Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[ameliorate]

Hi all! First post here - I was looking for advice on an Economy OWA that I'm booking for later this year. There's limited availability at this point so I'm trying to make things work the best I can.

My first question is are there any issues if I book certain surface sectors myself outside of my OWA ticket using my extra points? Like book the full OWA ticket and then under a different booking reference, buy TPE-ICN with points for example. The reason I'd do this is cause I'm out of stopovers.

Second, if I book two sectors to make a connecting ticket (for example, that route isn't covered otherwise like A City - B City then B City - C City) and there's a gap of fewer than 24 hours between them, will the system count this as a transfer (and not a stopover)?

Third, is there any way to search for award tickets originating in Croatia - either Split or Dubrovnik? You can search on the Qantas website for flights that arrive in these cities, but not flights that depart from them. Is this a tax issue as mentioned above? If so, what can I do?

Fourth, I had found a route which is A City - C City (via B City) - but now it's disappeared even though when I check the separate legs, they are still available to be booked in my fare class. Is there any reason why this might be? Would Qantas call center still be able to see that officially connected ticket so I can book it? I wouldn't want to risk the transfer time without checked through luggage.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Wolf creek]

Out of interest was reticketing required becaue of an airline time change or did you add/change a flight to your booking?

Phone booking (due to constant error by website)when qantas had their mega release of award seats weeks ago,charges were always pending,and points were deducted from wrong account…..was a complete mess

 

[Warragul]

My first question is are there any issues if I book certain surface sectors myself outside of my OWA ticket using my extra points? Like book the full OWA ticket and then under a different booking reference, buy TPE-ICN with points for example. The reason I'd do this is cause I'm out of stopovers.

Second, if I book two sectors to make a connecting ticket (for example, that route isn't covered otherwise like A City - B City then B City - C City) and there's a gap of fewer than 24 hours between them, will the system count this as a transfer (and not a stopover)?

Question 1 - Yes. I have done that with two 'side trips' to a OWA from two stopover cities.
Question 2 - I believe it should be a transfer, although one of my side trips came about due to a similar issue to this. This being having too many departures (2) from the one city, one of my stays is 13 hours which should ( I think) be a transit, but several agents couldn't re-price the change and referred to the support team. The agent did did call me back with the reason from the support team of the multi departures. The side trip was 10K points, so discretion being the better part of valour I didn't pursue the argument and booked it separately.

 

[Captain Halliday]

are there any issues if I book certain surface sectors myself outside of my OWA ticket using my extra points?

No issues with this. Have done this many times.

if I book two sectors to make a connecting ticket (for example, that route isn't covered otherwise like A City - B City then B City - C City) and there's a gap of fewer than 24 hours between them, will the system count this as a transfer (and not a stopover)?

Correct. This would not count as a stopover as it’s <24 hours.

is there any way to search for award tickets originating in Croatia - either Split or Dubrovnik?

Use the multi city search and enter a valid option as your first sector eg SYD-MEL. Then enter your ex. Croatia preference in the second line.

If available, you would need to call to book or add to your PNR.

Is there any reason why this might be? Would Qantas call center still be able to see that officially connected ticket so I can book it?

Sounds like a married sector issue. MSC is discussed extensively in the thread.

If it’s MSC, then the call centre won’t be able to book it as this is a restriction of the operating carrier.

 

[Vwaddell]

Good morning everyone, first post here, please be gentle

I have been researching a Qantas award RTW doing lots of dummy bookings and my ‘actual’ dates are approaching soon…getting nervous!

Question 1 - looking at Adelaide/HKG/CDG in Business

Can see availability BNE to HKG (Cathay Pacific) and then HKG/CDG (via Amman RJ some dates, Helsinki AYR others) but of course dates aren’t yet available for Qantas flights ADL/BNE
Can I start booking my RTW with what will essentially be my second flight and add ADL/BNE when released?

Question 2

Do I just call Qantas each time I can see availability for my next flights and will they charge me 5,000 points each time ( per person or for the two of us?)

Question 3

One of my possibilities involves an HEL/CDG leg on Nordic Air with AY flight number, is this permissible?

thanks so much

 

[Mr H]

Good morning everyone, first post here, please be gentle

I have been researching a Qantas award RTW doing lots of dummy bookings and my ‘actual’ dates are approaching soon…getting nervous!

Question 1 - looking at Adelaide/HKG/CDG in Business

Can see availability BNE to HKG (Cathay Pacific) and then HKG/CDG (via Amman RJ some dates, Helsinki AYR others) but of course dates aren’t yet available for Qantas flights ADL/BNE
Can I start booking my RTW with what will essentially be my second flight and add ADL/BNE when released?

Question 2

Do I just call Qantas each time I can see availability for my next flights and will they charge me 5,000 points each time ( per person or for the two of us?)

Question 3

One of my possibilities involves an HEL/CDG leg on Nordic Air with AY flight number, is this permissible?

thanks so much

1 - yes - be aware that the flights ex Australia are the most heavily sought after so those are the ones you need to book immediately they are released. Some other flights can remain available for longer, but there is never a guarantee...

2 - yes, per person every time a reticketing is required unless the change was necessitated by an airline's schedule change. It is a gamble for you as to whether you wait for more sectorsto be available to reduce these change fees or whether to accept the fees and get the flights quickly before they disappear.

3 - dunno, but probably - try it and see.

 

[jeza]

Good morning everyone, first post here, please be gentle

I have been researching a Qantas award RTW doing lots of dummy bookings and my ‘actual’ dates are approaching soon…getting nervous!

Question 1 - looking at Adelaide/HKG/CDG in Business

Can see availability BNE to HKG (Cathay Pacific) and then HKG/CDG (via Amman RJ some dates, Helsinki AYR others) but of course dates aren’t yet available for Qantas flights ADL/BNE
Can I start booking my RTW with what will essentially be my second flight and add ADL/BNE when released?

Question 2

Do I just call Qantas each time I can see availability for my next flights and will they charge me 5,000 points each time ( per person or for the two of us?)

Question 3

One of my possibilities involves an HEL/CDG leg on Nordic Air with AY flight number, is this permissible?

thanks so much

Question 3 - I currently have that leg with Nordic Air in my OWA. However it was originally booked as an AY operated flight and subsequently has changed to Nordic Air.

 

[azza_1992]

Question for the experts about stopovers, transfers, and surface segments.

At the moment I have:
LHR-MAD / MAD-MVD / ->GRU-xMAD-HEL / HEL-HND / HND-BNE

Once adding in the assumed surface sector back to LHR, I believe this is utilising all 5 stops
(MAD, MVD->GRU, HEL, HND, and BNE), and 1 additional transfer through the same port (MAD).

I'm looking at changing this to:
LHR-MAD / MAD-MVD / ->GRU-xMAD-HEL / HEL-HND / HND-BNE / ->HND-xHEL-LHR

Is this allowed, or is the surface sector BNE->HND considered a second stop in HND?

 

[Mr H]

Question for the experts about stopovers, transfers, and surface segments.

At the moment I have:
LHR-MAD / MAD-MVD / ->GRU-xMAD-HEL / HEL-HND / HND-BNE

Once adding in the assumed surface sector back to LHR, I believe this is utilising all 5 stops
(MAD, MVD->GRU, HEL, HND, and BNE), and 1 additional transfer through the same port (MAD).

I'm looking at changing this to:
LHR-MAD / MAD-MVD / ->GRU-xMAD-HEL / HEL-HND / HND-BNE / ->HND-xHEL-LHR

Is this allowed, or is the surface sector BNE->HND considered a second stop in HND?

This should be allowed. A surface sector counts as a stop in the place where it starts, not the place where it ends.

Also, if you were terminating in BNE, you would only be using 4 stops. The final destination does not count as a stop and the mileage to return to the point of origin does not count as a sector.

 

[Flightseeker]

1 - yes - be aware that the flights ex Australia are the most heavily sought after so those are the ones you need to book immediately they are released. Some other flights can remain available for longer, but there is never a guarantee...

2 - yes, per person every time a reticketing is required unless the change was necessitated by an airline's schedule change. It is a gamble for you as to whether you wait for more sectorsto be available to reduce these change fees or whether to accept the fees and get the flights quickly before they disappear.

3 - dunno, but probably - try it and see.

Good morning everyone, first post here, please be gentle

I have been researching a Qantas award RTW doing lots of dummy bookings and my ‘actual’ dates are approaching soon…getting nervous!

Question 1 - looking at Adelaide/HKG/CDG in Business

Can see availability BNE to HKG (Cathay Pacific) and then HKG/CDG (via Amman RJ some dates, Helsinki AYR others) but of course dates aren’t yet available for Qantas flights ADL/BNE
Can I start booking my RTW with what will essentially be my second flight and add ADL/BNE when released?

Question 2

Do I just call Qantas each time I can see availability for my next flights and will they charge me 5,000 points each time ( per person or for the two of us?)

Question 3

One of my possibilities involves an HEL/CDG leg on Nordic Air with AY flight number, is this permissible?

thanks so much

Question 1 NO, Qantas will not allow a change of origin on your ticket. Correct me if I am wrong. You'll have to cancel and start again. I booked the earlier (available) domestic flights from Cairns to SYD and changed them later. No extra fee as I was adding another sector anyway.

Q2 See my post on the restrictions on what the search engine can do. Maybe you can bluff the staff into a free change by telling them you can't book this online (once you reach 6 sectors).

Q3 Ask Qantas if it is a recognised Oneworld flight and ask for a reference you can quote later if they get it wrong. The alternative is to dummy test that sector with the balance of your trip. If it is not a partner flight your points won't stop at 316K.

 

[Vwaddell]

Question 1 NO, Qantas will not allow a change of origin on your ticket. Correct me if I am wrong. You'll have to cancel and start again. I booked the earlier (available) domestic flights from Cairns to SYD and changed them later. No extra fee as I was adding another sector anyway.

Q2 See my post on the restrictions on what the search engine can do. Maybe you can bluff the staff into a free change by telling them you can't book this online (once you reach 6 sectors).

Q3 Ask Qantas if it is a recognised Oneworld flight and ask for a reference you can quote later if they get it wrong. The alternative is to dummy test that sector with the balance of your trip. If it is not a partner flight your points won't stop at 316K.

Thank you flightseeker! Didn’t think of booking the earlier domestic and changing

 

[ameliorate]

No issues with this. Have done this many times.

Correct. This would not count as a stopover as it’s <24 hours.


Use the multi city search and enter a valid option as your first sector eg SYD-MEL. Then enter your ex. Croatia preference in the second line.

If available, you would need to call to book or add to your PNR.

Sounds like a married sector issue. MSC is discussed extensively in the thread.

If it’s MSC, then the call centre won’t be able to book it as this is a restriction of the operating carrier.

Thanks - appreciate this!

Does anyone know why I would be able to see a flight from JFK-SYD on the normal classic reward search but it doesn't turn up on the multi-trip search? I think it might be a project sunrise flight, because it's a direct flight and it says it's subject to government approval. Do you think Qantas might be able to manually add it in? I'm cautious about calling the call centre if they definitely can't do it as I'm flying economy and don't have a bunch of points to spare.

Also - I have reorganized my trip as I realized that China Airlines isn't a oneworld partner, so I'm thinking about buying some fares in that part of my trip (for example: to taipei from singapore). Just in case is there another way within the oneworld alliance that people usually go about their Asia legs to places like Taipei?

 

[Warragul]

It's a direct flight but not a non-stop flight, stops at AKL. I just did a random multi trip reward search and QF4 was showing, maybe a vagary of the book engine. Should be bookable by the call centre.

 

[Phoenix-1]

Also - I have reorganized my trip as I realized that China Airlines isn't a oneworld partner, so I'm thinking about buying some fares in that part of my trip (for example: to taipei from singapore). Just in case is there another way within the oneworld alliance that people usually go about their Asia legs to places like Taipei?

CX, JL and MH fly to TPE and are part of oneworld. Could give them a go.

I'm a month out and still haven't been charged for a (ticketed) RTW. I've tried calling up and the agent insisted the card has been charged and told me there's nothing outstanding. Any other options or keep waiting? As nice as it would be to get a free flight I'd much rather be secure in the knowledge it won't get cancelled.

 

[DC3]

I'm a month out and still haven't been charged for a (ticketed) RTW

This would not be the first time that someone has effectively received free flights.

 

[sqrt()]

CX, JL and MH fly to TPE and are part of oneworld. Could give them a go.

I'm a month out and still haven't been charged for a (ticketed) RTW. I've tried calling up and the agent insisted the card has been charged and told me there's nothing outstanding. Any other options or keep waiting? As nice as it would be to get a free flight I'd much rather be secure in the knowledge it won't get cancelled.

If you have an eticket, why would you call asking if QF really wants your money?

 

[Wolf creek]

About to cancel a awards BA flight Syd-lhr for 8/11 for 2 people it might reappear if someone here wants it

 

[Phoenix-1]

If you have an eticket, why would you call asking if QF really wants your money?

I'm worried about QF realising and then cancelling my ticket. And because CMT is no longer working, there's no way for me to know.

 

[sqrt()]

I'm worried about QF realising and then cancelling my ticket. And because CMT is no longer working, there's no way for me to know.

Yeah, fair enough. Though IME you are more likely to get cancelled by contacting them - for whatever reason! There are so many posts of people calling to make a small change or confirmation and the agent somehow nukes the whole itinerary.

Someone might correct me, but you can confirm your ticket is still valid by requesting QF send it again from MMB.

 

[Mr H]

Yeah, fair enough. Though IME you are more likely to get cancelled by contacting them - for whatever reason!

^^
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