Rules concerning booking flights from one of my five authorised stopovers

[Graeme M]

I am planning a rewards trip round the world. I am aware I can have 5 stopovers of more than 24 hours. Do the rules permit me to also book flights from one of my five stopovers to other locations in where I will spend more than 24 hours?

 

[DejaBrew]

A very warm welcome aboard AFF @Graeme M

Assuming you're talking about a Oneworld RTW award, I'd recommend posting here for the best responses -:

Thread 'Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread'

Oct 30, 2006

Note that this is not exclusively a "Round The World" Award. While it can be so used, it can also be used for "Round Trips", "Circle" Trips or even "one-way trips" without actually going "Round The World".

Also note the following from the T&C review that comes up on Qantas.com if you have successfully selected flights and reach the Review "Check" page:

...
A oneworld® Reward contains:

• a Qantas flight and at least two other oneworld® carrier flights, or
• if there is no Qantas flight, two other oneworld® carrier flights.

...

Please keep that in mind...

• kelpie
• award availability redeem points round the world
• Replies: 17,181
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

• 

 

[serfty]

Welcome to AFF @Graeme M - presumably this is about a Qantas Classic oneworld award.

 

[Graeme M]

Welcome to AFF @Graeme M - presumably this is about a Qantas Classic oneworld award.

Yes it is.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am planning a rewards trip round the world. I am aware I can have 5 stopovers of more than 24 hours. Do the rules permit me to also book flights from one of my five stopovers to other locations in where I will spend more than 24 hours?

You can fly from stopover 1 to stopover 2 (etc) on the award no issues. But i’m not sure that’s what you mean!

If you are saying you want to fly to other places from a stopover, in that case you would need to buy separate tickets. So if your stopover was London, and it was for 10 days, you can certainly buy as many other tickets as you want from London to anywhere else. You then return to London (or another place) and continue your award ticket to the next stopover.

 

[Graeme M]

You can fly from stopover 1 to stopover 2 (etc) on the award no issues. But i’m not sure that’s what you mean!

If you are saying you want to fly to other places from a stopover, in that case you would need to buy separate tickets. So if your stopover was London, and it was for 10 days, you can certainly buy as many other tickets as you want from London to anywhere else. You then return to London (or another place) and continue your award ticket to the next stopover.

So if I were to buy separate tickets I would have to do that 'outside' of the One World Classic Flight Reward booking that I make using points?

 

[pyffii]

yes

 

[serfty]

So if I were to buy separate tickets I would have to do that 'outside' of the One World Classic Flight Reward booking that I make using points?

Ok, see the thread link posted by @DejaBrew

You can have 5 stopovers in total but only one in any single port.

You can also have up to two transfers at a single port.

You can have a booking with a stopover and two transits at any one port.

For an international bookings, a transit at a port is where the scheduled departure is not more than 24 hours after the scheduled arrival.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So if I were to buy separate tickets I would have to do that 'outside' of the One World Classic Flight Reward booking that I make using points?

Correct. The OWA only caps if you meet the specific requirements. If you start adding more flights, you’ll no longer meet the requirements and the price will increase.

But there’s nothing in the rules against ‘nesting tickets’, which is essentially what you’ll be doing… ‘nesting’ one or more other tickets while on your main ticket just sits on the side.

 

[Graeme M]

Thanks. I'm not sure exactly what you mean by 'nesting tickets'. However, if I stay beyond 24 hours at the destinations for the additional flights would those destinations then be regarded as 'stopovers' in the context of the OWA requirements?

 

[Graeme M]

You can fly from stopover 1 to stopover 2 (etc) on the award no issues. But i’m not sure that’s what you mean!

If you are saying you want to fly to other places from a stopover, in that case you would need to buy separate tickets. So if your stopover was London, and it was for 10 days, you can certainly buy as many other tickets as you want from London to anywhere else. You then return to London (or another place) and continue your award ticket to the next stopover.

If I were to do that then would the additional flights be booked as part of the OWA booking or separately?

 

[Graeme M]

Ok, see the thread link posted by @DejaBrew

You can have 5 stopovers in total but only one in any single port.

You can also have up to two transfers at a single port.

You can have a booking with a stopover and two transits at any one port.

For an international booking, a transit at a port is where the scheduled departure is not more than 24 hours after the scheduled arrival.

It might be useful if I explain what I want to do. At Prague, which is one of my five stopovers, I have in mind to travel by air using points to three or perhaps four places where I will stay for at each place for about a week before returning to Prague and continuing my trip on to the next stopover.

Taking into account what you have said about 'transfers' and 'transits' would what I am proposing to do fall within the OWA requirements?

 

[offshore171]

It might be useful if I explain what I want to do. At Prague, which is one of my five stopovers, I have in mind to travel by air using points to three or perhaps four places where I will stay for at each place for about a week before returning to Prague and continuing my trip on to the next stopover.

Taking into account what you have said about 'transfers' and 'transits' would what I am proposing to do fall within the OWA requirements?

Rather than messing too much with your OWA, I would do those as separately ticketed side trips, unrelated to the OWA.

Treat it as if you were making some side trips by train.

One thing for sure, aim to be back at Prague with at least 1 full day’s contingency before continuing your OWA itinerary.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It might be useful if I explain what I want to do. At Prague, which is one of my five stopovers, I have in mind to travel by air using points to three or perhaps four places where I will stay for at each place for about a week before returning to Prague and continuing my trip on to the next stopover.

Taking into account what you have said about 'transfers' and 'transits' would what I am proposing to do fall within the OWA requirements?

Your OWA has zero impact on anything you do outside your OWA.

If your OWA is A-B-C-D-E… at any of B-C-D you can buy as many tickets as you like to fly anywhere you like. You can use points or cash for these tickets, it doesn’t matter.

While you are flying to other places your OWA just sits there, as a separate ticket, waiting for you to come back and take the next sector.

 

[Graeme M]

Your OWA has zero impact on anything you do outside your OWA.

If your OWA is A-B-C-D-E… at any of B-C-D you can buy as many tickets as you like to fly anywhere you like. You can use points of cash for these tickets, it doesn’t matter.

While you are flying to other places your OWA just sits there, as a separate ticket, waiting for you to come back and take the next sector.

Thanks. I really appreciate your advice.

 

[offshore171]

The other benefit of doing your side trips “outside the system” is that you can use any airline, and choose the most direct options.

Or indeed high speed rail, which is often the best choice in Central Europe.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks. I really appreciate your advice.

Just make sure you allow plenty of time when you get back to Prague to allow for delays or cancellations on your separate ticket(s). If you get back late and miss your next flight on your OWA the rest of that ticket will auto cancel.

 

[Graeme M]

The other benefit of doing your side trips “outside the system” is that you can use any airline, and choose the most direct options.

Or indeed high speed rail, which is often the best choice in Central Europe.

Yes, and it avoids the need to have to deal with the Qantas call centre staff, who often lack the training and knowledge.

 

[serfty]

Yes, and it avoids the need to have to deal with the Qantas call centre staff, who often lack the training and knowledge.

That's the issue. If you are already in the maximum zone but still have a reasonable amount of distance remaining and not used all five stopovers, you can call to add seqments at only the cost of the change fee, surcharges, taxes and levies. Sadly it is a risk to call to do so.

 

[Graeme M]

That's the issue. If you are already in the maximum zone but still have a reasonable amount of distance remaining and not used all five stopovers, you can call to add seqments at only the cost of the change fee, surcharges, taxes and levies. Sadly it is a risk to call to do so

That's the issue. If you are already in the maximum zone but still have a reasonable amount of distance remaining and not used all five stopovers, you can call to add seqments at only the cost of the change fee, surcharges, taxes and levies. Sadly it is a risk to call to do so.

I have a couple of questions I am hoping you may be able to clarify:
1. So if I were to book the additional side trips as part of the OWA booking would those trips be regarded as 'segments'?

2. If in the context of an overall OWA booking I stopped for more than 24 hours at each of the 'segments' those stops then be regarded as 'stopovers'?