Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Mr H]

Yes, although I understood gfraser was under the impression that the first flight could not be booked unless 318,000 points were available. This bit: ‘My main concern is the first sector “I assume the booking will not be made due to lack of points”.

I think the OP here has some quite specific issues that are causing the initial booking to sit outwith the rules and hence cost more. If he adds a third carrier, even for a flight he intends to scrap later, it will help. His other issue is whether the flights are actually Classic Reward flights.

 

[Mr H]

Im having trouble trying to locate certain flights, Which seem to exist in reality - but not on the Qantas website for flight searches.
Qatar airways say the final leg i could do CPH-DOH-BNE on the 12th Aug, but qantas seems to think it doesnt exist.

Could i also ask, when booking via phone (my journey is approx 15 flights so cant do online), Do the operators actually assist, ie if i tell them about the above flight, and if there is no business class, do they pro actively locate another option for you?

The fact that a flight exists does not mean there are award seats on it available to Qantas. Agents can help when you call, but they will tend to suggest the computer generated option which is likely to be a flight in economy or a flight six weeks later. It is much better and quicker to go in with solutions. You can find availability by using the multiple city booker and copious cups of tea.

 

[DC3]

Im having trouble trying to locate certain flights, Which seem to exist in reality - but not on the Qantas website for flight searches.
Qatar airways say the final leg i could do CPH-DOH-BNE on the 12th Aug, but qantas seems to think it doesnt exist.

Could i also ask, when booking via phone (my journey is approx 15 flights so cant do online), Do the operators actually assist, ie if i tell them about the above flight, and if there is no business class, do they pro actively locate another option for you?

Unless you are up for some severe chest pains, don’t expect the Call Centre to ‘assist’ that much with putting together a complex itinerary from scratch.

I write up my itinerary, including the flight details, and book as many flights as I can on-line, initially. I then phone the Call Centre and provide the details for the remaining flights, as availability opens.

If the Call Centre cannot see availability through the QF system, then those flights cannot be booked. Look for other options.

The key to putting together a bookable itinerary is flexibility of routes, dates and flights.

Also, what QR can see is irrelevant when booking through QF.

 

[DC3]

I think the OP here has some quite specific issues that are causing the initial booking to sit outwith the rules and hence cost more. If he adds a third carrier, even for a flight he intends to scrap later, it will help. His other issue is whether the flights are actually Classic Reward flights.

Research is probably the key.

Anyway, I’m not really clear on the proposed itinerary details at the moment.

 

[motef]

Just read this article on a new Finnair route which may be useful for people to consider in their OWAs.

Finnair Adds Helsinki (HEL) To Dallas (DFW) Route

Finnair will be launching a new route between Helsinki (HEL) and Dallas (DFW) as of February 2022 with an A350. Here are the details.

onemileatatime.com

I know that Finnair are tight on releasing award availability but something to consider

 

[bnr032]

sounds like instead of my proposed journey spreadsheet... i realistically need the option B, C before i make the phone call.

@DC3 - so you essentially book your start/end flights through the online portal, then call and add different flights - If doing this, im assuming it just costs in pts what it normally would, until you hit the 318,000 threshold?

 

[ozflier]

Ii am getting confused. This is the 3rd time I have booked this ( due to Covid) and as I understand you make the first sector on line and then call the CC for further sectors using the same PNR which will max out at 318,000.
My main concern is the first sector “I assume the booking will not be made due to lack of points”

You are not restricted to just booking one sector on line and then booking further over the phone.
I have been able to book up to 5 sectors on line initially but usually 3 or 4 only.
Be prepared if you use more than one , for all to go well until the payment due page and it all falls to pieces !

 

[motef]

sounds like instead of my proposed journey spreadsheet... i realistically need the option B, C before i make the phone call.

@DC3 - so you essentially book your start/end flights through the online portal, then call and add different flights - If doing this, im assuming it just costs in pts what it normally would, until you hit the 318,000 threshold?

Book as much as you can online then call to add other flights as you want to book them or they become available.

If it meets the rules it will cap out at 318k points

 

[Mr H]

so you essentially book your start/end flights through the online portal

You do not need to book your end flights straight away. You can book what is available even if it leaves you hanging in Europe and add flights later, including onto the end of an itinerary.

 

[DC3]

sounds like instead of my proposed journey spreadsheet... i realistically need the option B, C before i make the phone call.

@DC3 - so you essentially book your start/end flights through the online portal, then call and add different flights - If doing this, im assuming it just costs in pts what it normally would, until you hit the 318,000 threshold?

The flights can be booked in any order at all, including on-line and through the Call Centre. I book when I see availability. Waiting for the last flight to become available before booking other flights, risks someone else grabbing my early flights.

Points are progressively deducted from your account as each booking is made.

You may go over the 318,000 at some stage of the process. Once all of the rules have been met, the points cost will reset to 318,000.

 

[ozflier]

Seems to be some issues with Royal Air Maroc services to / from Russia and UK-https://www.royalairmaroc.com/cm-en/information/delays-and-disruptions .
Looks like it is a Moroccan government directive .
Some of my forward bookings have been changed even as far ahead as september 2022.

 

[vetrade]

Seems to be some issues with Royal Air Maroc services to / from Russia and UK-https://www.royalairmaroc.com/cm-en/information/delays-and-disruptions .
Looks like it is a Moroccan government directive .
Some of my forward bookings have been changed even as far ahead as september 2022.

Not a good start for a new OW member.
I had a cancellation yesterday that was puzzling, but not as inconvenient as your changes, ozflier.

I booked 2 x AY J KEF - HEL - BGO about 8 weeks ago and got an email from QF yesterday to say "your flights have changed.........."
We were put on fights a day earlier which didn't suit us. The mystery was that our original flights weren't cancelled or changed at all (even this morning I could book Y and J revenue seats on the AY website on "our" flights), so it seems we just had our J award seats taken off us for no substantive reason. The QF CSA just said she couldn't explain why, but it was a matter of take it or leave it.
It can be disruptive when they (don't know whether "they" was QF or AY) can just make random changes after all availability on other dates has long gone leaving you with virtually no options.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Not a good start for a new OW member.
I had a cancellation yesterday that was puzzling, but not as inconvenient as your changes, ozflier.

I booked 2 x AY J KEF - HEL - BGO about 8 weeks ago and got an email from QF yesterday to say "your flights have changed.........."
We were put on fights a day earlier which didn't suit us. The mystery was that our original flights weren't cancelled or changed at all (even this morning I could book Y and J revenue seats on the AY website on "our" flights), so it seems we just had our J award seats taken off us for no substantive reason. The QF CSA just said she couldn't explain why, but it was a matter of take it or leave it.
It can be disruptive when they (don't know whether "they" was QF or AY) can just make random changes after all availability on other dates has long gone leaving you with virtually no options.

Random cancellations and date changes shouldn't happen. MaybeHUACA.

 

[grant32]

Hello all. I'm trying my hardest to book a classic reward, but getting the dreaded "THE ITINERARY CONTAINS MORE THAN ONE DEPARTURE FROM THE FIRST DEPARTURE CITY/COUNTRY" error. I don't think I am breaking that rule, so can anyone provide any insight?

AKL-HKG-FRA (stop)
FRA-DOH-MEL (stop)
MEL-NRT (stop)
HND-SYD-AKL (stop)

I can select flights for the first 2, but when I choose the flight for MEL-NRT, the error pops up. Can I not transit through the same country (AU) that I have a stop in?

 

[esther_a]

Hello all. I'm trying my hardest to book a classic reward, but getting the dreaded "THE ITINERARY CONTAINS MORE THAN ONE DEPARTURE FROM THE FIRST DEPARTURE CITY/COUNTRY" error.

I had the same error when I was experimenting with a OWA starting in AKL. It was as though the system was counting AKL as being part of Australia. I changed the departure to SIN and the error disappeared.
I'm interested in what others have to say on this. It is certainly much more convenient to start a OWA in AKL than SIN!

 

[vetrade]

I had the same error when I was experimenting with a OWA starting in AKL. It was as though the system was counting AKL as being part of Australia. I changed the departure to SIN and the error disappeared.
I'm interested in what others have to say on this. It is certainly much more convenient to start a OWA in AKL than SIN!

Perhaps the obvious solution is to just ring the call centre and forget about trying to do it online

 

[Mr H]

It was as though the system was counting AKL as being part of Australia.

But in a way it actually is.

 

[repete]

Perhaps this explains my error up-thread about being 'allowed' when booking an Aus departure to come back through Aus and end in NZ. Is the QF system counting NZ as AUS? Annoying that they let that go through if it's not allowed (we have taken @vertrade's advice at the moment and reached out to Qantas for clarification but not happy about the process from QF. The rules don't pop up anywhere when booking and their site allowed this (and in @esther_a's case, didn't allow it!)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hello all. I'm trying my hardest to book a classic reward, but getting the dreaded "THE ITINERARY CONTAINS MORE THAN ONE DEPARTURE FROM THE FIRST DEPARTURE CITY/COUNTRY" error. I don't think I am breaking that rule, so can anyone provide any insight?

AKL-HKG-FRA (stop)
FRA-DOH-MEL (stop)
MEL-NRT (stop)
HND-SYD-AKL (stop)

I can select flights for the first 2, but when I choose the flight for MEL-NRT, the error pops up. Can I not transit through the same country (AU) that I have a stop in?

This exact issue came up a couple weeks ago with member Ari Gold, (see discussion at post 9972 in this thread, and onwards).

 

[tooten69]

Just to confirm could I book HKG-LHR online and add MEL-HKG over the phone when it's available? (I.e. add a trip to the start of a booking?)