Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[BP.]

Hello all,

Long time reader, first time OWA booker.

My partner and I are looking to book J class tickets on the OWA ticket for a October 2026-January 2027 trip. I have read many of the articles and posts in this thread and am just looking for some feedback on whether our trip would be achievable and maybe help with the logistics of the booking, given that we're both only Bronze members and the reduced number of CR tickets that are made available in recent times.

Here is our current itinerary:
MEL-PER/SYD-JNB (QF) ~ 30 September
Surface Segment
CAI-AMM-BCN (RJ) ~ 5 October
Surface Segment
ATH-LHR (BA) ~ 3 November
Surface Segment
KRK-HEL-CDG (AY) ~ 13 January
CDG-KUL-DAD (MH) ~ 21 January
DAD-KUL-MEL (MH)
Total 5 stopovers incl 3 surface segments (which, according to this post, has been done successfully) and 30,952 mi via PER or 31,010 mi via SYD.

I understand booking via the multi-city tool will error at 3 surface segments, and we could potentially change the itinerary so it's only 2 surface segments, but the flights are widely spread, so I assume it'd still make it difficult to book online without having to call anyway.

For my QF flight, am I right in thinking that even if I setup seat alerts for when they're first released (via tools like flightseats/seatsaero) that I wouldn't be able to book until 297 days out because of my status?

So would the recommendation be to book each leg as they become available? We'd have enough points cover the itinerary change fees and I understand this will mean having to call multiple times.

Appreciate your help.

 

[J-P]

Hello all,

Long time reader, first time OWA booker.

My partner and I are looking to book J class tickets on the OWA ticket for a October 2026-January 2027 trip. I have read many of the articles and posts in this thread and am just looking for some feedback on whether our trip would be achievable and maybe help with the logistics of the booking, given that we're both only Bronze members and the reduced number of CR tickets that are made available in recent times.

Here is our current itinerary:
MEL-PER/SYD-JNB (QF) ~ 30 September
Surface Segment
CAI-AMM-BCN (RJ) ~ 5 October
Surface Segment
ATH-LHR (BA) ~ 3 November
Surface Segment
KRK-HEL-CDG (AY) ~ 13 January
CDG-KUL-DAD (MH) ~ 21 January
DAD-KUL-MEL (MH)
Total 5 stopovers incl 3 surface segments (which, according to this post, has been done successfully) and 30,952 mi via PER or 31,010 mi via SYD.

I understand booking via the multi-city tool will error at 3 surface segments, and we could potentially change the itinerary so it's only 2 surface segments, but the flights are widely spread, so I assume it'd still make it difficult to book online without having to call anyway.

For my QF flight, am I right in thinking that even if I setup seat alerts for when they're first released (via tools like flightseats/seatsaero) that I wouldn't be able to book until 297 days out because of my status?

So would the recommendation be to book each leg as they become available? We'd have enough points cover the itinerary change fees and I understand this will mean having to call multiple times.

Appreciate your help.

The mileage and stopovers look fine, and yes it is common to book additional flights as they come out. IMO the hardest part will be getting seats on the QF flight to JNB. Qantas does not release those 297 days out (or any other standard release date for that matter). This is not a Bronze status issue, here's what I see for June 2026:


You may need to look at a more creative routing or alternative way to get to JNB if you want Business class. Cathay HKG-JNB is one I have personally booked.

 

[elanshin]

Also just incase its not been covered.

Yes if you make changes to your existing OWA booking (or any other booking) that you made before the devaluation, its still the same price as before + a change fee.

Make sure you do the maths so you don't lose out accidentally.

 

[BP.]

The mileage and stopovers look fine, and yes it is common to book additional flights as they come out. IMO the hardest part will be getting seats on the QF flight to JNB. Qantas does not release those 297 days out (or any other standard release date for that matter). This is not a Bronze status issue, here's what I see for June 2026:
View attachment 464694

You may need to look at a more creative routing or alternative way to get to JNB if you want Business class. Cathay HKG-JNB is one I have personally booked.

Thank you for your response.

Do you know if there would be any issues booking the later legs first, if they became available before the exAus? Or does not departing from AU cause problems?

From my research CX and QR flights were extremely difficult to book, especially for J class and that being one of the longer flights on our itinerary, that's something we'd like to maintain. That's probably the main reason I've left both of those airlines off my itinerary.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you for your response.

Do you know if there would be any issues booking the later legs first, if they became available before the exAus? Or does not departing from AU cause problems?

From my research CX and QR flights were extremely difficult to book, especially for J class and that being one of the longer flights on our itinerary, that's something we'd like to maintain. That's probably the main reason I've left both of those airlines off my itinerary.

Starting from another country can cause problems down the track for currency… because it may be priced in the foreign currency, and then later they have to make changes to include the Australia segments.

I think the workaround is that you include a MEL-SYD flight as a placeholder to get it into AUD from the outset.

 

[J-P]

Thank you for your response.

Do you know if there would be any issues booking the later legs first, if they became available before the exAus? Or does not departing from AU cause problems?

From my research CX and QR flights were extremely difficult to book, especially for J class and that being one of the longer flights on our itinerary, that's something we'd like to maintain. That's probably the main reason I've left both of those airlines off my itinerary.

I agree with @MEL_Traveller 's response below, but I'm suggesting the issue may be finding availability from SYD-JNB at all. I am Platinum and I can't see a single business class seat on that route in the next 6 months. There's nothing to say you won't be able to find one, but you may need to consider alternatives.

 

[BP.]

I agree with @MEL_Traveller 's response below, but I'm suggesting the issue may be finding availability from SYD-JNB at all. I am Platinum and I can't see a single business class seat on that route in the next 6 months. There's nothing to say you won't be able to find one, but you may need to consider alternatives.

Oh I see. Would that be the case for PER-JNB also?

And then with your HKG-JNB, do you remember how close to departure date that was released/booked?

When searching potential routes leaving Aus to Europe/Africa using flightconnections, they all required going via Doha/HK in some way.

 

[JohnM]

Oh I see. Would that be the case for PER-JNB also?

Worse, if anything.

 

[J-P]

I'd add that I'm not wanting to be overly negative, I think the rest of your proposed flights are very possible to book. But Qantas' own flights have extremely low (to nil) availability on some routes and this is one of them.

 

[BP.]

I'd add that I'm not wanting to be overly negative, I think the rest of your proposed flights are very possible to book. But Qantas' own flights have extremely low (to nil) availability on some routes and this is one of them.

No worries at all, I definitely appreciate the insight and will look for other options to fly into JNB.

Could you offer any more info on CX HK-JNB availabilities in J class?

 

[nickfromeastryde]

I'd be looking 360 days or so out from any Asian port you can think of to get to JNB. Status only applies to Qantas metal, for partner airlines booked through Qantas multi city tool, it's a level playing field. Additionally, getting out of Oz on partner airlines and into Asia much easier and also available to a Bronze QFF at 360 days or so depending on the airline.

 

[BP.]

I'd be looking 360 days or so out from any Asian port you can think of to get to JNB. Status only applies to Qantas metal, for partner airlines booked through Qantas multi city tool, it's a level playing field. Additionally, getting out of Oz on partner airlines and into Asia much easier and also available to a Bronze QFF at 360 days or so depending on the airline.

Well noted, thank you.

I've just re-checked the mileage going via SYD-HK and it puts me over the 35,000 so I might have to rethink my strategy based on this.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well noted, thank you.

I've just re-checked the mileage going via SYD-HK and it puts me over the 35,000 so I might have to rethink my strategy based on this.

ATH-LHR on BA is €160 per person in economy including checked bags. That would save you some miles if you rearranged the itinerary so the surface segment was just BCN-KRK, and you but the BA ticket.

Or you could sub out one of the other shortish euro hops.

 

[BP.]

ATH-LHR on BA is €160 per person in economy including checked bags. That would save you some miles if you rearranged the itinerary so the surface segment was just BCN-KRK, and you but the BA ticket.

Or you could sub out one of the other shortish euro hops.

Appreciate that, thank you. I probably have a few options. I could do the KUL-DAD return trip on our own too. I'd imagine short Asia flight would be pretty cheap.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Appreciate that, thank you. I probably have a few options. I could do the KUL-DAD return trip on our own too. I'd imagine short Asia flight would be pretty cheap.

As low as AUD145 return for KUL-DAD on VietJet Air, although you’d need to lay for bags on top of that. AUD899 return for business class on MH.