Lots of F/C award seats USA-Australia in next few months
Nov 19, 2008, 1:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 812
Lots of F/C award seats USA-Australia in next few months
I've been monitoring award availability for SFO/LAX to SYD/MEL/BNE for the past few months. I've NEVER seen more than a few scattered F/C award seats available. However, in the past few days, QF has opened up tons of F/C award seats from the US to Australia and vice versa, from now until Feb. Most dates in November and December have some F/C award seats available. Some even work for Xmas travel (though not the absolute peak season dates of course). Is this normal? In the past, I haven't seen last minute award availability as being significantly better than far in advance availability.
I'm pretty happy, because I was able to switch to a non-stop flight from my preferred departure airport vs making several connections. I had booked using CO miles (back in Feb, before the rates jumped up significantly). I only regret not having been able to book an F award reward back then (b/c I couldn't find any open F award seats at all). I actually saw an F seat on the A380 flight available for my travel date, but of course I couldn't switch to that!
Anyway, this is just a heads up in case anyone has award travel planned during this time.
I'm pretty happy, because I was able to switch to a non-stop flight from my preferred departure airport vs making several connections. I had booked using CO miles (back in Feb, before the rates jumped up significantly). I only regret not having been able to book an F award reward back then (b/c I couldn't find any open F award seats at all). I actually saw an F seat on the A380 flight available for my travel date, but of course I couldn't switch to that!
Anyway, this is just a heads up in case anyone has award travel planned during this time.
Nov 19, 2008, 2:00 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver (Oneworld Sapphire), VS Silver, Skywards Blue, UA General, Qantas Bronze.
Posts: 1,077
Qantas releases extra 1.5 million Frequent Flyer seats
Melbourne Herald Sun
Originally Posted by Melbourne Herald Sun
AIRLINES battling to fill seats are offering super deals to allow cash-strapped travellers to escape the financial crisis.
Qantas has released 1.5 million Frequent Flyer seats to stimulate Christmas travel.
The seats will be available on services to all capital city and popular Australian holiday destinations.
Family members, including grandparents and other relatives of club members, will be eligible to travel.
"The sale aims to stimulate travel within Australia and to encourage people to holiday at home this year," said Simon Hickey, the airline's head of Frequent Flyer business.
Qantas hopes to generate additional cashflow as would-be travellers transfer points from their credit card reward programs.
Thousands of Australians yesterday snapped up 50,000 "free" flights offered by Tiger Airlines as it celebrate its first birthday.
Qantas had a similar response to its 48-hour, two-for-one ticket sale this week where return economy tickets to London went for $3058, taxes included - almost $2000 below the cost of regular fares for two people.
Qantas has released 1.5 million Frequent Flyer seats to stimulate Christmas travel.
The seats will be available on services to all capital city and popular Australian holiday destinations.
Family members, including grandparents and other relatives of club members, will be eligible to travel.
"The sale aims to stimulate travel within Australia and to encourage people to holiday at home this year," said Simon Hickey, the airline's head of Frequent Flyer business.
Qantas hopes to generate additional cashflow as would-be travellers transfer points from their credit card reward programs.
Thousands of Australians yesterday snapped up 50,000 "free" flights offered by Tiger Airlines as it celebrate its first birthday.
Qantas had a similar response to its 48-hour, two-for-one ticket sale this week where return economy tickets to London went for $3058, taxes included - almost $2000 below the cost of regular fares for two people.
Nov 19, 2008, 10:46 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: QC Silver/OW Ruby
Posts: 27
Thanks!
Saw this post and promptly jumped online to see if there were any business class seats to LAX around 20 December (already had a booking done 355 days in advance for 2 econ seats). While there wasnt anything on 20 Dec, there were 2 seats in business class going CBR-BNE-LAX on 19 December - so quickly booked these. With the 25% off business promotion running, it meant business class for about another 30K points - well worth it! Then rang Qantas to get seats - 1A and 1B 
Nov 26, 2008, 12:21 am
#6
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Hellsea - NY, NY, USA
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Posts: 1,994
Wow. This is definitely impressive. I discovered two things tonight. 1 that QF's online award display is once again showing me seats in F as opposed to last year when I was searching.
2. There is an incredible amount of F inventory available on QF12 compared to the last few years.
Amazed.
2. There is an incredible amount of F inventory available on QF12 compared to the last few years.
Amazed.
Nov 26, 2008, 5:30 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
Just arrived into MEL from LAX this morning in F. 9F seats occupied. But only about 3 or 4 BC seats on the main level occupied. Lots of empty seats. And some in BC were announced at the gate to pick up their upgrade boarding passes just before boarding.
Factors - the Economy plus the A380 has drawn a lot of the premium paid traffic. Hence - no reason for QF not to release reward seats. When issued by a limited partner like CO - CO pays for the seats - so revenue for QF when reward seats are redeemed.
Factors - the Economy plus the A380 has drawn a lot of the premium paid traffic. Hence - no reason for QF not to release reward seats. When issued by a limited partner like CO - CO pays for the seats - so revenue for QF when reward seats are redeemed.
Nov 26, 2008, 5:32 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Australia
Programs: QF LTS, Marriott LTP, ALL GOLD
Posts: 2,440
And I guess remption seats would also be counted as revenue seats in the accounts, so that would bump up the load factor and also the share price (Which most QF execs bonuses would be tied to I guess)
Nov 27, 2008, 1:22 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 440
i dont think your bonus normally gets bounced up when you deliver a profit 1/3 of last years...
Nov 27, 2008, 2:31 am
#10
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Newcastle, Australia.
Programs: QF Plat+ LTG/ OW Emerald, VA Plat, NZ Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Whatsit. Taxation is theft.
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Nov 27, 2008, 5:25 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LON
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Conversely I have done 2 MEL-LAX-MELs in the last month, out on Sat and back Fri, and all 4 sectors were rammed. I was watching loads on EF and LAX flights are still pretty good. Midweek is better obviously. SFO flights have been fairly empty for some time now which is not good for this route...
Nov 27, 2008, 12:57 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver (Oneworld Sapphire), VS Silver, Skywards Blue, UA General, Qantas Bronze.
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