Hi y'all
Thanks to the AFF Forum I've learnt alot recently! Not least the best way to use my hard earned QFF points. At the beginning of the year I was interested in a trip to North America with a colleague. I'd seen the dollar rising to an equitable position and then heard about the soon to be infamous 'enhancements', so I thought what better time to use my points than a business or first class return flight to the west coast of the US. My only concern was that I had probably left it too late since award seats are best available 365 days out and the target dates were about 3 months away.
My research had directed me to ravage the QFF rewards redemption tool being sure to select 'flexible with flights' whilst also taking into consideration all sorts of possible routes including One World partners. I didn't have any specific dates in mind, although I was keen to avoid US public holidays yet at the same time avoid non-peak season (booked a 7 day Alaska cruise - far better weather in peak). On average, from early March to late April, I would log in and perform my daily ritual of checking availability across all different routes up to three times each day! I'd even called the Qantas Award number on several occasions to confirm I was seeing all availability as I should be! Long story short, in the space of one week, Qantas released a batch of two weeks worth of business class from SYD->SFO. I snaffled my preferred date within minutes!
The return trip wasn't looking at all encouraging since there was virtually zero availability, not even economy for weeks at a time! I was already planning to come home via HNL (*class for SCs) when a business class LAX-> SYD appeared departing 4 weeks after my arrival - perfect timing. After picking myself up off the floor and reattaching jaw, I had a return business class to the west coast of US for TWO people (384K). I will continue to troll the award booking engine for two first class seats though I don't like my chances and wouldn't be put out if they didn't come by.
The excitement didn't stop there however, as I was now posed with important questions such as seating allocation. Once again, thanks to this forum I used various feedback and a couple of prominent seating allocation websites to advise me of the best seats. On the way over its a three-class 744 and although my preferred seats were already taken, I chose the upper deck (13A/B), while on return its a two-class configuration and I chose the pointy bit at the front (3A/B) - theres noone next to you until 3J/K about 2 metres away! Unfortunately SGs like myself cannot prebook an exit row, so I will simply have to turn up at T-3hrs and request the likes of row 16 upstairs for the additional legroom, privacy and flexbilty of AVOD system built into the skybed.
In summary, I now have a handy set of two return business class flights and a good chance of getting the best seats. My advice for other relative newbies for award redemption is to:
- Be Proactive (plan and review all possible routes via One world partners and consider flexible dates. If something pops up, you can snap it up without delay)
- Be Patient (businses/first seats are far from common)
- Be Persistent (check at least daily)
Hmmm... might look to register the 'The three
Ps for Award Bookings'
.
I'm still filling the gaps for the 4 weeks in North America so will address these details and seek your advice in a separate post. Thanks to the AFF Forum and for all your advice so far!
Regards,
Gold Member
International Award Bookings - Experiences and some advice
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