"oneworld" award (132.4K/249.6K/318K/455K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

[FishFood]

free seat selection for everyone in your booking from 7 days before departure

I'll have to be patient as the booking is about 5 months away

 

[Mr H]

I'll have to be patient as the booking is about 5 months away

It's hard, isn't it?

I have not travelled since February 2020. I booked a OWA last year that is due to commence in one month and five days. I keep tweaking it. I am checking my inbox for my e-visa every 20 minutes.

I have also booked next year's adventure (May 2023). I have pretty much decided on 2024's adventure (February 2024) and I'm frustrated that nothing is available to book yet.

I have a swag of SQ points that will expire in 2024-25 so that means bookings on *A for flights in 2025 and 2026. Already googling potential routes and destinations (in that order).

I have watched just about every Youtube business class review. More than once.

I just want to get on that plane, dammit.

 

[ChrisMars]

It's hard, isn't it?

I have not travelled since February 2020. I booked a OWA last year that is due to commence in one month and five days. I keep tweaking it. I am checking my inbox for my e-visa every 20 minutes.

I have also booked next year's adventure (May 2023). I have pretty much decided on 2024's adventure (February 2024) and I'm frustrated that nothing is available to book yet.

I have a swag of SQ points that will expire in 2024-25 so that means bookings on *A for flights in 2025 and 2026. Already googling potential routes and destinations (in that order).

I have watched just about every Youtube business class review. More than once.

I just want to get on that plane, dammit.

Now I understand why you are both gold and silver AFF supporter

 

[levelnine]

I'm trying to add a two-sector flight (eg JFK-CLT-MIA) to a OWA.

Online it shows a mixed business/economy itinerary is available (eg JFK-CLT in J on AA, CLT-MIA in Y on AA).

When I called up, the agent (Hobart so they know what they're doing) says they cannot see it. Their explanation is that I am seeing something available from the US point of sale and therefore not available for a OWA that starts in Australia. Is that correct? Or is this a case of HUACA?

 

[Mr H]

I'm trying to add a two-sector flight (eg JFK-CLT-MIA) to a OWA.

Online it shows a mixed business/economy itinerary is available (eg JFK-CLT in J on AA, CLT-MIA in Y on AA).

When I called up, the agent (Hobart so they know what they're doing) says they cannot see it. Their explanation is that I am seeing something available from the US point of sale and therefore not available for a OWA that starts in Australia. Is that correct? Or is this a case of HUACA?

Try it on multi-city with a dummy first sector in Australia and see.

 

[levelnine]

Try it on multi-city with a dummy first sector in Australia and see.

Still available, as I suspected. I'm inclined to think that isn't the actual reason, but still wondering if there might be some other reason for the mismatch in availability between what I can see and what they can see. It doesn't appear to be phantom award space as I can take it all the way through to booking.

 

[squid01]

Is the requested flight showing in MMB and CMT as on request or pending? If not I would call back to check there is something on the system. I had a request to open a revenue seat with AA put in back in May. I was told it will take 24-48 hours, when that passed 3-5 days and when that passed 3-5 business days. It took a week. It was eventually declined as it was due to a QF cancellation not an AA one.
You've got Buckley's that they'll call you back.

Just a follow up on this; still no word from AA on if they will release the rewards seat on that flight due to their cancellation of my original flight. Phoned Qantas back after one week from original request said need to wait longer. Just called again (16 days after original request) they put in a follow up request to AA. Not sure why it took over an hour for them to do something so simple as a follow up.

If I call back in a few days to try and escalate it what can I say? Do the operators managers have the ability to connect directly with AA perhaps via a phone line, to push the request through? Or are we truly at the mercy of the email request line of communication they have been doing?

 

[squid01]

Another question relating to another cancelled flight on my OWA. I originally had a leg booked of ADL>PER>KUL>HKT>DOH>LHR (I know lol). All flights just transit and less than 24hours between each, so not stops.

The KUL>HKT flight has been cancelled by MH, there is no oneworld option to pick up another flight on that date. I am going to have to buy a revenue fare on another airline and make my own way. That would be a surface segment, but between landing in KUL and departing HKT will still be less than 24hrs. So will that count as a stop, as not flying out of the same airport? Or just a stopover still as between landing and departure is less than 24hours?

Also, my itinery starts in ADL and finishes in MEL. Landing back in MEL is that considered a "stop"?

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Just a follow up on this; still no word from AA on if they will release the rewards seat on that flight due to their cancellation of my original flight. Phoned Qantas back after one week from original request said need to wait longer. Just called again (16 days after original request) they put in a follow up request to AA. Not sure why it took over an hour for them to do something so simple as a follow up.

If I call back in a few days to try and escalate it what can I say? Do the operators managers have the ability to connect directly with AA perhaps via a phone line, to push the request through? Or are we truly at the mercy of the email request line of communication they have been doing?

If it’s any consolation, my recent OneWorld request for reinstatement of a cancelled award seat took 21 days to come through (after many follow up calls).

 

[squid01]

If it’s any consolation, my recent OneWorld request for reinstatement of a cancelled award seat took 21 days to come through (after many follow up calls).

Did they just send a follow up email through when you called up again? Or did they use another means of getting through to the other airline?
Is there a 'Oneworld liaison desk' or something I have read about before, for these things?

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Did they just send a follow up email through when you called up again? Or did they use another means of getting through to the other airline?
Is there a 'Oneworld liaison desk' or something I have read about before, for these things?

I did ask for escalation of the request.
They we’re reluctant to do anything, and asked for more patience. At the time, our first flight was about 32 days out, so for them there was ‘plenty of time to get it sorted out’.
But for us, we’re out of the country for most of that period, so our ability to call in is/was going to be very limited.
Once they understood our situation, they agreed to escalate the request, but I’m not sure if it was done by phone, email, or otherwise, and I’m not sure to whom.
(Of course, I don’t really know if any escalation was even done, or whether the reinstatement just came through the regular channels.)

 

[VPS]

I'm not sure if this will go back into circulation or not but I'm just about to cancel a J reward with Qatar ADL DOH LHR on the 2nd September, If anyone is interested I can let them know when I cancel

 

[flapper]

I wanted to share my experience in adding some flights to my booking for mid 2023 booking.
Call 1. Fiji seemed very competent added flights although it took ages, I could see on MMB & CMT calculated taxes and points, charge went through on credit card, said would ticket in 1-2 hours. That took 40 mins a record I thought. I checked 10 mins later the added flights had disappeared, original ticket no on CMT.
Call 2. Fiji I explained Call 1, couldn't see any added flights either. I asked to readd. Call cut out, didn't call back. I keep checking MMB, flights added to a brand new booking.
Call 3. Fiji explain Calls 1 & 2 get her to promise a number of times to call if line drops out. Ask to add flights waiting on hold for a long time. Call drops out. No call back, no flights added.
Call 4. Manila Explain all calls, get her to promise to call back if dropout. Ask to add flights. Call drops out. No call back.
Call 5. Manila I explain. She then proceeds to add cash flights to my booking. I tell her I want rewards. She says you can't add rewards flights to a ticketed booking.
Call 6. Manila. I ask if I can add rewards flights to an existing booking. Says it's not possible.
Call 7. Manila. I ask if I can add rewards flights to an existing booking. Says it's not possible.
Call 8. CT. Adds flights, says taxes calculated automatically(much more than call 1's taxes), says got an error on points so had to contact support (I believe it is the rewards area) all showing on MMB & CMT. Takes credit card. Says will ticket in 24-48 hours. Call took about 1 hour. I think I'll have lunch before I settle in for the arvo to try and get ticketed.
20 mins later E-ticket arrives, all correct and charge through on credit card and correct points deducted.
Learnings from today. It seems no one in Manila believes you can add flights to a rewards booking (hang up next time I get Manila).
I avoided IB flights as I know those taxes need to be calculated manually (problem for OS call centres) and now taxes calc automatically.
E-Ticket seems to have reissued automatically, it must depend on airlines used whether ticketing needs to be done manually (again I avoided IB which I usually have on my bookings).

 

[Mr H]

.Learnings from today.

Also you have learned that Fiji agents are nice but useless. They will not solve your problems. And that despite the reputation, Cape Town has some competent agents who can and will deliver.

 

[dvt]

Once I start a OWA, if I choose to make changes half way through the trip, will points still be capped at the award rate (if within all of the rules) or will the extra legs be charged at the full rate?

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Once I start a OWA, if I choose to make changes half way through the trip, will points still be capped at the award rate (if within all of the rules) or will the extra legs be charged at the full rate?

The rules relating to changes:

14.7 Classic Flight Rewards (excluding Classic Flight Rewards forming part of Combined Classic Flight Reward Bookings) - changes to tickets​

14.7.1 Except as otherwise stated in this clause 14.7 and clause 14.8, changes are not permitted to any Classic Flight Reward at any time. Any permitted changes are subject to Classic Flight Reward availability.
14.7.2 If a booking is made that includes non-Classic Flight Reward flight(s) and Classic Flight Reward flight(s), then any changes to any Classic Flight Reward flight Segment or Segments in the combined booking may only be made in accordance with the conditions outlined in clause 14.8, and this clause 14.7 will not apply.
14.7.3 Prior to ticketing, Classic Flight Rewards may be changed without incurring a Change Fee; however, any changes will be subject to this clause 14.7 and to the advance purchase and validity provisions set out in clauses 14.2.2 and 14.6.1.
14.7.4 Subject to this clause 14.7, the following changes are permitted to a Classic Flight Reward after ticketing and prior to commencement of any travel and will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger:
(a) change to flight number;
(b) change to date of travel;
(c) change to class of travel;
(d) change to any Segment routing or airline;
(e) change to name (only for Flights with a Qantas (QF) flight number on the ticket that are operated by Qantas); and
(f) request to cancel ticket and re-credit Qantas Points. Please note that only Qantas Points that would not have expired will be re-credited.
14.7.5 Subject to this clause 14.7, the following changes are permitted to a Classic Flight Reward flight before departure of that flight, provided the entire booking contains only Flight Segments that are within Australia, and will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger:
(a) change to flight number;
(b) change to date of travel;
(c) change to class of travel; and
(d) change to a direct or indirect Segment routing without a Stopover (provided the origin and destination cities remain unchanged) or airline.
14.7.6 Subject to this clause 14.7, the following changes are permitted to a Classic Flight Reward flight before departure of that flight, provided the booking contains one or more Flight Segments that are not within Australia, and the Flight Segment(s) being changed do not include a partner airline that requires a ticket to be reissued for the change. Any such change will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger:
(a) change to flight number; and
(b) change to date of travel.
14.7.7 Any change made to a Classic Flight Reward after ticketing will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger. No changes requiring ticket reissue will be allowed to any Classic Flight Reward within 24 hours before departure from the point of origin of the first Flight Segment on the Itinerary.
14.7.8 The following changes are not permitted to any Classic Flight Reward within 24 hours before departure from the point of origin of the first Flight Segment on the Itinerary:
(a) change to class of travel;
(b) change to any Segment routing or airline; and
(c) change to name (only for Flights with a Qantas (QF) flight number on the ticket that are operated by Qantas).
14.7.9 No changes will be permitted on qantas.com to any Classic Flight Reward within 24 hours before departure of each Flight Segment on the Itinerary.
14.7.10 Changes to Classic Flight Rewards that incur Point fees (see the Fee Schedule) can be made only by the Member who originally redeemed Qantas Points for the Classic Flight Rewards and only if that Member has sufficient Qantas Points to cover the applicable fees.
14.7.11 Any change made by telephone or in person to a Classic Flight Reward booking will incur a Service Fee per passenger occupying a seat (see Fee Schedule) in addition to any applicable Change Fee.

 

[MJHoops]

Did they just send a follow up email through when you called up again? Or did they use another means of getting through to the other airline?
Is there a 'Oneworld liaison desk' or something I have read about before, for these things?

Who really knows, but you might want to read my thread here. The agents spin a lot of different BS about what they believe or (don’t) know the process to be. I believe it’s just done via Amadeus and then there is the dreaded manual ticket queue

Thread 'How to fix Qantas classic reward after partner airline schedule change'
How to fix Qantas classic reward after partner airline schedule change

 

[flapper]

I had to add a flight to another OWA booking today.
Call 1 CT Gets answered right on 10:00am when seats released tells me I can't add flights as already ticketed. Politely tell her she is wrong and I'm hanging up so I can call back.
Call 2 CT 10:05 Says she knows how to add flights. BA showing 4 J seats on the flight to USA. She's she'll put me on hold 'for a moment'. I ask her to call back if call drops out. BA showing 1 seat gone, thinking it must be mine. Still on hold, new flight doesn't appear on MMB or CMT as usually does (I keep madly refreshing). BA now shows only 1 seat. Call cuts out after 25 mins.
Call 3. Fiji Confirms no flight added (what the hell was previuos operator doing all that time?) but can add flights, promises to call back (gets impatient as I tell her only 1 in 10 ever call back despite promises to do so). Puts me on hold so I can't ask her what she is doing. I see the seat disappears on BA website and flight appears in MMB & CMT. After 20 mins she comes back and says she's booked me in Y as no J seats. I tell her I'll choose another flight( always pays to have a back up plan. Tells me J available. On hold for another 5 mins. Tells me taxes and points (points seems too low). I give credit card tells me ticket will issue in within 24 hours. Because of poor operators I miss the flight I wanted.
Call 4. 3 hours later I call to get ticketed. Taxes already on cr card by now. CT answers. Starts to tell me it's in the queue and taxes paid. I say I think points were wrong. He looks and says the old ticket hasn't been removed. (I did see the old number showing old flights on CMT and wasn't sure if that was right or not). He puts me on hold. Within 5 mins my email pings and the ticket is there. Wait another 5 mins for him to come back. Tells me points have now gone through ( I was told the wrong amount earlier) and should get email within the hour. Tell him I already have it.
Learnings: If requested flights don't show on MMB or CMT within 5 mins of request, I'll call using my other phone to check.
It seeems as soon as he removed old ticket it reticketed automatically. Confirms suspicion it depends on airlines on booking if retickets automatically or not. May also depend on number of flights currently 6 flights, see what happens when I add more.

 

[levelnine]

I had to add a flight to another OWA booking today.

You have the patience of a saint. I hope the trip works out for you!

 

[melbkate]

Probably dumb question - but what is the difference between booking a ticket and then changing a flight which appears on the booking and being 'reticketed'? I have done this last week and it went well on the phone moving 3 flights forward by a few days - they appear in my booking should I be worried if it hasn't 'reticketed' and how do I know? Also the helpful guy on the phone was trying to add / change the flights we were disconnected during - I rang back got someone new and it had been changed by the previous person even though we were disconnected. Manilla call centre. FYI flights are with QR AY JL and QF