Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[levelnine]

what is everyone's strategy around booking their OWA tickets?

If you're not Platinum or above (and can therefore request a release of award seats):
1. Start your OWA outside of Australia
2. Try to find award seats on routes that have semi-reliable availability with QF or partners (eg CGK, BLR, DEL, KUL)
3. Have complete flexibility and be willing to build a whole OWA itinerary around a random dump of award seats
4. Give up

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Given that Qantas is now only releasing award seats in batches, what is everyone's strategy around booking their OWA tickets? It feels impossible to me now without booking it sector by sector and incurring a change fee each time. Even then I feel like you would have no idea if an award seat for a particular sector will ever show up.

I booked mine during the last release in February. I jumped on, calendar view, secured the AU to London and then USA to AU flights. Got that ticketed.

Spent the next couple of days working out what i would do in between, called up and added the flights… TATL, couple of Euro hops, couple of US domestic hops.

BA TATL is pretty wide open, and not prohibitively expensive if part of a OWA, and in conjunction with a connection ex EU rather than originating in the UK.

All pretty easy. I wasn’t that quick off the mark when the awards were released… maybe an hour or two after the first rush. Still had several sets of AU-UK and US-AU flights available with a one, two or three week stay away.

 

[levelnine]

I wasn’t that quick off the mark when the awards were released.l. maybe an hour or two after the first rush.

LOL that really says something about the dismal state of award availability. If you aren't able to be at your computer in the first couple of hours of an award release, say goodbye to your OWA dreams.

 

[Cerveza]

I booked mine during the last release in February.

How are you being notified of the award releases?

Post automatically merged: Oct 5, 2023

say goodbye to your OWA dreams.

Let's hope that Qantas goes back to the old schedule otherwise people with limited flexibility (like myself) would have no chance of booking on OWA.

 

[Lynda2475]

With the last 2 big drop of seats, there were mentions here on AFF, Facebook and in all the newspapers online versions with a minute of it happening.

I was able to change a J SYD-LAX to a J SYD-DFW after that drop, and i did it on the second day, so you didn't need to be super quick, although I did need to fly 1 day earlier not that that was an issue.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

LOL that really says something about the dismal state of award availability. If you aren't able to be at your computer in the first couple of hours of an award release, say goodbye to your OWA dreams.

I meant that as a ‘good’ thing. I wasn’t online as soon as the batch was released as I had to be elsewhere. I joined a few hours ‘late’ and there was still reasonable availability. I believe there were a few website glitches for the first hour or so? But given there were still lots of options two to three hours in, those getting in early would have had even better options.

I think QF announced the release in advance, and of course AFF had the details as soon as they were dropped.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Given that Qantas is now only releasing award seats in batches

I just checked and I found some new business reward seats on the date that I'd prefer (ie. a day earlier than what I have).

My upcoming OWA starts very soon and I've now checked, there's a new business reward seat showing the day prior and I'm keen on changing to have an extra day in my first destination.

However, considering that it's coming up soon and with the well documented re-ticketing issues / delays, I'm holding back and probably just looking to keep it as-is since the booking has been confirmed / ticketed in full.

It's a shame that this happens tbh (worrying about such a simple thing that an airline could stuff up).

Also not just that, I'm sure that after my well documented issues in changing rewards flights - that the consultant I get will probably be unable to even see the reward seats that I can see online.

 

[flapper]

My 1st OWA flight departs from SYD. I want too add a QF flight from another Oz city to meet that flight from SYD. I was told by the CC that I can't add flight before the 1st flight. Is this true? Does anyone have experience in doing this? TIA.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My 1st OWA flight departs from SYD. I want too add a QF flight from another Oz city to meet that flight from SYD. I was told by the CC that I can't add flight before the 1st flight. Is this true? Does anyone have experience in doing this? TIA.

Yeah… almost impossible to do this. There is a ‘hard block’ preventing most domestic connections from the major cities to a gateway. You either have to secure the connection at the time of the initial booking OR make it a stopover, so fly at least 24 hours before or after. I think they have done this to limit availability. You can of course pay for a separate award!

If you are platinum or higher and can get to Hobart, I believe they can add them.

 

[MelbFlyer]

My 1st OWA flight departs from SYD. I want too add a QF flight from another Oz city to meet that flight from SYD. I was told by the CC that I can't add flight before the 1st flight. Is this true? Does anyone have experience in doing this? TIA.

Tbh it's easier to just get a separate revenue or award flight to Sydney from wherever you're departing from rather than arguing with call centre staff on whether or not it's allowed or can even be added by them.

Nothing to stop you from booking separately other than paying slightly more points over the cap or cash.

 

[DC3]

… I was told by the CC that I can't add flight before the 1st flight. Is this true? …

Never heard of that. I’ve added flights in any order.

 

[Must...Fly!]

The problem if doing as a less than 24h transit is running up against a married sector

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Never heard of that. I’ve added flights in any order.

Except for us non-platinums! We can’t add domestic connectors in AU

 

[Des1801]

Anyone know how to do seat selection on AA legs ? The manage booking section of the AA website doesn’t recognise the PNR

 

[MelbFlyer]

My upcoming OWA starts very soon and I've now checked, there's a new business reward seat showing the day prior and I'm keen on changing to have an extra day in my first destination.

However, considering that it's coming up soon and with the well documented re-ticketing issues / delays, I'm holding back and probably just looking to keep it as-is since the booking has been confirmed / ticketed in full.

It's a shame that this happens tbh (worrying about such a simple thing that an airline could stuff up).

Also not just that, I'm sure that after my well documented issues in changing rewards flights - that the consultant I get will probably be unable to even see the reward seats that I can see online.

So I tried my luck calling the 13 12 11 number (instead of the normal 13 13 13 number) and it appears that I got through to a premium line even as a lowly Bronze member!

From the personnel's accent, I assume that they were in the Auckland office.

Very helpful - was able to see the requested flight / seats immediately upon giving the details (not the usual "we can't see that flight / seats", "those seats are available for new bookings only" etc).

Got the change done to a day earlier and they called back approximately 45mins after the call to confirm it was all done, I've logged onto the Royal Jordanian MMB portal and the new e-ticket numbers are there!

No change in points (still 318k) but just $17pp in extra taxes. Happy days.

I know it's pretty sad to be excited about such a simple change being done successfully, but that's Qantas for you!

Bottom line - try calling 13 12 11 instead of 13 13 13.

 

[DC3]

Anyone know how to do seat selection on AA legs ? The manage booking section of the AA website doesn’t recognise the PNR

So, you are using the AA PNR (which is different to the QF PNR)?

 

[Lynda2475]

Anyone know how to do seat selection on AA legs ? The manage booking section of the AA website doesn’t recognise the PNR

Go to MMB on the BA website using QF PNR, that will then show you the AA PNR for the AA legs. Once you have that go to AA site or app and select your seats.

 

[Des1801]

So, you are using the AA PNR (which is different to the QF PNR)?

Hmm I only have the 1 PNR as far as I know. How do I find out what the AA PNR is ?

 

[Hamole]

@MelbFlyer
I think this is because you have an existing business class booking not because of the number you called. I am also bronze but since booking two business class OWA recently, go straight through to the premium call centre everytime I call 13 13 13. Agreed it is very useful.

 

[djkelly69]

How do I find out what the AA PNR is ?

Answered in the post above that one.