Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[glasszon]

I have a RTW trip that will depart in 15 days and I got an email saying the arrival time on the first segment has been changed by 15 minutes and I should receive an updated e-ticket shortly. But I haven't received the updated e-ticket, is this likely to be a problem?

 

[p--and--t]

I have a RTW trip that will depart in 15 days and I got an email saying the arrival time on the first segment has been changed by 15 minutes and I should receive an updated e-ticket shortly. But I haven't received the updated e-ticket, is this likely to be a problem?

Glazon

Reward ticketing takes low priority especially if trip not in next 48hrs.

Give them 24-36hrs to get back. If they don't ring qantas and ask for a hurry-up.

I got an email about a 5min departure change. Updated ticket came thru 12hr later.

 

[p--and--t]

Some good tips there p--and--t. I'm in the middle of trying to put together a 280 and it does take a lot of work. Your routing is similar to what I want to do except I want CPT instead of NBO and FRA instead of PRA..

Just to clarify, yours was a 280 and not a OW RTW?

Yes a Qantas 280k reward booking (with a RTW itinerary)

 

[glasszon]

Glazon

Reward ticketing takes low priority especially if trip not in next 48hrs.

Give them 24-36hrs to get back. If they don't ring qantas and ask for a hurry-up.

I got an email about a 5min departure change. Updated ticket came thru 12hr later.

Thanks, it's been 4 days so I will give them a call.

But what actually happens if I don't call and no new e-ticket was issued before my trip? Does it mean I will actually be denied boarding? Was curious because it's not common knowledge outside of FF to know that a new e-ticket is required when there's any timing changes.

 

[p--and--t]

Thanks, it's been 4 days so I will give them a call.

But what actually happens if I don't call and no new e-ticket was issued before my trip? Does it mean I will actually be denied boarding? Was curious because it's not common knowledge outside of FF to know that a new e-ticket is required when there's any timing changes.

Calling would be best in that case.

Sorry, can't answer that question. I'm sure there's lots better qualified to respond in the forum.

 

[glasszon]

Thanks, it's been 4 days so I will give them a call.

But what actually happens if I don't call and no new e-ticket was issued before my trip? Does it mean I will actually be denied boarding? Was curious because it's not common knowledge outside of FF to know that a new e-ticket is required when there's any timing changes.

Any Amadeus expert here? I ended up going via live chat as every time I call Qantas the wait time is over 1 hour and they don't have a callback service, the agent looked through my ticket, saying everything is fine and emailed me the ticket from amadeus (which shows the updated time for the flights), but I also receive the Qantas e-ticket immediately afterwards showing the old time for the flight, given the difference was only a 15 minute change in arrival time, is the fact that Amadeus showing my flight is confirmed with the correct time sufficient for me to get on the aircraft?

 

[philr2000]

I’m sure this has been asked before, but have tried searching and couldn’t find a definitive answer, so apologies in advance.

But I am looking at flying from Sydney into Santiago then around South America then back to Sydney.

LATAM lists a number of affiliates on the oneworld site - LATAM Airlines Argentina, LATAM Airlines Brazil, LATAM Airlines Colombia, LATAM Airlines Ecuador.

If I fly into Santiago on Qantas, then at least one of my flights on say LATAM Argentina and another LATAM Brazil, is that considered satisfying the condition of “two airlines other than Qantas”?

Just as one way flights are very expensive in South America so this ticket looks ideal given LATAMs dominance.

Thanks

 

[exceladdict]

I’m sure this has been asked before, but have tried searching and couldn’t find a definitive answer, so apologies in advance.

But I am looking at flying from Sydney into Santiago then around South America then back to Sydney.

LATAM lists a number of affiliates on the oneworld site - LATAM Airlines Argentina, LATAM Airlines Brazil, LATAM Airlines Colombia, LATAM Airlines Ecuador.

If I fly into Santiago on Qantas, then at least one of my flights on say LATAM Argentina and another LATAM Brazil, is that considered satisfying the condition of “two airlines other than Qantas”?

Just as one way flights are very expensive in South America so this ticket looks ideal given LATAMs dominance.

Thanks

You should be able to check this by putting together a dummy booking. My gut feeling would be no, if they all have "LA" flight codes for example. Could you squeeze in an AA flight? Or a hop over to HKG?

 

[glasszon]

Any Amadeus expert here? I ended up going via live chat as every time I call Qantas the wait time is over 1 hour and they don't have a callback service, the agent looked through my ticket, saying everything is fine and emailed me the ticket from amadeus (which shows the updated time for the flights), but I also receive the Qantas e-ticket immediately afterwards showing the old time for the flight, given the difference was only a 15 minute change in arrival time, is the fact that Amadeus showing my flight is confirmed with the correct time sufficient for me to get on the aircraft?

Just to report back, I finally bite the bullet and call Qantas, I actually got through to the Qantas Premium team and they said because the change is so minor (just a 15 minute difference in arrival time), no change in e-ticket is required and is just a generic email that says an updated ticket will arrive when one is not needed, so as it turns out everything is still good to go!

 

[madrooster]

Any Amadeus expert here? I ended up going via live chat as every time I call Qantas the wait time is over 1 hour and they don't have a callback service, the agent looked through my ticket, saying everything is fine and emailed me the ticket from amadeus (which shows the updated time for the flights), but I also receive the Qantas e-ticket immediately afterwards showing the old time for the flight, given the difference was only a 15 minute change in arrival time, is the fact that Amadeus showing my flight is confirmed with the correct time sufficient for me to get on the aircraft?

As long as there is no flight number change, then you are fine. It's not necessary to reissue the ticket.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I’m sure this has been asked before, but have tried searching and couldn’t find a definitive answer, so apologies in advance.

But I am looking at flying from Sydney into Santiago then around South America then back to Sydney.

LATAM lists a number of affiliates on the oneworld site - LATAM Airlines Argentina, LATAM Airlines Brazil, LATAM Airlines Colombia, LATAM Airlines Ecuador.

If I fly into Santiago on Qantas, then at least one of my flights on say LATAM Argentina and another LATAM Brazil, is that considered satisfying the condition of “two airlines other than Qantas”?

Just as one way flights are very expensive in South America so this ticket looks ideal given LATAMs dominance.

Thanks

Were you considering paying for your flights to/from SCL?

If so, you might consider booking award flights within Sth America rather than turning the whole thing into a 140/280k award. As I posted in another thread...

I've discovered that award flights in Sth America can save you some serious $ (assuming you have the points). For example:

1. LIM-AQP = 10k points + $A14.90 pp
2. ARI-SCL = 14k points + $A30.90
3. AQP-LIM-CUZ = 14k points + $A7.20

However, if you cross an international border the price goes up:

1. LPB-LIM = 14K points + $A115.15
2. ANF-LIM = 14K points + $A58.70

Still good value.

 

[philr2000]

Were you considering paying for your flights to/from SCL?

If so, you might consider booking award flights within Sth America rather than turning the whole thing into a 140/280k award. As I posted in another thread...

I've discovered that award flights in Sth America can save you some serious $ (assuming you have the points). For example:

1. LIM-AQP = 10k points + $A14.90 pp
2. ARI-SCL = 14k points + $A30.90
3. AQP-LIM-CUZ = 14k points + $A7.20

However, if you cross an international border the price goes up:

1. LPB-LIM = 14K points + $A115.15
2. ANF-LIM = 14K points + $A58.70

Still good value.

My rough route plan is:

SYD-MEL-SCL (Qantas/LATAM)
SCL-EZE
EZE-GIG
GIG-LIM
LIM-SCL-SYD

The challenge I have is one-way tickets are extremely expensive in South America (~$500-$600pp) with returns often cheaper, but don't want to run that risk of booking a return ticket and only using one leg as have heard ppl stung before in Sth America.

Don't want to spend $2-$3k on internal flights, and I only have 3-4 weeks and trying to do as much as possible, so buses aren't an option so I'm looking at using points on almost legs where I can..but based on the above route plan it's likely to cost me 200k+ points.

Hence why the oneworld pass would be ideal... the challenge is finding another oneworld partner.

It appears Qatar do a leg from BA to Sao Paolo (EZE-GRU), but no availability shows up for me when I search a range of dates throughout the year, except for Business Class (I am a Silver FF status)...so back to looking at other oneworld partners!

 

[p--and--t]

My rough route plan is:

SYD-MEL-SCL (Qantas/LATAM)
SCL-EZE
EZE-GIG
GIG-LIM
LIM-SCL-SYD

The challenge I have is one-way tickets are extremely expensive in South America (~$500-$600pp) with returns often cheaper, but don't want to run that risk of booking a return ticket and only using one leg as have heard ppl stung before in Sth America.

Don't want to spend $2-$3k on internal flights, and I only have 3-4 weeks and trying to do as much as possible, so buses aren't an option so I'm looking at using points on almost legs where I can..but based on the above route plan it's likely to cost me 200k+ points.

Hence why the oneworld pass would be ideal... the challenge is finding another oneworld partner.

It appears Qatar do a leg from BA to Sao Paolo (EZE-GRU), but no availability shows up for me when I search a range of dates throughout the year, except for Business Class (I am a Silver FF status)...so back to looking at other oneworld partners!

If you are looking to book a 140 or 280 ticket, you will need 3 airlines.

As I posted earlier, you will need to think out of the box.

Have you considered Australia to Hong Kong (QF or CX) then Hong Kong to Auckland (CX); Auckland to Santiago and proceed with your trip returning on QF or LA. You will have QF + CX + LA and the 140/280 award will cut in.

 

[philr2000]

If you are looking to book a 140 or 280 ticket, you will need 3 airlines.

As I posted earlier, you will need to think out of the box.

Have you considered Australia to Hong Kong (QF or CX) then Hong Kong to Auckland (CX); Auckland to Santiago and proceed with your trip returning on QF or LA. You will have QF + CX + LA and the 140/280 award will cut in.

If I am able to book the Qatar Air flight from BA to Sao Paulo as a transit leg, then I believe I would satisfy the three (LATAM, Qantas and Qatar), but like you say, I think I will have to get creative

 

[leer30]

Just a query....if I book the first 3 flights for my upcoming 280k award online, then add flights 5,6,7,8 (for change fee), can I then add the 4th flight when it becomes available (being an AA flight) (for additional change fee), or do changes have to be made in order.

Obviously I would only do this if flights 5,6,7,8 became available before the 4th flight.

I presume changes can be made to any part of the itinerary, but just want to be sure.

 

[cjd600]

Just a query....if I book the first 3 flights for my upcoming 280k award online, then add flights 5,6,7,8 (for change fee), can I then add the 4th flight when it becomes available (being an AA flight) (for additional change fee), or do changes have to be made in order.

Obviously I would only do this if flights 5,6,7,8 became available before the 4th flight.

I presume changes can be made to any part of the itinerary, but just want to be sure.

Yes, that’s fine

 

[SelfFundedWP]

Just a query....if I book the first 3 flights for my upcoming 280k award online, then add flights 5,6,7,8 (for change fee), can I then add the 4th flight when it becomes available (being an AA flight) (for additional change fee), or do changes have to be made in order.

Obviously I would only do this if flights 5,6,7,8 became available before the 4th flight.

I presume changes can be made to any part of the itinerary, but just want to be sure.

Just to add to this question, and apologies if silly question but does this mean that I could book say, 3 initial flights and if they met all the conditions of a OWR fare, I can later revisit and add more flights sectors? Im just trying to work out if I can lock in flights now for say 10 months away and then in coming months book the rest as they come available. ( and only pay the 5000 point fee if I book all the flights in one go)

And say I didn't meet all conditions of the OWR for the first 3 flights and paid over the 280k for J, would it later drop down when I booked the remaining flights to qualify for the OWR?
Hope this makes sense

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Just to add to this question, and apologies if silly question but does this mean that I could book say, 3 initial flights and if they met all the conditions of a OWR fare, I can later revisit and add more flights sectors? Im just trying to work out if I can lock in flights now for say 10 months away and then in coming months book the rest as they come available. ( and only pay the 5000 point fee if I book all the flights in one go)

And say I didn't meet all conditions of the OWR for the first 3 flights and paid over the 280k for J, would it later drop down when I booked the remaining flights to qualify for the OWR?
Hope this makes sense

The short answer is ‘Yes’.

You can add / change / remove flight sectors as many times as you want (for the 6k points fee each time - btw it’s gone up from 5k to 6k...), up until the first flight begins. There are a *few* opportunities to make changes once the travel has started, but the rules are quite tight - Link to Ts&Cs here: Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions | Qantas

Regarding the second part of the question, yes, even if the first 3 flights go over the 280k points for J (say you hadn’t used 2 non-QF sectors yet...) then once you come back to the itinerary with subsequent changes that bring the itinerary into compliance with the ‘rules’, the total points cost will drop back to the 280K cap.

Good luck with your booking.

 

[SelfFundedWP]

The short answer is ‘Yes’.

You can add / change / remove flight sectors as many times as you want (for the 6k points fee each time - btw it’s gone up from 5k to 6k...), up until the first flight begins. There are a *few* opportunities to make changes once the travel has started, but the rules are quite tight - Link to Ts&Cs here: Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions | Qantas

Regarding the second part of the question, yes, even if the first 3 flights go over the 280k points for J (say you hadn’t used 2 non-QF sectors yet...) then once you come back to the itinerary with subsequent changes that bring the itinerary into compliance with the ‘rules’, the total points cost will drop back to the 280K cap.

Good luck with your booking.

Thanks so much for the quick reply. Great news

 

[blu]

Is there much diffence between the GCM mileage calculator and what QF calculates. My draft itinerary is only 12 miles under the 35k with GCM.