Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[MEL_Traveller]

That was the one that gave me a fairly long run via Tokyo back to MEL. But I'll check for different routing.

You could also take Finnair KEF-HEL-X or Y or Z - anywhere JL or CX flies from in Europe, or anywhere BA flew from in Europe (to connect onwards to anywhere via LHR)

 

[GaryLG]

You could also take Finnair KEF-HEL-X or Y or Z - anywhere JL or CX flies from in Europe, or anywhere BA flew from in Europe (to connect onwards to anywhere via LHR)

It's the X, Y or Z I need to figure but that's all part of the puzzle.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's the X, Y or Z I need to figure but that's all part of the puzzle.

Paris and Frankfurt would be a couple that both JL and CX fly to. CX also flies to Amsterdam, Rome etc. You could even look at CX to DPS then connect from DPS to MEL (albeit on a 737 which may not be that appealing, or via SYD on an A330 if they reintroduce that).

 

[GaryLG]

Paris and Frankfurt would be a couple that both JL and CX would fly to. CX also flies to Amsterdam, Rome etc. You could even look at CX to DPS then connect from DPS to MEL (albeit on a 737 which may not be that appealing, or via SYD on an A330 if they reintroduce that).

Thanks.

 

[paul66]

I have planned my Business class flights CNS-SYD-HKG-MAD-OPO-FAO-MAD-JFK-DOH-NRT-SYD-CNS. The total milage according to Great Circle Mapper comes in at 34773ml which is very close to the max for a business class award. How accurate is gcmap? Can the Qantas call centre tell me if I am under or over the limit. I don't want to risk going over my limit. Any help appreciated.

 

[cjd600]

I have planned my Business class flights CNS-SYD-HKG-MAD-OPO-FAO-MAD-JFK-DOH-NRT-SYD-CNS. The total milage according to Great Circle Mapper comes in at 34773ml which is very close to the max for a business class award. How accurate is gcmap? Can the Qantas call centre tell me if I am under or over the limit. I don't want to risk going over my limit. Any help appreciated.

do a dummy booking even in Y and see if the points max out as expected

 

[Guvner]

Worse comes to worst you could do MAD-OPO-FAO-MAD for $200 - $300 in Y Iberia or RyanAir combo, each leg approx. 1hr, which will shave 1000 miles off. Also provides some defensive cover if you have any issues in Spain with Covid.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have planned my Business class flights CNS-SYD-HKG-MAD-OPO-FAO-MAD-JFK-DOH-NRT-SYD-CNS. The total milage according to Great Circle Mapper comes in at 34773ml which is very close to the max for a business class award. How accurate is gcmap? Can the Qantas call centre tell me if I am under or over the limit. I don't want to risk going over my limit. Any help appreciated.

Great circle mapper doesn't always reflect the mileage used by airlines... I've had several instances where GCM had me within a zone yet QFFF wanted to charge me higher. One was a clear error and somehow the call centre managed to ticket for the correct price, the other was borderline but was based on historic airport codes and therefore technically 'correct' in QF's systems.

 

[DC3]

I have planned my Business class flights CNS-SYD-HKG-MAD-OPO-FAO-MAD-JFK-DOH-NRT-SYD-CNS. The total milage according to Great Circle Mapper comes in at 34773ml which is very close to the max for a business class award. How accurate is gcmap? Can the Qantas call centre tell me if I am under or over the limit. I don't want to risk going over my limit. Any help appreciated.

If you go over 35,000 miles, you could always do SYD-CNS as a seperate booking (paid or award) which would reduce the oneworld award itinerary distance by 1222 miles.

Edited

 

[Chesty]

Ended up completing my booking MEL-HKG-FCO-JFK-AZA-OGG-LAX-HND-NRT-MEL for next August. Took a lot of work but got there in the end. $1530 in taxes for 2 pax.

 

[Guvner]

Ended up completing my booking MEL-HKG-FCO-JFK-AZA-OGG-LAX-HND-NRT-MEL for next August. Took a lot of work but got there in the end.

Great work.
Could you pls post the taxes/surcharges for future reference?

 

[Mr H]

Just had an agent hang up on me after two hours on hold and 80 minutes of not being able to find the flights that I could see on the Qantas.com website

 

[DC3]

Just had an agent hang up on me after two hours on hold and 80 minutes of not being able to find the flights that I could see on the Qantas.com website

CSO hangs up = rather poor
Phantom flights on QF = not totally unexpected

Of course, the CSO can only book what is actually available and I’ve experienced the frustration of phantom availability numerous times.

 

[Mr H]

CSO hangs up = rather poor
Phantom flights on QF = not totally unexpected

In the interests of correcting the record, the CSO has just called me back an hour later with one of the three flights I had wanted. So I retract the bit about hanging up and was really rather touched that he was still trying when I was doubting him. Still have an issue with phantom flights, though.

 

[cambriamarsh]

If you go over 35,000 miles, you could always do SYD-CNS as a seperate booking (paid or award) which would reduce the oneworld award itinerary distance by 1222 miles.

Edited

Doesn't the mileage count return to the start point is if the flights don't?

 

[ozflier]

Doesn't the mileage count return to the start point is if the flights don't?

I have always assumed that you did not need to go back to your city of origin only the country of origin - happy to be corrected.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have always assumed that you did not need to go back to your city of origin only the country of origin - happy to be corrected.

The terms and conditions from QFFF are:

14.5.3 A one way oneworld Classic Flight Reward Itinerary will be charged as a return Itinerary. oneworld Classic Flight Reward Itineraries finishing in a port other than the port of origin must include the distance to return directly to the port of origin when calculating the number of Qantas Points required to redeem the Flight Reward and the maximum distance for the Itinerary.

I guess in many instances the calculation back to the port of origin is probably negligible in the grand scheme of things? For example terminating in BNE rather than SYD would be an extra 700 miles, which unless you were right at the limit wouldn't even be a problem or noticeable.

 

[DC3]

If it becomes an issue, with being just a few miles short, I would also look at starting/finishing in TSV (rather than CNS) to see if that works for you.

 

[paul66]

do a dummy booking even in Y and see if the points max out as expected

When I did a dummy booking I kept getting error messages. Very frustrating. I finally made the booking online and filled in the blanks by calling the call centre over the last few days as flights opened up. It worked Sydney to Sydney at the correct points (318000). The call centre could not tell me what would happen if I added on the CNS sectors. I did not want to risk a fail. So I probably may never know if adding on CNS would have been included. Thanks for all the help

 

[DC3]

… I finally made the booking online and filled in the blanks by calling the call centre over the last few days as flights opened up. It worked Sydney to Sydney at the correct points (318000). The call centre could not tell me what would happen if I added on the CNS sectors. I did not want to risk a fail. So I probably may never know if adding on CNS would have been included …

Good that you have the bookings. Just phone the Call Centre and try adding CNS-SYD and SYD-CNS. There’s nothing to lose. You may be in luck, and your extra flights would be protected.