Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Lynda2475]

The consultant then asked if I called any special number to get through or if I was transferred from another consultant - I just told them I called the 13 13 13 number.

They then mentioned that they were surprised I got through, because I had just got through to the Hobart team and generally this team is a priority line.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that if the IVR recognizes that you have called multiple times and had lengthy calls within a short period you are more likely to be routed to Hobart for the next call as it indicates a complex issue.

 

[Mr H]

That’s a result!

The incorrect taxes was a huge problem for my booking. Still is. I can’t make any changes without them wanting $450 extra. If only we could get hold of hobart.

Are you sure the taxes and fees are incorrect?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are you sure the taxes and fees are incorrect?

Lol. Yes. $450 airport tax to change a routing dallas-lga-xx_ to dallas-ord-xx_. Agent said is a $450 airport tax for chicago, even though she acknowledged the QF booking engine showed the total fees of USD5.60 for a domestic award flight. She said it’s not carrier fees or surcharges, but an airport tax.

I asked if she thought there was anything odd about that… perhaps she booked a revenue fare instead of an award? She said no, she issued a ticket yesterday from Sydney to LAX where the airport tax was $515, so as this is a shorter route $450 sounds ok.

I would love to pull the tape on some of these conversations!

 

[levelnine]

I suspect it's the AF leg that is causing ineligibility

Glad you finally got through to someone able to help you.

You're correct that it is the AF leg that's causing the issue. They're not oneworld, so cannot be included in a OWA.

 

[MelbFlyer]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that if the IVR recognizes that you have called multiple times and had lengthy calls within a short period you are more likely to be routed to Hobart for the next call as it indicates a complex issue.

Hmm well in that case, I should have been transferred to Hobart all those months ago when I called up many, many times about the exact same thing - just wanting to make a simple change to one of my legs on my rewards itinerary.

Apparently it was too difficult for some consultants / they weren't trained on it.

Glad you finally got through to someone able to help you.

You're correct that it is the AF leg that's causing the issue. They're not oneworld, so cannot be included in a OWA.

I'm very glad too - I wish I could find business seats for my BA PE leg, but there's not even economy left for the date I want.

Regarding the AF leg, it's a flight from CDG to BCN and it's direct - I think I'll just cop the extra 20-30k points (as that's how much on top of 318k my trip currently is) to not have to transfer in London via BA and add hours to my trip. I'd rather get into Barcelona earlier than be stuck in London until the afternoon. (I'm the poster who's partner would rather take JQ Economy direct over QF business but having to transit somewhere - so I'm very glad that I was able to finally find (what seemed to be) a new QF flight to come home, and direct too).

It would be nice to get everything under the 318k, but I'm not willing to go out of the way to do it. I know a lot of people here are willing to (ie. make transfers in India / Oman of all places), but not me.

I'll still keep looking though and if anything comes up, I'll try my luck again.

 

[funnybrus]

Hmm well in that case, I should have been transferred to Hobart all those months ago when I called up many, many times about the exact same thing - just wanting to make a simple change to one of my legs on my rewards itinerary.

Apparently it was too difficult for some consultants / they weren't trained on it.



I'm very glad too - I wish I could find business seats for my BA PE leg, but there's not even economy left for the date I want.

Regarding the AF leg, it's a flight from CDG to BCN and it's direct - I think I'll just cop the extra 20-30k points (as that's how much on top of 318k my trip currently is) to not have to transfer in London via BA and add hours to my trip. I'd rather get into Barcelona earlier than be stuck in London until the afternoon. (I'm the poster who's partner would rather take JQ Economy direct over QF business but having to transit somewhere - so I'm very glad that I was able to finally find (what seemed to be) a new QF flight to come home, and direct too).

It would be nice to get everything under the 318k, but I'm not willing to go out of the way to do it. I know a lot of people here are willing to (ie. make transfers in India / Oman of all places), but not me.

I'll still keep looking though and if anything comes up, I'll try my luck again.

You could make the AF booking part of a seperate itinerary - should be 10k points I think. Would save you more if you find the BA leg in business

 

[MelbFlyer]

You could make the AF booking part of a seperate itinerary - should be 10k points I think. Would save you more if you find the BA leg in business

I've done a new search on the date that I require, there's only BA available and it's all via London.
2hrs on AF direct arriving at 9am vs 5hrs+ on BA via London arriving mid afternoon - I'll pick the former unless something else comes up (ie. IB)

I could change to a BA option (which would probably then re-calculate down to 318k and I'd get points refunded), but I don't want to have go through the whole saga again of the consultant not being able to see what we can see when doing a multi city search.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

how much is a paid fare for that route, compared to the cost of the AF award and carrier charges? AF and KL are notorious for making economy awards in europe valueless… the surcharges are often higher than the fare!

 

[MelbFlyer]

how much is a paid fare for that route, compared to the cost of the AF award and carrier charges? AF and KL are notorious for making economy awards in europe valueless… the surcharges are often higher than the fare!

I just checked a revenue fare on the AF website and it is AUD$1,170 for 2 passengers in business (which is what we've currently got).

As it's a 6 leg multi city rewards booking, I can't see how many points and taxes specifically for the AF leg now.

I understand that Euro Business is not "business" and it's just merely economy with the middle seat blocked out, but given the points difference between economy and business at the time of our booking (wasn't too much), we just chose business instead.

I might actually call up Qantas and see if we remove the AF flight, whether or not the points calculated will fall back to 318k - it should as the rest are QF, AY, BA (twice) and again QF.

I could then just book a cheap economy revenue fare in its place.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I just checked a revenue fare on the AF website and it is AUD$1,170 for 2 passengers in business (which is what we're in).

I understand that Euro Business is not "business" and it's just merely economy with the middle seat blocked out, but given the points difference between economy and business at the time of our booking (wasn't too much), we just chose business instead.

I might actually call up Qantas and see if we remove the AF flight, whether or not the points calculated will fall back to 318k - it should as the rest are QF, AY, BA (twice) and again QF.

I could then just book a cheap economy revenue fare in its place.

Yeah. BA has really really cheap club europe fares, worth while for the SCs and all then benefits if you don’t otherwise have status. plus the extra room! Mainland carriers don’t really follow suit as far as I can tell… lufthansa and AF groups are expensive.

Aside from the points refund, the lower surcharges might off set the economy fare.

 

[Mr H]

I understand that Euro Business is not "business" and it's just merely economy with the middle seat blocked out,..,

It isn’t always even that. BA Embraer flights from LCY have no middle seat to block, and LCY has no lounge…

 

[MelbFlyer]

So I called up and removing the AF leg has now recalculated the itinerary to 318k points under a capped OWA!

The taxes was almost $200pp as well, happy with the result.

I'll just get a cheap revenue economy fare in its place once I receive the taxes refund.

Still just a pity that my long BA leg (LHR to SIN direct) is only in PE rather than business (as there were no other options at the time, and now not even any economy reward seats).

I'm also not prepared to transit via the Middle East / India and the surrounds just to gain business class.

 

[Mr H]

I'll just get a cheap revenue economy fare in its place once I receive the taxes refund.

I would book in the revenue flights as soon as possible to lock in good fares - who knows how long the refund will take?

 

[Lynda2475]

For revenue flight look at Vueling they usually have cheap BCN fares and are the JetStar of Iberia.

 

[Mr H]

For revenue flight look at Vueling they usually have cheap BCN fares and are the JetStar of Iberia.

Sometimes they stop en route and you have to change planes. This is called a revueling stop.

 

[Lynda2475]

Sometimes they stop en route and you have to change planes. This is called a revueling stop.

I found they had plenty of direct flights, I need to go BCN-SPU; Vueling were only airline with a direct flight on day i needed to fly and were $100 cheaper than Iberia or BA even after paying for a checked bag, where i would have had to change planes. So it is worth checking as a comparison point imo.

But as always YMMV.

 

[rejuvinate]

Loosely related query! I had made a booking through QF for a EK flight while I was gold. I have since moved up to platinum status, according to Emirates for seat selection (which still has me as QF Gold per the time i made the booking) is there some way I can get this updated on Emriates end before the flight next month so I can get full access to seat selection? Or int heory is it meant to be auto updated?

 

[flapper]

Loosely related query! I had made a booking through QF for a EK flight while I was gold. I have since moved up to platinum status, according to Emirates for seat selection (which still has me as QF Gold per the time i made the booking) is there some way I can get this updated on Emriates end before the flight next month so I can get full access to seat selection? Or int heory is it meant to be auto updated?

I remember back in the day this used to be the OWA thread.

 

[Mr H]

I remember back in the day this used to be the OWA thread.

I feel like that's probably a false memory.

 

[The Bison]

Hi team
Slowly working my way through the 731 pages of this thread as I plan my first OWA trip for 2024.

Has anyone ever worked out an itinerary which allowed for two separate trips to Europe on the one ticket? I fear the sectors and 35k miles would be the undoing but curious to know if it’s possible and whether it’s worth the risk if you are going to the limit is of the fare rules in every way.

Obviously starting the trip overseas and getting probably having to finish in Perth or Darwin I’d think for the miles

Thanks