Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[sergeyvzn]

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

Apologies for another question, I tried to search TAM but was too short to search.

If a flight is marketed by TAM (and available to see on LAN website) but actually operated by South African Airlines (Star Alliance) I assume it isn't an eligible flight as it will be breaching the following condition:

14.5.1 A oneworld Classic Flight Reward is a Classic Flight Reward Itinerary that includes travel on at least two oneworld Alliance Airlines other than Qantas and does not include any travel on any airline that is not aoneworld Alliance Airline.

I was just curious whether it had an impact if it was being marketed by TAM and LAN? Like I said, I assume not (and it's not an available option on the Qantas site) although thought some people here may have had experience.

No, you can't use any airlines outside OneWorld. Even if they marketed by OneWorld

 

[Jordan613]

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

Thanks for the quick reply, like I said, I assumed that was the case although thought it worth the question in case one of the experts here had learnt how to game the system

 

[vetrade]

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

Hi Vetrade, many thanks for your advice, particularly around clarification of LHR taxes.
In regards to the Europe to Aus leg of our trip, I've investigated a number of options without success. QR flights ( to DOH and then on to an Australian airport) seem to be very thin on the ground in Jan (I can find no J awards for 2 pax on QR either to or out of DOH at all, and only BA from AMS - DOH). Similarly, there is no availability with MH via KUL. Will keep an eye out as the year progresses to see if any more fares are released - but not the end of the world if we need to stick with the AMS - HKK - BNE - ADL routing.

At the time of year you are travelling I think you have done very well to get the itinerary you have, adelee, especially for a J redemption. Award bookings inevitably involve compromises but I think the ones you have had to make will be long forgotten once you get in the air.

 

[adelee]

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

At the time of year you are travelling I think you have done very well to get the itinerary you have, adelee, especially for a J redemption. Award bookings inevitably involve compromises but I think the ones you have had to make will be long forgotten once you get in the air.

Thanks! I suspect I've spent far too much time on this over the past month, but very happy with the outcome.

 

[Nad08]

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

Hi, my husband and I have accumulated 210,000 points with Qantas are currently looking at traveling to Istanbul, Paris & Singapore beginning on 19 December 2015 with our 2 kids (under 12).

I understand 210,000 is not even sufficient for the both of us so we are happy to fork out cash but my query is, is it a good idea to burn the FF points or to just pay the flights in cash?

 

[sergeyvzn]

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

Hi, my husband and I have accumulated 210,000 points with Qantas are currently looking at traveling to Istanbul, Paris & Singapore beginning on 19 December 2015 with our 2 kids (under 12).

I understand 210,000 is not even sufficient for the both of us so we are happy to fork out cash but my query is, is it a good idea to burn the FF points or to just pay the flights in cash?

pay cash
redeeming points for economy flights is always a bad idea as paying cash is often cheaper when you take taxes and fees into account
you don't even have enough points for the adults (2 x 140K = 280K) so you'd have to book 2 tickets for the kids with cash anyway

 

[adelee]

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

I'd second that. Depending on your routing, you may also struggle to find availability for 4 x award seats on the same flight (I say this from experience recently looking at J flights to and from Europe, though perhaps finding Y availability is a bit easier)

 

[andye]

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

Hi, my husband and I have accumulated 210,000 points with Qantas are currently looking at traveling to Istanbul, Paris & Singapore beginning on 19 December 2015 with our 2 kids (under 12).

I understand 210,000 is not even sufficient for the both of us so we are happy to fork out cash but my query is, is it a good idea to burn the FF points or to just pay the flights in cash?

Hard to imagine using that many QF points effectively on that route for reasons of:
1) needing 4 seats
2) availability likely to be low that time of year

However, I'm not sure that Y redemptions are always wrong, the exceptions being:
1) expensive flight because of city pairs
2) expensive flight because of time of year (eg school holidays accepting that this may translate into poor availability)
3) need to do a one-way when this is prohibitive
4) where a semi-flex ticket is needed but a retail semi-flex is very expensive
5) in a scheme where short-haul flights have reasonable redemption rates (eg BA)
6) you would have no other use for points except toasters

 

[Spongbob]

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

Hi, my husband and I have accumulated 210,000 points with Qantas are currently looking at traveling to Istanbul, Paris & Singapore beginning on 19 December 2015 with our 2 kids (under 12).

I understand 210,000 is not even sufficient for the both of us so we are happy to fork out cash but my query is, is it a good idea to burn the FF points or to just pay the flights in cash?

If you plan to travel Y class, then the redemption value is poor given the added cash surcharges (and no points or status credits earned for the flights). I have had similar dilemmas in the past, and the better option has always been paying cash, as this ensures seats on the flights desired and the benefit of earning points and SC.

 

[CaptJCool]

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

I noticed since EK came along the avaiLability out of non-East Coast capitals appears to be consistently more freely available. That said getting back to Australia - there seems to be congested bottle necks around end of Euro summer and end of school holidays and availability really low (other than in Y)AND usually not on QF METAL. Given the major price differential from booking ex Europe/Asia v ex AUSTRALIA it almost makes sense to one way there and use those places as the next starting point. First in EK was like $5k less ex Europe than ex Aust. QF about 33% less....in effect the 4th first-class trip is always free...

 

[dumdidum]

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

Hi guys,

Been using this thread to book my oneworld award after saving up points for a good 3 years.

I'm at the point now where I just need to book the final leg of my trip, which is from Lima to Sydney.

I just rang up the call centre, and apparently I can only book the Santiago to Sydney portion on the direct Qantas flight? Is that correct? I was quoted taxes of $619, $84 for the Lima to Santiago flight, and $535 back to Sydney. That seems a bit high considering all of the other flights amounted to $922. Is this a common problem flying out of South America?

I can't seem to get any of the search engines to agree with each other either, in terms of the taxes and fees.

I was wondering if I could book the LAN flight instead, as that shows up on the BA rewards site? It takes a bit longer, goes from Santiago to Auckland to Sydney. But would definitely be worth my time if it was a substantial saving. Would that be cheaper in terms of taxes...or am I stuck basically with flying Qantas?

Pretty confusing all round, but this thread has been a great help so far!

Thanks!!

 

[aikman]

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

apparently I can only book the Santiago to Sydney portion on the direct Qantas flight? Is that correct?

There used to be a rule where LA flights on that route had to be booked on a QF code, which may have different availability. I can't find it in the T&Cs anymore so not sure if it still applies. Maybe call again and see if you get a different answer from another phone agent.

 

[dumdidum]

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

Thanks aikman. I've rung up about 10 times now and been successful looking up seats on LAN flights, however no-one can waive me the 8,000 service fee.

Frustrating how variable the service is on the call centre. I've even gotten different quotes for taxes for the same flights.

 

[roncritch]

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

Why has this been taken off the Sticky?

 

[vetrade]

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

Why has this been taken off the Sticky?

+1.................

 

[dumdidum]

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

Thanks aikman. I've rung up about 10 times now and been successful looking up seats on LAN flights, however no-one can waive me the 8,000 service fee.

Frustrating how variable the service is on the call centre. I've even gotten different quotes for taxes for the same flights.

I made the original booking over the phone, as I could not book a LAN flight from New York to Cusco online. I was assured by the phone operator that to change this in future would only cost 3,500 points as my last leg was from Santiago back to Sydney which likewise was to be booked on LAN and could not be done online.

Now the call centre is saying that the 8,000 point stands. Despite the fact that it's actually impossible for me to make any changes to my booking online as the Change button is greyed out. Has anyone had any experience getting this waived? Can RedRoo do anything for me in this case?

 

[prozac]

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

Have you tried a different browser?

 

[dumdidum]

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

Yep tried Opera, Chrome and IE. No go on all three.

Also get a message saying "Please review the following items - we are not able to compute the available services for this flight."

The reasoning for the 8,000 point seems to be that I have a complex itinerary. But aren't all the oneworld awards complex.

 

[adelee]

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

Hi all

I called up the call centre a week or so ago to make some changes to my itinerary.
I managed to find a AMS-HKK seat available on 30th December, then HKK-MEL on 1 Jan (at 0.05 on New Years day!). It works out that we will spend just 18 hours in HKK, so technically just a transit!).
I also added in a JNB-CPT and then CPT-LHR (as opposed to JNB-LHR). All up, this brought up an additional $550 taxes for 2 x J tickets.

Just a few questions - the operator who made the changes (the process was long...an hour or so) advised that there would be no change fees as it was a premium booking. Yet a few days ago, I was debited 2 x 3,500 sets of points. Should I bother pursuing this? I suppose I should just be thankful that I've got a great route!
Secondly, the extra taxes seem a little high simply for adding on the JNB-CPT sector, and for changing JNB-LHR to CPT-LHR, and bring our total tickets to ~$1800 in taxes each. Is there any way to check the taxes were calculated correctly? While I was issued new e-tickets, I was not issued with any documentation which itemises the taxes charged for each component (or overall). Given the operator wasn't quite up to speed with the points deduction, I'd just like to check that this is as it should be.

 

[ozflier]

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

Hi all

I called up the call centre a week or so ago to make some changes to my itinerary.
I managed to find a AMS-HKK seat available on 30th December, then HKK-MEL on 1 Jan (at 0.05 on New Years day!). It works out that we will spend just 18 hours in HKK, so technically just a transit!).
I also added in a JNB-CPT and then CPT-LHR (as opposed to JNB-LHR). All up, this brought up an additional $550 taxes for 2 x J tickets.

Just a few questions - the operator who made the changes (the process was long...an hour or so) advised that there would be no change fees as it was a premium booking. Yet a few days ago, I was debited 2 x 3,500 sets of points. Should I bother pursuing this? I suppose I should just be thankful that I've got a great route!
Secondly, the extra taxes seem a little high simply for adding on the JNB-CPT sector, and for changing JNB-LHR to CPT-LHR, and bring our total tickets to ~$1800 in taxes each. Is there any way to check the taxes were calculated correctly? While I was issued new e-tickets, I was not issued with any documentation which itemises the taxes charged for each component (or overall). Given the operator wasn't quite up to speed with the points deduction, I'd just like to check that this is as it should be.

I can help with first question.

Premium awards do not involve a monetary fee ( ie dollars) but the points still deducted.