 3 off
05 Mar 2022 - Mwenenzi QF announcements
12 Jun 2022 - Mwenenzi QF announcements removed (except 2) as AU fully open & QF flying AU<--->USA
24 Dec 2022 - Mwenenzi QF post CV19 announcements removed. MELDFW route added
THIS WIKI IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD VALUE.
The basics:
QF releases their awards from 353 days out to QF FF's and some ffp's (Amadeus CRS). So at the 331 days (~Sabre CRS) AA for award release there are scant seats left. They tend to add more much closer to the day of flight, if there are seats available.
2017.07.08 edit by FlyerTalkUserName: For US flights it has been my recent, but limited experience that QF releases award availability around 10-11 months from departure. Consider searching for one seat in F and one in J as well.
Consider alternate cities. E.g. Flights to BNE might be easier to book with AA miles than SYD or MEL, so adding a segment from BNE might give you a trip denied by connecting in SYD. You might have to remind AA reservationists, because they might not consider BNE.
Consider alternate airlines, such as HA from HNL, TN via PPT, FJ via NAN, etc.
N.B. Travel via Honolulu, or Asia (e.g. HKG or NRT), will require two awards.
aa.com occasionally may report "phantom availability" of premium awards on Qantas.
2017.07.08 edit by FlyerTalkUserName: Conversely, aa.com occasionally may not show available Qantas awards. Use BA's search tool, QF's search tool, or service like ExpertFlyer to see availability. Call in to ticket.
BA only shows 3 cabins in output. When searching for award seats, make sure to select 1st class as cabin and it will show premium economy, business and 1st rather than economy, premium economy and business
It only displays flights where there is a seat in at least one cabin. If there is no availability on the flight in any cabin, then the flight will not be displayed.
It only displays flights where there is a seat in at least one cabin. If there is no availability on the flight in any cabin, then the flight will not be displayed.
Note: Reservation speculating, or tying up award space to "flip" in (or out of) Coupon Connection will not be tolerated. If you have an "extra" reservation, simply cancel or refund it. This will not be allowed in this forum either.
Qantas Routes
To be updated
SYD to LAX, DFW, HNL and YVR. SYD SFO restart delayed
BNE to LAX
MEL to LAX and DFW
SYD AKL JFK from 14 June 2023
Notes
Routes can change, so please check the schedule.
During low seasons some routes may not have flights every day.
Not all flights/routes have first class. Only the QF A380 aircraft have has first class.
QF have retired all B747's and sent them to the Mojave desert (July 2020)
+++++++++++++++++
/Moderator
Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF)
Note: Older posts have been archived off to this thread
Updates & edits
20 May 2016 - JDiver
23 Sept 2019 - Mwenenzi QF routes added
11 Mar 2020 - Mwenenzi QF route changes
31 Jul 2020 - Mwenenzi QF B747 retired. More Covid-19 announcements from QF
07 Aug 2020 - Mwenenzi QF B787 to storage
12 Nov 2021 - Mwenenzi QF announcements 3 off
05 Mar 2022 - Mwenenzi QF announcements
12 Jun 2022 - Mwenenzi QF announcements removed (except 2) as AU fully open & QF flying AU<--->USA
24 Dec 2022 - Mwenenzi QF post CV19 announcements removed. MELDFW route added
THIS WIKI IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD VALUE.
AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF) & related (consolidated)
Jan 29, 2016, 4:00 am
#451
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AAdvantage, SPG, MileagePlus
Posts: 58
That hasn't been my experience actually. I have found numerous instances where Qantas' site shows availability but AA.com doesn't pick it up. In those instances, I've called AA to verify it and the agent can see it - but it definitely doesn't show on the website.
Jan 29, 2016, 4:50 am
#452
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
I reported on this phenomenon about a month ago as well and no one seemed particularly concerned. You can tell that this is happening because there is way more QF F inventory showing available on EF than anyone in this forum would have you believe is even possible.
Jan 29, 2016, 6:41 am
#453
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
I'm with you. I just posted that this continues to be an issue and pretty much no one responded lol. Just snagged two SYD-DFW J awards that did not appear on aa.com.
Jan 29, 2016, 9:13 am
#454
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: DC
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 18
Qantas Award Availability
Yeah, I have seen the same thing lately. Snagged SFO-SYD in business on christmas day this morning by calling in. Had to call a few phone reps before one would admit that there was a known issue and waive the booking fee. She said that there was a problem with Qantas in their "references" that was supposed to be resolved by the 20th but obviously hasn't been. The twitter account was absolutely no help yet again.
Jan 29, 2016, 10:40 am
#455
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Hmm, I saw one in April on qantas but not on aa.com. AA did have availability but on their planes, not the QF direct for SFO-SYD.
Thought about asking the AA agent to find it but decided actually that November would be better. So AA has availability then while Qantas only shows saver awards routing through Hong Kong in November.
I would have liked to have taken QF but I've heard that AA business is better than QF business, while QF F is better than AA F.
Wanted to use my miles before the new award chart takes effect so I went for the SJC-LAX-SYD and MEL-SYD-LAX-SJC award in November. I'm hoping to get in the new lounge at LAX?
And AA business class doesn't get access to QF lounges in SYD?
Thought about asking the AA agent to find it but decided actually that November would be better. So AA has availability then while Qantas only shows saver awards routing through Hong Kong in November.
I would have liked to have taken QF but I've heard that AA business is better than QF business, while QF F is better than AA F.
Wanted to use my miles before the new award chart takes effect so I went for the SJC-LAX-SYD and MEL-SYD-LAX-SJC award in November. I'm hoping to get in the new lounge at LAX?
And AA business class doesn't get access to QF lounges in SYD?
Jan 29, 2016, 12:34 pm
#457
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Is he talking about the one for first class only, as in QF has separate lounges for business class and first class?
Jan 29, 2016, 12:42 pm
#458
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Jan 29, 2016, 12:44 pm
#459
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
With no apologies to deal killing blogger, I personally know more about QF, flying QF, booking QF awards, enjoying QF lounges, and using AA miles to Australia and New Zealand than he does. The collective knowledge here on top of that completely outdoes him in every way and it isn't even close.
Jan 29, 2016, 12:48 pm
#460
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Ah well last night, there was a first class award returning from MEL for the date I wanted but this morning it was gone. So I went with business, a little earlier in November.
So I'll just have to make do with business class lounge, though it's an early flight so probably not too much time for it.
So I'll just have to make do with business class lounge, though it's an early flight so probably not too much time for it.
Jan 29, 2016, 12:53 pm
#461
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Ah well last night, there was a first class award returning from MEL for the date I wanted but this morning it was gone. So I went with business, a little earlier in November.
So I'll just have to make do with business class lounge, though it's an early flight so probably not too much time for it.
So I'll just have to make do with business class lounge, though it's an early flight so probably not too much time for it.
.
Jan 29, 2016, 12:59 pm
#462
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Yeah but I'm locked into business awards both ways. I found out I can't change dates without a fee unless it's the same level of awards and the destinations are the same.
So I paid $150 because November is better for me (and weatherize) than April and I couldn't find the exact pattern of first class outbound and business class return.
So I paid $150 because November is better for me (and weatherize) than April and I couldn't find the exact pattern of first class outbound and business class return.
Jan 29, 2016, 1:11 pm
#463
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Yeah but I'm locked into business awards both ways. I found out I can't change dates without a fee unless it's the same level of awards and the destinations are the same.
So I paid $150 because November is better for me (and weatherize) than April and I couldn't find the exact pattern of first class outbound and business class return.
So I paid $150 because November is better for me (and weatherize) than April and I couldn't find the exact pattern of first class outbound and business class return.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
Jan 29, 2016, 3:11 pm
#465
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
AA 77W business (used LAX-SYD-LAX) is 1-2-1 seating, all seats have aisle access, and AA's plane has Wifi. QF's A380 is 2-2-2, and QF's 747 is mostly either 2-2 or 2-3-2, so not all seats have aisle access, and no Wifi. Those are two major checkmarks for AA. Since QF has forced AA to up the catering standards on the AA LAX-SYD-LAX flight, it approaches (and might be equal to) QF's standards. Average QF crew is probably better than an average AA crew, but otherwise AA looks better at the moment.