Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[ozflier]

The txt chat does work outside Aust, I've just used it from NZ successfully

Good to know but
I had no success recently from China and Hong Kong.

 

[AL10]

Hi PF,

Good points. I agree QF may not have its systems sorted but that doesn't mean they can't make the appropriate adjustments manually as they do now for a number of cases, eg IB taxes.

I've made a few changes to our booking and while the ticket number may have changed the PNR booking reference has not changed. It may be that the system cannot change a set of flights without "cancelling" and "reissuing" as a workaround of some sort. I didn't see a reduction in taxes as a result of amending and cancelling some Y legs, the opposite in fact!

It would be good if others had some data points.

Btw how did you get a points refund? Did your changes reduce your trip under 420k points?

I wonder if there's a difference between changing an award (by adding sectors/flights) vs changing an award (by only changes dates).

 

[cambriamarsh]

I wonder if there's a difference between changing an award (by adding sectors/flights) vs changing an award (by only changes dates).

Fair question. My changes gave all been adding and or subtracting sectors.

 

[Aristotle9]

I had no success recently from China and Hong Kong.

Great (Fire) wall of china probably. Use a VPN next time.

 

[exceladdict]

Help! An advanced tax-related query to try to smash out before the price hike.

I am trying to change my current itinerary for 2pax:
MNL-NRT JAL J -HND-KIX JL Y // HND-HKG-PER CX J // PER-SIN QF J - SIN-KUL MH Y - KUL-NRT MH J // NRT-SEA JL J // SFO-MEL-PER QF J

To this (changes italicized)
MNL-NRT JAL J (an earlier departure but same day)- NRT-ITM JL Y // HIJ-HND JL Y - HND-HKG-PER CX J // PER-SIN QF J - SIN-NRT JL J // NRT-SEA JL J // DEN-PHX AA J - PHX-SFO AA Y - SFO-MEL-PER QF J

After my live chat assistant literally spent hours working on this for me, he told me that taxes would more than double from the current 21,490 PHP per passenger to 44,238 (AUD 597 to AUD 1230). After we discussed it back and forth - he went to the pricing team at least three times - he was unable to itemise the taxes for me per flight, and then my internet dropped out, disconnecting the live chat.

Before I try again; I need a strategy.

As far as I can figure out, paying cash for the economy flights will leave me about $600 out of pocket, so it's cheaper for me to pay cash for the tickets than an additional $1200 in taxes (protected connections aside). But these suggested new taxes just don't feel right & I want to extract max value from the ticket if I can.

The changes that could possibly impact the tax that I can think of are:
Swap a HND-KIX flight to NRT-ITM (possible different departure taxes)
Add HIJ-HND domestic Japan flight on JL attracts more charges
Swap MH SIN-KUL-NRT to a direct JL SIN-NRT - a premium departure from SIN rather than economy, but no stopover in KUL
Add AA DEN-PHX-SFO - two new departures, one in J, one in Y.

Breaking it down, based on a new dummy itinerary ex MNL (first flight as per my itinerary, second flight the one in question to check)
- Swapping the JAL flight actually removes 10 PHP per passenger from the total
- A new JAL domestic flight (HIJ-HND) adds 130PHP per passenger
- MH SIN-KUL-NRT attracts 2392 PHP compared to JL SIN-NRT 2559PHP thereby adds 167PHP per passenger
- The new AA flights add 291PHP per passenger

Thereby the new total should be around 580 PHP more per passenger, making the total 44,140 - suspiciously close to the 44,238 they've calculated for 2pax.

The only other explanation I can think of is that taxes on one of my other routes for POS PH have changed by a factor of 3 or 4, but I think this is very unlikely.

Or am I going crazy?<!?!??!?!

 

[DC3]

Still trying to finalise a Qantas OneWorld award trip. There's a problem in getting to/from YYC from the USA in August. While AA has fares for sale DFW-YYC-DFW (and from ORD), the only award availability on the QF website beyond about April 2020 is utilising WestJet, which is not part of OneWorld, so can't be used. Even the AA site is not showing much AA award availability other than utilising AS flights.

In the past, I've seen some routes (e.g., DFW-ASE-DFW) where the (seasonal) schedule is not released until some months ahead, whereas in the case of YYC, flights are currently published to about 330 days out, but with no award seats beyond about 227 days at the moment. So, there's no way that my award flights will all be booked before 18th September, or even anytime soon.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Still trying to finalise a Qantas OneWorld award trip. There's a problem in getting to/from YYC from the USA in August. While AA has fares for sale DFW-YYC-DFW (and from ORD), the only award availability on the QF website beyond about April 2020 is utilising WestJet, which is not part of OneWorld, so can't be used. Even the AA site is not showing much AA award availability other than utilising AS flights.

In the past, I've seen some routes (e.g., DFW-ASE-DFW) where the (seasonal) schedule is not released until some months ahead, whereas in the case of YYC, flights are currently published to about 330 days out, but with no award seats beyond about 227 days at the moment. So, there's no way that my award flights will all be booked before 18th September, or even anytime soon.

I'm planning to go to YYC as well. My plan is to get to SEA and maybe get another award ticket to YYC with either westjet/alaska. It's impossible to get to YYC from either DFW or ORD since nothing is open this early.

 

[DC3]

I'm planning to go to YYC as well. My plan is to get to SEA and maybe get another award ticket to YYC with either westjet/alaska. It's impossible to get to YYC from either DFW or ORD since nothing is open this early.

Yes, not much to be done at this stage.

The paid seats are available, now, but no award availability. The 318,000 award will still end up being cheaper in the long run I think.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

50mins on the phone with all the flights ready and I made this beauty. All in J. Will make relevant changes as flights are released but lets hope they don't reprice the entire ticket....

MNL-SYD-BNE//BNE-ORD-SEA//SFO-SYD//SYD-HKG-cough//NRT-SGN//SGN-HKG-MNL

Got a 11 hour stop from MNL-SYD-BNE which will give us enough time to go to work then to BNE and back!

280K + $729 in taxes x 2 ! 33859mi

 

[exceladdict]

Help! An advanced tax-related query to try to smash out before the price hike.

I am trying to change my current itinerary for 2pax:
MNL-NRT JAL J -HND-KIX JL Y // HND-HKG-PER CX J // PER-SIN QF J - SIN-KUL MH Y - KUL-NRT MH J // NRT-SEA JL J // SFO-MEL-PER QF J

To this (changes italicized)
MNL-NRT JAL J (an earlier departure but same day)- NRT-ITM JL Y // HIJ-HND JL Y - HND-HKG-PER CX J // PER-SIN QF J - SIN-NRT JL J // NRT-SEA JL J // DEN-PHX AA J - PHX-SFO AA Y - SFO-MEL-PER QF J

After my live chat assistant literally spent hours working on this for me, he told me that taxes would more than double from the current 21,490 PHP per passenger to 44,238 (AUD 597 to AUD 1230). After we discussed it back and forth - he went to the pricing team at least three times - he was unable to itemise the taxes for me per flight, and then my internet dropped out, disconnecting the live chat.

Before I try again; I need a strategy.

As far as I can figure out, paying cash for the economy flights will leave me about $600 out of pocket, so it's cheaper for me to pay cash for the tickets than an additional $1200 in taxes (protected connections aside). But these suggested new taxes just don't feel right & I want to extract max value from the ticket if I can.

The changes that could possibly impact the tax that I can think of are:
Swap a HND-KIX flight to NRT-ITM (possible different departure taxes)
Add HIJ-HND domestic Japan flight on JL attracts more charges
Swap MH SIN-KUL-NRT to a direct JL SIN-NRT - a premium departure from SIN rather than economy, but no stopover in KUL
Add AA DEN-PHX-SFO - two new departures, one in J, one in Y.

Breaking it down, based on a new dummy itinerary ex MNL (first flight as per my itinerary, second flight the one in question to check)
- Swapping the JAL flight actually removes 10 PHP per passenger from the total
- A new JAL domestic flight (HIJ-HND) adds 130PHP per passenger
- MH SIN-KUL-NRT attracts 2392 PHP compared to JL SIN-NRT 2559PHP thereby adds 167PHP per passenger
- The new AA flights add 291PHP per passenger

Thereby the new total should be around 580 PHP more per passenger, making the total 44,140 - suspiciously close to the 44,238 they've calculated for 2pax.

The only other explanation I can think of is that taxes on one of my other routes for POS PH have changed by a factor of 3 or 4, but I think this is very unlikely.

Or am I going crazy?<!?!??!?!

I'm either securing my tin foil hat on with gaffa tape, or I am on to something.

Next step was to go through every leg of the itinerary to check what the total would be, booking the same flight again, with a dummy MNL-NRT leg at the start to ensure Philippines Point of Sale.

Interestingly, repricing my itinerary as it is results in a difference of 2600PHP per passenger - 70 or so AUD. I didnt check taxes per segment when i first booked, but do find this quite interesting.

Anyhoo, pricing the entire trip leg by leg it came to 26160PHP per passenger, which seems more correct.

Again, am I going crazy? Does the above 'logic' sound correct?

Edit: got my callback from Qantas and walked through the changes with someone who I think is from the NZ call centre. After confirming changes, came back to me to advise they can't process the changes in PHP. If it is sent to Philippines office for pricing and ticketing, there's a risk I'll lose the flights as "flights can fall off when there's no ticket number". Only option to get changes locked in is for them to manually price in USD and call me back. Now awaiting the subsequent call. Quite late for a school night!

 

[annielee]

Finally booked a simple RTW (Business class) flights :

KUL-AMS (Apr 2020)
LHR-SIN (Apr 2020)
SIN-JFK (Aug 2020)
SFO-MEL (Aug 2020)

Tax : RM4637

And if i were to amend any sector, it will be 5k points only, right ?

 

[DC3]

... And if i were to amend any sector, it will be 5k points only, right ?

Yes, the changes cost 5,000 points per passenger, on each occasion that you make the changes.

The jury is still out on the matter of any recalculation of the award of 280,000 points

 

[Ktan89]

And if i were to amend any sector, it will be 5k points only, right ?

Correct. Unless the Qantas point increase tonight will be applicable to booking changes made on or after the 18th sept. No one knows yet.

 

[annielee]

thanks @Ktan89 @DC3 .. at least i can have 2 separate trips booked to Europe and US next year

 

[exceladdict]

I'm either securing my tin foil hat on with gaffa tape, or I am on to something.

Next step was to go through every leg of the itinerary to check what the total would be, booking the same flight again, with a dummy MNL-NRT leg at the start to ensure Philippines Point of Sale.

Interestingly, repricing my itinerary as it is results in a difference of 2600PHP per passenger - 70 or so AUD. I didnt check taxes per segment when i first booked, but do find this quite interesting.

Anyhoo, pricing the entire trip leg by leg it came to 26160PHP per passenger, which seems more correct.

Again, am I going crazy? Does the above 'logic' sound correct?

Edit: got my callback from Qantas and walked through the changes with someone who I think is from the NZ call centre. After confirming changes, came back to me to advise they can't process the changes in PHP. If it is sent to Philippines office for pricing and ticketing, there's a risk I'll lose the flights as "flights can fall off when there's no ticket number". Only option to get changes locked in is for them to manually price in USD and call me back. Now awaiting the subsequent call. Quite late for a school night!

The saga has ended. Without going into too much detail, another few hours on the phone resulted in the NZ call centre also insisting on similar ($400 per person) increase in taxes. As it's cheaper for me just to book those flights in cash, I'll do so.

As this has now happened via live chat and the NZ call centre (and the pricing team who calculated it again 'manually' in both cases), I am feeling more like the error is mine, or something is happening that I don't understand. I don't like my chances/don't have the time to pay the $400pp and argue to get it back, so I left the itinerary as is.

So do watch out - when making changes (in particular adding segments) to a booking that originates in MNL (which you probably did to avoid fuel fines), you may end up having those fines added on later if the entire itinerary needs to be re-calculated manually.

 

[Stego]

Hi guys,

I would like to complete my booking tonight in business class (280K) and Qantas agents keep giving me contradictory information over the phone.

What is the best strategy to book flights for a trip happening next year between August 2020 and Feb 2021.

Should I book 5 eligible flights now in one-go and amend these flights later on the seats I want become available?

Or should I start booking the only flight available at the moment and add flights to that booking later on?

One Qantas rep told me that if I add flights to an existing booking, later on, it won’t be capped at 280k/318k points.

Cheers

 

[DC3]

… I would like to complete my booking tonight in business class (280K) and Qantas agents keep giving me contradictory information over the phone ...

No-one has any idea. The Call Centres and Chat have been providing contradicting information over the past months. They seem to just provide their own opinions.

From tomorrow we will start getting feedback on the reality from AFF members

Edit: … and welcome to AFF

 

[Stego]

Thank you for welcoming me ! Some Qantas rep did not even know about the cut-off date on the 18th. This is crazy

 

[Captain Halliday]

The saga has ended. Without going into too much detail, another few hours on the phone resulted in the NZ call centre also insisting on similar ($400 per person) increase in taxes. As it's cheaper for me just to book those flights in cash, I'll do so.

As this has now happened via live chat and the NZ call centre (and the pricing team who calculated it again 'manually' in both cases), I am feeling more like the error is mine, or something is happening that I don't understand. I don't like my chances/don't have the time to pay the $400pp and argue to get it back, so I left the itinerary as is.

So do watch out - when making changes (in particular adding segments) to a booking that originates in MNL (which you probably did to avoid fuel fines), you may end up having those fines added on later if the entire itinerary needs to be re-calculated manually.

Interesting outcome.

It makes me wonder about my last 280k booking with SIN as the origin where taxes came in at ~600 per pax. I was amazed.

I later wanted to add a very short sector HEL-OSL IIRC via the AU call centre and taxes were recalculated at ~1,100 per pax. The agent was very helpful and spent ~35 mins trying to figure out why the massive difference.

The final explanation was that taxes were calculated incorrectly on the initial booking. But I wasn’t convinced.

Naturally I booked the extra sector as a revenue fare.

 

[exceladdict]

Interesting outcome.

It makes me wonder about my last 280k booking with SIN as the origin where taxes came in at ~600 per pax. I was amazed.

I later wanted to add a very short sector HEL-OSL IIRC via the AU call centre and taxes were recalculated at ~1,100 per pax. The agent was very helpful and spent ~35 mins trying to figure out why the massive difference.

The final explanation was that taxes were calculated incorrectly on the initial booking. But I wasn’t convinced.

Naturally I booked the extra sector as a revenue fare.

That's very interesting. IME SIN is cheaper than AU but not significantly.

The one thing the agent could tell me is "There's over $400 of fuel surcharges plus all the taxes that make up that new price" - which is the reason I suspect it's not being calculated correctly using Philippines rules.