Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

Hi everyone, wonder if someone might sense check my Oneworld award itinerary, confirm I haven't made any obvious errors (Stops TFU, ARN, MAD, IST, HKG).
1 MEL-HKG (CX)
2 HKG-TFU (CX) stop 1 (ground segment)
3 PVG-HEL (AY)
4 HEL-ARN (AY) stop 2 (ground segment)
5 FRA-MAD (IB) stop 3
6 MAD-AMM (RJ)
7 AMM-IST (RJ) stop 4
8 IST-AMM (RJ)
9 AMM-ARN (RJ)
10 ARN-HEL (AY)
11 HEL-MAN (AY)
12 MAN-HKG (CX) stop 5
13 HKG-NRT (JP)
14 NRT-MEL (QF)
Total 33,110 miles.
 
Hi everyone, wonder if someone might sense check my Oneworld award itinerary, confirm I haven't made any obvious errors (Stops TFU, ARN, MAD, IST, HKG).
1 MEL-HKG (CX)
2 HKG-TFU (CX) stop 1 (ground segment)
3 PVG-HEL (AY)
4 HEL-ARN (AY) stop 2 (ground segment)
5 FRA-MAD (IB) stop 3
6 MAD-AMM (RJ)
7 AMM-IST (RJ) stop 4
8 IST-AMM (RJ)
9 AMM-ARN (RJ)
10 ARN-HEL (AY)
11 HEL-MAN (AY)
12 MAN-HKG (CX) stop 5
13 HKG-NRT (JP)
14 NRT-MEL (QF)
Total 33,110 miles.
In theory you're ok being on the limits assuming all your connections are within 24h of each other.

From an actual flying PoV that IST - HKG is pretty nuts. Sure there isn't anything better like IST > AMM > DXB (RJ) then DXB > HKG (CX)?
 
In theory you're ok being on the limits assuming all your connections are within 24h of each other.

From an actual flying PoV that IST - HKG is pretty nuts. Sure there isn't anything better like IST > AMM > DXB (RJ) then DXB > HKG (CX)?
Thanks elanshin. Yes trying to get from Europe to HKG is a bit difficult on that dates I'm looking at. But I hadn't considered RJ via DXB & CX, I'll have a look, cheers.
 
Thanks elanshin. Yes trying to get from Europe to HKG is a bit difficult on that dates I'm looking at. But I hadn't considered RJ via DXB & CX, I'll have a look, cheers.
There's also RUH instead of DXB as a transit point (both RJ and CX fly to Riyadh). Whether you want to transit at Saudi (personally i think its fine) is your choice though.
 
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There's also RUH instead of DXB as a transit point (both RJ and CX fly to Riyadh). Whether you want to transit at Saudi (personally i think its fine) is your choice though.
Looks like no luck with DXB but RUH is an option. Anything I should know about transiting through RUH? (Looks like no visa required if connection is 12 hours or so less).
 
Looks like no luck with DXB but RUH is an option. Anything I should know about transiting through RUH? (Looks like no visa required if connection is 12 hours or so less).
Personally haven't gone through yet but there is a Saudi Theead or two about visiting Saudi

 
Looking to book another OWA but dates are going to be tight .
I’m trying to clarify what are the Award “blackout “ dates .
I'm sure that they are not definitely fixed but in the past , I’ve had Hobart agents just say outright there are no award seats available for certain dates .

These are my general recollections of blackout dates- I accept there will be exceptions for high level members and requests closer to the time.

Any suggestions and additions ?

January

Easter

School Term holidays.

Specific regions

Europe June, July and August

USA July
 
Hi everyone, wonder if someone might sense check my Oneworld award itinerary, confirm I haven't made any obvious errors (Stops TFU, ARN, MAD, IST, HKG).
1 MEL-HKG (CX)
2 HKG-TFU (CX) stop 1 (ground segment)
3 PVG-HEL (AY)
4 HEL-ARN (AY) stop 2 (ground segment)
5 FRA-MAD (IB) stop 3
6 MAD-AMM (RJ)
7 AMM-IST (RJ) stop 4
8 IST-AMM (RJ)
9 AMM-ARN (RJ)
10 ARN-HEL (AY)
11 HEL-MAN (AY)
12 MAN-HKG (CX) stop 5
13 HKG-NRT (JP)
14 NRT-MEL (QF)
Total 33,110 miles.
I rang QF to book the remainder of my trip (as amended via RUH thanks to elanshin).
I had MEL-HKG, PVG-HEL-ARN already booked.
Rang to add the rest FRA-MAD, MAD-AMM-IST, IST-AMM-RUH-HKG, HKG-NRT-MEL) but the agent couldn't find the Iberia flight from FRA to MAD. She could see it on the website but after putting me on hold told me that flight was for new bookings only. So I hung up to explore other options.

I've heard others have had that issue in the past (adding Iberia to an existing booking), due to the taxes having to be calculated for each flight manually because Iberia doesn't supply a tax quote????).

Has anyone recently had this issue and got is resolved? Should I try again and hope for another operator?
 
Looking to book another OWA but dates are going to be tight .
I’m trying to clarify what are the Award “blackout “ dates .
I'm sure that they are not definitely fixed but in the past , I’ve had Hobart agents just say outright there are no award seats available for certain dates .

These are my general recollections of blackout dates- I accept there will be exceptions for high level members and requests closer to the time.

Any suggestions and additions ?

January

Easter

School Term holidays.

Specific regions

Europe June, July and August

USA July
There are no official blackout dates for Qantas award seats.

It’s possible some flights in leak periods don’t have any, or have limited numbers of seats, or those seats have already gone, or those seats have been requested to be released by platinum members.
 
I rang QF to book the remainder of my trip (as amended via RUH thanks to elanshin).
I had MEL-HKG, PVG-HEL-ARN already booked.
Rang to add the rest FRA-MAD, MAD-AMM-IST, IST-AMM-RUH-HKG, HKG-NRT-MEL) but the agent couldn't find the Iberia flight from FRA to MAD. She could see it on the website but after putting me on hold told me that flight was for new bookings only. So I hung up to explore other options.

I've heard others have had that issue in the past (adding Iberia to an existing booking), due to the taxes having to be calculated for each flight manually because Iberia doesn't supply a tax quote????).

Has anyone recently had this issue and got is resolved? Should I try again and hope for another operator?
Oh the joys of booking Oneworld awards. I solved the Iberian issue by going via HEL, so AY codeshare flight to MAD. But the sticking point was the final leg NRT-MEL on QF. The website shows 2 seats available, the but the operator said no only 1, same with dates either side, from NRT or from HND. So frustrating! So I booked all the other flights (except HKG-NRT) and will have to try to see if anything from HKG to Australia gets released :(
 
Oh the joys of booking Oneworld awards. I solved the Iberian issue by going via HEL, so AY codeshare flight to MAD. But the sticking point was the final leg NRT-MEL on QF. The website shows 2 seats available, the but the operator said no only 1, same with dates either side, from NRT or from HND. So frustrating! So I booked all the other flights (except HKG-NRT) and will have to try to see if anything from HKG to Australia gets released :(
It shouldn’t be an AY codeshare as an award. If they’ve booked you as the codeshare you might want to confirm they’ve actually given you an award.
 
I'm realising it's darn near impossible to get across the pacific with these fares if you want to avoid the USA! For reference these are the possible flights I've found
Into SCL: QF from SYD (there is 1 seat in J on 7th Nov if anyone needs! but impossible to get 2 in my experience).
Into YVR: FJ from NAN, QF from SYD, JAL from NRT, CX from HKG.

Slim pickings :s Thinking I'll have to skip South America for my next one. No point using surface sectors to make my own way.
 
Someone please tell me I'm not completely crazy.

I've got the following flights booked:
MEL-HKG-TFU (stop 1)
PVG-HEL-ARN (stop 2)
And I'm trying to add the following to the booking
BER-HEL-MAD (AY flight number operated by IB) (stop 3 )
MAD-AMM-IST (stop 4)
IST-AMM-RUH-HKG (stop 5)
Can't find back to Australia yet.

When I try to get it priced I've had the following from multiple operators:
1) Too many stopovers because your next flight is the next calendar day (the transfer flights are all within 24 hours).
2) You can't transfer through a city twice (HEL & AMM)
3) You can't have more than 2 cities where you transfer twice (HEL & AMM)

I'm quoting the Qantas T&C's and getting nowhere. Seems there are notes on the booking now telling the operators it can't be done.

Any advice from here? I feel like either I'm missing something big or I'm bashing my head against a brick wall. The last operator didn't seem to know the difference between a transfer and a stopover.:(
 
Someone please tell me I'm not completely crazy.

I've got the following flights booked:
MEL-HKG-TFU (stop 1)
PVG-HEL-ARN (stop 2)
And I'm trying to add the following to the booking
BER-HEL-MAD (AY flight number operated by IB) (stop 3 )
MAD-AMM-IST (stop 4)
IST-AMM-RUH-HKG (stop 5)
Can't find back to Australia yet.

When I try to get it priced I've had the following from multiple operators:
1) Too many stopovers because your next flight is the next calendar day (the transfer flights are all within 24 hours).
2) You can't transfer through a city twice (HEL & AMM)
3) You can't have more than 2 cities where you transfer twice (HEL & AMM)

I'm quoting the Qantas T&C's and getting nowhere. Seems there are notes on the booking now telling the operators it can't be done.

Any advice from here? I feel like either I'm missing something big or I'm bashing my head against a brick wall. The last operator didn't seem to know the difference between a transfer and a stopover.:(
About 30 mins after my last fruitless call. The overseas QF call centre actually called me unprompted (that's a first!). They said they could now price the itinerary (correctly as a Oneworld award). That's been done and I've paid the taxes. Now just have to wait for it to be ticketed, which hopefully doesn't have any issues.

Anyways sorry everyone for spamming the chat, but thought I should update to say the issue has been solved (well for now least until I find a flight from HK back to Oz and try to add it :oops:).
 
Someone please tell me I'm not completely crazy.

I've got the following flights booked:
MEL-HKG-TFU (stop 1)
PVG-HEL-ARN (stop 2)
And I'm trying to add the following to the booking
BER-HEL-MAD (AY flight number operated by IB) (stop 3 )
MAD-AMM-IST (stop 4)
IST-AMM-RUH-HKG (stop 5)
Can't find back to Australia yet.

When I try to get it priced I've had the following from multiple operators:
1) Too many stopovers because your next flight is the next calendar day (the transfer flights are all within 24 hours).
2) You can't transfer through a city twice (HEL & AMM)
3) You can't have more than 2 cities where you transfer twice (HEL & AMM)

I'm quoting the Qantas T&C's and getting nowhere. Seems there are notes on the booking now telling the operators it can't be done.

Any advice from here? I feel like either I'm missing something big or I'm bashing my head against a brick wall. The last operator didn't seem to know the difference between a transfer and a stopover.:(
This was resolved, enjoy your flight!! but in future your options are to HUCA, write to your local member of parliament, become the CEO of Qantas or win the jackpot and hire a private lawyer. All of these are likely to have similar rates of success when dealing with QF call centre as others can attest. T&C don't matter, rules dont matter, you probably arent missing.
It wouldmbe great if things worked they way they should but alas something something enshittification.

One actual suggestion is if you use the manage booking call centre option thingo, you get a code to enter when you call, I have had complex bookings be routed to platinum line. Got hobart once. Other times was still Manila, but platinum manila was slightly less difficult than normal manila. YMMV.
 
This was resolved, enjoy your flight!! but in future your options are to HUCA, write to your local member of parliament, become the CEO of Qantas or win the jackpot and hire a private lawyer. All of these are likely to have similar rates of success when dealing with QF call centre as others can attest. T&C don't matter, rules dont matter, you probably arent missing anything, something something enshittification.

Yes I am salty yes I have personal experience no i will not calm down
Thank you.

Oh after the day I've had on the phone with QF call centre I'd say there's plenty of salt to go around 🤪
 

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