"oneworld" award (132.4K/249.6K/318K/455K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

[flapper]

Seems like it's <24 hours.

I've just checked my notes and I think it will actually apply in your situation. I was told that with respect to cost, "It's from the booking creation date so if you book it before 18 September, you'll be on the old rules." So it seems that you actually just have to have a booking in place, not have it completed which sounds like it's good for you.

That said, I would take it with a salt. If I was you, I'd hit up the chat feature (or call) and get that answer yourself.

When they can’t even get the basics right what hope do we have of getting them not to charge the extra points. I’ve had nearly every operator try to charge the 8,000 points service fee for changes to a J booking.

 

[DC3]

... so if you book it before 18 September, you'll be on the old rules." So it seems that you actually just have to have a booking in place, not have it completed ...

This could be perfect for my bookings for August 2020, for the last couple of AA flights, saving 38000 points per pax.

Edit: 5000 points for changes notwithstanding

 

[Danger]

When they can’t even get the basics right what hope do we have of getting them not to charge the extra points. I’ve had nearly every operator try to charge the 8,000 points service fee for changes to a J booking.

I completely agree that it's very much a YMMV situation which is very sad.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Yes indeed; expect the worst and (hopefully) be pleasantly surprised.

 

[cjd600]

When they can’t even get the basics right what hope do we have of getting them not to charge the extra points. I’ve had nearly every operator try to charge the 8,000 points service fee for changes to a J booking.

Ha, I had 52k deducted for changing a 4J award.
Next flight addition I mentioned the 4 x 8k had incorrectly been applied by the previous gentleman, on top of the 4 x 5k change fee.
The lady agreed and spent some time to rectify it, and reward my latest 2 hours on hold.
AN hour later 16k points returned....job half done.
Went on SMS today, another 2hr wait getting messages from the BOT. Then a person who advised they couldnt do anything about points refunds and to fill out a customer service form.
Zzzzz.....will leave it til I add my next flights and have to face the 2 hour hold time again.

 

[DC3]

What Call Centres are adding the extra 8,000 points? Are they overseas or in Oz?

 

[cjd600]

The gentleman who did mine was a friendly South African

 

[DC3]

The gentleman who did mine was a friendly South African

Hmmm

 

[flapper]

Th

Ha, I had 52k deducted for changing a 4J award.
Next flight addition I mentioned the 4 x 8k had incorrectly been applied by the previous gentleman, on top of the 4 x 5k change fee.
The lady agreed and spent some time to rectify it, and reward my latest 2 hours on hold.
AN hour later 16k points returned....job half done.
Went on SMS today, another 2hr wait getting messages from the BOT. Then a person who advised they couldnt do anything about points refunds and to fill out a customer service form.
Zzzzz.....will leave it til I add my next flights and have to face the 2 hour hold time again.

SMS insisted they couldn’t do anything and made me call Qantas Care. QC were able to put through a request to reverse the change. The online chat were also able to put through a request but it was beyond the SMS.

 

[flapper]

What Call Centres are adding the extra 8,000 points? Are they overseas or in Oz?

The SA CC and the SMS who are based in Manila I believe.

 

[cjd600]

And I'm not sure which call centre I got last week trying to add QR DOH-CDG to my online SYD-DOH booked previous day, calling on release.
No sir, DOH-CDG that day isnt released yet, flights are only released at 353 days.
No, QF are 353 days, QR are 361, CX 360 etc etc
No sir, its 353 days, thats the rule.
But you're looking at my SYD-DOH booked yesterday, which is now still at 359 days...how did I do that?
I dont know sir, it must have been a system glitch.
Can I speak to a supervisor?
No, the supervisor will say the same as me, the flights are 353 days. Why dont you book it online if you can see it? Because I cant see it.
I cant add flights to my existing booking online, or trust me, I would have, rather than waited 2 hours for this.
Hang up, cry, try again.
They really are terrible....

 

[motef]

Do Qantas ever release J award seats on QF1 for the SYD-SIN leg?

I have been checking every few days at 10am at 353 and never see anything.

 

[flapper]

And I'm not sure which call centre I got last week trying to add QR DOH-CDG to my online SYD-DOH booked previous day, calling on release.
No sir, DOH-CDG that day isnt released yet, flights are only released at 353 days.
No, QF are 353 days, QR are 361, CX 360 etc etc
No sir, its 353 days, thats the rule.
But you're looking at my SYD-DOH booked yesterday, which is now still at 359 days...how did I do that?
I dont know sir, it must have been a system glitch.
Can I speak to a supervisor?
No, the supervisor will say the same as me, the flights are 353 days. Why dont you book it online if you can see it? Because I cant see it.
I cant add flights to my existing booking online, or trust me, I would have, rather than waited 2 hours for this.
Hang up, cry, try again.
They really are terrible....

Sounds like Sth Africa to me. Try the SMS I found them better than SA CC but they are not perfect. Also if you use call back you have a better chance of getting NZ CC I have found. I usually have call back and SMS on the go at the same time and use who ever gets back first and also have a back up in case of an operator who has no idea.

 

[Ktan89]

And please let us know the answer.

Just got off the call with Qantas. must have been really busy today because I asked for the call back since 5.30pm and tried again at 7.30pm.

After the CC put me on hold to checked with another department she confirmed by saying "you will not be charged extra points as long as you stay within the rules." I had to clarify it and told her the situation again..
I'm in the middle of my RTW redemption, the current cost is 280k but in September Qantas will increase the cost to 318k and since I can't book the last 2 legs until November.. Will I be charge the new rates at 318k?
"No, since you already started the booking it will cap at 280k as long as you stay within 35,000miles."

Sounds good, I'm pretty happy!
I asked her if she could email me this info or if there is something on the site where I can read this but she can't. The only thing she recommend is to quote this call because it is recorded and linked to the booking number.
I don't know to believe her on this one?

 

[DC3]

... "No, since you already started the booking it will cap at 280k as long as you stay within 35,000miles" … I asked her if she could email me this info or if there is something on the site where I can read this but she can't ..

I am interested in this as I may have a couple of flights to be inserted into the itinerary later, due to seat availability issues.

It seems odd that the Call Centre can't quote the source of their information. This could become problematic.

 

[Braymac]

Man I wish I found this forum a month ago! Booked our trip online for next year, but waiting on release for my final leg home...booked a placeholder in the interim.

I thought at the time that I had to book them all at once, and so when I saw Business class availability disappear on my flights out and only Premium Economy left, I hastened to get everything I could pinned down.

MEL-AMS via HKG
TXL-OSL via HEL
OSL-LHR
GLA-JFK via LHR (paid the extra for upper deck seats on the 747!)
LAX-MEL via HKG (I have a different flight home booked as a placeholder on this one)

I was also hoping to add in DCA-SFO in this itinerary which would make for 5 stopovers in the itinerary as far as I can see, but it seems as though some people are saying that the call centers are not understanding and might be counting surface sectors as stopovers?

So essentially they might have only allowed me to book as they think I have taken up 5 stopovers, where as I think I've only booked 4...

 

[DC3]

… So essentially they might have only allowed me to book as they think I have taken up 5 stopovers, where as I think I've only booked 4...

Phone up to add the additional segments. If more than 5 stopovers (and not over 35,000 miles/16 segments), it will no longer max out at 280,000 points. It will be more.

If it remains at 280,000 points you are OK. Ask them before they confirm the changes. Anyway, computer should say 'Yes'.

Edit: … and welcome to AFF.

 

[DC3]

Also, not sure if I've got this quite right, but it looks okay, including your add-in plan (DCA and SFO):





As long as your stopovers do not exceed 5 in total.

 

[Braymac]

Also, not sure if I've got this quite right, but it looks okay, including your add-in plan (DCA and SFO):

View attachment 184868

View attachment 184869

As long as your stopovers do not exceed 5 in total.

Yeah, that's bang on and booked for 560k points..except currently I have EWR-HKG HKG to MEL set as my final flight as a placeholder until I could nab my LAX departure once released. So I will pay the points to change this

Hopefully they'll let me add DCA-SFO when it's released

Plan is AMS is a stopover
Surface Sector to TXL
TXL to OSL, stopover
OSL to LHR, stopover
Surface sector to GLA
GLA to JFK, stopover
Surface sector to DCA
DCA to SFO, stopover
Surface sector to LAX
LAX to MEL (Home/point of origin)

 

[rock86]

Sounds like Sth Africa to me. Try the SMS I found them better than SA CC but they are not perfect. Also if you use call back you have a better chance of getting NZ CC I have found. I usually have call back and SMS on the go at the same time and use who ever gets back first and also have a back up in case of an operator who has no idea.

I've found the opposite.

Each time I have rang up in the night time I've got the SA call centre. Each time I've had a lovely lady help me out and each time it has been the least painful experience by far then trying to use the chat/sms option or even calling in the day when I usually get Manilla - who I've found are absolutely terrible the few times I've called and tried to make changes.