Help needed claiming a QFF reward flight

[ellen10]

My partner & I have finally almost saved enough points to claim 2 reward flights to Paris for late next year.
However when I go through the steps to check on flights my only options for a flight to Paris start with a 7 hour lay over in London and the only airlines are Qantas & BA. I know that other oneworld airlines have much better options through Sinapore & Asia.
Can I access these flights and how do I do it. I'm very new at all this and don't quite know where to start. Should I ring Qantas but doesn't it cost extra to book over the phone.
Any help to stear me on the right track would be appreciated

 

[straitman]

My partner & I have finally almost saved enough points to claim 2 reward flights to Paris for late next year.
However when I go through the steps to check on flights my only options for a flight to Paris start with a 7 hour lay over in London and the only airlines are Qantas & BA. I know that other oneworld airlines have much better options through Sinapore & Asia.
Can I access these flights and how do I do it. I'm very new at all this and don't quite know where to start. Should I ring Qantas but doesn't it cost extra to book over the phone.
Any help to stear me on the right track would be appreciated

ellen10,

I'd ring Qantas and see what they see as available. Foe example the web site does not show Cathay flights and sometimes they will pickup on options that you may have missed. The cost is 2500 points at the time of booking and nothing for the enquiry.

 

[oz_mark]

My partner & I have finally almost saved enough points to claim 2 reward flights to Paris for late next year.
However when I go through the steps to check on flights my only options for a flight to Paris start with a 7 hour lay over in London and the only airlines are Qantas & BA. I know that other oneworld airlines have much better options through Sinapore & Asia.
Can I access these flights and how do I do it. I'm very new at all this and don't quite know where to start. Should I ring Qantas but doesn't it cost extra to book over the phone.
Any help to stear me on the right track would be appreciated

Unfortunately, it would appear that your best bet is to ring up and take the cost that goes with it, especially as it may offer better options than the web award booking engine.

 

[ellen10]

Thank you for your replies, its never as easy as it seems.

Yes the Cathy flights were some I was looking at. Am I right in assuming that that not all flights are offered, even if nearly 12 months ahead, they cannot possibly be booked.

Is it better to book flights one way or as a return flight. Are the taxes the same.
Also we are both QFF members but some points will have to be transferred to my account to make up the points. Can we transfer points and book together at the same time

Many thanks for your help

 

[oz_mark]

Thank you for your replies, its never as easy as it seems.

Yes the Cathy flights were some I was looking at. Am I right in assuming that that not all flights are offered, even if nearly 12 months ahead, they cannot possibly be booked.

Is it better to book flights one way or as a return flight. Are the taxes the same.
Also we are both QFF members but some points will have to be transferred to my account to make up the points. Can we transfer points and book together at the same time

Many thanks for your help

If you are booking a OneWorld partner award, such as Cathay, you should book return, because a one way award will cost the same number of points as a return award. So two one ways will cost twice us much (points wise), as a single return.

 

[straitman]

Thank you for your replies, its never as easy as it seems.

Yes the Cathy flights were some I was looking at. Am I right in assuming that that not all flights are offered, even if nearly 12 months ahead, they cannot possibly be booked.

Is it better to book flights one way or as a return flight. Are the taxes the same.
Also we are both QFF members but some points will have to be transferred to my account to make up the points. Can we transfer points and book together at the same time

Many thanks for your help

Availability of FF flights is a form of yield management and as such is a dark science that no one really understands.

Transfer the points (100,00 max PA) to the member with the highest status and book them from that one account.

Remember that an around the world flight can be cheaper than an over and back. 140,000 in economy and 280,000 on business.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

. Am I right in assuming that that not all flights are offered, even if nearly 12 months ahead, they cannot possibly be booked.

With QFF there will normaly be some allocation. But popular routes book out quickly.

Is it better to book flights one way or as a return flight.

On a very popular route with QF yes (though you do run the risk of not getting back). And in particular if you are staying away some time.

Are the taxes the same.

Taxes are often different each way as the Airport Tax is different for each airport. However the two way total should be the same, even if in both directions they are different.

Also we are both QFF members but some points will have to be transferred to my account to make up the points. Can we transfer points and book together at the same time

You can put all the points in one account.....and then redeem for both at the one time.

This is actually a safer way to book for if you book one ata time you might find that you get the last award seat (as you never know who else is bookingat the same time)....leaving you one short.

 

[ellen10]

Thank you Straitman and Oz_Mark

So If I wanted to fly into Paris but out of London home to Sydney that would not be a return flight, is it then called a multi (as per the booking site).
Or can a round the world flight go Syd - Paris - London - Syd. Can one come home via Asia (as it is shorter) or does it have to go via the USA. Would this only cost 140000 points?
I'm sorry if I sound a newbie but it is all new to me.

But I must add, that since discovering this site I have learnt lots of important and interesting information.

Thank you on and all!

 

[ellen10]

Opps sorry lovetravellingoz thank you also

I had never thought of transferring the points to one person and booking both flights until it was mentioned now. That would certainly dispell my fear of one person getting the flight and the next missing out.

If you did that over the phone do they charge 2 lost of booking points?

 

[Chris_Leo]

If you are booking a OneWorld partner award, such as Cathay, you should book return, because a one way award will cost the same number of points as a return award. So two one ways will cost twice us much (points wise), as a single return.

I'm sorry, could you please elaborate on this point.

Does this mean that if I selected Cathay to go from SYD-LHR return, it would cost me the same number of points if I selected SYD-LHR one-way? This doesn't make sense?

Is a OneWorld partner award one of those ones where you ring up the QFF help desk and ask them to find one for you since the Qantas award booking website only shows QF and BA award flights.

Thanks in advance
Chris

 

[Evan]

The working may not have been ideal, i guess you could simply say the oneworld awards are return only, they do not offer one-way so if you were to you one one-way it would cost the same as return.

QF awards allow one-way travel.

E

 

[oz_mark]

I'm sorry, could you please elaborate on this point.

Does this mean that if I selected Cathay to go from SYD-LHR return, it would cost me the same number of points if I selected SYD-LHR one-way? This doesn't make sense?

14.5.3 A one way oneworld Award Itinerary will be charged as a return Itinerary.

 

[serfty]

For a oneworld award, you need to travel on two oneworld carriers other than Qantas; these are on a "return or round trip basis" (i.e. if you do not finish at the same airport you start, the distance between the last airport and origin is included in the distance calculation.).

See here:

• oneworld® Classic Award

Otherwise, if only CX is involved (or QF/CX), the travel is charged as a "Partner" award redemption which can be one way, round trip, open jaw etc.

See here:

• Partner Classic Award

 

[ellen10]

Thank you to all those wise Frequent Flyer experts that have helped clarrify award flights.

If I understand this right, please correct me if I am wrong.

If I book a Qantas classic award to say Paris it will cost me 128000 pts (even though connections etc are not the best).
However if I booked a Partner classic award say with Cathy (better connections) it will cost me 150000 pts.
Or if I book a Oneworld award return flight it will cost me 142500 pts.

Or if I rang and booked a flight with say Qantas part of the leg and then a connection with Air France it would be classed as a....? what award. I know booking with a qantas consultant would cost me 2500 pts. But how many QFF points

I'm sorry if I sound confused but it isn't as straight forward as one would believe, when signing up

 

[Mwenenzi]

...Or if I rang and booked a flight with say Qantas part of the leg and then a connection with Air France it would be classed as a....? what award. I know booking with a qantas consultant would cost me 2500 pts. But how many QFF points

I'm sorry if I sound confused but it isn't as straight forward as one would believe, when signing up

Getting a reward flight on a non QF flight can be confusing. Phone QF and ask. They do not charge 2500 pts to just to talk to them. Also ask what surcharge $ apply. After talking to them then say you will consider the options and phone back. (And then tell us what they told you on the phone)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Or if I book a Oneworld award return flight it will cost me 142500 pts.

140,000 via qantas.com on the internet.

142,500 if you ring.

 

[serfty]

Also not that with "classic" awards, a partner award will generate another "trip" if you change carriers and possibly require more points.

e.g.

• SYD(QF)-xHKG(CX)-CDG (one way) will cost 32K+50K = 85K (+2½K assisted fee) (return 172½K)
• SYD(CX)-xHKG(CX)-CDG (one way) will cost 75K (+2½K assisted fee)(return 152½K)

To get the 142½K award you need to travel on to oneworld airlines other than Qantas.

Just a reminder that the oneworld award can take you a long way for your 140K. e.g. SYD-NRT-HKG-SIN-LHR-CDG-lhr-fco-lhr-JFK-LAX-syd