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Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF)
Note: Older posts have been archived off to this thread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)
May 20, 2019, 1:11 am
#886
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,579
May 21, 2019, 7:49 am
#888
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Brisbane (BNE), Australia, QF/VA Forums Meeting Organiser
Programs: VA Plat, QF Gold (97.4% LTG), QP Life, AA (66% LTG). HH Diamond. Amex Plat, Visa Plat
Posts: 6,519
@Dave Noble, I may need your assistance with an AA booking - you available in SYD over the weekend? I'd have to say that the new award booking tool is bloody frustrating - after searching for flights and thinking I had found suitable ones, I couldn't book them on AA.com or on the App. There would always be a failure after selecting the outbound and inbound sectors. Nothing would work. Ring up AA tonight and get told that the system must not be taking out flights that are no longer available. ... - what kind of system leaves invalid booking options in??
I'm stuffed if I can work out why it has to be so difficult. Makes the VA system look positive. Time to burn my points and be done with them.
I'm stuffed if I can work out why it has to be so difficult. Makes the VA system look positive. Time to burn my points and be done with them.
Jun 20, 2019, 9:41 am
#889
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EXP (LT Plat 2MM), Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat75, UA1K
Posts: 1,248
Traveling in August PER-MEL on an AA Award in J. Is Qantas at all flexible on allowing me to change my flight day of at the airport to get into MEL earlier - or would I have to work through AA and hope that there is award availability that day?
Jun 20, 2019, 10:10 am
#890
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,384
Yes they are - a few years back from me anyway. On connection for my domestic flight after award flight from USA.
I would modify the ticket via AA if space allows up to flight. Then ask at QF transfer if unsuccessful. No real overlap in who can do what for you.
I would modify the ticket via AA if space allows up to flight. Then ask at QF transfer if unsuccessful. No real overlap in who can do what for you.
Jun 20, 2019, 1:58 pm
#891
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,015
A few years ago the domestic check in desk at SYD T1 international would often change the onward domestic flight. They used to make an offer without you asking. They do not do that as much now days.
Jun 20, 2019, 2:13 pm
#892
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
I have personally seen them say yes and personally seen them say no.
Jun 21, 2019, 4:45 am
#893
Join Date: Feb 2001
Programs: IHG Diamond, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select, Accor Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,227
Long ago, QF used to allow same day changes for free. Now they will demand a fee, if they will let you at all. Definitely change it through AA if you want to go earlier.
Jun 22, 2019, 7:03 am
#894
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Largo, FL
Posts: 1,270
QF Business Award Seats Not Bookable with AA Miles?
FOr the past several days the QF website shows business class awards that Aa.com shows but errors out as flight no longer available when attempting to book. Called AA agent and they cannot see the award space. It is shown and apparently bookable using AS miles as I continued through to the page that would have purchased it but didn;t do so. ANy idea what is going on? Is AA limiting QF premium cabin seats on QF? No problem with coach seats as they could be booked and held with no problem for the same QF flight that QF showed business class as available on. .
Jun 22, 2019, 2:12 pm
#895
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,579
FOr the past several days the QF website shows business class awards that Aa.com shows but errors out as flight no longer available when attempting to book. Called AA agent and they cannot see the award space. It is shown and apparently bookable using AS miles as I continued through to the page that would have purchased it but didn;t do so. ANy idea what is going on? Is AA limiting QF premium cabin seats on QF? No problem with coach seats as they could be booked and held with no problem for the same QF flight that QF showed business class as available on. .
Aug 25, 2019, 4:09 pm
#897
Join Date: May 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, WN A+, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Amb, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,126
I'm having the same problem. I saw them a few weeks ago but now nothing when I try to search even across a bunch of dates. BA showing lots of availability. I guess I can call at some point.
Aug 26, 2019, 9:48 am
#898
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
Sep 21, 2019, 8:19 pm
#899
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,133
I have a enough AA miles for a one-way business class Anytime fare and am currently booked on a cruise in Australia in December 2020. Based on the wiki, I assume it will be difficult to use AA miles and book when the booking window opens (i.e. I have to wait to closer to departure to find an award via Qantas)? The cruise starts in Sydney and I am in Philadelphia.
Sep 21, 2019, 8:50 pm
#900
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 321
I have a enough AA miles for a one-way business class Anytime fare and am currently booked on a cruise in Australia in December 2020. Based on the wiki, I assume it will be difficult to use AA miles and book when the booking window opens (i.e. I have to wait to closer to departure to find an award via Qantas)? The cruise starts in Sydney and I am in Philadelphia.