Hi All,

Just wondering does QF use I Class for discount business class in its inventory for International flights.

Currently I am Wait Listed on QF 128 from HKG-SYD and I don't know why there are no I class availability on that flight. Currently all classes are showing "9" (ie. plenty of availability) except D which is 0 (the online tool does not bring up I Inventory). Originally I thought they will clear the inventory in a day or so, however it is around 3 days already and still on WL.

I have checked both CX and VS and they have plenty of availability in I Class and Z Class (VS's discount Business inventory code). All Class = "9"

As I have an important meeting I need to be back in SYD, just wondering, does QF actually clear I Class inventory? My ticket deadline is next week and I need to know whether or not should I keep on WL on QF or should I go for CX/VS?

Also if I call QF directly, do you think the agent can clear the seat for me? I am a QF silver member an Oneworld Sapphire member of another airline.

Thankyou.

qfsyd,

AFAIK, QF sell I class on such a basis as you are referring to, 'once in a blue moon'. I do not believe QF yield management makes a habit of opening up I inventory once sold (if any were available in the first place).

FWIW, There will generally be D class before I class. Also, if you see D7 I3 and book one of the D seats, it will then go to D6 I2.

Thankyou.

Therefore should I cancel the QF booking an book CX or VS instead?
I thought they will still open the seats up to WL pax for revenue bookings considering it is a Mid-Week flight and at the moment both J and C are showing 9. However D is 0, but all other class and subclasses are showing "9"

I just checked my booking and it is still WL. Does anyone had experience where QF opens up inventory after a certain # of days after a WL booking is made?

I have noticed that QF seems to try to push D bookings onto only one of their HKG-SYD flights. Used to be the LHR-HKG-SYD had limited D availability for HKG-SYD (read none!) and the other one usually had D9. Perhaps you should take a sure bet and go on the other flight and keep the WL for what you really want.

Actually there is only 1 flight that day (Tuesday night) Therefore no alternative.
Should I ask for a ticket extension or just goto CX/VS to avoid the waiting game?

I am just surprised QF is holding back the inventory given it is a Mid-week departure and both CX and VS are showing "9" in ALL booking revenue class.

I am not sure it is some bug or delay at QF's Yield mgmt that is not releasing the I Class group (given it is still "9" in ALL other class)

I have read several references on this Forum to the fact the Qantas actually try to encourage the purchase of J class over I and even D.

They may even have a policy that they feel it's better to let several J seats go empty than sell them at a discount. The reason is that such a practice would encourage people who want to travel in J class but not wish to pay full rate for it to simply wait until I class becomes available.

It is very much the same with reward seats and upgrades. It is a frequent occurrence that front cabin seats go empty when there are plenty down the back with the points and desire to be upgraded.

Thanks.

Sometimes I really think the way QF handles the Yield is not ideal. True that you want everyone to buy full F and J Class tickets, but given the competition (especially on the HKG-SYD route) and the lack in demand (mid-week) they really should adjust the availability accordingly. I just checked both CX's I Class and VS Z Class (discount Business). Both are showing "9" on ALL flights.

I guess the only thing I can do now is wait till Monday when hopefully the yield mgmt guys are back to work and hopefully adjust some inventory.

D can be very short on the popular business flights. For example, on QF52 SIN-BNE last Friday (which Ihad been watching for several weeks), the load was showing J9 D0 I0 U0 for about 3 weeks. In fact, at one point I was waitlisted for D, but eventually ended up buying K. In the last week before the flight, J steadily dropped to 0. This may have been due to waitlisted D's being cleared, of just more J sales.

Every other day of the week had D availability closely matching J. Just Firday showed D0.

Thankyou.

I am in this delienma now. the Travel Agent just e-mailed and said the QF ticket deadline is suppose to be today and I am still on WL for the I Class. She said she will try and ask for an extension and see what happens.

I am really tempted to go for CX instead, but the QF fare is slightly cheaper for the 1 year validity which I prefer.

Do you guys think I stand any chance in clearing the I Class or should I just forget it and book CX instead (which is showing "I9" for ALL the flights I want).

QF really needs a reality check (no wonder why CX is doing so much better in J and F Class on this route).

Any comments will be appreciated.

Thanks

To my way of thinking, QF have lost the opportunity to your business and you should book CX (whose service levels are better than QF's IMHO). I just don't think they've done anything to win your business.

Thanks.

I actually called QF reservation here in SYD and the staff on the phone was really nice and commented that it is strange that the I Class is not opening up given the flight is so empty?

Unfortuantely she souldn't access the full booking as this ticket is not issued in Australia. However she suggest that I should contact HKG and see the actual fare conditions and see whether they can open up some inventory for me.

This is the first time I couldn't actually get a booking confirmed up in Business Class (I am usually with CX and BA - they normally clear the inventory 3-5 days after WL)

The only reason why I am pursuing this is because the QF ticket has a 1 year validity whereas CX is only 90 days. However they are both booked under "I" class. So Fustrating!

I just checked my booking and it has changed from HL1 to HK1 !!!! finally (for those that don't understand, HK1 = Confirmed Status in the CRS

I just checked the inventory and noted that D is still showing "0" availability, therefore it must be a special release for my booking. I think it was the agent I spoke to last night that have sent a SSR to yield mgmt or something!

OK QF here I come! This is the first time I will get to experience the Skybeds for a flight that is > 8 hours. Are there anything I need to be aware of?? Also what seats are the best to reserve now? Any other tips?

I presume the LHR fiasco does not affect the catering of this flight (as this is not the flight from LHR), normally what do they serve on this route.

Wow! It almost looks like if QF WP makes a statement then miracles happen

It is good to see you got your I class seat after all, qfsyd.

Thanks to you all for the advice.

I just hoped that my return segment will not experience the same problems! (at the moment I jsut made a dummy booking on the return date, but this time I make sure I will plan in advance to avoid the stress.

Also jsut wondering would it make a difference if I am a QF Gold, as I will become one next week!!