Expats can only book on the QF site using points?

A question for all my fellow expats out there... I am based in Singapore, having just moved here (escaped) from Hong Kong. I can't search for or book any flights other than QF operated direct flights (eg QF1/2 or QF81/2) on the QF site unless I use points.... I just get a pop-up saying "The cities you've selected can only be booked using Qantas Points. Switch on 'Use points' or change your departure or arrival city and try again."

I recall having the same issue in HK - not that I could travel much from there. Is anyone else experiencing the same? TIA.

I frequently encounter the same issues when trying to book flights on Qantas website for routes that do not originate/terminate in Australia, most likely because Qantas does not operate on those routes and therefore it can only sell the Rewards tickets with their oneworld partners. Or perhaps because Qantas does not have any codeshare agreements for those routes (?).

But for routes that use Australia as the stopover point, e.g. from Asia to South America or to New Zealand, I can find tickets using Qantas website, paid tickets.

For any other routes, I find the website is hopeless. Even for those routes that you know for sure there are codeshare agreements (e.g. London - Helsinki with Finnair), trying to buy paid tickets on Qantas website is not possible.

Anecdotally, I have experienced cases that support your comment regarding Qantas website only selling flights for their own operated routes. Many moons ago, on QF website, I used to be able to see many more options for codeshared routes between Qantas and Emirates/Finnair, but lately, most Europe-bound flights are directed to London first (through QF operated flights) before any other codeshare flights with other airlines, e.g. BNE-PER-LHR-HEL or SYD-SIN-LHR-HEL. In fact, I hardly see any EK codshared flights to Europe (from Australia) being offered anymore on their website. Have they stopped this by any chance? I think the most annoying thing is that I see the ultra-long haul flight PER-LHR route being offered rather aggressively, while for me personally, I think this is the worst possible way to go to Europe, like ever (17 hrs in one segment, no thanks!).

As an expat, I think you are better off using other airlines (within Oneworld alliance if you still want to get SC). You have plenty of choices being based in Singapore (BA, AY, JL, QR, CX, just to name a few), and most often than not, cheaper than QF, especially for premium cabin.

Codeshare flights at some ports can only be sold as part of a trip to/from Australia, Qantas makes the most money out of operating its own flights so they would rather you fly to London on QF then make hardly any money with you flying direct to Europe with another carrier. The Oneworld carriers would also prefer this as they keep the full fare as well.

Thanks both for the input. I've recently had a bad experience booking direct on another OW carrier website, with CX refusing to allocate SC's for an economy flex fare, because they are saying (incorrectly) that it was the cheapest fare available. Their "customer service" is even worse than QF, so I don't expect a resolution. Just don't want it happening again.

I too can remember the days where you could book codeshare flights on the QF site. Not sure why this has changed, but it is what it is.

Thanks again.

I think they had a code share with CX once upon a time, but not anymore it seems.