Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks, yeah I have thats what I referred to find out the only conclusion is to call or book HND > SAP / CTS in Y to get past this error.

I did consider HKG but I would prefer a single long haul flight to catch a nap vs the break at HKG. If I was totally stuck i'd pick this but this is only the difference between Y and J for 1.5 hour flight so I think I'm just going to cop it.

Post automatically merged: May 5, 2021

I might have a while before I make WP, but hopefully with a nice DSC and long haul travel in 2022 I'll be there.

Thanks for all your help guys!

SYD to HKG or HND is roughly the same flying time - blocked at 9hrs30 to HKG and 10hrs to HND. Connecting via HKG is nice and easy and it might actually work out nicely to have a sleep on the HKG flights and catch a movie and decent meal on the flights to/from Sapporo.

 

[Spacetravel]

SYD to HKG or HND is roughly the same flying time - blocked at 9hrs30 to HKG and 10hrs to HND. Connecting via HKG is nice and easy and it might actually work out nicely to have a sleep on the HKG flights and catch a movie and decent meal on the flights to/from Sapporo.

Oh right it is! I just tried to book it again via HKG and realised the other reason why, it makes me route through HND any way and still puts HND > CTS in Y

 

[Noah Count]

Y and J for 1.5 hour flight so I think I'm just going to cop it.

After posting I was thinking about some of the issues we had in trying to book rewards the past, some were related to MCT others may have been related to JL fare buckets, I checked some of my old bookings HND-CTS and the other way round but the tickets did not show the buckets. The JL domestic product has something called J Class which in reality is like a VA Y+ so more legroom and I think we were given a drink but no food, whatever J Class is it is not J when compared to QF, VA ect. and would even suggest suggest that Euro J is better. The next level up is F which is a better offering than most airlines J offering and certainly better than most "dom F products" I have travelled on. Sorry a bit OT and agree with @MEL_Traveller, transfer at HKG is easy.

 

[Noah Count]

Oh right it is! I just tried to book it again via HKG and realised the other reason why, it makes me route through HND any way and still puts HND > CTS in Y

From your original post you could not even get the QF booking engine to work, at least via HKG you should be able to book to SYD-CTS and HND-LAX. The award CTS-HND internal sector may only become available 90-120 days out.

 

[Spacetravel]

From your original post you could not even get the QF booking engine to work, at least via HKG you should be able to book to SYD-CTS and HND-LAX. The award CTS-HND internal sector may only become available 90-120 days out.

Ah yes, sorry with all my posts in here I guess its getting a bit confusing. After attempting some work arounds I was able to get automatic routing give me HND - CTS in Y with JAL. I discovered the error is caused by manually routing myself in business class HND - CTS.

 

[DC3]

Ah yes, sorry with all my posts in here I guess its getting a bit confusing ...

Manila is waiting for your call.

 

[kingzac]

I called (and waited an hour) to change a flight from a connecting BNE>HKG>HND to BNE>HND direct, sat on hold for half an hour, then got told they'd call me back.
When he did an hour and a half later he said they couldn't change it because it would make the distance of the trip greater than the allowed maximum.
I was surprised to hear that taking 3000km off the trip made it longer. I didn't bother arguing and I'll try another day.

 

[DC3]

... I was surprised to hear that taking 3000km off the trip made it longer. I didn't bother arguing and I'll try another day.

Manila?

 

[kingzac]

Manila?

I believe so. At this stage I would probably pay a fee if they could guarantee getting Wendy from the Aus CC.

 

[Spacetravel]

Manila is waiting for your call.

An update to my booking experience, after not being able to book my desired itinerary so far, online (error 4002)

Attempted booking:
All segments in Business Class
Stop 1: SYD > HND > CTS
Stop 2: CTS > HND
Stop 3: HND > LAX
Stop 4, 5, > home to be booked later

And then attempted to call and unable to get through within 4 hours

I found the problem with my booking was the segment HND > CTS wouldn't book in business and gave me the error 4002 but if I switched to inputting SYD > CTS it would put HND > CTS in Economy and let me book without error

I gave up and booked HND > CTS in Economy (for the same price as it would have been for business ) as I could no longer see the value in spending 3x the time of the actual flight on the phone to attempt to get it in business

Thanks everyone for your help and happy I finally have an actual booking! Now let's just hope international borders are open in time so I can go.

 

[flapper]

I spent the whole day (literally) yesterday trying to add a flight for a OWA starting June 2022. After 2.5 hours on hold (I'm NB) the guy at the SA call centre had no idea. I wanted to transit through MAD onto an IB flight to BCN. The QF website showed J availabilty on every flight (about 10 flights) that day. CC guy could only see the morning flights, I needed pm flight. I kept asking him to check all his systems he said he was. He then wanted to log into my account and asked for the PIN. I declined that offer. I asked could if I speak to someone else and then asked for the premium CC. He put me on hold. After 20 mins he came back and said he was still waiting. I asked who he was putting me through to. He said someone to explain to you that there are no pm flights that day and not the premium CC. So I said I would hang up and call back. I did and the message said the wait time was 30 mins to 1 hour. I was on hold for 6 hours before I got through to someone, yes 6 hours. I had to cancel all my Sunday plans. When I finally got through (also SA CC) there was availablity on every flight that day. I have no idea why the first guy couldn't see them but it's not the first time that has happened to me with the SA CC, they are so poorly trained and probably poory paid and don't have ready access to support when they run into trouble. If QF want to run an el-cheapo CC with poorly trained peoeple they need to give them adquate back up. I'm dreading adding more flights.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I spent the whole day (literally) yesterday trying to add a flight for a OWA starting June 2022. After 2.5 hours on hold (I'm NB) the guy at the SA call centre had no idea. I wanted to transit through MAD onto an IB flight to BCN. The QF website showed J availabilty on every flight (about 10 flights) that day. CC guy could only see the morning flights, I needed pm flight. I kept asking him to check all his systems he said he was. He then wanted to log into my account and asked for the PIN. I declined that offer. I asked could if I speak to someone else and then asked for the premium CC. He put me on hold. After 20 mins he came back and said he was still waiting. I asked who he was putting me through to. He said someone to explain to you that there are no pm flights that day and not the premium CC. So I said I would hang up and call back. I did and the message said the wait time was 30 mins to 1 hour. I was on hold for 6 hours before I got through to someone, yes 6 hours. I had to cancel all my Sunday plans. When I finally got through (also SA CC) there was availablity on every flight that day. I have no idea why the first guy couldn't see them but it's not the first time that has happened to me with the SA CC, they are so poorly trained and probably poory paid and don't have ready access to support when they run into trouble. If QF want to run an el-cheapo CC with poorly trained peoeple they need to give them adquate back up. I'm dreading adding more flights.

Hmmm. Did flight you wanted show as a single stand-alone flight? Or part of a set of flights (ie with the connectors)? I've also had agents looking at the wrong day and not finding availability.

 

[Mattg]

I spent the whole day (literally) yesterday trying to add a flight for a OWA starting June 2022. After 2.5 hours on hold (I'm NB) the guy at the SA call centre had no idea. I wanted to transit through MAD onto an IB flight to BCN. The QF website showed J availabilty on every flight (about 10 flights) that day. CC guy could only see the morning flights, I needed pm flight. I kept asking him to check all his systems he said he was. He then wanted to log into my account and asked for the PIN. I declined that offer. I asked could if I speak to someone else and then asked for the premium CC. He put me on hold. After 20 mins he came back and said he was still waiting. I asked who he was putting me through to. He said someone to explain to you that there are no pm flights that day and not the premium CC. So I said I would hang up and call back. I did and the message said the wait time was 30 mins to 1 hour. I was on hold for 6 hours before I got through to someone, yes 6 hours. I had to cancel all my Sunday plans. When I finally got through (also SA CC) there was availablity on every flight that day. I have no idea why the first guy couldn't see them but it's not the first time that has happened to me with the SA CC, they are so poorly trained and probably poory paid and don't have ready access to support when they run into trouble. If QF want to run an el-cheapo CC with poorly trained peoeple they need to give them adquate back up. I'm dreading adding more flights.

I've had similar experiences dealing with the South African call centre. They are poorly trained and utterly hopeless. Qantas really ought to end its contract with that call centre - they are an embarrassment to the company.

 

[flapper]

Hmmm. Did flight you wanted show as a single stand-alone flight? Or part of a set of flights (ie with the connectors)? I've also had agents looking at the wrong day and not finding availability.

It was a connecting flight for me but they were all showing as standalone flights. The agent has a very strong accent so was difficult to understand plus he just gave me the impression he didn't have a clue. I wondering if he didn't know how to scroll down to see later flights. He was WFH so he may have been on a little tablet for all I know.

 

[DC3]

Cape Town = HUACA.

But that’s just my experience.

 

[knobbs]

With all the carriers reducing/cutting 1st class is there an easy way to see routes from OneWorld that still have first class, as in a map maybe? Am looking to say screw business and do a once in a lifetime trip on 1st class.

 

[DC3]

…. When I finally got through (also SA CC) there was availablity on every flight that day. I have no idea why the first guy couldn't see them but it's not the first time that has happened to me with the SA CC ….

I’ve experienced Cape Town advising of no availability. Then, I discovered that the CSO had been looking at the wrong date the whole time.

It’s worth asking “What date is that, again, please?”

Edit: While Hobart comes on-line at 7.00am AEST, daily, Cape Town and Manila never sleep (along with Auckland, but Auckland is pretty good, generally). With not much QFF status, Hobart is unlikely to get your call.

 

[kingzac]

Had a very similar issue a while back, wasted a couple of hours, then got called back and told he didn't know how to do it without cancelling everything and hoping the flights were there to rebook.
The flight I was trying to change has since been cancelled and I'm dreading having to call to change it.

 

[Guvner]

Surely there is a way to get Qantas to sit up and take notice of these ongoing CSR training and knowledge issues.

 

[Daver6]

Surely there is a way to get Qantas to sit up and take notice of these ongoing CSR training and knowledge issues.

I think what we need to understand is there isn't really much incentive to spend money on fixing this kind of problem. It's not likely to be hurting the bottom line but will cost money to fix. It's not like Australians have an alternative carrier. Sure, for those in the know you could credit to a different OW program etc, but coming back to my original point, does this really make much difference to the bottom line? </cynic></realist>