Why can't I find business class award seats to Santiago?

I think it is a classic case of our beloved Qantas maximising profits rather than looking after its loyal customers. Why introduce the B787 on the USA west coast flights? Minimal J class seats for paying J class purchases, so PE purchases looking to upgrade to J class for a treat, using the squillion of QF points we loyal customers accrue miss out yet again and are put off with an ‘unavailable’ response. Stiff cheddar if you want to touch base with a son twice a year in the states and Q only flies a minimal number of J seats to LA or SF. At least it is better than the following connections to Memphis with our perennial bad boy AA where the three hour flight will give you water and a cracker....service indeed!

Second attempt: It seems that our wonderful Qantas is putting profits before its loyal customers. Have you all noticed that Melbourne to the west coast of the USA is now handled by the more efficient B787 which has very limited number of J seats compared with the lovely A380. Fat chance of getting an upgrade from PE even with squillion QFF and status when the perennial ‘ not available ‘ shows on your account. Bad luck if you want to touch base with a son in the USA minimum twice a year only to then suffer further comfort with AA where a five hour flight to Memphis, via DFW gives you service consisting of water and crackers. Yes, our beloved Qantas is treating is with just a touch of contempt. I believe that we need to share our comments with Alan J, whom we support whole heartedly, but......

The problem with looking for seats less than 6 months before travel is that you're competing with someone like me that books a J class seat on LATAM or Qantas as soon as they are released (I'm QP). If you're trying to travel in the southern hemisphere summer you're not only competing with mining business class travellers and their spouses/children (sat next to a spouse flying business Perth - Santiago on the MEL-SCL leg in March), but also it's peak season for travellers to Antarctica and Patagonia. Most of whom know a year in advance at least when they need to travel.

Got to give the staff travellers a chance ;-)

As a QF Bronze member, I could not get 2 tickets to MEl-LAX in J only 1.