Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[doonie]

Do you have status with QF? If you are Bronze you won't see any QF flights until 297 days out by that time they are often taken.

As others have advised book what you can get now & look at other options if they become available.

I'm a lowly Bronze. I've booked the BA flight and will keep looking, thank you

 

[melbkate]

Looks like QR989 CBR-DOH is on a single flight number, meaning the transit in MEL is not counted in the system - despite the plane stopping in MEL.

And what does that mean for me? I have rung qantas and tried to get them to allow me to book / board in MEL but they say the CBR flight 989 does not do to Melbourne (even though it does.) Do I have any hope?

Secondly, if I book the CBR-DOH-FCO flight can I return to (not CBR) Melbourne prob on JAL thanks

 

[Kangol]

And what does that mean for me? I have rung qantas and tried to get them to allow me to book / board in MEL but they say the CBR flight 989 does not do to Melbourne (even though it does.) Do I have any hope?

Secondly, if I book the CBR-DOH-FCO flight can I return to (not CBR) Melbourne prob on JAL thanks

It means you are unable to book from/board the QR flight in MEL.
You have to go to CBR and start there. If you don't board in CBR (no show), the rest of your ticket is cancelled.
You have no hope in your original question, unless award availability changes and the segments get unmarried (this seems unlikely).

If you book CBR-DOH-FCO, yes you can return to MEL.

As per my above posts, the system sees CBR-DOH as a single segment with a single flight number. It acts as if the MEL stop to pick up passengers doesn't exist. Yes the plane literally stops in MEL, but that is irrelevant because it's a single flight number.

 

[melbkate]

Thanks Kangol for the clear yet brutal information I shall comtemplate a night in Canberra and a stop in MEL for no reason but to get a J seat to FCO

 

[Kangol]

The 90 minute "stop" in MEL probably wouldn't be an actual transfer. I would be surprised if they made everyone disembark.

 

[melbkate]

It looks like you’re right.
From the T&Cs:

'Flight' means one way travel (without a Stopover) on a scheduled air service with a single flight number (even if the travel includes a change of aircraft). If travel includes a change of flight number, each change is a new Flight even if there is no change of aircraft

So does that mean the MEL ’transit’ wouldn’t count as one of the 16 segments either?
And, if not, then would the distance be calculated as CBR-DOH, or CBR-MEL-DOH?

Looks like QR989 CBR-DOH is on a single flight number, meaning the transit in MEL is not counted in the system - despite the plane stopping in MEL.

Hi Kangol I have put in to one search: MEL-CBR o/n in CBR (less than 24hrs) then CBR-FCO CDG-HEL HEL-MRT NRT-MEL and I am getting 636k for 2J so does that mean leaving from MEL and the next day CBR is ok and within the rules for a OWA? I'm not worried about distance just 2 Australian departures as somebody mentioned. Thanks

 

[Kangol]

Hi Kangol I have put in to one search: MEL-CBR o/n in CBR (less than 24hrs) then CBR-FCO CDG-HEL HEL-MRT NRT-MEL and I am getting 636k for 2J so does that mean leaving from MEL and the next day CBR is ok and within the rules for a OWA? I'm not worried about distance just 2 Australian departures as somebody mentioned. Thanks

Yes, looks like you are within the rules with a transfer in CBR and stops in FCO, HEL and NRT.
It is certainly priced as a OWA.
Surface segment from FCO to CDG as well.

 

[Mr H]

Quick question. Oman Air (WY) is slated to join OneWorld in 2024. At what point would we be able to book WY flights on a OWA itinerary?

• only bookable after the date WY joins
• bookable ahead of WY joining if the date of the flight is after joining? - if so, how far ahead of joining is that likely to be?

I suspect I know the answer but just dreaming about travel in 2024...

 

[BWKopite]

Hi,
Very useful information here for someone trying to book for the first time!
After slugging through credit cards for the past couple of years me and my partner finally have 640,000 point to book a RTW trip!

I've been trying to book for the past week or so and im finding it incredibly hard.
Our itinery is:
MEL - CUN - 06/03/23
CUN - LHR - 14/03/23
LHR - HKT - 01/05/23
HKT - KUL - 09/05/23
KUL - MEL - 12/05/23
Ive done it on the website, and managed to get the point to cap at 318,000 per person, however I then get the error message

We could not find a fare for the requested itinerary (5685 UI)

I called 13 13 13, and the girl was absolutely clueless. She didnt seem to understand the RTW trip at all, and kept telling me that I was the issue, for ever changing reasons:
-Flights are not available (Even though I can see them on the website, and she could magically see them later)
-I am not allowed to book because I am a bronze member?
-You cannot book business class if a single connecting flight is economy class

Any advice?

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Hi,
Very useful information here for someone trying to book for the first time!
After slugging through credit cards for the past couple of years me and my partner finally have 640,000 point to book a RTW trip!

I've been trying to book for the past week or so and im finding it incredibly hard.
Our itinery is:
MEL - CUN - 06/03/23
CUN - LHR - 14/03/23
LHR - HKT - 01/05/23
HKT - KUL - 09/05/23
KUL - MEL - 12/05/23
Ive done it on the website, and managed to get the point to cap at 318,000 per person, however I then get the error message

We could not find a fare for the requested itinerary (5685 UI)

I called 13 13 13, and the girl was absolutely clueless. She didnt seem to understand the RTW trip at all, and kept telling me that I was the issue, for ever changing reasons:
-Flights are not available (Even though I can see them on the website, and she could magically see them later)
-I am not allowed to book because I am a bronze member?
-You cannot book business class if a single connecting flight is economy class

Any advice?

One option is to call again, and again as many times as necessary until you get someone capable of building your itinerary and getting it ticketed.

Another option is to just try to book the first 4 sectors Yourself on the website.
Then, once they’re secured, call up to add the last sector.

There are pros & cons to doing this, but if option 1 doesn’t work, then you’re starting to run out of alternatives…

Some Pros:
You get 80% of your sectors, and probably closer to 90% of the value, booked before someone else grabs the award seats.
If it books through the website then it *should* ticket automatically.

Some Cons:
You still need to call up to make a change, which will expose you to potential errors during that process. (There are many threads on this forum describing some of those dangers…)

Of course, if you’ve got yourself back to KUL, and it’s too hard to add the extra sector back to MEL, you could just buy a revenue seat for that bit…

 

[Mr H]

Hi,
Very useful information here for someone trying to book for the first time!
After slugging through credit cards for the past couple of years me and my partner finally have 640,000 point to book a RTW trip!

I've been trying to book for the past week or so and im finding it incredibly hard.
Our itinery is:
MEL - CUN - 06/03/23
CUN - LHR - 14/03/23
LHR - HKT - 01/05/23
HKT - KUL - 09/05/23
KUL - MEL - 12/05/23
Ive done it on the website, and managed to get the point to cap at 318,000 per person, however I then get the error message

We could not find a fare for the requested itinerary (5685 UI)

I called 13 13 13, and the girl was absolutely clueless. She didnt seem to understand the RTW trip at all, and kept telling me that I was the issue, for ever changing reasons:
-Flights are not available (Even though I can see them on the website, and she could magically see them later)
-I am not allowed to book because I am a bronze member?
-You cannot book business class if a single connecting flight is economy class

Any advice?

When calling, do not mention OWA or RTW. Do not mention stopovers. That may confuse the agent. You just need to say you want to book some flights on an itinerary and you will give them one by one - do them flight by flight, not stopover to stopover. Then start at the beginning and the points should cap out at 318,000 while the taxes and charges keep mounting.

The bit about not being allowed an economy sector is a new thing. It is incorrect but it seems to be commonly applied. I was able to get around it by finding an indirect route all in J, but you may have less luck. If necessary, leave it as an open jaw and come back to it later. If you have to, you could do it in revenue.

 

[gourmet333]

Hi Everyone, I'm trying to book some Qantas J Class rewards seats in April next year from Melbourne. Into Casablanca on the 4th April and out of Barcelona on the 29th or thereabouts. I'll do it s 2 separate tickets.
Can't find anything in J to Casablanca so I'll keep looking everyday but I managed to find a BCN - DOH / DOH - MEL through the multi city function, the first leg being in economy. BUT when I work though the booking it comes up with an error at the end. I've tried a couple of times to get through to Qantas but after a few hours I have had to give up. Has anyone struck this before? Are there any pixies in the system I'm not aware of that may be causing this?
I did try to break the 2 sectors up into 2 separate tickets, whilst it looked like I would be able to book BCN-DOH, it wouldn't let me search for DOH-MEL
Any advice or work arounds gratefully received.
Thanks.

 

[aikman]

Hi Everyone, I'm trying to book some Qantas J Class rewards seats in April next year from Melbourne. Into Casablanca on the 4th April and out of Barcelona on the 29th or thereabouts. I'll do it s 2 separate tickets.
Can't find anything in J to Casablanca so I'll keep looking everyday but I managed to find a BCN - DOH / DOH - MEL through the multi city function, the first leg being in economy. BUT when I work though the booking it comes up with an error at the end. I've tried a couple of times to get through to Qantas but after a few hours I have had to give up. Has anyone struck this before? Are there any pixies in the system I'm not aware of that may be causing this?
I did try to break the 2 sectors up into 2 separate tickets, whilst it looked like I would be able to book BCN-DOH, it wouldn't let me search for DOH-MEL
Any advice or work arounds gratefully received.
Thanks.

Are you even sure you want to book that? Taxes alone are $1,236 and half your journey is in economy.

 

[gourmet333]

Are you even sure you want to book that? Taxes alone are $1,236 and half your journey is in economy.

Yes, it's not great value but I really want to at least fly the long segment in J class (tricky back!) even if I have to fly economy for the short leg. But unfortunately there were no J class seats on offer for that first segment. I know Emirates & Qatar have high taxes but none of the other Oneworld partner airlines are popping up with any options.

 

[levelnine]

Any advice or work arounds gratefully received.

I don't think there are any workarounds for those types of errors. You simply have to call up and play the call centre roulette, hoping you get a competent agent.

 

[ozflier]

Quick question. Oman Air (WY) is slated to join OneWorld in 2024. At what point would we be able to book WY flights on a OWA itinerary?

• only bookable after the date WY joins
• bookable ahead of WY joining if the date of the flight is after joining? - if so, how far ahead of joining is that likely to be?

I suspect I know the answer but just dreaming about travel in 2024...

This type of thing happened 31 March 2021 when Royal air Maroc (AT) joined OW.
I was unable to book awards on that airline until after the joining date - ie none became available on the qantas website .
Their were lots of problems convincing AFF rewards staff that AT were a member and adding their seats to my booking but those hassles settled by 6 months later.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Hi Everyone, I'm trying to book some Qantas J Class rewards seats in April next year from Melbourne. Into Casablanca on the 4th April and out of Barcelona on the 29th or thereabouts. I'll do it s 2 separate tickets.
Can't find anything in J to Casablanca so I'll keep looking everyday but I managed to find a BCN - DOH / DOH - MEL through the multi city function, the first leg being in economy. BUT when I work though the booking it comes up with an error at the end. I've tried a couple of times to get through to Qantas but after a few hours I have had to give up. Has anyone struck this before? Are there any pixies in the system I'm not aware of that may be causing this?
I did try to break the 2 sectors up into 2 separate tickets, whilst it looked like I would be able to book BCN-DOH, it wouldn't let me search for DOH-MEL
Any advice or work arounds gratefully received.
Thanks.

I suspect Married Sectors could be involved.
Even though you’re booking both sectors, the change of cabin might cause a Divorce…
Other more knowledgeable members might know for sure.

 

[Mr H]

This type of thing happened 31 March 2021 when Royal air Maroc (AT) joined OW.
I was unable to book awards on that airline until after the joining date - ie none became available on the qantas website .
Their were lots of problems convincing AFF rewards staff that AT were a member and adding their seats to my booking but those hassles settled by 6 months later.

Thanks. In my case, my first flights will be in May 2023 - looking to basically get another OS trip on the same ticket in February 2024 - so WY will not work for me. I will have to find an alternative carrier - which should be straightforward between MCT and MEL.

Post automatically merged: Jul 13, 2022

I suspect Married Sectors could be involved.
Even though you’re booking both sectors, the change of cabin might cause a Divorce…
Other more knowledgeable members might know for sure.

You cannot start a multi-city search in DOH. To see whether the DOH-MEL is available as a standalone flight you have to put a dummy line in the search engine to start with - MEL-SYD for a non-contiguous date would work. Then see whether the DOH-MEL shows availability.

 

[cjd600]

Hi Everyone, I'm trying to book some Qantas J Class rewards seats in April next year from Melbourne. Into Casablanca on the 4th April and out of Barcelona on the 29th or thereabouts. I'll do it s 2 separate tickets.
Can't find anything in J to Casablanca so I'll keep looking everyday but I managed to find a BCN - DOH / DOH - MEL through the multi city function, the first leg being in economy. BUT when I work though the booking it comes up with an error at the end. I've tried a couple of times to get through to Qantas but after a few hours I have had to give up. Has anyone struck this before? Are there any pixies in the system I'm not aware of that may be causing this?
I did try to break the 2 sectors up into 2 separate tickets, whilst it looked like I would be able to book BCN-DOH, it wouldn't let me search for DOH-MEL

Not sure on the error when trying to complete the booking.
You cant search for award flights originating in DOH on the QF website due to some sort of currency issue.
If you have found availability for the sector you're after, via multi-city search, you'll need to call (and hope there is no married segment logic applied, though with mixed-class I'm not sure if this is even relevant) and have the call centre complete the booking (with fingers crossed)

Theres BCN-DXB-MEL on 30/4 all in Emirates J available, is that an option? (search BCN-MEL)

 

[gourmet333]

Not sure on the error when trying to complete the booking.
You cant search for award flights originating in DOH on the QF website due to some sort of currency issue.
If you have found availability for the sector you're after, via multi-city search, you'll need to call (and hope there is no married segment logic applied, though with mixed-class I'm not sure if this is even relevant) and have the call centre complete the booking (with fingers crossed)

Theres BCN-DXB-MEL on 30/4 all in Emirates J available, is that an option? (search BCN-MEL)

Ohh yes that could be an option, would need to get more time off work. But E1206/ A$1,785 in taxes one way is hard to swallow .
I just flew back AMS-MEL in First Class 2 weeks ago with Emirates and the taxes were E882/ A$1,304. They must have gone up again.