Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[GaryLG]

Worse comes to worse, I'd buy cheap economy flights SIN-BNE-SIN - currently $312 each way.
I do have some United Mileage Plus miles and fly Singapore .
Its a bit hard going back to economy seats once you spent a month flying in the front of the plane!

That's a reasonable price, wonder what SIN-MEL-SIN would be. I might have some spare QFF points to cover it, but just to be clear did you also buy a one way SIN-BNE to come home at the end?

Its a bit hard going back to economy seats once you spent a month flying in the front of the plane!

Most definitely!

Post automatically merged: Apr 13, 2020

Try this: ✈ FlightConnections - All flights worldwide on a flight map!.

Thanks for that. I'll check it out.

 

[GaryLG]

Two questions please.

First, I know you cannot transit your start point and appreciate the information ozflier has provided but I just want to see what others have done in creating a split itinerary?

I'm MEL based, so I could as suggested book a flight to SIN to start the first leg but just wondering why you wouldn't fly back to MEL, start and finish the second leg there?

To give a simple example - leg 1 SIN-LHR-MEL and leg 2 MEL-SFO-MEL?

Also is the mileage any more than those two actual journeys?

Second question/part, when I get to book the early flights might be 300-340 days from that point but I presume I need to book the whole itinerary. So do you just book on arbitrary dates and then change the dates when those flights become available. I guess there is a cost with that - points or cash?

Thanks

 

[BriarFlyer]

1. In your example the start/end port is SIN, so you need to add the mileage MEL-SIN to the miles actually flown.

2. You don't need to book the entire itinerary. You can start by booking Leg 1 when those dates are released. When the flights for Leg 2 are released, you call and add those to your original booking.

 

[ozflier]

I'm MEL based, so I could as suggested book a flight to SIN to start the first leg but just wondering why you wouldn't fly back to MEL, start and finish the second leg there?
Your OWA first sector would be MEL-where ever ,
you would finish your first leg of the OWA at SIN and find your own way home from SIN.
The second leg of your award would start from SIN but finish in MEL all as part of the award.

 

[blu]

for "SIN-LHR-MEL (stopover) -SFO-MEL"
Looks like it's over the 35k mile limit:
33K miles + notional return distance (MEL-SIN) 3.7K miles = 36,700 miles.

 

[DC3]

Plenty of AFFers have posted a lot of excellent information, available in the almost 9,000 posts in this thread.

Very good reading for those just starting out on the OWA journey, especially those who may have some extra time on their hands these days.

 

[GaryLG]

1. In your example the start/end port is SIN, so you need to add the mileage MEL-SIN to the miles actually flown.

So even if I am buying a ticket separately? What about if I start and finish in SIN rather than just start there?

If the mileage is included what is the point of those itineraries that start elsewhere? Is it just saving taxes, etc?

2. You don't need to book the entire itinerary. You can start by booking Leg 1 when those dates are released. When the flights for Leg 2 are released, you call and add those to your original booking.

So if leg 1 was spread over 2 months say, would I need to wait till the last flight was released to start booking? And do they keep adding the cost each time but cut off at the maximum for an OWA ticket? How do they know that is what you are booking?

 

[GaryLG]

I'm MEL based, so I could as suggested book a flight to SIN to start the first leg but just wondering why you wouldn't fly back to MEL, start and finish the second leg there?
Your OWA first sector would be MEL-where ever ,
you would finish your first leg of the OWA at SIN and find your own way home from SIN.
The second leg of your award would start from SIN but finish in MEL all as part of the award.

So in this example does the mileage between legs count towards the total?

 

[GaryLG]

for "SIN-LHR-MEL (stopover) -SFO-MEL"
Looks like it's over the 35k mile limit:
33K miles + notional return distance (MEL-SIN) 3.7K miles = 36,700 miles.

I guess that is because I hadn't thought those flights being booked separately would count for the mileage. That's a bit scummy of them. It sort of defeats the point of doing that except I guess for allowing you to return to home in the middle.

 

[GaryLG]

Plenty of AFFers have posted a lot of excellent information, available in the almost 9,000 posts in this thread.

Very good reading for those just starting out on the OWA journey, especially those who may have some extra time on their hands these days.

I appreciate that and have dipped in to the thread but haven't found it easy gleaning useful info.

 

[ozflier]

So in this example does the mileage between legs count towards the total?

I'm not sure i understand the question.
If you are saying you are flying MEL - 1st stage OWA - SIN , then SIN for rest of the OWA finally returning to MEL,
the sectors in the middle SIN_MEL_SIN do NOT count in the final mileage calculation .

 

[BriarFlyer]

If you are buying a separate ticket from MEL-SIN-MEL, and therefore starting and ending your OWA in SIN, then the MEL-SIN-MEL mileage does not count toward the 35k of the OWA.

The point of itineraries starting elsewhere could be any combination of the following: to save mileage and get better value from the 35k, to save on taxes/cash component, because you wish to return to your home port in the middle of the OWA (which is not allowed.)

You can start booking as soon as the first flight is released, if you wish, and then add flights as they become available. Or you can wait until several -- or all -- have been released. Your strategy will depend on how flexible you're prepared to be on the routes/dates/airlines. If you want specific flights/dates/airlines then you'll need to jump on those quickly. If you're more flexible, you may choose to wait and book the first leg all at once. When you start booking, you don't have to specify this is a OWA.

 

[DC3]

I appreciate that and have dipped in to the thread but haven't found it easy gleaning useful info.

There’s a mass of useful information in this thread. A fair amount of reading is needed, otherwise it will be a matter of just floundering around.

Edit: If you have an aim in mind for your OWA trip (e.g., certain places to visit, or a proposed itinerary) perhaps share what you would like to achieve. That may make it easier for planning advice to be provided for your trip.

 

[knightfall88]

Hi, when I cancel flights on a reward booking. Shouldn't I be getting exactly the same amount of fees I paid for them originally? Has anyone had experience with Qantas not calculating the fees right?

 

[Kangol]

Hi, when I cancel flights on a reward booking. Shouldn't I be getting exactly the same amount of fees I paid for them originally? Has anyone had experience with Qantas not calculating the fees right?

Depends if there is foreign currency involved (likely if it's in this thread) and the exchange rate difference.

 

[exceladdict]

Hi, when I cancel flights on a reward booking. Shouldn't I be getting exactly the same amount of fees I paid for them originally? Has anyone had experience with Qantas not calculating the fees right?

Could it be forex fluctuations?

 

[knightfall88]

Depends if there is foreign currency involved (likely if it's in this thread) and the exchange rate difference.

It involved a multitude of flights but the first flight originates from Australia so I paid in Australian dollars. Would that be impacted by exchange rate differences?

 

[exceladdict]

It involved a multitude of flights but the first flight originates from Australia so I paid in Australian dollars. Would that be impacted by exchange rate differences?

Less likely I guess. Had you made many changes along the way?

 

[Kangol]

It involved a multitude of flights but the first flight originates from Australia so I paid in Australian dollars. Would that be impacted by exchange rate differences?

Depends on what the breakdown of taxes includes.
Generally local taxes such as passenger movement through an airport would be charged in local currency; if you are going through LAX, you would be charged in USD.
Sounds like your "multitude of flights" includes some outside of Australia.

If you gave some detail people could help. The vagueness of the answer is directly related to the vagueness of the question.

 

[ozflier]

I rang QF this morning and some good news was heard.
The lady was Hobart based and told me that call numbers have really gone down.
She thinks that most of the cancellations / rebookings have been done .
Wait time more like 15 minutes this time.
Remember there was a discussion in this forum recently about just training up a new member of their team .
She tells me that the current training time for her position is 8 weeks and after that , nursemaiding needed for another two months.
As always, the agent showed the usual Hobart competence.
best wishes and good health to all.