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Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF)
Note: Older posts have been archived off to this thread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 2, 2015, 11:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: US CP, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Gold, National Exec Elite, Hertz #1 Club Gold
Posts: 19
AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF) & related (consolidated)
My company is going to buy me a LAX - MEL nonstop for work in a couple of weeks. Assuming they buy me an upgradable fare, is there anything I can do with it. I'm OW Emerald and have 750k+ miles.
Anyone have any ideas?
Anyone have any ideas?
Jan 2, 2015, 12:04 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Now's the time to tell them they must buy you QF premium economy.
Jan 2, 2015, 12:44 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: US CP, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Gold, National Exec Elite, Hertz #1 Club Gold
Posts: 19
Jan 2, 2015, 12:53 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
Now's the time to tell them they must buy you QF premium economy.
OWE may get you free seat selection, but not 100% sure.
Jan 2, 2015, 7:57 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MEL
Posts: 2,441
As a OWE, the OP should have access to better/free seat selection.
Jan 2, 2015, 8:05 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,620
AA does indeed seem to have W class available on QF now for paid tickets and also offers various W fares, however it does't help the poster looking to upgrade seemingly using miles
If looking to pay in cash, assuming it is a normal published fare, he should be able to pay the difference between the economy fare and the premium economy fare as long as the fare allows changes though could be as much as around $1000 each way
If looking to pay in cash, assuming it is a normal published fare, he should be able to pay the difference between the economy fare and the premium economy fare as long as the fare allows changes though could be as much as around $1000 each way
Last edited by Dave Noble; Jan 2, 2015 at 8:10 pm
Jan 4, 2015, 6:10 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DCA's home, AA hubs and spokes are where you'll usually find me
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat
Posts: 367
Time of loading
Has anyone had any experience with the actual time of day AA makes QF award seats available? Is it 330 days at time of departure in Central time exactly? Or is it a file load that happens at midnight? Something else?
Jan 18, 2015, 10:28 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,666
Just wanted to report back with my absolutely agonizing experience with booking QF F with AA miles:
I had been scoping out US QF F availability for mid-December for the last few weeks. Each day I kept on checking and watched as the inventory dwindled slowly, and all that was left was a solitary LAX-MEL seat on the 15th. Crossed my fingers and hoped it didn't disappear when the booking window for AA opened.
At a few seconds past midnight on the 18th (today), I saw the seat available on AA.com, but it would error out if I clicked it on the schedule citing that it was more than 331 days out. I found a way to get it to display by adding the connectors from YYZ. The problem was actually booking it - it would give me an error of the flight being unavailable each time I clicked through. Called to no avail almost every 30 minutes, was told there wasn't any availability.
A glimmer of hope came when I could click through and got through the passenger information page and the confirmation screen to confirm the hold. Except, the system would error out after that screen.
This game went on for about 9 hours - I tried almost every 5 or 10 minutes, eventually I was so tired I took short 30 minute naps at my desk and hoped no one had nabbed the seat in the interim.
Finally after (probably no fewer than 100 attempts) - the click through worked at about 12:15pm and thankfully, I secured the only ex-LAX QF F seat to be available to AA during the peak OZ summer season.
I think I'm about to go insane.
TL;DR: I spent 12 hours at my computer constantly hitting refresh and calling AA to secure one measly F seat.
I had been scoping out US QF F availability for mid-December for the last few weeks. Each day I kept on checking and watched as the inventory dwindled slowly, and all that was left was a solitary LAX-MEL seat on the 15th. Crossed my fingers and hoped it didn't disappear when the booking window for AA opened.
At a few seconds past midnight on the 18th (today), I saw the seat available on AA.com, but it would error out if I clicked it on the schedule citing that it was more than 331 days out. I found a way to get it to display by adding the connectors from YYZ. The problem was actually booking it - it would give me an error of the flight being unavailable each time I clicked through. Called to no avail almost every 30 minutes, was told there wasn't any availability.
A glimmer of hope came when I could click through and got through the passenger information page and the confirmation screen to confirm the hold. Except, the system would error out after that screen.
This game went on for about 9 hours - I tried almost every 5 or 10 minutes, eventually I was so tired I took short 30 minute naps at my desk and hoped no one had nabbed the seat in the interim.Finally after (probably no fewer than 100 attempts) - the click through worked at about 12:15pm and thankfully, I secured the only ex-LAX QF F seat to be available to AA during the peak OZ summer season.
I think I'm about to go insane.
TL;DR: I spent 12 hours at my computer constantly hitting refresh and calling AA to secure one measly F seat.
Jan 18, 2015, 11:01 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Just wanted to report back with my absolutely agonizing experience with booking QF F with AA miles:
I had been scoping out US QF F availability for mid-December for the last few weeks. Each day I kept on checking and watched as the inventory dwindled slowly, and all that was left was a solitary LAX-MEL seat on the 15th. Crossed my fingers and hoped it didn't disappear when the booking window for AA opened.
At a few seconds past midnight on the 18th (today), I saw the seat available on AA.com, but it would error out if I clicked it on the schedule citing that it was more than 331 days out. I found a way to get it to display by adding the connectors from YYZ. The problem was actually booking it - it would give me an error of the flight being unavailable each time I clicked through. Called to no avail almost every 30 minutes, was told there wasn't any availability.
A glimmer of hope came when I could click through and got through the passenger information page and the confirmation screen to confirm the hold. Except, the system would error out after that screen. This game went on for about 9 hours - I tried almost every 5 or 10 minutes, eventually I was so tired I took short 30 minute naps at my desk and hoped no one had nabbed the seat in the interim.
Finally after (probably no fewer than 100 attempts) - the click through worked at about 12:15pm and thankfully, I secured the only ex-LAX QF F seat to be available to AA during the peak OZ summer season.
I think I'm about to go insane.
TL;DR: I spent 12 hours at my computer constantly hitting refresh and calling AA to secure one measly F seat.
I had been scoping out US QF F availability for mid-December for the last few weeks. Each day I kept on checking and watched as the inventory dwindled slowly, and all that was left was a solitary LAX-MEL seat on the 15th. Crossed my fingers and hoped it didn't disappear when the booking window for AA opened.
At a few seconds past midnight on the 18th (today), I saw the seat available on AA.com, but it would error out if I clicked it on the schedule citing that it was more than 331 days out. I found a way to get it to display by adding the connectors from YYZ. The problem was actually booking it - it would give me an error of the flight being unavailable each time I clicked through. Called to no avail almost every 30 minutes, was told there wasn't any availability.
A glimmer of hope came when I could click through and got through the passenger information page and the confirmation screen to confirm the hold. Except, the system would error out after that screen.
This game went on for about 9 hours - I tried almost every 5 or 10 minutes, eventually I was so tired I took short 30 minute naps at my desk and hoped no one had nabbed the seat in the interim.Finally after (probably no fewer than 100 attempts) - the click through worked at about 12:15pm and thankfully, I secured the only ex-LAX QF F seat to be available to AA during the peak OZ summer season.
I think I'm about to go insane.
TL;DR: I spent 12 hours at my computer constantly hitting refresh and calling AA to secure one measly F seat.
I had my own AA.com QF odyssey as well. I had originally booked 2 QF First seats on BA.com (150K each). On the (misguided) assumption that 11 months out, cancelled First award seats would immediate go back into inventory, I cancelled my BA booking. Well, the seats did not go back into inventory immediately and I wasted a couple of hours over the next couple of days checking and rechecking. No idea if they are still not back or someone else scooped them up.
In the end, we had to change our travel dates and I rebooked QF First seats just before Christmas on BA.com. Older and wiser, I am not going to try the cancel/rebook trick this time and will just grudgingly accept the BA price. FWIW, I saved miles on the return booked SQ A380 Suites all the (circuitous) way home AKL-SIN-NRT-LAX for only 119,000 per person.
Jan 18, 2015, 12:17 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,666
Yikes, what a ridiculous ordeal just to book a flight.
I had my own AA.com QF odyssey as well. I had originally booked 2 QF First seats on BA.com (150K each). On the (misguided) assumption that 11 months out, cancelled First award seats would immediate go back into inventory, I cancelled my BA booking. Well, the seats did not go back into inventory immediately and I wasted a couple of hours over the next couple of days checking and rechecking. No idea if they are still not back or someone else scooped them up.
In the end, we had to change our travel dates and I rebooked QF First seats just before Christmas on BA.com. Older and wiser, I am not going to try the cancel/rebook trick this time and will just grudgingly accept the BA price. FWIW, I saved miles on the return booked SQ A380 Suites all the (circuitous) way home AKL-SIN-NRT-LAX for only 119,000 per person.
I had my own AA.com QF odyssey as well. I had originally booked 2 QF First seats on BA.com (150K each). On the (misguided) assumption that 11 months out, cancelled First award seats would immediate go back into inventory, I cancelled my BA booking. Well, the seats did not go back into inventory immediately and I wasted a couple of hours over the next couple of days checking and rechecking. No idea if they are still not back or someone else scooped them up.
In the end, we had to change our travel dates and I rebooked QF First seats just before Christmas on BA.com. Older and wiser, I am not going to try the cancel/rebook trick this time and will just grudgingly accept the BA price. FWIW, I saved miles on the return booked SQ A380 Suites all the (circuitous) way home AKL-SIN-NRT-LAX for only 119,000 per person.
Plan B was to fly CX or to go through Europe and do LHR-DXB-MEL in QF F. That would have been a heck of a lot more expensive and twice as long a journey. Going with BA to book this seat would have been cost me upwards of 200K Avios to get to NZ plus a few hundred more in charges. So hence all the effort I put into nailing this seat down.
Jan 18, 2015, 12:31 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450
Measly?!? Once you take the flight I'll be very surprised if you regret the effort you put in.
Jan 18, 2015, 3:08 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,666
That's standard and has been reported before, e.g. here. Still frustrating, of course.
Measly?!? Once you take the flight I'll be very surprised if you regret the effort you put in.