Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[sergeyvzn]

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.

All British Airways flights attract very hefty fuel surcharges hence your significantly increased taxes

you can use ITA Matrix to check your taxes but it sounds right as I presume these flights were on British Airways

 

[vetrade]

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

Adelee, don't query the points fee for your first changes - just be thankful you got away without paying another 7000 pts for the second changes, because according to the rules you should be charged 3500 pts pp for each change.
There are several reasons the taxes could be $275 pp higher. I did a dummy booking on the ba website and the taxes on an award flight in Y from JNB - CPT are 70 Euros (N.B. not GBP) which is about $AUD100 pp. The taxes for J would probably be a bit more than this (but I couldn't readily find a J award so can't give you an exact figure). The change from JNB - LHR to CPT - LHR would not affect the taxes you have been charged since they are both on BA and are the same for both flights (I found 170 euros pp in Y).
Remember that the taxes & surcharges for all flights in your itinerary are recalculated to reflect the what they are on the day you make a change, even if you only change one flight. If it was only a few days between changes then this factor probably shouldn't come into play. The other possibility is that the the re-calculation of the AMS-HKG or HKG - MEL legs has added to your total taxes.

I guess you could always ring back QF and query the taxes with a different operator - maybe just say you are surprised that it was $550 extra when you've only added the one leg between JNB and CPT overall. This doesn't involve a change to the itinerary so there won't be any points charged for this type of enquiry.

 

[dumdidum]

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

Anyone know how long it normally takes for receipt of the e-ticket etc? My booking has been "processing" for a couple of days now and my credit card hasn't been charged, only my itinerary on the booking page has changed.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

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

I had a similar issue. I gave them a ring after a week to chase up the missing tickets and they came through a day or so after that.

 

[Daver6]

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

Anyone know how long it normally takes for receipt of the e-ticket etc? My booking has been "processing" for a couple of days now and my credit card hasn't been charged, only my itinerary on the booking page has changed.

Give them a call. My experience means that something has "got stuck" and they aren't going to get off their bum and look at it without you giving them a prod.

 

[ozflier]

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

Give them a call. My experience means that something has "got stuck" and they aren't going to get off their bum and look at it without you giving them a prod.

My experience is that priority is given to those bookings occurring in the near future - the further into the future you are flying , the longer it takes to do the ticketing.

It has taken over a week for my bookings to be ticketed once or twice but only for travel 11 months in advance.

 

[dumdidum]

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

I just rang and was told that as my booking is 8 months in the future, wait till the end of April(?!) before calling again to check that it has been ticketed.

The lady assured me that my seats on the plane were already reserved but I don't want to take any chances on this...

Funny, because the original booking I made (this current one just added a flight on the end) was ticketed and my credit card was charged on the same night.

EDIT:

Sorry, so my credit card was charged for the original booking. If I make changes to the booking and it gets re-ticked, do they charge the difference to my card, or refund, and then charge the whole amount again?

 

[ozflier]

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

I just rang and was told that as my booking is 8 months in the future, wait till the end of April(?!) before calling again to check that it has been ticketed.

The lady assured me that my seats on the plane were already reserved but I don't want to take any chances on this...

Funny, because the original booking I made (this current one just added a flight on the end) was ticketed and my credit card was charged on the same night.

EDIT:

Sorry, so my credit card was charged for the original booking. If I make changes to the booking and it gets re-ticked, do they charge the difference to my card, or refund, and then charge the whole amount again?

Don't believe the lady!

I've been caught by this - your place on the plane is not guaranteed until you have an eticket.

I have lost award seats because of this - bookings may show up on the itinerary and on the QFF site but nothing is in concrete until it is ticketed.

It is hard to believe that you may have to wait a month.

I'd ring again and try someone else.

 

[snabbu]

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

I just rang and was told that as my booking is 8 months in the future, wait till the end of April(?!) before calling again to check that it has been ticketed.

The lady assured me that my seats on the plane were already reserved but I don't want to take any chances on this...

I'd also call this a crock of you know what. Until your cc is charged and you have your e-ticket nothing is guaranteed.

 

[dumdidum]

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

Thanks to everyone - rang up again, and lo and behold got my e-ticket 1 hour later!!

My credit card was charged the additional amount from the previous booking (i.e. not refunded and then re-charged)

However, I did query this over the phone and the lady was adamant that if the flight was on my booking, then it was guaranteed seats regardless of whether or not the e-ticket had been issued

 

[madrooster]

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

However, I did query this over the phone and the lady was adamant that if the flight was on my booking, then it was guaranteed seats regardless of whether or not the e-ticket had been issued

Carriers can strip segments from a PNR when it hasn't been ticketed.

Even if ticketed, a carrier can still strip a segment from the ticket if it violates any of their rules. The most common reason is where a married segment has been broken up.

 

[dumdidum]

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

Should I be worried?

Just noticed on my booking page the following message (everything else looks fine and issued the tax invoice and e-ticket)

Please review the following items

• We are not able to compute the available services for this flight. (15231 [118])

 

[ozflier]

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

Believe it or not , I am getting close to getting a completed itinerary on my OWA trip to South America.

It has been a long hard slog and I have lost ( I don't want to count) so many 3.5K booking deductions from my account but !

Some thoughts to those following in my footsteps.

The BA executive club website and Expertflyer have been lifesavers.

Expertflyer's notification of award availabilty helped secure QF transpac legs but it does not cover LAN or TAM.

BA is brilliant for AA, LAN and TAM. It has no notification facility though.

Award availability can appear at any time and not just at midnight in the airlines HQ country. You need to check daily or more often.

Qantas booking staff need help sometimes to find out award booking codes particularly for TAM . I found some of the destination abbreviations can cause issues - eg IGR is Argentinian Iguasso and IGU is the Brazilian side - very different ways to get there .

LAN and to a lesser extent TAM business award seats for popular intra SA routes eg SCL-EZE , Easter Island services appear for a day or so only 330 days or so out and then disappear maybe never to appear again. You need to grab them when you see them.

Re seating in SA domestic flights , my impression is that the seating computer automatically relegates award fliers to the back row of the appropriate cabin . Certainly that was in my case and other members who have contacted me. It is not possible to change LAN/TAM seats on line but a local phone call will do it - 1800 126 038. The agents are understandable ( English not first language nor possibly their second) .It appears to be a "skype" line so not the best. In any case , usually any seats to us are available apart from the front rows of each cabin.

LAN/TAM flights can change almost on a weekly basis so best to keep a close eye on them to be sure connections are not messed up or you may be able to get non stop flight Services to Punta Arenas and Iquitos are good examples. Fortunately , the tour companies are well aware of this . Qantas have been good so far with this.

Re American Airlines, there are suggestions that there are no business class seating in domestic USA flights - ie a business OW award from Australia will only get you economy seats in the "states". This is generally the case but some flights are three class ( ie Y,J and F) especially those connecting from the coast to coast with international connections - eg Miami to LAX and those which used to be US Airways flights.

AA seating can be done on the AA website using your QF Eticket number.

As I others have said, I am bemused at how individual airlines' Inventory Control Departments release award seats. I can't understand any rhyme or reason behind the release of seats in South America. For example , I am flying in October and had economy seats GRU-LIM and was hoping to business awards to come up . My experience with that route is that award J only came up 6 weeks in advance of the actual flight. And yet , one (only) came up yesterday which I grabbed for my wife and I checked again today and another had appeared. ( 12 seat J class , only 2 other seats occupied).

This all goes to show how correct my fellow posters are when they say to check and check often and grab seats quickly when they appear.

 

[qf unfort]

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

Hi all, this may have been asked before, but apologies, I cannot see in the thread.

I've an itinerary confirmed (but yet to be ticketed) with Qantas which contains 18 individual sectors. Qantas have just called me and said when they went to ticket, they realised I could only have 16 sectors and I need to remove two. Is this correct? Is there a sector limit? I'm definitely within the 35000 miles/5 stopover/2 transit rules, but I wasn't aware of the 16 sector limit... thanks.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

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

Hi all, this may have been asked before, but apologies, I cannot see in the thread.

I've an itinerary confirmed (but yet to be ticketed) with Qantas which contains 18 individual sectors. Qantas have just called me and said when they went to ticket, they realised I could only have 16 sectors and I need to remove two. Is this correct? Is there a sector limit? I'm definitely within the 35000 miles/5 stopover/2 transit rules, but I wasn't aware of the 16 sector limit... thanks.

Yes, qf unfort, there is a 16 sector limit, including any "Surface Sectors".
For the full rules go to http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/terms - jump13

 

[vetrade]

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

Believe it or not , I am getting close to getting a completed itinerary on my OWA trip to South America.

Admire your persistence, Ozflier. Have had a couple of cracks at incorporating South America into a OW RTW Award myself but gave up in frustration at how hard it was to piece an itinerary together. Before I get tempted to have another try, are you travelling solo or were you able to get J seats for 2 - I found that on the rare occasions J awards were available, it was only 1 seat?

Edit: Ignore that Q. Should have read the last para of your post - rookie mistake.

 

[vetrade]

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

Yes, qf unfort, there is a 16 sector limit, including any "Surface Sectors".
For the full rules go to http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/terms - jump13

I don't think that's quite right Jimmy. The direct line distance between cities of surface sectors has to be included in the 56,000 km limit but surface segments don't count in the 16 segment limit. You are restricted to 16 actual flights.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

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

I don't think that's quite right Jimmy. The direct line distance between cities of surface sectors has to be included in the 56,000 km limit but surface segments don't count in the 16 segment limit. You are restricted to 16 actual flights.

Although i would usually just take your word for it Vetrade (based on the high quality of your posts, and your team affiliation...), I took a look through the rule book, and found the following:
13.2.4 A Reward Flight Itinerary must contain no more than 16 Segments (including any Surface Segments)

I totally agree with you Vetrade that rule 14.5.5 refers only to including the distance of the Surface Segment and not to including it in the Sector Count, but I think that 13.2.4 is still going to cover it.
TOOJ

 

[ozflier]

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

Admire your persistence, Ozflier. Have had a couple of cracks at incorporating South America into a OW RTW Award myself but gave up in frustration at how hard it was to piece an itinerary together. Before I get tempted to have another try, are you travelling solo or were you able to get J seats for 2 - I found that on the rare occasions J awards were available, it was only 1 seat?

Edit: Ignore that Q. Should have read the last para of your post - rookie mistake.

Most of the transpac J award seats came up one at a time excluding LAX-BNE.

In South America with LAN and TAM, J awards usually they came up one at a time ( eg SCL to from Easter island) . Remember many all intra country flights are one class only.

The AA seats ( MGA-MIA-LAX came as 2 )

Remember , with the correct routings you can travel inside South America with other OW carriers eg EZE to GRU and vv daily on Qatar Airlines.

With an itinerary like mine, it was sensible have 2 separate bookings not a joint one.

Just to clarify, there were 2 Star Alliance sectors included ( Iquitos to Panama City and Panama City to Managua) as these were unavailable on OW carriers.

 

[vetrade]

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

Although i would usually just take your word for it Vetrade (based on the high quality of your posts, and your team affiliation...), I took a look through the rule book, and found the following:
13.2.4 A Reward Flight Itinerary must contain no more than 16 Segments (including any Surface Segments)

I totally agree with you Vetrade that rule 14.5.5 refers only to including the distance of the Surface Segment and not to including it in the Sector Count, but I think that 13.2.4 is still going to cover it.
TOOJ

You are absolutely correct Jimmy. Thanks for setting me right.