How do Qantas classic awards on oneworld airlines work?

[Mr H]

Buoyed by the imminent opening of the borders, I decided to book an overseas trip using Qantas points. I am a first time redeemer with QF but have redeemed with other programs in the past. I am surprised by one or two things I am discovering and I would be really grateful for help/advice/information.

Specifically, I am looking to go one-way to IKA, so no direct flights and a variety of airlines and routes. I clicked on classic rewards and was surprised to see different amounts of points required for different itineraries. In all cases, these seem to be more than half the One World award mileage in the table on Qantas.com, and in some cases, the same routes with different flight times cost different amounts. How can this be?

And the options seem limited for having different layover times. For example, it would be nice to have a longish layover in DOH to take advantage of the QR tours - I can see availability of flights that would work , but they are not combined on the same itinerary. Can I access greater flexibility by going through the call centre?

And I notice that even redeeming in J, the seats on CX and QR cannot be reserved. Is this a general Covid thing or is this some "enhancement" associated with redemptions?

Thanks so much in advance...

 

[serfty]

Presumably you are looking to book on oneworld Airlines with QFF points.

Generally it costs more QFF points to book the same sector and class on oneworld partner airlines rather than on Qantas.

Often you can be better off with a QFF oneworld award.

There is a long term information source here:

Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

Note that this is not exclusively a "Round The World" Award. While it can be so used, it can also be used for "Round Trips", "Circle" Trips or even "one-way trips" without actually going "Round The World". Also note the following from the T&C review that comes up on Qantas.com if you have...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

I have modified the thread title to clarify.

 

[Mr H]

Often you can be better off with a QFF oneworld award.

Ooh - what a good idea

 

[Mr H]

The down side, though, seems to be transit through USA after visiting Iran...

 

[whereiskym]

The down side, though, seems to be transit through USA after visiting Iran...

You don't necessarily have to go around the world I have booked a one world business class ticket for 318000 points plus taxes MEL/HKG/LHR/MAD//BCN/LHR/NRT//HND/MEL. My understanding is as long as in on milage. You don't necessarily need to go around the world.

 

[Tiki]

Or put the USA segments in the beginning of a trip to Iran, then return via Asia.

 

[Mr H]

Coolio.

I have now got a stopover in Sri Lanka and a side trip to visit friends and family in the UK. And a layover in Doha that's long enough to look at the desert.

So I have MEL-KUL-CMB//CMB-LHR//LGW-DOH-IKA//IKA-DOH-KUL-MEL all in J for 318,000 plus c $1500 in taxes. The journey home from IKA is all provisional using dummy dates. I might see whether a routing through Japan or Honkers is possible when dates open up.

Still can't reserve seats.

So glad to be part of AFF.

 

[andye]

Coolio.

I have now got a stopover in Sri Lanka and a side trip to visit friends and family in the UK. And a layover in Doha that's long enough to look at the desert.

So I have MEL-KUL-CMB//CMB-LHR//LGW-DOH-IKA//IKA-DOH-KUL-MEL all in J for 318,000 plus c $1500 in taxes. The journey home from IKA is all provisional using dummy dates. I might see whether a routing through Japan or Honkers is possible when dates open up.

Still can't reserve seats.

So glad to be part of AFF.

You'd save some taxes leaving from a non-UK European airport and booking a flight on a separate ticket to close the open-jaw

 

[Mr H]

You'd save some taxes leaving from a non-UK European airport and booking a flight on a separate ticket to close the open-jaw

I know, but the savings would probably be marginal given the need for the extra ticket and potential overnight expenses - and I'd lose a day with my mum.

 

[RooFlyer]

The down side, though, seems to be transit through USA after visiting Iran...

I had no issues in visiting the USA after visiting Iran, other than having to get a 'manual' B1/B2 visa for the USA. They saw my Iran visa full page sticker when I applied, but no issues.

And if course there is no 'transit' through the USA. Full entry only.

 

[Mr H]

I had no issues in visiting the USA after visiting Iran, other than having to get a 'manual' B1/B2 visa for the USA. They saw my Iran visa full page sticker when I applied, but no issues.

And if course there is no 'transit' through the USA. Full entry only.

Yea, the issue would be applying for the visa before the Iran visit - I have just heard of expense and complications. And I know you have to "land" in the USA rather than transit airside. I am pleased that I can go both ways through Asia. I have no wish to visit the USA. I went there in 1992; I don't need to go there again.

 

[ozflier]

Coolio.

I have now got a stopover in Sri Lanka and a side trip to visit friends and family in the UK. And a layover in Doha that's long enough to look at the desert.

So I have MEL-KUL-CMB//CMB-LHR//LGW-DOH-IKA//IKA-DOH-KUL-MEL all in J for 318,000 plus c $1500 in taxes. The journey home from IKA is all provisional using dummy dates. I might see whether a routing through Japan or Honkers is possible when dates open up.

Still can't reserve seats.

So glad to be part of AFF.

When you say that you can't reserve seats ,are you saying that you cant reserve via the QFF booking page under your frequent flier number ?
That is normal as often with partners , you need to go that airlines manage bookings page and enter your name and reservation number to be able to access seating.
Even then, there can be complications - BA want money to book specific seats unless you are an elite.
The worse reason I found not being able to book seats was that my itinerary had not had a ticket issued and I did not realize it - do you have a ticket number ?
Finally,
Often you can access the Royal Jordanian or Royal Maroc Airlines manage bookings sites and you will be able to book seats on other OW airlines using the OWA reservation number.

 

[Mr H]

When you say that you can't reserve seats ,are you saying that you cant reserve via the QFF booking page under your frequent flier number ?
That is normal as often with partners , you need to go that airlines manage bookings page and enter your name and reservation number to be able to access seating.
Even then, there can be complications - BA want money to book specific seats unless you are an elite.
The worse reason I found not being able to book seats was that my itinerary had not had a ticket issued and I did not realize it - do you have a ticket number ?
Finally,
Often you can access the Royal Jordanian or Royal Maroc Airlines manage bookings sites and you will be able to book seats on other OW airlines using the OWA reservation number.

Thanks Ozflier - awesome tips. I will try them. I need to finalise my route home first though.

 

[Amanad78]

When you say that you can't reserve seats ,are you saying that you cant reserve via the QFF booking page under your frequent flier number ?
That is normal as often with partners , you need to go that airlines manage bookings page and enter your name and reservation number to be able to access seating.
Even then, there can be complications - BA want money to book specific seats unless you are an elite.
The worse reason I found not being able to book seats was that my itinerary had not had a ticket issued and I did not realize it - do you have a ticket number ?
Finally,
Often you can access the Royal Jordanian or Royal Maroc Airlines manage bookings sites and you will be able to book seats on other OW airlines using the OWA reservation number.

I did this exact thing yesterday - booked Qatar business reward though Qantas, logged into Qatar but couldn't select seats, had a bit of a search online to find a solution. Ended up creating a Royal Air Maroc account, logged in and could see the Qatar flights listed and was able to select the seats. Such a random way to select seats!

 

[AIRwin]

I did this exact thing yesterday - booked Qatar business reward though Qantas, logged into Qatar but couldn't select seats, had a bit of a search online to find a solution.

I have used the MH website to select seats on QR without needing to sign up...

 

[Mr H]

Just used the MH site to reserve seats Thanks so much. But as stated above, BA will only let you book seats on their own website on payment of a fee ($$ or Avios). I probably will pay when I have finalised my itinerary because I don't want a sub-optimal seat on such a fantastic itinerary, but I still resent paying $65 for the privilege of a window seat.

 

[Ajw20]

Has anyone had any experience with flight cancellations by interline airlines when using QFF points for award seats?

Im booked with Cathay in December to LHR and I noticed they are no longer selling or even operating the HKG LHR flight I am on…. When speaking to them they just say it’s scheduled at this point but no longer selling it or it’s full.

They have cut flights from 5pd to 2pd and my one is ‘cut’ for now. If they end up canceling my flight last minute, will they transfer my award booking to another flight or will it simply tell me my flight is cancelled and to call Qantas?! That’ll leave me scrambling for a flight last minute at peak time!

 

[Mr H]

Has anyone had any experience with flight cancellations by interline airlines when using QFF points for award seats?

Not with QFF, but I have had this with other airlines/networks on reward bookings. They have always offered me alternative flights. When these have not suited, I have called the customer service lines to propose alternative solutions which have generally been accepted - even opening up revenue seats. As with regular redemption calls, it is always helpful when you can propose a solution rather than just presenting a problem.

Of course, QFF may handle things differently, and I suspect they have the right to cancel a booking with more than a month's notice if they want.

 

[Ajw20]

Not with QFF, but I have had this with other airlines/networks on reward bookings. They have always offered me alternative flights. When these have not suited, I have called the customer service lines to propose alternative solutions which have generally been accepted - even opening up revenue seats. As with regular redemption calls, it is always helpful when you can propose a solution rather than just presenting a problem.

Of course, QFF may handle things differently, and I suspect they have the right to cancel a booking with more than a month's notice if they want.

Thanks I’ll keep my eyes open for when the Australian international borders open and see if I can secure a second option just in case.
If they cancel I’ll give CX a call and plead my case

 

[Mr H]

I just wanted to close the loop.

Thanks @serfty for the suggestion of the One World reward. I would never have thought of that myself and it has allowed me to build in a trip to see friends and family and have two fab leisure stopovers, all for the same points.

My itinerary is posted here: "oneworld" award (132.4K/249.6K/318K/455K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

This has transformed my perception of the QFF scheme from a difficult and expensive scheme with limited options into WOW and OMG. I'm already mentally planning the next adventure into Africa with Royal Air Maroc.

I am always grateful for tips and advice from fellow points junkies. I think I'm pretty good at points, but only through learning from others.