[aschmid]

I am trying to book an award trip for the family to Thailand but I am unable to get any flights between 1st of Dec to 31st of Jan'08.

I am using of course their website and it just doesn't come up with any available flights.

Maybe the experienced users here could help me out with a few things:

- Could it be that Qantas has put a blackout period in place for this time? If yes, how can i find this out instead of continue to trying to find something.

- How would i go about booking an award flight with one of their partners, e.g. Cathay to HKG. The website doesn't seem to consider non-Qantas flights?

- Is there any hint somebody can give how to get award flights in that period?

Many thanks in advance to any tips ...

[simongr]

Hey aschmid

I think you are SOL on this. That is holiday period and Thailand is a holiday destination. Award flights are made available 355 days before teh date of departure and I would expect that all available seats have gone already - a long time ago.

In terms of Cathay and teh website - QF have some issue with CX's computer systems and online you can not book any CX award seats - you can book other airlines though. If you want CX then you need to call QF - and they might wave the 2500 points assisted booking fee.

One final option might be trying last minute to book something - availability is sometimes released at the last minute.

S

[aubs]

Assume you are looking at flying into BKK.

Also look for flights into SIN (in my experience normally slightly better)
and get a LCC (Jetstar, Tiger, AirAsia into your chosen destination in thailand)

but as simongr said that is a peak time

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by aschmid

I am trying to book an award trip for the family to Thailand but I am unable to get any flights between 1st of Dec to 31st of Jan'08.

When you say family how many people is that?

As the others have said, and from my experience, this is one of the hardest routes to get an award seat

Originally Posted by aschmid

I am using of course their website and it just doesn't come up with any available flights.

There is at least 4 award seats on the 29 Jan 2008.

Try calling the QF frequent flyer centre as they could give you a better indication of what flights are available and with wihich carrier.

[lovetravellingoz]

My last international Award was To Bangkok. It was with British Airways during July school holidays in 2006. I booked this in January for July....and I was surpised that there were still spots available (I was redeeming for 5). Originally there were returns to Bangkok...buta I waited a day....and the returned flights dried up

...so thought laterally and redeemed a return from Sigapore instead.

This was catiually better that Bankok return as it saved backtracking and going to Bangkok twice.


Once in Singapore (if you can get there)there are several low cost airlines to choose from...to many spots in Thailand..Phukket, Krabi, Chaing Mai etc...


The other reason to consider going via Singapore is that you actually can fly and redeem ona full service arline.....whereas if you go to Bankok your Qantas points may well be on JetsStar.

[hgwells01]

sorry, I pinched the last flights in early march this year for SYD - BAN 29 nov on BA bus and back on 11th econ BA on the awards site. I had to use those flights as they were the last available. But keep checking, you never know

[Travel Guru]

Without wanting sound critical, i'm amazed at how often someone will post on this website wondering why they can't get f/f seats 3 months out from a peak period, then they're often the same ones who bash the program for never having availability.

I don't have any difficulty getting f/f seats, but then I realize that just like you have to be quick off the mark to get a good concert seat, you have to do the same with f/f, especially given the number of people with massive balances thanks to their credit card usage.

TG

[turbo]

A question to those who have travelled the SYD-BKK route:

I am looking at going to BKK in Jun/Jul departing SYD and returning to MEL. It appears that there is a QF and BA seperate service running at very similar times daily from SYD. Is there likely to be any difference in the product/service between the two on this route. I think BA was marginally cheaper (like <$100 difference).

I have QC membership so that is not an issue either way.

If i do end up on a BA flight does it make any difference if you book it under a QF flight number (codeshare) or not?

cheers,

[Evan]

SYD/MEL to SIN/BKK come under the JSA (joint service agreement between QF/BA) so there is no difference which you book, even on BA flight code you will get full points like QF (But i think maybe not status bonus soon ??)

The products are similar in whY
in J depends on if NCW or OCW, i prefer QF anyway but some may say BA. I am sorry i don't know what BA fly from BKK as i have only ever flown from SIN or HKG.

E

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by Evan

I am sorry i don't know what BA fly from BKK as i have only ever flown from SIN or HKG.

BA uses a 777 for SIN-SYD and a 747 for BKK-SYD.