Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[vetrade]

As the previous 2 posts show, you certainly need lots of both patience and persistence (plus time, of course) to deal with the QF call centre, so much so that it's almost like a game of "Survivor" nowadays.

Our OWA itinerary for next year was finalised and ticketed (with new eTicket numbers) at the start of November. No changes since then but on Dec 6th I received a new eTicket confirmation which had the same itinerary and PNR but different ticket numbers to what we were issued a month ago.

Everybody accepts that getting the eTicket number confirmed is the cornerstone of any award booking, so it diminishes one's confidence in the QF booking system that bit more when the eTicket number can be randomly changed like that.

 

[QF029]

I recently got the Qantas Titanium card and found that if you call the concierge they can put you on to a booking agent. The wait was more like 15-20 mins if anyone has the card.

P.S. I primarily got it for the 150k sign up points to help with the RTW award trip I'm planning.

 

[gfraser]

I need to go from SYD to SCL in November next year beginning a Business OWA but at this stage there are no Award flights at all next year despite there being some available several months ago.
Does anyone have any insight as to what is happening?
ps I am QF Silver

 

[ozflier]

I need to go from SYD to SCL in November next year beginning a Business OWA but at this stage there are no Award flights at all next year despite there being some available several months ago.
Does anyone have any insight as to what is happening?
ps I am QF Silver

I guess one of the problems is that the there are a total of 4 return flights per week so pickings may be slim.
The loss of LATAM out of Oneworld has not been good for this routing.
There is the option of SYD-LAX-SCL which have a greater number of flights or
depending on how flexible your overall routing is , you could fly via Europe . I can see business award availability out of both London and Madrid in october and november 2022.
Remember you do not need to travel round the world.

 

[Mattg]

I guess one of the problems is that the there are a total of 4 return flights per week so pickings may be slim.
The loss of LATAM out of Oneworld has not been good for this routing.
There is the option of SYD-LAX-SCL which have a greater number of flights or
depending on how flexible your overall routing is , you could fly via Europe . I can see business award availability out of both London and Madrid in october and november 2022.
Remember you do not need to travel round the world.

I recently helped a friend to book two of these awards to Argentina. There was no availability at all on direct flights between Australia & South America, so the itineraries used were:

SYD-KUL-LHR (MH)
LHR-EZE (BA)
EZE-DFW (AA)
DFW-SYD (QF)

and for the second trip:

MEL-DRW-LHR (QF9)
LHR-EZE (BA)
EZE-MAD-DOH-MEL (IB/QR)

 

[gfraser]

I’m in a bit of a pickle.
We need to get to Buenos Aires and then back to Europe before coming back to MEL.
As we can’t go SYD- SCL and then to EZE ( paid) , the only option that I could book was MEL-SYD - HND - LHR, and I have booked that but to have this and get to EZE and return to Europe (MAD) and then back to MEL, puts me over the 35,000.
There are so few options at the moment - I can only hope that more options become available as things open up.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m in a bit of a pickle.
We need to get to Buenos Aires and then back to Europe before coming back to MEL.
As we can’t go SYD- SCL and then to EZE ( paid) , the only option that I could book was MEL-SYD - HND - LHR, and I have booked that but to have this and get to EZE and return to Europe (MAD) and then back to MEL, puts me over the 35,000.
There are so few options at the moment - I can only hope that more options become available as things open up.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Can you find anything to the USA and then connect using AA via DFW for example?

 

[Mattg]

Can you find anything to the USA and then connect using AA via DFW for example?

If going via North America doesn't work, try something like GRU-DOH-MEL or GRU-DOH-KUL-MEL using QR out of Brazil.

 

[gfraser]

Thank you all for advising me to look outside the square.
I have decided to go to GRU rather than to EZE and pay for GRU-EZE thus bringing me within the 35,000.
Its now a waiting game until the dates in December 2022 become available.
Also am I able to book Reward flights within Europe, not on the OWA PNR, and they won't interfere with the OWA?

 

[k_sheep]

Also am I able to book Reward flights within Europe, not on the OWA PNR, and they won't interfere with the OWA?

Yes that's fine as they will be on their own booking number and PNR

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you all for advising me to look outside the square.
I have decided to go to GRU rather than to EZE and pay for GRU-EZE thus bringing me within the 35,000.
Its now a waiting game until the dates in December 2022 become available.
Also am I able to book Reward flights within Europe, not on the OWA PNR, and they won't interfere with the OWA?

Sure. Separate PNRs mean there's no interaction between the bookings.

 

[vetrade]

Flights on separate PNRs are fine but if you recommence your OWA from a different city, the distance between that city and the last city in your OWA itinerary, has to be included as a ground segment in the 35,000 mileage limit. It also counts as one sector within the 16 sector limit.

 

[gfraser]

Understand, thank you

 

[Fyrd]

I recently got the Qantas Titanium card and found that if you call the concierge they can put you on to a booking agent. The wait was more like 15-20 mins if anyone has the card.

P.S. I primarily got it for the 150k sign up points to help with the RTW award trip I'm planning.

$1200 though =_= Otherwise you're happy with the card? I like the fact that the bonus points could really get you over the line but the platinum reward is usually 100k for a fraction of the fee.

 

[QF029]

$1200 though =_= Otherwise you're happy with the card? I like the fact that the bonus points could really get you over the line but the platinum reward is usually 100k for a fraction of the fee.

I'm not familiar with the Platinum Reward. I reviewed which cards have the highest bonus points and I'm not eligble for Westpac, AMEX or ANZ at the moment so figured I'd take Qantas. I definitely won't renew unless they waive the fee but it has 2.25 QF points per dollar (more than double AMEX), 2 first class lounge invitations (I'm NB at the moment) plus bonus SCs etc. In my case I think the 150k points were worth $1200 plus the other benefits.

The most annoying thing is that the card won't work in Google Pay (but does in Apple Pay which I don't use).

 

[ozflier]

Good to see more award J seats becoming available on the BNE-LAX run both ways.
On multiple dates certainly May thru September 2022, there are at least 2 "U" seats available on the newly added departure at 2030 on flight QF 15. Not sure if its related to the opening up of Queensland but its good news.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good to see more award J seats becoming available on the BNE-LAX run both ways.
On multiple dates certainly May thru September 2022, there are at least 2 "U" seats available on the newly added departure at 2030 on flight QF 15. Not sure if its related to the opening up of Queensland but its good news.

*potentially* good news. QF has a habit of cancelling flights/routes due to 'subdued' demand. While they do protect you on another flight, it's not uncommon for it to mismatch the rest of your itinerary. That leads to hours waiting on the phone

 

[flapper]

*potentially* good news. QF has a habit of cancelling flights/routes due to 'subdued' demand. While they do protect you on another flight, it's not uncommon for it to mismatch the rest of your itinerary. That leads to hours waiting on the phone

Just has 2 separate QF flights from US in mid 2022 cancelled. Waiting for call back said 1 to 2 hours. So far over 3 hours wait.

 

[AL10]

*potentially* good news. QF has a habit of cancelling flights/routes due to 'subdued' demand. While they do protect you on another flight, it's not uncommon for it to mismatch the rest of your itinerary. That leads to hours waiting on the phone

What route flapper?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What route flapper?

SYD-SFO in March for starters!