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

[PaulyB]

I'd appreciate some input about splitting a J OWA into two trips. I want to make a decision before the current offer of a free change until Dec 31 ends because getting out of Tokyo and back to Sydney is proving to be a Jenga of flights with one leg in Prem Econ.

If I make the split, Part 1 would end in Tokyo in October, next year and we would pay to return back to Sydney - probably with JL in Prem Ec.

I would then pick up the second leg from somewhere in the region outside Australia, about June/July 2024, making sure I was back by Aug 11 which is when we left.

Are there any traps, pitfalls or challenges in dealing with managing this? We will have enough miles

Thanks!

 

[Kangol]

I'd appreciate some input about splitting a J OWA into two trips. I want to make a decision before the current offer of a free change until Dec 31 ends because getting out of Tokyo and back to Sydney is proving to be a Jenga of flights with one leg in Prem Econ.

If I make the split, Part 1 would end in Tokyo in October, next year and we would pay to return back to Sydney - probably with JL in Prem Ec.

I would then pick up the second leg from somewhere in the region outside Australia, about June/July 2024, making sure I was back by Aug 11 which is when we left.

Are there any traps, pitfalls or challenges in dealing with managing this? We will have enough miles

Thanks!

Where exactly do you want to go?
I've done a few from: Australia-Europe-Asia (HKG or SIN usually, sometimes NRT/HND), then use a different ticket to get home.
Position back to Asia and picking up the same ticket from Asia-US-Australia.
The challenges include availability - back then CX and JL had good award space. Most of mine were F though, not J.
Making changes once you've flown at least one leg of the ticket can also be an issue.
I suppose it all depends on what your intended plans are.

 

[PaulyB]

Where exactly do you want to go?
I've done a few from: Australia-Europe-Asia (HKG or SIN usually, sometimes NRT/HND), then use a different ticket to get home.
Position back to Asia and picking up the same ticket from Asia-US-Australia.
The challenges include availability - back then CX and JL had good award space. Most of mine were F though, not J.
Making changes once you've flown at least one leg of the ticket can also be an issue.
I suppose it all depends on what your intended plans are.

Thanks for this.
For some background - the first part is Syd - LHR via BLR and and return to NRT., Dep Aug 11 2023 and getting to NRT, Oct 20.
The second could well be AKL - BKK and back to SYD. We would have to be bak in SYD by Aug 10

But I think the most important part of this is "

Making changes once you've flown at least one leg of the ticket can also be an issue.

I'd forgotten that. I would actually be able to create the new itinerary before leaving on the first leg in Aug 2023 although it would obviously be better to book something for June/July as I am a lowly Bronze. It will cost points to add.

Given that, are there any other forseeable challenges/worse case scenario apart from availabliltiy and uninformed staff??!

 

[aikman]

I'd appreciate some input about splitting a J OWA into two trips. I want to make a decision before the current offer of a free change until Dec 31 ends because getting out of Tokyo and back to Sydney is proving to be a Jenga of flights with one leg in Prem Econ.

If I make the split, Part 1 would end in Tokyo in October, next year and we would pay to return back to Sydney - probably with JL in Prem Ec.

I would then pick up the second leg from somewhere in the region outside Australia, about June/July 2024, making sure I was back by Aug 11 which is when we left.

Are there any traps, pitfalls or challenges in dealing with managing this? We will have enough miles

Thanks!

More trouble than it's worth in my opinion.

So to get from Trip 1 and connect to Trip 2, you'd have to book separate tickets NRT-SYD-Asia. Whatever you are spending on that separate ticket, you might as well use as your Trip 2 in 2024 ie. SYD-Asia-SYD. Same total cost in the end but it's a lot cleaner - you end up with two standalone trips with the flexibility to change plans on Trip 2.

 

[Mr H]

More trouble than it's worth in my opinion.

So to get from Trip 1 and connect to Trip 2, you'd have to book separate tickets NRT-SYD-Asia. Whatever you are spending on that separate ticket, you might as well use as your Trip 2 in 2024 ie. SYD-Asia-SYD. Same total cost in the end but it's a lot cleaner - you end up with two standalone trips with the flexibility to change plans on Trip 2.

Pauly's problem is that he can't easily get a redemption into/out of Australia - a common problem - but is finding availability on non-Australian routes. Having a nested revenue return to Australia seems like a neat solution if it is affordable, although getting back from Trip 2 is still going to be an issue.

 

[PaulyB]

All good input. Thank you.

Having a nested revenue return to Australia seems like a neat solution if it is affordable, although getting back from Trip 2 is still going to be an issue.

The current return journey from Tokyo is meandering; HND-MNL-HKG-SYD and the overnight last leg is in Prem Econ which is the last thing we want, with CX. I guess the question is, do I take my chances with the possibility of more flight options, the fact that it isn't quite a peak season plus maybe the staff will be better?

As Aikman says,

Same total cost in the end but it's a lot cleaner - you end up with two standalone trips with the flexibility to change plans on Trip 2.

the cost is probably pretty equal and a new paid flight with more options ultimately, provides greater flexibility.

I'm not too sure how many more multiple searches I can do with my fingers and hand on the QANTAS search engine before Dec 31 to escape the points-fee change. I feel I am getting RSI, all the repeat searches, a few times a day.

 

[gfraser]

I have a a OWA for next year complete except from CMB to MEL..
There are 2 of us and 2 bookings are not possible but I can get one (J ) and 1 the next day. Will this upset the one PNR or is it ok.
Another option is to take the award and pay for the other ticket.
Same scenario with the PNR
Please advise what is possible.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I have a a OWA for next year complete except from CMB to MEL..
There are 2 of us and 2 bookings are not possible but I can get one (J ) and 1 the next day. Will this upset the one PNR or is it ok.
Another option is to take the award and pay for the other ticket.
Same scenario with the PNR
Please advise what is possible.

You’d have to split the PNRs to do this with either option.

Doing this used to be straightforward. However, the risk these days is that if either PNR is slow to ticket, you might lose one or more flights.

 

[gda380]

Hi All, Currently doing my research to book OWA for 3 PAX as two trips (one to the US WEST coast) and then another to Europe. Considering SIN as a place to have a long stopover ~6 months.
I am trying to book everything using the six flight option on the multi city tool (mainly to avoid the pain of contact Qantas CC - I am BRONZE). When I was searching earlier in the year, the multi city page remembered all previously entered data when I have to change information. But now everytime I go back all fields are reset and need to enter everything all over again. Is this the same with everyone? or something specific to my browser (I am using Safari on a MAC). Thanks.

 

[Mr H]

Hi All, Currently doing my research to book OWA for 3 PAX as two trips (one to the US WEST coast) and then another to Europe. Considering SIN as a place to have a long stopover ~6 months.
I am trying to book everything using the six flight option on the multi city tool (mainly to avoid the pain of contact Qantas CC - I am BRONZE). When I was searching earlier in the year, the multi city page remembered all previously entered data when I have to change information. But now everytime I go back all fields are reset and need to enter everything all over again. Is this the same with everyone? or something specific to my browser (I am using Safari on a MAC). Thanks.

That's how it is for me - annoying. Also, the multi-city page does not allow that many countries as starting points.

 

[PaulyB]

But now everytime I go back all fields are reset and need to enter everything all over again. Is this the same with everyone? or something specific to my browser (I am using Safari on a MAC). Thanks.

Oh yeah. I mentioned RSI half-jokingly a few posts ago but my hands are positively stiff from the number of searchers looking for flights. I use Chrome on a Mac but I doubt Safari is any different. And one mistake and you have to enter everything again. It is incredibly primitive.

Plus often, the info on the screen doesn't match what you have so when you call, do your best to be armed with a couple of options. Difficult, I know....

 

[Rach1616]

Have all the flights been ticketed? When I finished booking my itineray which took multiple calls, all the flights were ticketed pretty quickly bar one - a SYD-CBR hop. Despite several calls asking for this to be done, it wasn't and not all the required points were deducted. When there was a on QF carrier initiated change which required ticket revalidating, this seemed to 'force the issue' on ticketing the outstanding flight, with it being ticketed in the revaludating process. Within a day or two of this the full 318K points were deducted.

One of the reasons I was told not to worry about the lack of ticketing for that flight was that it was a Qantas flight and that the non QF flights have been ticketed. Right or wrong I don't know but no flights were lost while that SYD-CBR flight was unticketed - around 3 weeks.

As described elsewhere, on CMT look at each flight see if there is a ticket for each flight. The QF eticket pdf attachment with a ticket number does not guarantee each fligh is ticketed unfortunately.

Yes @Warragul, there is a ticket for all flights in CMT and taxes have all been paid but the full number of points for the OWA ticket have not been taken out. Only the 281,000 points per ticket for the initial flights booked have been taken, not the additional points for the return flights that were added in Sept 22.

 

[gda380]

one mistake and you have to enter everything again. It is incredibly primitive.

That's how it is for me - annoying. Also, the multi-city page does not allow that many countries as starting points.

Thanks Guys, I am sure when I was searching ~March 2022 multi city tool used to remember the settings if you go back and need to make changes. Oh well another issue to contend with.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

And one mistake and you have to enter everything again. It is incredibly primitive.

The cynic in me wonders whether it is more deliberate than primitive…

 

[algae]

Thanks Guys, I am sure when I was searching ~March 2022 multi city tool used to remember the settings if you go back and need to make changes. Oh well another issue to contend with.

You're right it absolutely used to remember your inputs. Absolute pain searching now.

 

[SnowmanShroomz]

Hi All - would love some input on the following:

I've booked the first part of my round the world trip and was going to book the return leg from Amman (Jordan) - Doha (Qatar) - Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania)
Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) - Doha (Qatar) - Sydney

Issue is, those flights are all Qatar airways and I can't seem to find them available anymore (they were when I was planning). Any insight as to why or other ways to get back from Africa to Australia?
Cheers

 

[Mr H]

Hi All - would love some input on the following:

I've booked the first part of my round the world trip and was going to book the return leg from Amman (Jordan) - Doha (Qatar) - Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania)
Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) - Doha (Qatar) - Sydney

Issue is, those flights are all Qatar airways and I can't seem to find them available anymore (they were when I was planning). Any insight as to why or other ways to get back from Africa to Australia?
Cheers

QR is no longer available (to all intents and purposes) on Qantas redemptions. QR is the only OW airline flying out of Dar. You have a choice of revenue flights to/from Dar or change your itinerary.

 

[SnowmanShroomz]

What airlines are still flying out of the middle east on Qantas redemptions? I can't seem to find any flights with Sri Lankan air going to the middle east or with malaysian airways?

 

[pangwen]

What airlines are still flying out of the middle east on Qantas redemptions? I can't seem to find any flights with Sri Lankan air going to the middle east or with malaysian airways?

RJ?

 

[Warragul]

Yes @Warragul, there is a ticket for all flights in CMT and taxes have all been paid but the full number of points for the OWA ticket have not been taken out. Only the 281,000 points per ticket for the initial flights booked have been taken, not the additional points for the return flights that were added in Sept 22.

Got me beat then. Part of me says I would ring up and ask questions so it can't come back to haunt much closer to travel, but there's a risk that call could blow it all now anyway......