QF releasing last minute availability to BA?
Aug 26, 2018, 7:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
QF releasing last minute availability to BA?
Hey gang.
What are the chances of QF releasing space closer to departure? Any chances? I know some airlines give up seats closer to departure, has QF have this tendency or if it is not available anymore, not gonna happen?
Thanks
What are the chances of QF releasing space closer to departure? Any chances? I know some airlines give up seats closer to departure, has QF have this tendency or if it is not available anymore, not gonna happen?
Thanks
Aug 27, 2018, 12:40 am
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
QF releasing space preferentially to BA ended a decade ago when BA sold its equity stake in QF and stopped co-operating. Now any space goes to all partner airlines, after it has been allocated to QFF priority waitlist requests ... effectively zero for the high-demand routes and dates.
Aug 27, 2018, 2:51 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
QF releasing space preferentially to BA ended a decade ago when BA sold its equity stake in QF and stopped co-operating. Now any space goes to all partner airlines, after it has been allocated to QFF priority waitlist requests ... effectively zero for the high-demand routes and dates.
Aug 27, 2018, 2:33 pm
#4
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
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Qantas seem to prefer remaining premium seats go to those updrading with Qantas Frequent Flyer points.
Aug 28, 2018, 2:36 am
#5
Original Member
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Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
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Award space is released to Oneworld partners only after all queued QFF requests are satisfied (in practice this is a WP benefit). Also QF often keeps seats vacant up to and even after flight time, based on a sophisticated load and yield optimization algorithm (they view a vacant F seat more valuable than filling it with an upgrade, on some routes, flights and times of day/week). QF has a deliberate policy of not filling every vacant F/J seat every time ... great for paid pax, frustrating for FT-ers. Pick unpopular days and times to travel to maximize your upgrade chances.
Aug 28, 2018, 3:19 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
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IME this has never happened. Agents will tell you to "Keep looking."
Unlike BA, EK and EY that have standard times when they release seats closer to departure, IME QF certainly does not. I imagine with upgrades to the gate for QFF members the likelihood is even less now.
Unlike BA, EK and EY that have standard times when they release seats closer to departure, IME QF certainly does not. I imagine with upgrades to the gate for QFF members the likelihood is even less now.
Aug 28, 2018, 6:31 am
#7
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
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IME this has never happened. Agents will tell you to "Keep looking."
Unlike BA, EK and EY that have standard times when they release seats closer to departure, IME QF certainly does not. I imagine with upgrades to the gate for QFF members the likelihood is even less now.
Unlike BA, EK and EY that have standard times when they release seats closer to departure, IME QF certainly does not. I imagine with upgrades to the gate for QFF members the likelihood is even less now.
Aug 28, 2018, 4:10 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I suspect there is an official process that would ensure no "to the gate" points upgrade gets passed over before someone on staff travel gets that seat. I also suspect this process often gets discreetly ignored.
Aug 28, 2018, 7:15 pm
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
Some staff travel is processed as CL priority 
I've seen it happen (sometimes for very good reasons). I still remember a SYD-JNB flight where half the F cabin were pilots going there to play golf for the weekend and I was the only paying F pax. Many years ago when 744s still had F to JNB.
I've seen it happen (sometimes for very good reasons). I still remember a SYD-JNB flight where half the F cabin were pilots going there to play golf for the weekend and I was the only paying F pax. Many years ago when 744s still had F to JNB.
Aug 28, 2018, 8:39 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Zealand
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Posts: 1,672
A friend is ex QF FA and said with bids to upgrade it really does come down to last minute on standby to see if they're going to even travel on the day. Last trip I think was all economy. Not helped by aircraft downgrade due to tech issues.
Aug 28, 2018, 9:23 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
On QF23 we had seats 1EF. EF alerted me that 1F has become vacant. At check in they said the seat was broken. The moved me to 1A so we could sit across the aisle.
Get on board and find a staff member in 1F. The seat was reported to not be able to recline on the previous flight so my partner was stuck sitting next to a stranger who was staff.
The upside was 1A/E mean you can converse as opposed to 1E/F...
Get on board and find a staff member in 1F. The seat was reported to not be able to recline on the previous flight so my partner was stuck sitting next to a stranger who was staff.
The upside was 1A/E mean you can converse as opposed to 1E/F...