Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[am0985]

I was looking at CMB - MEL on UL (not for OWA just for a single trip), they've abruptly blocked off daily seats appearing on this from July 1st 2024 despite appearing before.

You can still get LHR - CMB from July 1st currently, though I wonder if this is a school holiday thing as VIC school holidays begin at this point. If so then LHR - CMB will likely dry up a couple of weeks into July 2024.

Post automatically merged: Jul 13, 2023

You are confused.

Qantas' booking calendar opens 353 days in advance, which is currently 30 June 2024. It isn't even open for July 2024 yet.

View attachment 336067

I believe they were asking about MH seats not QF.

QF's calendar is only for seats on QF metal, it is possible to find seats after 30th June 2024 for airlines that release them (as long as "flexible with dates.."is ticked).

 

[levelnine]

I believe they were asking about MH seats not QF.

QF's calendar is only for seats on QF metal, it is possible to find seats after 30th June 2024 for airlines that release them (as long as "flexible with dates.."is ticked).

Incorrect. Even with flexible dates checked:

 

[Mr H]

You are confused.

Qantas' booking calendar opens 353 days in advance, which is currently 30 June 2024. It isn't even open for July 2024 yet.

If you click on flexible dates the calendar view will show some later dates too.

 

[am0985]

Incorrect. Even with flexible dates checked:
View attachment 336068

No, you're in the wrong here. This shows MH may be limiting seats after the 30th. This isn't down to the QF 353 day deadline though.

You can still see seats for routes even after the 353 deadline for other airlines. Search for example LHR - CMB and enter 30/06/2023 as the date with flexible dates.

The system will only allow you to select 30th when you search but you can see availability into early July.

 

[levelnine]

This shows MH may be limiting seats after the 30th. This isn't down to the QF 353 day deadline though.

Apologies, I shouldn't have cited the QF353 deadline as the reason.

 

[Vrz]

I was looking at CMB - MEL on UL (not for OWA just for a single trip), they've abruptly blocked off daily seats appearing on this from July 1st 2024 despite appearing before.

You can still get LHR - CMB from July 1st currently, though I wonder if this is a school holiday thing as VIC school holidays begin at this point. If so then LHR - CMB will likely dry up a couple of weeks into July 2024.

Post automatically merged: Jul 13, 2023

I believe they were asking about MH seats not QF.

QF's calendar is only for seats on QF metal, it is possible to find seats after 30th June 2024 for airlines that release them (as long as "flexible with dates.."is ticked).

Thanks for your confirmation.

This was my experience as well, leading up to the 29/30 of July 24 the reward seats were being released daily. (this was about a week ago)
But it seems to have stopped now.

In previous years or previous school holidays have these been blackout periods?
And did the reward seats eventually get released? or do they airlines tend to keep it as revenue fares only?

 

[Mr H]

In previous years or previous school holidays have these been blackout periods?
And did the reward seats eventually get released? or do they airlines tend to keep it as revenue fares only?

I have not tracked this extensively but have come across flights with various airlines/routesthat have been added daily suddenly drying up. I have never really thought about the reason and have not seen them added later but I have generally just changed my plans/routes/dates to something that is available - so maybe they do get added when I have long since forgotten about them.

 

[melbkate]

Could someone help with this search issue?

When I use multi-city on QF for MEL-BKK for my first leg I get J seats via Tokyo on JL - going MEL-NRT-BKK

However if I search up the same date June 3 for only MEL-NRT I only get economy...

 

[Captain Halliday]

Could someone help with this search issue?

When I use multi-city on QF for MEL-BKK for my first leg I get J seats via Tokyo on JL - going MEL-NRT-BKK

However if I search up the same date June 3 for only MEL-NRT I only get economy...

It’s likely MSC.

 

[Mr H]

Could someone help with this search issue?

When I use multi-city on QF for MEL-BKK for my first leg I get J seats via Tokyo on JL - going MEL-NRT-BKK

However if I search up the same date June 3 for only MEL-NRT I only get economy...

As Captain Halliday says - it is probably a married sector issue. Married sectors mean the route is sold, not the individual flights. Or sometimes individual sectors are sold and can't be married to create a connection. It's all about inventory management for the airlines.

 

[melbkate]

As Captain Halliday says - it is probably a married sector issue. Married sectors mean the route is sold, not the individual flights. Or sometimes individual sectors are sold and can't be married to create a connection. It's all about inventory management for the airlines.

Thanks is there anyway to know what airlines have married at all or just by process of elimination?

 

[Mr H]

Thanks is there anyway to know what airlines have married at all or just by process of elimination?

Most of them seem to do it to a greater or lesser extent. I have encountered it with QF, SQ, JL, MH, CX but I am sure there have been other flights where I simply haven't noticed.

 

[melbkate]

Quick question are there any cons to starting a OWA booking from another country from where I am eventually hoping to depart?

Example wanting MEL-BKK-AMM-FCO and returning home.

I can see some seats from BKK-FCO and also some coming home from HEL-NRT should I grab them or does the originating city / country need to be from Australia for the better tax calculations and possibly the rules?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Quick question are there any cons to starting a OWA booking from another country from where I am eventually hoping to depart?

Example wanting MEL-BKK-AMM-FCO and returning home.

I can see some seats from BKK-FCO and also some coming home from HEL-NRT should I grab them or does the originating city / country need to be from Australia for the better tax calculations and possibly the rules?

The rules will be the same. If I understand correctly, you can alter the starting point, but the original currency has to stay the same… so it would still need to be calculated in Thai baht even though you end up leaving from AU. You’d potentially lose a small amount in currency conversions. There was a similar question on the previous page.

Taxes should be the same.

 

[melbkate]

The rules will be the same. If I understand correctly, you can alter the starting point, but the original currency has to stay the same… so it would still need to be calculated in Thai baht even though you end up leaving from AU. You’d potentially lose a small amount in currency conversions. There was a similar question on the previous page.

Taxes should be the same.

Thank you

 

[Mr H]

The rules will be the same. If I understand correctly, you can alter the starting point, but the original currency has to stay the same… so it would still need to be calculated in Thai baht even though you end up leaving from AU. You’d potentially lose a small amount in currency conversions. There was a similar question on the previous page.

Taxes should be the same.

I am not a million per cent sure about that. My experience with a booking that started from Pakistan was that an eye watering tax applied for a premium cabin ticket issued in Pakistan. I presume that even if the departure point were subsequently changed, it would still count as a ticket issued in Pakistan. I really don't understand these tax issues in detail so I may be wrong on this. I just wouldn't assume that the taxes/fees would be the same.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am not a million per cent sure about that. My experience with a booking that started from Pakistan was that an eye watering tax applied for a premium cabin ticket issued in Pakistan. I presume that even if the departure point were subsequently changed, it would still count as a ticket issued in Pakistan. I really don't understand these tax issues in detail so I may be wrong on this. I just wouldn't assume that the taxes/fees would be the same.

Yes… you found the outlier Pakistan has imposed a tax of $1000 (or more?) on premium tickets originating in that country… but pretty sure that’s not going to apply to many of us

 

[PointsTraveller!]

A little worried about my upcoming OWA first leg from MEL>NRT>FRA with JL on Nov 8 in J.

The reason is I've seen the timetable adjustments made on Jan 31 for bookings up until October 28th.

Now I know the changes up until the 28th of October are to accommodate flying via Alaska to avoid Russian airspace and take longer, my worry is I will get a late change of timetable which will make my layover at Narita not work and possibly have a departure time to FRA prior to me landing in NRT.

Is this JL or Qantas' responsibility to accommodate me onto a new connection that works?
If I was to change NRT>FRA to NRT>HEL would this be allowed or is my MEL>NRT>FRA flights married?
Should I just wait and see what happens?
Advice is appreciated.

So this has just become a reality and my flight JL 774 has changed and now lands around 4 and a half hours after my connection to FRA on JL407 leaves. Can someone please confirm that rights are to be placed on a suitable alternative to my final destination (London) is Qantas' full responsibility as they issued ticket?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So this has just become a reality and my flight JL 774 has changed and now lands around 4 and a half hours after my connection to FRA on JL407 leaves. Can someone please confirm that rights are to be placed on a suitable alternative to my final destination (London) is Qantas' full responsibility as they issued ticket?

I believe the responsibility rests with JAL to reaccommodate you. It will be in JAL’s contract of carriage.

Qantas is the issuing agent, and should follow up with JAL on your behalf to get a suitable connection. In fact it’s unlikely JAL will deal with you directly. Qantas will likely go through the oneworld desk to fix it.

In ye olde days - pre covid- in cases like this you used to be able to call JAL, ask them to put in a new flight for you, and then you call qantas to get the ticket reissued. You could try this approach if calling Qantas doesn’t yield results.

There is no guarantee here. If JAL doesn’t come to the party, Qantas can offer you a full refund.

 

[PointsTraveller!]

I believe the responsibility rests with JAL to reaccommodate you. It will be in JAL’s contract of carriage.

Qantas is the issuing agent, and should follow up with JAL on your behalf to get a suitable connection. In fact it’s unlikely JAL will deal with you directly. Qantas will likely go through the oneworld desk to fix it.

In ye olde days - pre covid- in cases like this you used to be able to call JAL, ask them to put in a new flight for you, and then you call qantas to get the ticket reissued. You could try this approach if calling Qantas doesn’t yield results.

There is no guarantee here. If JAL doesn’t come to the party, Qantas can offer you a full refund.

Thanks, even though Qantas' conditions of carriage are per the below they shift the blame to JAL?

If JAL don't accommodate us, I read below the "conditions of carriage" that it is on Qantas to get me to my final destination. I feel this means even though it's a U-class ticket they will try facilitate us even if on QF metal and not in U-class but J.

9.2 Late or Cancelled Flights (Events Beyond Our Control)​

Where we make a Significant Change to your flight due to an Event Beyond Our Control, whether you have checked in or not, we will:

• use reasonable endeavours to rebook you on the next available flight on our services at no additional cost to you