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Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF)
Note: Older posts have been archived off to this thread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)
Nov 18, 2017, 7:38 am
#781
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 9
Is it just an online problem? If you've only spoken with web tech support, maybe calling AAdvantage award reservations and booking it over the phone is the better option. They might actually see the availability and be able to book it, or work with the OneWorld liaison to talk with Qantas.
Nov 18, 2017, 8:45 am
#782
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
Have any of you also encountered difficulty booking MileSAAver awards on Qantas with this type of error?
Do you know of any solution to this problem? AA tech support is not helpful. Every time I call they tell me that they are aware of the problem and are investigating it.
Do you know of any solution to this problem? AA tech support is not helpful. Every time I call they tell me that they are aware of the problem and are investigating it.
Phantom / false AA award availability with AA partners (master thd)
Nov 18, 2017, 9:59 am
#783
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
Yes, phantom availability, this issue has been around for a while, especially for awards on QF and AY. Check the BA site to see if availability is really there.
Phantom / false AA award availability with AA partners (master thd)
Phantom / false AA award availability with AA partners (master thd)
Nov 18, 2017, 10:16 am
#784
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
I can report that QF somewhat often shows availability that I am unable to book via AA either online or by phone. It may well not be phantom to QF members but I would call it phantom to AA members.
Nov 18, 2017, 10:28 am
#785
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,511
This has been going on for quite awhile. I believe "availability" does in fact exist but, as AA tech support told the OP, QF, for apparent technical reasons, is not able to communicate with AA so that the award can be "sold." I don't think it is intentional with either carrier but simply a low priority matter for both companies' internal bureaucracies.
Nov 18, 2017, 12:16 pm
#787
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 9
Thank you everyone, for your explanations.
Nov 18, 2017, 1:29 pm
#788
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Hunter Valley, Australia
Programs: Qantas, American Airlines, Hyatt, Accor
Posts: 41
I checked availability on QFF and F awards are shown on July 3,4,8,9,10,11,15, and 17. This seems unusually good and I checked on Awardnexus which also shows availability on QF (date checked July 11) but not BA. If you are a member of QFF then maybe a call there would be worthwhile.
Nov 18, 2017, 6:12 pm
#789
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: points traveller
Posts: 329
would recommend expertflyer for the relevant award (P,U) and then calling AA call centre to book. had to resort to this to get SYD-DFW in J for 2018, via USA call centre rather than 'Australian' call centre (based in Fiji)
Nov 23, 2017, 7:54 am
#790
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 624
Had an EF alert go off last night for SYD-DFW in F for mid-January ‘18. I had already booked 1 F and 1 J at T-330 10 months ago and wanted to get in the same cabin. First agent could see the space but couldn’t “grab” it. Told me to call back in 2 hours. Immediately HUCA’d and that agent got it with ease.
Feel like I won the lottery getting two seats in QF F in high season.
Feel like I won the lottery getting two seats in QF F in high season.
Nov 23, 2017, 4:26 pm
#791
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: points traveller
Posts: 329
Had an EF alert go off last night for SYD-DFW in F for mid-January ‘18. I had already booked 1 F and 1 J at T-330 10 months ago and wanted to get in the same cabin. First agent could see the space but couldn’t “grab” it. Told me to call back in 2 hours. Immediately HUCA’d and that agent got it with ease.
Feel like I won the lottery getting two seats in QF F in high season.
Feel like I won the lottery getting two seats in QF F in high season.
Nov 23, 2017, 5:02 pm
#792
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 624