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Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF)
Note: Older posts have been archived off to this thread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)
Feb 3, 2016, 2:02 pm
#481
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,508
No, aa.com does not show the flights, only AA/QF connections in SYD. And not Premium. I'm going to look at other options and leave QF for another day and trip.
Feb 3, 2016, 4:39 pm
#482
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 315
Feb 8, 2016, 9:41 pm
#483
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Brisbane, AU
Programs: VA Plat, QF Plat, UA 1k, SPG Gold, IC Ambassador
Posts: 141
Available Award flights on Qantas not real
I have been trying to book using my AA points to get from SYD to LON in First for some time now, and it looks like the Qantas gremlins are back.
The AA website shows that say on April 20, First class is available, along with many other dates (not all though, so it is not just blanket allowing) but when you go to book, it just returns you to the previous page, with flights now unavailable.
You do a new search, and they are there. Today, a new one even came up that wasnt there yesterday.
Called AA Helpdesk, and helpful person (Dustin) said nope, no flights available, and is error with website.
No known fix date again, and now no real way of checking avail with them for dates without actually trying to book, as the avail calendar is useless.
The AA website shows that say on April 20, First class is available, along with many other dates (not all though, so it is not just blanket allowing) but when you go to book, it just returns you to the previous page, with flights now unavailable.
You do a new search, and they are there. Today, a new one even came up that wasnt there yesterday.
Called AA Helpdesk, and helpful person (Dustin) said nope, no flights available, and is error with website.
No known fix date again, and now no real way of checking avail with them for dates without actually trying to book, as the avail calendar is useless.
Feb 9, 2016, 11:12 pm
#486
Join Date: Feb 2001
Programs: IHG Diamond, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select, Accor Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,227
Possibly not, in which case it's just utter incompetence. The timing of their fixing it will be our best evidence as to which is true.
Given that aa.com is showing no QF LAX-MEL availability at all, the answer would be no. (qantas.com is showing hundreds, mostly in Y, of course)
Feb 17, 2016, 10:41 am
#488
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
Question for all y'all that have transited Sydney before:
Wife and I are trying to plan our trip. Probably will fly in on AA and we're debating flying to Ayers Rock right away. Would you 1) fly on QF? Connection time is just less than 2 hours, but we can use the Qantas seamless transfer. Annoying thing is the 2 hour stop in ASP (why doesn't QF run their own nonstops?)
OR
2) fly on jetstar nonstop? Would have to be on a separate ticket and from what I can tell, we'd have to schlep our bags ourselves to T2 after arrival, which seems like a PITA. We'd have about 2.5 hours to make this connection assuming AA is on time. I promise we'll try to stay under 50.8 lbs this time! :-D
Thank you in advance!
Wife and I are trying to plan our trip. Probably will fly in on AA and we're debating flying to Ayers Rock right away. Would you 1) fly on QF? Connection time is just less than 2 hours, but we can use the Qantas seamless transfer. Annoying thing is the 2 hour stop in ASP (why doesn't QF run their own nonstops?)
OR
2) fly on jetstar nonstop? Would have to be on a separate ticket and from what I can tell, we'd have to schlep our bags ourselves to T2 after arrival, which seems like a PITA. We'd have about 2.5 hours to make this connection assuming AA is on time. I promise we'll try to stay under 50.8 lbs this time! :-D
Thank you in advance!
Feb 17, 2016, 11:26 am
#489
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Question for all y'all that have transited Sydney before:
Wife and I are trying to plan our trip. Probably will fly in on AA and we're debating flying to Ayers Rock right away. Would you 1) fly on QF? Connection time is just less than 2 hours, but we can use the Qantas seamless transfer. Annoying thing is the 2 hour stop in ASP (why doesn't QF run their own nonstops?)
OR
2) fly on jetstar nonstop? Would have to be on a separate ticket and from what I can tell, we'd have to schlep our bags ourselves to T2 after arrival, which seems like a PITA. We'd have about 2.5 hours to make this connection assuming AA is on time. I promise we'll try to stay under 50.8 lbs this time! :-D
Thank you in advance!
Wife and I are trying to plan our trip. Probably will fly in on AA and we're debating flying to Ayers Rock right away. Would you 1) fly on QF? Connection time is just less than 2 hours, but we can use the Qantas seamless transfer. Annoying thing is the 2 hour stop in ASP (why doesn't QF run their own nonstops?)
OR
2) fly on jetstar nonstop? Would have to be on a separate ticket and from what I can tell, we'd have to schlep our bags ourselves to T2 after arrival, which seems like a PITA. We'd have about 2.5 hours to make this connection assuming AA is on time. I promise we'll try to stay under 50.8 lbs this time! :-D
Thank you in advance!
Understand that jetsar has bag limits (do you pay for every bag? dunno) and may not be as understanding as QF in the event the AA flight is late. A 4 hr glitch on AA down there and the whole transfer to AYQ (and the onwards plans) can go down the tube.
Feb 17, 2016, 11:35 am
#490
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Id rather decompress and get over jet lag in the comfort of Sydney, as opposed to doing it at ANY property in Uluru.... just MHO
Understand that jetsar has bag limits (do you pay for every bag? dunno) and may not be as understanding as QF in the event the AA flight is late. A 4 hr glitch on AA down there and the whole transfer to AYQ (and the onwards plans) can go down the tube.
Understand that jetsar has bag limits (do you pay for every bag? dunno) and may not be as understanding as QF in the event the AA flight is late. A 4 hr glitch on AA down there and the whole transfer to AYQ (and the onwards plans) can go down the tube.
As to the other poster, demand to AYQ is relatively low, and almost exclusively tourists. There is business demand to ASP and thus QF flies there, I've flown through ASP and used the Qantas Club there, as most of the interior Northern Territory business operations are commercially centered in Alice Springs.
Feb 17, 2016, 11:58 am
#491
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
Thanks for the responses! Yeah we're debating whether to get over our jet lag in SYD vs at Sails in the Desert - pretty spiffy looking property in the pictures at least!
I assume 1:55 meets the MCT for SYD int-dom? I've not found it officially written anywhere. Probably didn't look hard enough though I will admit that!
Plus there is award space on QF which would soften the blow to our wallets.
I assume we won't have QF lounge access at ASP?
I assume 1:55 meets the MCT for SYD int-dom? I've not found it officially written anywhere. Probably didn't look hard enough though I will admit that!
Plus there is award space on QF which would soften the blow to our wallets.
I assume we won't have QF lounge access at ASP?
Feb 17, 2016, 12:16 pm
#492
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,574
You would likely be able to add the AYQ flight to the existing booking and so would be a no brainer to take the Qantas flight
The MCT for QF-QF is 90 minutes for the T1-T3 connection; If you were to misconnect, an agent will get you on another flight. If you were to be stuck in Sydney overnight , you would get a decent hotel and meals et al
If you go on JQ and your AA flight is delayed and you miss the JQ flight, then you will be up for a new ticket and pay for own accommodation if needing to stay overnight
If you travel on Qantas, you will get Qantas Club lounge access at SYD and ASP; if this is a business or 1st class award, you will get business class lounge access in Sydney and Qantas Club lounge access in ASP
With Jetstar, no lounge access
Also with Qantas, you will be able to check bags in at the Qantas Seamless transfer desk in T1 and take the free coach across to T3 rather than have to take bags on bus or train to T2 to check in with JQ plus pay $5.50 for the transfer
The MCT for QF-QF is 90 minutes for the T1-T3 connection; If you were to misconnect, an agent will get you on another flight. If you were to be stuck in Sydney overnight , you would get a decent hotel and meals et al
If you go on JQ and your AA flight is delayed and you miss the JQ flight, then you will be up for a new ticket and pay for own accommodation if needing to stay overnight
If you travel on Qantas, you will get Qantas Club lounge access at SYD and ASP; if this is a business or 1st class award, you will get business class lounge access in Sydney and Qantas Club lounge access in ASP
With Jetstar, no lounge access
Also with Qantas, you will be able to check bags in at the Qantas Seamless transfer desk in T1 and take the free coach across to T3 rather than have to take bags on bus or train to T2 to check in with JQ plus pay $5.50 for the transfer
Last edited by Dave Noble; Feb 17, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Feb 17, 2016, 12:21 pm
#493
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
If you are flying in a premium cabin on the same day, and you have an onward flight with QF from ASP, you can access the Qantas Club at ASP. Not that it is anything special or amazing, but like most lounges it is at least better than the terminal. It's also better than most AA Admirals Clubs as well.
I'd book the flight all the way through to AYQ, and save the miles. If you miss the flight, QF will likely help you at SYD. Absolute worst case, have them get you to ASP and from there its about a 6 hour drive to AYQ, on sealed roads so no worries about needing a 4WD or driving on dirt roads. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this without pre-planning though.
Feb 18, 2016, 3:06 pm
#494
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 9
I have been trying to book using my AA points to get from SYD to LON in First for some time now, and it looks like the Qantas gremlins are back.
The AA website shows that say on April 20, First class is available, along with many other dates (not all though, so it is not just blanket allowing) but when you go to book, it just returns you to the previous page, with flights now unavailable.
You do a new search, and they are there. Today, a new one even came up that wasnt there yesterday.
Called AA Helpdesk, and helpful person (Dustin) said nope, no flights available, and is error with website.
No known fix date again, and now no real way of checking avail with them for dates without actually trying to book, as the avail calendar is useless.
The AA website shows that say on April 20, First class is available, along with many other dates (not all though, so it is not just blanket allowing) but when you go to book, it just returns you to the previous page, with flights now unavailable.
You do a new search, and they are there. Today, a new one even came up that wasnt there yesterday.
Called AA Helpdesk, and helpful person (Dustin) said nope, no flights available, and is error with website.
No known fix date again, and now no real way of checking avail with them for dates without actually trying to book, as the avail calendar is useless.
That being said, I tried a SYD->LHR and still have phantom seats, so it seems YMMV.
Good luck.
Feb 19, 2016, 5:54 pm
#495
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 342
I have managed to pick my way past the phantom availability but I am now having some married segment issues. I have on hold 2 seats MEL-DXB-LHR on QF9 in F connecting to a BA flight to FCO in J. There is only 2 hours in DXB yet the itinerary is pricing up as two awards, meaning 200k miles rather than 160k.
My queries are:
a)Will I be able to persuade an agent to manually reprice it at 160k?
b) I have feelings QF does odd things with married segments, is there any chance they will not ticket such an itinerary? This is important as I will have to cancel an existing itinerary in J to have enough miles for F.
My queries are:
a)Will I be able to persuade an agent to manually reprice it at 160k?
b) I have feelings QF does odd things with married segments, is there any chance they will not ticket such an itinerary? This is important as I will have to cancel an existing itinerary in J to have enough miles for F.