Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[fairbasa]

Experimenting on Multi-City, these routings will work for 280k J, travel 1 May to 8 Jun 2018, tax SGD 948, all bookable online (happy days!)

1. SIN-DOH, QR
2. DOH-VIE (stop), QR
3. MUC-DOH, QR
4. DOH-ADL (stop), QR

5. ADL-HKG, CX6
6. HKG-NRT, stop CX
7. NRT-SYD, QF8
8. SYD-MEL, stop QF

My issue is- work would probably not allow me to take time off this long, so I would have to break the trip into two. Segments 1-4, SIN -----ADL in May 2018 and Segments 5-8, ADL ----MEL in Sep 2018. If booked separately SIN --- ADL will use up 231k points and ADL ---MEL will use up 164k points.

Assume that I have now booked and ticketed SIN ----ADL and I’m down 231k points.
Come Dec 2017, I’m ready to do the ADL ----MEL. Do I book online if available, be charged 164k points, then ring Qantas so they can stich the itineraries and adjust the points grab down to 280k? OR do I simply ring Qantas, ask the CSR to find the last 4 segments and add these. I realise, whichever way I do will cost me points for talking to the CSR, but I’m trying to find out which is the less painful process based on your experience.

To my knowledge, the only way to do it is to ring up and add 5-8 to the existing PNR to keep the total to 280k. Otherwise, if you create a new separate booking there's no way to 'merge' them. It will only cost you 5k per person to add the later flights if you do it in one call as you're travelling in a premium cabin.

 

[RoseD]

To my knowledge, the only way to do it is to ring up and add 5-8 to the existing PNR to keep the total to 280k. Otherwise, if you create a new separate booking there's no way to 'merge' them. It will only cost you 5k per person to add the later flights if you do it in one call as you're travelling in a premium cabin.

Thanks fairbasa for the very quick response. I'm starting to gain confidence that I will be able to do this 280k J.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Re posting here in the hope of a quick answer so I can re book the flights

Not sure if I should have posted in the One World Thread so apologies but not strictly a OWE Award - I have a booking from Melbourne to Manchester via HK next year and then a few weeks later onwards to Washington and home via LA (all J Class) 280k points but really only 4 stops.

Did not fancy the 9 hour layover in HK on the way out so found some Emirates flights that would suit...called and asked for the associated costs of changing to MEL - SIN stop over for one night and then SIN/DXB/MAN balance of flights from Manchester to Washington and then LA left in tact.

CSR took 40 minutes as had to go back and keep re calculating and came up with a final cost of an extra $793.86 tax originally said it was $900 ( I have already paid 2500.00) plus 28,000 points (presume this is the 5K per person change and a bit more) I did not proceed until I can check this out with you all...any help appreciated and maybe I can then go back with an easier mind and book if those costs are correct TIA

 

[fairbasa]

Re posting here in the hope of a quick answer so I can re book the flights

Not sure if I should have posted in the One World Thread so apologies but not strictly a OWE Award - I have a booking from Melbourne to Manchester via HK next year and then a few weeks later onwards to Washington and home via LA (all J Class) 280k points but really only 4 stops.

Did not fancy the 9 hour layover in HK on the way out so found some Emirates flights that would suit...called and asked for the associated costs of changing to MEL - SIN stop over for one night and then SIN/DXB/MAN balance of flights from Manchester to Washington and then LA left in tact.

CSR took 40 minutes as had to go back and keep re calculating and came up with a final cost of an extra $793.86 tax originally said it was $900 ( I have already paid 2500.00) plus 28,000 points (presume this is the 5K per person change and a bit more) I did not proceed until I can check this out with you all...any help appreciated and maybe I can then go back with an easier mind and book if those costs are correct TIA

Sounds as though your fare is currently compliant with being a oneworld award and therefore caps out at 280k. Adding Emirates (not a oneworld carrier) will make it non-compliant and therefore exceed 280k. With respect to taxes, you're best comparing the taxes in the wiki with your itinerary leg-by-leg to see if they're reasonable.

I can't see where you've mentioned how many pax.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Sounds as though your fare is currently compliant with being a oneworld award and therefore caps out at 280k. Adding Emirates (not a oneworld carrier) will make it non-compliant and therefore exceed 280k. With respect to taxes, you're best comparing the taxes in the wiki with your itinerary leg-by-leg to see if they're reasonable.

I can't see where you've mentioned how many pax.

Thanks for the prompt response and yes it is for 2 pax....I will go through the Wiki too...Cheers

 

[rock86]

Hi all,

Starting to research some OWE options for the start of 2019. What I am wondering, I've seen that departing from HKG can keep your taxes low due to their YQ Surchage regulation. However, would the YQ regulation apply to all legs of the OWE or only to ones departing and entering HKG?

 

[glasszon]

I tried to book MEL-ADL-DOH-MLE-CMB-HKG-CAN trip using the Qantas multi-city tool but it give this error message just before payments, is this related to phantom space or I need to book this via the phone? I can see the seat availability on BA as well.

Qantas.com flight search error: We are unable to confirm the fare for the flights you have selected from the airlines we search. Please cancel these segments and choose a different fare or flights and resubmit your confirmation request. (15012-1009)

Tried to book it via the online chat but the agent couldn't complete the booking either, he said it is caused by an Economy flight from MLE to CMB and suggest I call the reservation team to book.

Before I call, can anyone confirm KA (Cathay Dragon) is counted as a oneworld alliance for the purpose of the oneworld award ticket?

Also, the 12 month clock on finishing the trip starts on the first flight and not on when the ticket is booked right?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Tried to book it via the online chat but the agent couldn't complete the booking either, he said it is caused by an Economy flight from MLE to CMB and suggest I call the reservation team to book.

Before I call, can anyone confirm KA (Cathay Dragon) is counted as a oneworld alliance for the purpose of the oneworld award ticket?

Also, the 12 month clock on finishing the trip starts on the first flight and not on when the ticket is booked right?

Confirmed for both. Cathy Dragon is an affiliate. Here's the reference: https://www.oneworld.com/member-airlines/oneworld-airline-affiliates

And the 12 month clock I'm confident on. But no changes are allowed after you check in for the first sector.

 

[glasszon]

Confirmed for both. Cathy Dragon is an affiliate. Here's the reference: https://www.oneworld.com/member-airlines/oneworld-airline-affiliates

And the 12 month clock I'm confident on. But no changes are allowed after you check in for the first sector.

Thank you, will give them a call tomorrow, hopefully I can finally book the flight!

Anyone know what happens in the case of IRROP causing you to miss a connecting flight? I am only stopping over in ADL for 90 minutes, would be really annoying to miss the flight to DOH, especially I am flying the ADL-DOH leg on Saturday, and the next ADL-DOH flight would be Monday.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Thank you, will give them a call tomorrow, hopefully I can finally book the flight!

Anyone know what happens in the case of IRROP causing you to miss a connecting flight? I am only stopping over in ADL for 90 minutes, would be really annoying to miss the flight to DOH, especially I am flying the ADL-DOH leg on Saturday, and the next ADL-DOH flight would be Monday.

If it's all on the one PNR you'd be fine. They may reroute you in the event of a misconnect so if flying QR is important to you them maybe leave a little more time.

 

[geoffb78]

Hi AFFers

I'm having such trouble making a change to an existing One World award booking. Seems the chat and phone teams (based in South Africa I believe) are using the QF website to determine award availability, even for OW carriers whose award seats are not visible on the QF website (e.g. JAL).

Checked this morning on both BA website and Award Nexus for availabilty with JAL for LAX-NRT 12 July 2018 and found plenty. Multiple QF agents advise no availability exists. Requests for transfer to supervisor etc lead nowhere. Australian Business Traveller website (and no doubt others) indicates the BA site is a reliable reference regarding JL award seat availability.

Any suggestions about how to deal with this? Right now my OW award has me in the US but I need to get back to Oz via Asia and don't like the thought of having to come up against these barriers repeatedly in the near future...

Thanks in advance.

Geoff.

 

[fairbasa]

IME BA is very accurate. All you can do is keep trying - ring at different times to hopefully get a different call centre.

Edit: BA site is showing 4Y-2J-2F for me.

 

[geoffb78]

IME BA is very accurate. All you can do is keep trying - ring at different times to hopefully get a different call centre.

Edit: BA site is showing 4Y-2J-2F for me.

Thanks fairbasa. Problem solved by calling the QFF Singapore number. Fluke or not, ended up talking to a QFF agent with 13 years experience and who knew all the tricks!

 

[fairbasa]

Thanks fairbasa. Problem solved by calling the QFF Singapore number. Fluke or not, ended up talking to a QFF agent with 13 years experience and who knew all the tricks!

Good to hear!

I like your thinking with regards to calling an international QFF number. Will have to remember that one.

 

[glasszon]

Phew, I just booked my flight. Got MEL-ADL-DOH-MLE-CMB-HKG confirmed, had to drop the HKG-CAN leg as the agent cannot see availability without a stopover (ie. Cathay won't let CMB-HKG-CAN but will allow CMB-HKG and HKG-CAN separately), not a big deal as it is a short trip, albeit annoying.

Thanks to everyone's help, now I will mark down the calendar to make sure I revisit this later in the year to book the flights to Europe in September/October next year on the same ticket.

 

[Danger]

Phew, I just booked my flight. Got MEL-ADL-DOH-MLE-CMB-HKG confirmed, had to drop the HKG-CAN leg as the agent cannot see availability without a stopover (ie. Cathay won't let CMB-HKG-CAN but will allow CMB-HKG and HKG-CAN separately), not a big deal as it is a short trip, albeit annoying.

Thanks to everyone's help, now I will mark down the calendar to make sure I revisit this later in the year to book the flights to Europe in September/October next year on the same ticket.

Damn Cathay and its insistence on divorced segments. It's got me before.

 

[appaz]

Hi All,

Been following the thread for a number of years and booked my first 280k reward. Thanks for all the help/tips

September/October this year:
PER-DOH QR J B777
DOH-AMM RJ J A321 - STOP
AMM-ATH RJ J E175 - STOP/OPEN JAW ---> revenue ATH-JTR OA Y A320
JTR-VIE HG Y A321
VIE-HEL AY J A321 - STOP/OPEN JAW ----> revenue HEL-OSL-TOS-ARN Y
ARN-DOH QR J B787
DOH-KUL QR J B787 - STOP ----> revenue KUL-PER OD Y B737

July next year: ---> will likely book a seperate J award PER-KUL
KUL-HKG MH J A330 - overnight 21 hour stop
HKG-NRT JL J B787
NRT-YVR JL J B787 - STOP
YVR-NRT JL J B787
NRT-HKG CX J B777 - overnight stop
HKG-PER CX J A350

Two PAX, Two trips 34,621 miles 280k points + $1450 taxes per person

 

[exceladdict]

Hi All,

Been following the thread for a number of years and booked my first 280k reward. Thanks for all the help/tips

September/October this year:
PER-DOH QR J B777
DOH-AMM RJ J A321 - STOP
AMM-ATH RJ J E175 - STOP/OPEN JAW ---> revenue ATH-JTR OA Y A320
JTR-VIE HG Y A321
VIE-HEL AY J A321 - STOP/OPEN JAW ----> revenue HEL-OSL-TOS-ARN Y
ARN-DOH QR J B787
DOH-KUL QR J B787 - STOP ----> revenue KUL-PER OD Y B737

July next year: ---> will likely book a seperate J award PER-KUL
KUL-HKG MH J A330 - overnight 21 hour stop
HKG-NRT JL J B787
NRT-YVR JL J B787 - STOP
YVR-NRT JL J B787
NRT-HKG CX J B777 - overnight stop
HKG-PER CX J A350

Two PAX, Two trips 34,621 miles 280k points + $1450 taxes per person

Well done! Might emulate a bit of that!

 

[Danger]

Hi All,

Been following the thread for a number of years and booked my first 280k reward. Thanks for all the help/tips

September/October this year:
PER-DOH QR J B777
DOH-AMM RJ J A321 - STOP
AMM-ATH RJ J E175 - STOP/OPEN JAW ---> revenue ATH-JTR OA Y A320
JTR-VIE HG Y A321
VIE-HEL AY J A321 - STOP/OPEN JAW ----> revenue HEL-OSL-TOS-ARN Y
ARN-DOH QR J B787
DOH-KUL QR J B787 - STOP ----> revenue KUL-PER OD Y B737

July next year: ---> will likely book a seperate J award PER-KUL
KUL-HKG MH J A330 - overnight 21 hour stop
HKG-NRT JL J B787
NRT-YVR JL J B787 - STOP
YVR-NRT JL J B787
NRT-HKG CX J B777 - overnight stop
HKG-PER CX J A350

Two PAX, Two trips 34,621 miles 280k points + $1450 taxes per person

Helluva trip but those taxes are extortionate. It would be interesting to see the breakdown as to who's charging you the most.

 

[appaz]

Helluva trip but those taxes are extortionate. It would be interesting to see the breakdown as to who's charging you the most.

How would I find this out? Maybe Qantas have made a mistake?