Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Point Ventures]

Still being advised that I can’t return to Australia SIN-SYD then leave again on SYD-LAX after transiting on AKL-SYD.

 

[Port Power]

Still being advised that I can’t return to Australia SIN-SYD then leave again on SYD-LAX after transiting on AKL-SYD.

Another way would be to drop AKL-SYD return, making the trip start and finish in SYD. You can book AKL-SYD-AKL as a separate ticket.

 

[elanshin]

Still being advised that I can’t return to Australia SIN-SYD then leave again on SYD-LAX after transiting on AKL-SYD.

Same problem, because AKL is being classes as Australia. And if it is then you can't return back to "Australia".

Hence why the computer can't do it.

 

[logos 01]

Still being advised that I can’t return to Australia SIN-SYD then leave again on SYD-LAX after transiting on AKL-SYD.

Are they saying what rule is being broken by doing so? I had so many arguments with them over number of stopovers, stopover vs transit etc. Got there in the end but it was painful.

 

[elanshin]

Are they saying what rule is being broken by doing so? I had so many arguments with them over number of stopovers, stopover vs transit etc. Got there in the end but it was painful.

The computer thinks AKL is Australia and thus the instant you "return to Australia (country if origin)" you can't add more sectors at all - for any classic rewards because it won't be able to price it. Thats not a OWA rule but just a general classic rewards rule.

 

[Point Ventures]

The computer thinks AKL is Australia and thus the instant you "return to Australia (country if origin)" you can't add more sectors at all - for any classic rewards because it won't be able to price it. Thats not a OWA rule but just a general classic rewards rule.

Exactly this. I tried explaining the different sections of T&Cs regarding classics vs Oneworld rewards. I have all the reasons why I can’t, including you have to go around the world, but the computer is saying no to coming back to Sydney and leaving again after transiting. I can’t remove the AKL-SYD leg, as the itinerary will then commence in Australia and therefore finish when I fly SIN-SYD sector.

Exactly this. I tried explaining the different sections of T&Cs regarding classics vs Oneworld rewards. I have all the reasons why I can’t, including you have to go around the world, but the computer is saying no to coming back to Sydney and leaving again after transiting. I can’t remove the AKL-SYD leg, as the itinerary will then commence in Australia and therefore finish when I fly SIN-SYD sector.

Been on the phone to Qantas for 8.5 hours today. At one point I had three 20+ year veterans from Hobart standing around the computer, giving advice.

 

[Point Ventures]

Ticket has now been issued. They ended up forcing the ticket, still not a Oneworld redemption. They only charged me 341,800 points per pax, as they couldn’t get it to calculate the Oneworld redemption rate. The entire itinerary in in J.

 

[Aeryn]

Ticket has now been issued. They ended up forcing the ticket, still not a Oneworld redemption. They only charged me 341,800 points per pax, as they couldn’t get it to calculate the Oneworld redemption rate. The entire itinerary in in J.

Well thats a win as ít is cheaper than the OWA J rate of 365,800

 

[logos 01]

I'm glad they seemingly recognised the situation as a computer limitation rather than a mythical breach of the Oneworld award rules.

 

[flyguy77]

The computer thinks AKL is Australia and thus the instant you "return to Australia (country if origin)" you can't add more sectors at all - for any classic rewards because it won't be able to price it. Thats not a OWA rule but just a general classic rewards rule.

That's interesting. I was trying to book a Melbourne - Sydney - Christchurch - Sydney - Melbourne to enjoy an Emirates First Class flight (with some overnight layovers and extra Business connections) and it would always seemingly fail when adding the last leg.

So you can't ever fly back from overseas into another Australian airport and add a domestic connection?

If there is no way around it - that seems really limiting.

 

[algae]

That's interesting. I was trying to book a Melbourne - Sydney - Christchurch - Sydney - Melbourne to enjoy an Emirates First Class flight (with some overnight layovers and extra Business connections) and it would always seemingly fail when adding the last leg.

So you can't ever fly back from overseas into another Australian airport and add a domestic connection?

If there is no way around it - that seems really limiting.

That should be fine (afaik). This thread is about restrictions/Tc&C's on OWAs, and if you're using Emirates, that wouldn't be eligible for an OWA anyway.

 

[flyguy77]

That should be fine (afaik). This thread is about restrictions/Tc&C's on OWAs, and if you're using Emirates, that wouldn't be eligible for an OWA anyway.

I was going off the comment made that said not being able to add flights once you return to your country of origin, was a general rule for all classic rewards.

My example couldn't be booked online or over the phone (last flight was the issue)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So you can't ever fly back from overseas into another Australian airport and add a domestic connection?

If there is no way around it - that seems really limiting.

It applies both at the beginning and end. There is a hard block on domestic connections which you try to manually create. The computer won’t allow them.

If the computer offers MEL-SYD-LAX when searching MEL-LAX that’s ok, but you can’t add MEL-SYD if you have found SYD-LAX.

And same for the return.

You can get around this by staying more than 24 hours.

 

[serfty]

The computer thinks AKL is Australia and thus the instant you "return to Australia (country if origin)" you can't add more sectors at all - for any classic rewards because it won't be able to price it. Thats not a OWA rule but just a general classic rewards rule.

Using the online multi booking I was blindly able to ticket BNE-xAKL-xSYD-xSIN-KUL-/Asia/-/Europe/-/USA/-BNE as a oneworld classic award. Since then however, I haven't been able to make any real changes to it as it simply won't reticket automatically.

Last attempt, while the agent started seeming competently enough, they saw somewhat different availability to what I could see on Qantas.com. Once it would not auto ticket they put me on hold 'while they checked'. Came back 15 minutes later to advise they were still checking Anoth12 10 minutes went by before they came back to advise I was told I had too many visits to different US states!?! (It had 5 stopovers, with no more than two transits at any location.) At that point I abandoned the attempted change. HUA(will)CA.

 

[flyguy77]

It applies both at the beginning and end. There is a hard block on domestic connections which you try to manually create. The computer won’t allow them.

I don't think this is 100% true. I've been able to manually create a domestic connection under 24 hours that wasn't offered and it's booked fine.

In this case it worked creating a MEL - SYD - CHC and back to SYD. Could get all the way to payment screen....but adding the last SYD - MEL just resulted in an error.

Who knows. All I know is it's frustrating.

 

[mjbruc]

One world ticket, Qantas accidentally cancelled legs

Hi all, not sure if this has been mentioned in this megathread, but desperate for some help if possible.

Booked a one world around the world ticket a couple of months ago, no issues at all.

On Wednesday 4/02 we decided to take two legs out and replace them with a couple of different destinations/routes. After speaking with an agent on the phone for several hours trying to get this right, she eventually was able to make the changes and took my credit card details to confirm the booking. Upon checking the app later that night, the trip all looked good.

When I checked the following morning, 3 of our key legs were missing and remain missing. HK to Brussels (Cathay Pacific), Paris to Colombo (Sri Lankan air) and Colombo to Melbourne (Sri Lankan air).

I couldn't have been any clearer on the phone that those legs were not to be amended at all, and I have been on the phone every day since to try and get an answer from them or someone be able to fix this back to what it should be.

Are there any other levers I can pull or any additional advice to try and get these legs back in my booking?

Thanks in advance

 

[Warragul]

One world ticket, Qantas accidentally cancelled legs

Hi all, not sure if this has been mentioned in this megathread, but desperate for some help if possible.

Booked a one world around the world ticket a couple of months ago, no issues at all.

On Wednesday 4/02 we decided to take two legs out and replace them with a couple of different destinations/routes. After speaking with an agent on the phone for several hours trying to get this right, she eventually was able to make the changes and took my credit card details to confirm the booking. Upon checking the app later that night, the trip all looked good.

When I checked the following morning, 3 of our key legs were missing and remain missing. HK to Brussels (Cathay Pacific), Paris to Colombo (Sri Lankan air) and Colombo to Melbourne (Sri Lankan air).

I couldn't have been any clearer on the phone that those legs were not to be amended at all, and I have been on the phone every day since to try and get an answer from them or someone be able to fix this back to what it should be.

Are there any other levers I can pull or any additional advice to try and get these legs back in my booking?

Thanks in advance

Sounds like your booking wasn' t re- ticketed in time (assuming you didn't receive a new email with eTicket after the changes), before those airlines cancelled those sectors on the booking, QF at fault. Some airlines impose a very quick deadline for ticketing of award bookings. Effectively your options are call Qantas stating those flights have disappeared requesting them to fix or (and this maybe more fruitful) email RewardTicketingEscalations@qantas.com.au outlining the situation.

You should take action ASAP - I believe QF have to contact the airlines and ask them to release reward seats for the booking.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't think this is 100% true. I've been able to manually create a domestic connection under 24 hours that wasn't offered and it's booked fine.

In this case it worked creating a MEL - SYD - CHC and back to SYD. Could get all the way to payment screen....but adding the last SYD - MEL just resulted in an error.

Who knows. All I know is it's frustrating.

you might have found an exception.

But in 99% of cases, the domestic connector within 24 hours is blocked.

I have had it fail at payment stage too.