Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Danger]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Just had a problem with a QF operator when trying to book the first 5 flights of a 280k RTW itinerary for Mrs Vetrade and me so I'm hoping an AFFer can help with info. I only contacted the call centre because I got an error message to ring them because of a central database problem after I had entered our personal details at the end of the booking process. The total for the first 5 flights was 440,000 points and the operator was insistent that I could not add flights to the itinerary as they are released later because I had not passed the threshold level of 560,000 points for it to be classified a OW booking. She insisted that any future flights would be a separate booking and that I could not add flights to the first booking to complete it as a OW booking. Obviously such a situation would negate the whole reason for the OW booking in the first place.

Since the info I got is contrary to what I have seen posted on AFF many times regarding adding segments to an itinerary by paying a 3500 pp points fee I asked her to check with a supervisor. After a short delay (I suspect she just put me on hold and didn't talk to a supervisor at all) she confirmed later flights would have to be a separate booking. Can someone give me a QF (or OW) reference that specifically says you can add segments to a OW itinerary?

I'd be very interested in the answer to this, too.

 

[legroom]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Just had a problem with a QF operator when trying to book the first 5 flights of a 280k RTW itinerary for Mrs Vetrade and me so I'm hoping an AFFer can help with info. I only contacted the call centre because I got an error message to ring them because of a central database problem after I had entered our personal details at the end of the booking process. The total for the first 5 flights was 440,000 points and the operator was insistent that I could not add flights to the itinerary as they are released later because I had not passed the threshold level of 560,000 points for it to be classified a OW booking. She insisted that any future flights would be a separate booking and that I could not add flights to the first booking to complete it as a OW booking. Obviously such a situation would negate the whole reason for the OW booking in the first place.

Since the info I got is contrary to what I have seen posted on AFF many times regarding adding segments to a(n) completed itinerary by paying a 3500 pp points fee I asked her to check with a supervisor. After a short delay (I suspect she just put me on hold and didn't talk to a supervisor at all) she confirmed later flights would have to be a separate booking. Can someone give me a QF (or OW) reference that specifically says you can add segments to a OW itinerary?

I suspect that your post missed one word as the closest clause I could finger is 14.3.6 "14.3.6 Members cannot waitlist when using Classic Award tickets...."

By making 1/2 or 1/3 of an itinerary, you are in effect asking QF to hold some seats for you now while others are yet to appear etc....

Truth is ... I don't really know for sure.

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

The closest I got was this clause from QF's T&Cs which does not explicitly address the addition of flights to itineraries. It refers to a "change" of segment routing or airline - which implies there has to be something in the existing itinerary to change such as changing a JFK - MIA -LAX route to JFK - DFW - LAX or something similar. It doesn't specifically say you can add a new route altogether. And obviously it's impossible to put in a dummy itinerary back to your departure city (with the intention of changing it later) because the point of the whole exercise is to lock in early flights soon after they are released and before even dummy flights can be booked simply because they are going to be beyond the 353 day maximum advance booking time frame.

Having been blind-sided today by the QF CS operator, who was adamant that her training specifically says you can change, but not add, flights to a OW classic award itinerary it is hard to book the first half of our flights with confidence that we can complete the itinerary at a later date. Because of the scarce availability of a couple of segments that were cornerstones of our trip I have now rolled the dice and booked half our itinerary in the hope (expectation?) that I will get a more favourable interpretation from a different operator down the track. If not it's going to be a really big "PITA". Would dearly love to have something in print to quote back to the operator if I get stonewalled again so would still appreciate any help I can get in that regard.


14.7.4 Subject to this clause 14.7, the following changes are permitted to a Classic Award after ticketing and prior to commencement of any travel and will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger:
(a) change to flight number;
(b) change to date of travel;
(c) change to class of travel;
(d) change to any Segment routing or airline;
(e) change to name (only for Flights with a Qantas (QF) flight number on the ticket that are operated by Qantas); and
(f) request to cancel ticket and re-credit Points. Please note that only Points that would not have expired will be re-credited.

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

By making 1/2 or 1/3 of an itinerary, you are in effect asking QF to hold some seats for you now while others are yet to appear etc....

Not really, because they would be taking the points to pay for the part of the itinerary that we want to book, not just holding the flights for me without any payment or guarantee I'd complete the itinerary later.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I can confirm that I have been able to do this. Booked 2012-2013 and flown Dec13-Jan14.
I had two Classic Awards in J SYD-LAX booked online as normal and converted them into 280 K One World Awards when the return flights via YVR and HKG opened up for booking. I telephoned the Platinum desk advised what I wanted to do and the agent cancelled the Classic Awards, held the seats and constructed a new itinerary for me. I did put some dummy bookings in there for domestic US sectors as availability wasn't there at that time and I wanted to keep things simple by going straight from a Classic Award to a 280K award.
I made subsequent changes to the booking much later as AA/CX J award availability opened up and was done easily on the phone paying the 3500 pt fee per pax.
I telephoned to enquire if it was possible a few weeks before I actually made the first bookings.
I cannot find any online references at QF.com to back up my experiences but I would suggest that Red Roo could enquire on your behalf and let us know the official answer.
Good luck

Edit: I was also told verbally that I could add segments to the OW award prior to initial departure as long as it didn't breach the stopover/transit/35K Mile restrictions.

 

[mrdctau]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I'm not 100% sure but I think you need to put something in your booking that brings you back to original point of departure for the system to see it as a OneWorld Classic Awards redemption. Down the track, ring the QF call centre and make the necessary changes. You will incur fairly hefty fees each time you make a change though.

In your shoes, I'd try to book up my planned route at least, that way the taxes will be more-or-less right and then just try to change the date later if and when more seats open up.

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I can confirm that I have been able to do this. Booked 2012-2013 and flown Dec13-Jan14.
I had two Classic Awards in J SYD-LAX booked online as normal and converted them into 280 K One World Awards when the return flights via YVR and HKG opened up for booking. I telephoned the Platinum desk advised what I wanted to do and the agent cancelled the Classic Awards, held the seats and constructed a new itinerary for me. I did put some dummy bookings in there for domestic US sectors as availability wasn't there at that time and I wanted to keep things simple by going straight from a Classic Award to a 280K award.
I made subsequent changes to the booking much later as AA/CX J award availability opened up and was done easily on the phone paying the 3500 pt fee per pax.
I telephoned to enquire if it was possible a few weeks before I actually made the first bookings.
I cannot find any online references at QF.com to back up my experiences but I would suggest that Red Roo could enquire on your behalf and let us know the official answer.
Good luck

Edit: I was also told verbally that I could add segments to the OW award prior to initial departure as long as it didn't breach the stopover/transit/35K Mile restrictions.

Yes your experience was exactly what I would have expected up until this morning, Princess F. Hopefully the same result will eventuate for us as pax with no status and we get the same favourable treatment you did. Good to know that the system worked for you quite recently. Agree that clarification from Red Roo would be most welcome.

 

[Isochronous]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Can someone link me to the page where you can book the 280k J award online?

 

[mrdctau]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

You need to log into your FF account first, then do a multi-city award booking. Several OW airlines are not included (JL & MH at the very least) so you will probably find up need to call Qantas anyway.

 

[Isochronous]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

You need to log into your FF account first, then do a multi-city award booking. Several OW airlines are not included (JL & MH at the very least) so you will probably find up need to call Qantas anyway.

What's the best way to search availability on those other carriers - awardnexus?

 

[Princess Fiona]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

What's the best way to search availability on those other carriers - awardnexus?

Either individual FF sites, Asia Miles etc. or else Award Nexus or KVS. I prefer Award Nexus as I'm an Apple user and not remotely IT savvy and KVS looks too much like ms-dos for my liking.

 

[madrooster]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

What's the best way to search availability on those other carriers - awardnexus?

Combination of awardnexus, BA (has the most airlines available online) and JL (for confirming CX/QF/BA seats aren't phantom - amadeus bug).

 

[martindagun]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I have the following itinerary planned:
MEL-PER-DOH-EBB (QF, QR, QR)
DAR-DOH-IST (QR, QR)
LHR-YVR (BA)
YVR-DFW-MEX (AA, AA)
BOG-DFW-LAX-MEL (AA, QF)

Is there anything wrong with this itinerary regarding carriers/stopovers etc?

The total flight miles come up to 32,700.
From what I have read surface segments are included, my calculation make this 37,000. Does this mean I need to adjust my itinerary to include the surface segments?

Sorry if this has been mentioned numerous times, I've read a fair few pages. But there is so much here.

 

[Grooba]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I have the following itinerary planned:
MEL-PER-DOH-EBB (QF, QR, QR)
DAR-DOH-IST (QR, QR)
LHR-YVR (BA)
YVR-DFW-MEX (AA, AA)
BOG-DFW-LAX-MEL (AA, QF)

Is there anything wrong with this itinerary regarding carriers/stopovers etc?

The total flight miles come up to 32,700.
From what I have read surface segments are included, my calculation make this 37,000. Does this mean I need to adjust my itinerary to include the surface segments?

Sorry if this has been mentioned numerous times, I've read a fair few pages. But there is so much here.

Remember you need to count your surface segments into the mileage so you are over the 35,000 mile limit by almost 2,000 miles.

Great Circle Mapper

 

[martindagun]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Cheers.
Is there a way to get this flight using additional points?

 

[jetpack]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Cheers.
Is there a way to get this flight using additional points?

You can't pay more points to exceed 35,000 miles but what you can do is turn one of your stopovers into a sidetrip on a separate ticket. You can for instance drop YVR and instead fly LHR-MEX-BOG-DFW-SYD-MEL. Stop in DFW and buy a separate roundtrip ticket or award ticket to YVR.

 

[mrdctau]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I have the following itinerary planned:
MEL-PER-DOH-EBB (QF, QR, QR)
DAR-DOH-IST (QR, QR)
LHR-YVR (BA)
YVR-DFW-MEX (AA, AA)
BOG-DFW-LAX-MEL (AA, QF)
.

You might have too many stopovers too as I think for the overland sectors you have to count both ends as stopovers, so you appear to have stops in EBB, DAR, IST, LHR, VCR, MEX, & BOG which is above the limit of five.

You might also be able to shave some miles with some different routings, for example BOG-MEL will be a bit shorter if you stay in the southern hemisphere and go via SCL.

 

[martindagun]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

You can't pay more points to exceed 35,000 miles but what you can do is turn one of your stopovers into a sidetrip on a separate ticket. You can for instance drop YVR and instead fly LHR-MEX-BOG-DFW-SYD-MEL. Stop in DFW and buy a separate roundtrip ticket or award ticket to YVR.

Thanks. I'm looking into a few options like this.

You might have too many stopovers too as I think for the overland sectors you have to count both ends as stopovers, so you appear to have stops in EBB, DAR, IST, LHR, VCR, MEX, & BOG which is above the limit of five.

You might also be able to shave some miles with some different routings, for example BOG-MEL will be a bit shorter if you stay in the southern hemisphere and go via SCL.

Wow, what's the point of doing it overland if it counts as a stop.

I tried doing that initially, but for some reason I can't get any of the LAN flights in South America to show up.

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Both ends of a surface sector count as 1 stop

 

[mrdctau]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

A couple of stops are going to need to be taken out, but you can always cough-up for some local paid flights or separate redemptions.

Something like: mel-doh(T1)-dar(S1)-doh(T2)-ist(S2)-overland-mad(S3)-bog(S4)-dfw(T1)-yvr(S5)-nrt(T1)-syd(T1)-mel comes to 34741 miles.