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Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF)
Note: Older posts have been archived off to this thread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 19, 2022, 8:21 pm
#991
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
USA<--->AU business class awards are very hard to get. Take what you can. QF USA flight schedule are still evolving.
You can change later if the other flight shows. Booking as 2 one ways instead of a return may give more flexibility
Why phoning an agent and not on line?
Is "summer" northern hemisphere or southern hemisphere? [6 months difference]
You can change later if the other flight shows. Booking as 2 one ways instead of a return may give more flexibility
Why phoning an agent and not on line?
Is "summer" northern hemisphere or southern hemisphere? [6 months difference]
Feb 19, 2022, 8:27 pm
#992
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 437
USA<--->AU business class awards are very hard to get. Take what you can. QF USA flight schedule are still evolving.
You can change later if the other flight shows. Booking as 2 one ways instead of a return may give more flexibility
Is "summer" northern hemisphere or southern hemisphere? [6 months difference]
You can change later if the other flight shows. Booking as 2 one ways instead of a return may give more flexibility
Is "summer" northern hemisphere or southern hemisphere? [6 months difference]
I just don't understand why AA agents cannot see them. I phoned because they aren't showing up online at all.
Last edited by grlmopz; Feb 19, 2022 at 8:55 pm
Feb 20, 2022, 9:50 am
#994
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 437
This isn't phantom QF space on AA, though. It's the opposite problem.
There is either phantom space on Expert Flyer, British Airways, and Qantas for AAdvantage agents, or an error with the AAdvantage search engine. (Or, Qantas is providing these seats to BA but not to AA, which seems unlikely.)
As I mentioned previously, the AAdvantage website isn't showing any business class awards as available on QF, while AA booking agents are seeing them. So, there is clearly something funny going on.
I need to book a 3x a week feeder flight from a remote destination into BNE, and it doesn't jibe with the early flight from BNE-LAX. So, I have BNE-LAX ticketed, but it isn't terribly useful.
There is either phantom space on Expert Flyer, British Airways, and Qantas for AAdvantage agents, or an error with the AAdvantage search engine. (Or, Qantas is providing these seats to BA but not to AA, which seems unlikely.)
As I mentioned previously, the AAdvantage website isn't showing any business class awards as available on QF, while AA booking agents are seeing them. So, there is clearly something funny going on.
I need to book a 3x a week feeder flight from a remote destination into BNE, and it doesn't jibe with the early flight from BNE-LAX. So, I have BNE-LAX ticketed, but it isn't terribly useful.
Feb 20, 2022, 2:00 pm
#995
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 437
This is exactly what I did, but it was not successful, for some reason. If anyone has any thoughts about what I can say to an AAdvantage agent to miraculously find these (still available) seats, I'd be grateful.
Feb 20, 2022, 2:13 pm
#996
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 105
The Wiki at the top of the page this post was (helpfully) moved to indicates "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."
This is exactly what I did, but it was not successful, for some reason. If anyone has any thoughts about what I can say to an AAdvantage agent to miraculously find these (still available) seats, I'd be grateful.
This is exactly what I did, but it was not successful, for some reason. If anyone has any thoughts about what I can say to an AAdvantage agent to miraculously find these (still available) seats, I'd be grateful.
Feb 20, 2022, 3:05 pm
#997
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 437
Perhaps you could try calling the American Airlines Australia, New Zealand, or Singapore call center. When booking Etihad award tickets it is very common for the U.S. call centers not to be able to find and/or book open seats but oftentimes those call centers are able to do so. Maybe just maybe you will have some luck with those call centers finding the Qantas awards that you see.
Unrelated to this topic, but apropos to your response, I just booked a business award from AUH-JFK on Etihad an hour ago via a US AA agent. I'd assumed this problem was solved!
Feb 20, 2022, 3:09 pm
#998
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 105
Thanks for the advice. I've actually booked Etihad business awards via the Australia call center in the past, and it hadn't occurred to me to give this a try.
Unrelated to this topic, but apropos to your response, I just booked a business award from AUH-JFK on Etihad an hour ago via a US AA agent. I'd assumed this problem was solved!
Unrelated to this topic, but apropos to your response, I just booked a business award from AUH-JFK on Etihad an hour ago via a US AA agent. I'd assumed this problem was solved!
Feb 21, 2022, 3:02 am
#999
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ADL
Programs: QFF, AAdvantage, All
Posts: 1,137
I searched the QF site and any business LAX-BNE flights available for award booking around June/July that I tried (5) only QF56 was available - never QF16.
Feb 21, 2022, 8:15 am
#1000
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 437
AA agents can see the seat on QF55, but none on QF 15. I've tried the call centers in the USA, Singapore, and Australia. They see economy class only on QF15.
Feb 21, 2022, 8:17 am
#1001
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 437
I guess there's nothing else I can do? I don't recall seeing the availability behave this way in the past.
Feb 21, 2022, 4:51 pm
#1002
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ADL
Programs: QFF, AAdvantage, All
Posts: 1,137
Ahh. I see it. Most annoying.
You've reported all the tricks I've tried (some successfully) to find them on AA.
There was 1 weird thing recently, where I couldn't get a QF connection with an inbound CX for an AAward - had to connect the next day, within 24hr. As soon as the booking was ticketed, I could get the same day connection. I'm guessing here, but maybe once the booking is in the QF system, all QF availability may show, and thereby change to it ?
You've reported all the tricks I've tried (some successfully) to find them on AA.
There was 1 weird thing recently, where I couldn't get a QF connection with an inbound CX for an AAward - had to connect the next day, within 24hr. As soon as the booking was ticketed, I could get the same day connection. I'm guessing here, but maybe once the booking is in the QF system, all QF availability may show, and thereby change to it ?
Feb 23, 2022, 9:03 am
#1003
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 437
Ahh. I see it. Most annoying.
You've reported all the tricks I've tried (some successfully) to find them on AA.
There was 1 weird thing recently, where I couldn't get a QF connection with an inbound CX for an AAward - had to connect the next day, within 24hr. As soon as the booking was ticketed, I could get the same day connection. I'm guessing here, but maybe once the booking is in the QF system, all QF availability may show, and thereby change to it ?
You've reported all the tricks I've tried (some successfully) to find them on AA.
There was 1 weird thing recently, where I couldn't get a QF connection with an inbound CX for an AAward - had to connect the next day, within 24hr. As soon as the booking was ticketed, I could get the same day connection. I'm guessing here, but maybe once the booking is in the QF system, all QF availability may show, and thereby change to it ?
(Business availability is also not showing up via the Alaska Airlines award search, for what it's worth.)
Feb 23, 2022, 10:43 am
#1004
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AS AA
Posts: 205
Let's hope that this will be the case. The ticket has been sitting in ON REQUEST mode for 72+ hours on the AA site. Interestingly, it shows up as CONFIRMED on the Qantas site, so I assume there is just a backlog at AA. Once it officially tickets, I'll try this one final trick to see if availability suddenly appears. I'm not holding my breath!
(Business availability is also not showing up via the Alaska Airlines award search, for what it's worth.)
(Business availability is also not showing up via the Alaska Airlines award search, for what it's worth.)