Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[DC3]

That leg had OW carriers but the dates only had economy... so I think it will take some searching! I may just end up calling them, I think the premium contact centres are in AUS, as I dont think i have spoken to anyone in PHP or SA...

I’m curious as to which carriers you found for SYD-FCO And FCO-CDG. Do you mean something like SYD-xx_-FCO, and FCO-xx_-CDG, as 2 segments each, for example?

Edit: I realise that you have just begun planning, but it will be important to come up with exact routing (and not leave out intermediate transits/stops) as this will affect the number of segments and also the permitted mileage

 

[markus2578]

I’m curious as to which carrier you found for SYD-FCO. Do you mean something like SYD-xx_-FCO, as 2 segments?

Edit: I realise that you have just begun planning, but it will be important to come up with exact routing (and not leaving out intermediate transits/stops) as this may affect the number of segments and also the permitted mileage

Yes - was Cathay from memory, but the segment from HK to FCO was in economy - which is no good.

 

[markus2578]

I’m curious as to which carriers you found for SYD-FCO And FCO-CDG. Do you mean something like SYD-xx_-FCO, and FCO-xx_-CDG, as 2 segments each, for example?

Edit: I realise that you have just begun planning, but it will be important to come up with exact routing (and not leave out intermediate transits/stops) as this will affect the number of segments and also the permitted mileage

I did try to put in each segment as a separate flight in the booking tool, but kept getting errors when i booked more than 6 or so flights.

All good for now, will have a play around with it over the next few months before i need to book.

appreciate everyones comments and help
cheers

 

[DC3]

Yes - was Cathay from memory, but the segment from HK to FCO was in economy - which is no good.

Well, SYD-HKG-FCO is not SYD-FCO. Best to specify the exact routing for your proposed itinerary so you do not exceed 16 segments/5 stops/35,000 miles.

I hope that you get the drift.

 

[markus2578]

Well, SYD-HKG-FCO is not SYD-FCO. Best to specify the exact routing so you do not exceed 16 segments/5 stops/35,000 miles.

I hope that you get the drift.

Yep - understood

 

[DC3]

BTW the distance looks ok. GCMapper shows 26,617 miles ...

The problem is that the routing ADL-SYD-FCO-CDG-BCN-JFK-LAX-NAN-SYD-ADL is not possible on Oneworld carriers. Intermediate transits need to be added to the journey.

 

[Oubline]

For those of you that have had problems booking Oneworld Awards through the Qantas call centre, I would invite you to share some of the inaccurate information you've been given by Qantas reps on this thread: Incorrect information you've been given by Qantas Contact Centre

Thanks Matt, appreciate your efforts to capture these in one place!

 

[squid01]

Have been trying to book my oneworld award this morning via the call centre. The website won't let me book it as I have more than 6 flight search segments (I have 7), so website seems to give an error when more than 6.

Have spoken to two seperate South African call centre operators. I first asked about them about waiving the call centre fee, which they said they would not do due to the time it takes to book the award. I pushed back saying I have no other means to book on the website. She started saying I could book throgh the 'round the world' option on the site, I told her I thought the RTW ticket is completely different to a Oneworld award.

Gave up and hung up. Was she in the wrong? What are my chances of getting the phone call centre fee waived?

 

[BriarFlyer]

She started saying I could book throgh the 'round the world' option on the site, I told her I thought the RTW ticket is completely different to a Oneworld award.

You are right; she was wrong. 2 completely different products and you cannot book a Oneworld Award through the RTW option. Also, no call centre fee should apply when you cannot book online. Try again and I wish you better luck in who you connect with.

 

[squid01]

You are right; she was wrong. 2 completely different products and you cannot book a Oneworld Award through the RTW option. Also, no call centre fee should apply when you cannot book online. Try again and I wish you better luck in who you connect with.

Spoke to another person in the South African call centre, but just had to check an availability on one leg. Also asked about the phone fee being waived, she said yes it will be waived if you cant book on the website.

Just need to rejig one leg with this new availability which has come up, have a call in currently, hopefully get through to the Aus or NZ centre.

Would it increase my chances of getting Aus/NZ if I hold on the line instead of requesting a call back? Or it is all luck of the draw regardless?

 

[BriarFlyer]

I think it's luck of the draw. I have had call backs from Aust and NZ in the afternoon, so it can happen. Best of luck.

 

[onetonnerodeo]

It took me 6 goes to finally get a hold of Australia, and it was through a callback a couple days ago when their phone systems went down. They actually called from a private number instead (which isn't the norm) and the guy was truly, truly magnificent. Went above and beyond, was personable taking interest in my itinerary and destinations, knowledgeable and forward-thinking about the ticket and all the rules, covered off on some other general travel suggestions, and gave me every assurance he'd personally see to it that the booking was locked away while he had to wait for his colleague to process the payment, fees and all. All sorted in a short time. As others have always said, night and day difference, you'll believe it when you have an experience chatting with a good local operator.

edit - also, he was even sending me an email while doing it all to double check and verify all the dates, flights, etc. Not once in the prior 5 attempts did any CSO even bring that notion up

 

[squid01]

It took me 6 goes to finally get a hold of Australia, and it was through a callback a couple days ago when their phone systems went down. They actually called from a private number instead (which isn't the norm) and the guy was truly, truly magnificent. Went above and beyond, was personable taking interest in my itinerary and destinations, knowledgeable and forward-thinking about the ticket and all the rules, covered off on some other general travel suggestions, and gave me every assurance he'd personally see to it that the booking was locked away while he had to wait for his colleague to process the payment, fees and all. All sorted in a short time. As others have always said, night and day difference, you'll believe it when you have an experience chatting with a good local operator.

edit - also, he was even sending me an email while doing it all to double check and verify all the dates, flights, etc. Not once in the prior 5 attempts did any CSO even bring that notion up

I was finally ready to book and got a call back from Manilla. So hung up.

Rang back and didnt give me the option for a call back, so am on hold. Been an hour, hoping only another hour more. Pretty annoying!

 

[squid01]

Also, did they charge you a phone service fee?

 

[onetonnerodeo]

I only had callback option come up early in the morning before 9:30am.

No service fee. I think as long as it's clear you've had a genuine problem being able to book online, it'll be waived. I didn't/wouldn't start by throwing the whole, 'can you waive the fee' right from the beginning, but if you explain the extensive difficulty and errors you've had (throw a couple codes at them if you need to - e.g. 7122; 500) they'll almost certainly waive it. Even South Africa call centre were prepared to do that, although they couldn't handle the rest as far as Iberia ticketing, taxes calculation, rules, etc.

 

[squid01]

Currently on hold on a long call with the South African call centre.

Gave them flights, they say they cant price up the taxes, because I am not going in the one direction around the globe (crossing a specific ocean more than once). That is a rule of the RTW ticket, I have been having a bit of an argument with the supervisor.

Are they correct here? Everything I read says with the OWA direction doesn't matter.

They say they can only price up the taxes for each individual leg to give me a quote. But then send it off to ticketing, she said the quote may not be accepted because I am not going in the one direction or something.

Should I hang up and try again?

 

[DC3]

Currently on hold on a long call with the South African call centre.

Gave them flights, they say they cant price up the taxes, because I am not going in the one direction around the globe (crossing a specific ocean more than once) ...

...Should I hang up and try again?

That CSO sounds totally useless. They are probably talking about a paid Explorer fare. You are booking an award on points. With a Qantas OneWorld Award, you can zig-zag all over the place in any direction whatsoever.

Edit: I’ve lost track on whether you plan to do all your bookings over the phone. What I did was to start on the QF website and get as far as I could. With those flights booked, I had the PNR. So then just a matter of seeing availability and call to book remaining flights. Far less painful than doing it all from scratch over the phone.

 

[acinod]

I'm looking for a flight from MEL-CMB (Business) on 16 December 2020.

Unforutnately, it looks like there's no seats available on this date. This seems very odd given that the MEL-CMB has award availability every day of Dec2020 except for 3 days (Fri 11, Wed 16, Fri 18). On these days, the only route available is via Shanghai or KL.

Should I wait a few more weeks to see if this changes or should I book for Thu 17 and shift my holiday by a day?

 

[squid01]

That CSO sounds totally useless. They are probably talking about a paid Explorer fare. You are booking an award on points. With a Qantas OneWorld Award, you can zig-zag all over the place in any direction whatsoever.

I should have hung up and tried again. But I have spent a total of like 6 hours on the phone today either on hold or talking to morons.

They are sending the 'shell ticket' to ticketing who will get back to me within 24 hours with an exact amount on the taxes. She searched each leg individually and advised it would be around AU$1300 per passenger which is a touch over the figure I was estimating from my searches but not far off.

I'm just going to wait and see what they come back with, cant deal with this anymore today lol. It was a supervisor I ended up speaking with too. At least she agreed to waiving the phone fee.

I am just very confused as to what has happened really.

 

[DC3]

... I should have hung up and tried again. But I I ended up speaking with too. At least she agreed to waiving the phone fee.

I am just very confused as to what has happened really.

Laziness/incompetence at that Call Centre would be the reason.

Edit: I understand your frustration. However, not sure why you are putting yourself through the wringer like this, trying to book the lot by phone. Is there anything stopping you doing some/most of it on-line? Then follow-up the rest for the almost insignificant fee. Still amazing value I think.