Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[shankoz]

4th consecutive OWA in J ticketed this morning, getting in before the change in redemption rates Though of course didn’t all go smoothly. Had a pre-existing PNR with 2x U seats released for SYD-YVR and a flight home from HKG-PER (all done by Hobart). Called this morning to build out the rest of the itinerary and to change the HKG-PER to two days earlier (availability seen online). The first South African agent gave me the dreaded “only for new bookings”. Despite my protestations, would not progress it further so hung up.

After 5x further attempts over the next 35 mins (each time getting SA/Fiji and hanging up immediately) on my 6th go, I got Hobart. The lovely Charlotte immediately processed all the additional flights and changed the HKG-PER date no questions asked. Even said “I’m going to stay on the line to ticketing otherwise Cathay Pacific will drop off”. Ended the call with me profusely thanking her for her help.

Final itinerary:
- PER-SYD-YVR (stop 1)
- YVR-YYZ (surface)
- YYZ-HEL-ZRH (stop 2)
- ZRH-HEL (stop 3)
- HEL-KIX (stop 4)
- KIX-HKG-PER (end)

The ability to seat release the SYD-YVR leg undoubtedly is a luxury and is probably the thing I value about WP status the most. The moral of the story for me today - HUACA until you get Hobart!

 

[Noah Count]

My question is not about booking it is about longe access. The OW rules say:

"Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights: First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 06:00am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa)."

Mrs&MissM are currently booked on JL51 which arrives around 06:20 (SYD), I need to get them back to ADL. If I just book them on a seperate PNR SYD-ADL on the day they arrive in SYD will they get access to the lounge under these rules or does the SYD-ADL sector have to be in the same booking as HND-SYD. This is a new thing to consideras I have dropped from P1 so MrsM is also dropping in status and by the time she flys will be back to PS.

 

[Mr H]

The moral of the story for me today - HUACA until you get Hobart!

It is nice for you that this is an option. Most of us cannot do this and have to know how to maximise our outcomes through ZA, Fiji or Manila.

Post automatically merged: Jul 11, 2025

If I just book them on a seperate PNR SYD-ADL on the day they arrive in SYD will they get access to the lounge under these rules or does the SYD-ADL sector have to be in the same booking as HND-SYD.

they will get access but they would need to retain their boarding passes from the previous flight to show at the lounge.

 

[shankoz]

It is nice for you that this is an option. Most of us cannot do this and have to know how to maximise our outcomes through ZA, Fiji or Manila.

Very true. I fully appreciate the awesomeness of the Hobart team having done my first OWA without status and struggling with overseas call centres and lost flights because of ticketing delays (I ended up sending multiple emails to Qantas because of their ticketing issues and someone from Hobart rang me back - that’s the first time I ever spoke to their call centre). It is a real shame Qantas don’t invest more resources into their local (and for that matter their overseas) call centres.

None of this would be possible though without this forum! Stumbled across this thread a few years ago and so glad I did. Very grateful to everyone who posts here for all their advice/tips/tricks.

 

[flapper]

If I search the QF website while logged in (SG) for 2x seats in J I see classic award availability on a QF NRT-MEL flight, but when I've called up to add them to my Oneworld award the operator says those seats aren't there, saying something vague about them being waitlisted.

She can see them on the website too but can't add them to my booking. She said if I tried to book them separately on the website it would error out (which I haven't tried because I didn't want take those seats out of inventory (if they exist)). I tried with another operator (same call centre I think) and got the same response.

Is it worth trying again with another operator or is this likely an instance of phantom availability on the QF site?

It's always worth HUACA when dealing with QF, sometimes it can take many calls to find someone who can find the flights. I have previously had operaters say this this when adding JL flights but eventually someone could see them. One question, are you stopping over in Tokyo or transiting? There was a time a few years ago where you couldn't add a JL J rewards seat if you transited Tokyo. Not sure if that is the current situation.

 

[DC3]

Is it worth trying again with another operator

HUACA, rinse and repeat until the right response is provided, unfortunately.

 

[BecStar*]

Looking for some help on what might be wrong with this itinerary (before I deal with Qantas on the phone for 4 days lol). Any help would be appreciated, as I cant seem to see the issue, unless I cant go through Tokyo twice??
21 May 26 SYD 0600 - PER 0900 QF641
22 May 26 PER 0010 (via HKG) HND 2025 CX170/JL26
27 May 26 NGO 2250 (via HEL) LHR 0910 AY80/AY1331
Surface LHR to HEL
21 June 26 HEL 1745 - KIX 1235 AY67
25 June 26 HND (via HKG) PER 2240 JL29/CX171
26 June 26 PER 1625 - SYD 2230 (QF652)

I calculate: 5 stop overs, 9 segments, and 27,284 miles.

 

[Thomas088]

Looking for some help on what might be wrong with this itinerary (before I deal with Qantas on the phone for 4 days lol). Any help would be appreciated, as I cant seem to see the issue, unless I cant go through Tokyo twice??
21 May 26 SYD 0600 - PER 0900 QF641
22 May 26 PER 0010 (via HKG) HND 2025 CX170/JL26
27 May 26 NGO 2250 (via HEL) LHR 0910 AY80/AY1331
Surface LHR to HEL
21 June 26 HEL 1745 - KIX 1235 AY67
25 June 26 HND (via HKG) PER 2240 JL29/CX171
26 June 26 PER 1625 - SYD 2230 (QF652)

I calculate: 5 stop overs, 9 segments, and 27,284 miles.

Is it a website error or pricing issue that you're having?
I think your 3 surface segments (HND-NGO; LHR-HEL & KIX-HND) may be causing a website issue (from memory the website can only handle 2 surface segments). I had a similar issue with my itinerary but was able to get it correctly priced by calling up

 

[Mr H]

Looking for some help on what might be wrong with this itinerary (before I deal with Qantas on the phone for 4 days lol). Any help would be appreciated, as I cant seem to see the issue, unless I cant go through Tokyo twice??
21 May 26 SYD 0600 - PER 0900 QF641
22 May 26 PER 0010 (via HKG) HND 2025 CX170/JL26
27 May 26 NGO 2250 (via HEL) LHR 0910 AY80/AY1331
Surface LHR to HEL
21 June 26 HEL 1745 - KIX 1235 AY67
25 June 26 HND (via HKG) PER 2240 JL29/CX171
26 June 26 PER 1625 - SYD 2230 (QF652)

I calculate: 5 stop overs, 9 segments, and 27,284 miles.

You have three surface sectors so you won’t be able to book it online but an agent should be able to do it for you.

 

[DC3]

…. an agent should be able to do it for you.

Be ready for HUACA, HUACA, HUACA ……..

 

[WanderBug]

Hi all, I'm looking at booking a OWA for the first time. I've only just started planning and research (there's a lot to figure out!) and am considering just booking in a fare that works prior to the price increase in August and then changing it to what I actually want closer to the time of travel.

Does anyone know if I book a valid fare now and then make a change after the price increase, will I have to pay essentially the fare difference of the new increase in points? Or will it still just be the 5000 point change fee?

Thanks!

 

[Dmac59]

Welcome to AFF @WanderBug
My interpretation would be that you might be hit with the Change Fee and the Points Difference, but I’ll be guided by other more experienced AFF member views.

 

[vetrade]

Hi all, I'm looking at booking a OWA for the first time. I've only just started planning and research (there's a lot to figure out!) and am considering just booking in a fare that works prior to the price increase in August and then changing it to what I actually want closer to the time of travel.

Does anyone know if I book a valid fare now and then make a change after the price increase, will I have to pay essentially the fare difference of the new increase in points? Or will it still just be the 5000 point change fee?

Thanks!

My guess is that it would depend on whether you have a valid, complete OWA booking ticketed prior to the changes in August, or whether you have only booked part of a OWA itinerary. In the first scenario you should only be liable for changes in the surcharges, as is routinely the case at present. The points requirement shouldn't change after August.

If, on the other hand, you don't have a legit OWA booking come August, you should expect to have to pay extra points as well.

 

[WanderBug]

My guess is that it would depend on whether you have a valid, complete OWA booking ticketed prior to the changes in August, or whether you have only booked part of a OWA itinerary. In the first scenario you should only be liable for changes in the surcharges, as is routinely the case at present. The points requirement shouldn't change after August.

If, on the other hand, you don't have a legit OWA booking come August, you should expect to have to pay extra points as well.

My thoughts were to book a valid OWA fare prior to the increase just to lock in the 318k cost and then amend dates and sectors to something I actually want to fly further down the track.

But obviously if I had to pay a fare difference there'd be no point in doing the extra work and dealing with what sounds like quite a hassle trying to get the call centre to process changes

 

[pyramidforce]

How screwed am I? part 2 electric boogaloo

Called, got a very helpful non-hobart agent (I think, from accent + the fact that there was a lot of family background noise, etc). Added two flights to OWA without issue, quoted much higher taxes than I expected, but honestly whatever. Just get this over and done with.

Took card details, didn't ask for 3/4 digit security number. Wouldn't stay on the line to process the booking. Card hasn't been charged, points not deducted, booking disappeared from QF MMB but still visible on MH RJ etc as "not confirmed".

Told to wait 24 hours.

EDIT: Update - got a call back from very helpful agent, said credit card had an issue, took card number again, this time I see a charge pending on Amex. So so far, so good, I guess. Very high taxes (yikes!!), last 2 flights cost more than rest of flights together(!!), approx 2.5k AUD total for J/F RTW 9 segments(!!!!!), but approx 35 hours in F. Could be worse IMHO. Won't complain.

Still wouldn't stay with me for ticketing but at least card was charged, hopefully that makes a difference.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

How screwed am I? part 2 electric boogaloo

Called, got a very helpful non-hobart agent (I think, from accent + the fact that there was a lot of family background noise, etc). Added two flights to OWA without issue, quoted much higher taxes than I expected, but honestly whatever. Just get this over and done with.

Took card details, didn't ask for 3/4 digit security number. Wouldn't stay on the line to process the booking. Card hasn't been charged, points not deducted, booking disappeared from QF MMB but still visible on MH RJ etc as "not confirmed".

Told to wait 24 hours.

I think I’d be feeling a little uneasy too…
If you want to do something while you wait, you could send an email to [email protected]
and (clearly, calmly, politely) describe your issues and ask them to check the status of the itinerary & to take any remedial action necessary to get it properly ticketed.

 

[elanshin]

Once again in case I'm missing something my booking is:
MEL-HKG-TFU (stop 1)
surface
PVG-HEL-ARN (stop 2)
surface
BER-HEL-MAD (stop 3)
MAD-AMM-IST (stop 4)
IST-AMM-RUH-HKG (stop 5)
Now Trying to add
HKG-BNE-SYD-MEL (home)

I thought I felt frustrated when award seats were saying available but weren't. Now they're there but saying we still can't do it is beyond infuriating.

Nothing overtly wrong but the 16 sectors might sometimes trip the computer up. Have you tried just going BNE - MEL direct? I had a lot of trouble with 16 sectors last time as well.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Nothing overtly wrong but the 16 sectors might sometimes trip the computer up. Have you tried just going BNE - MEL direct? I had a lot of trouble with 16 sectors last time as well.

I get 14 sectors? I thought surface segments were not counted in the 16 sectors?

 

[NM]

I get 14 sectors? I thought surface segments were not counted in the 16 sectors?

In my experience (quite some years ago), they do count as a sector, but it only counts as one stopover between the previous and subsequent flight sector.

 

[elanshin]

I get 14 sectors? I thought surface segments were not counted in the 16 sectors?

Surface are counted as sectors from my experience but not as transits or stopovers.