"oneworld" award (132.4K/249.6K/318K/455K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

[Scooty]

This thread is about the Qantas Oneworld Classic flight reward. There is no requirement to go RTW.*

Oneworld’s round-the-world product is very different. It’s called the Oneworld Explorer. Details of which can be found here: Guide to the Oneworld Explorer Round-The-World Ticket

Thank you, posting in wrong thread.
I had no idea there was no need to go RTW... shows that I shouldn't take things I read on websites as true without validating. Thanks for the link and correction.
My original sentiment still remains, not looking forward to calling

 

[MEL_Traveller]

quick question. trying to make some segment changes and I am being told they can only change to an equivalent seat. So go from business to business, they can't move to a premium economy seat (obviously prefer business but not one available on that date). Just a case of clueless/lazy operator or is there some restriction about going to a lower class with award bookings..

Yeah. There seems to be some sort of ‘rule’ to that effect. I don’t know if it’s a system limitation, or even a valid rule, but agents and the ticket desk - at least in the o/s centres - won’t change class of travel. I had one domestic flight ticketed in Y, but after a schedule change J was available… they wouldn’t ticket.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Yeah. There seems to be some sort of ‘rule’ to that effect. I don’t know if it’s a system limitation, or even a valid rule, but agents and the ticket desk - at least in the o/s centres - won’t change class of travel. I had one domestic flight ticketed in Y, but after a schedule change J was available… they wouldn’t ticket.

Class changes were available in the past on a OWA, eg Y to J NAP-LGW on BA in 2019. The operator sounded SA and was very helpful.

 

[Fifi2207]

Yeah. There seems to be some sort of ‘rule’ to that effect. I don’t know if it’s a system limitation, or even a valid rule, but agents and the ticket desk - at least in the o/s centres - won’t change class of travel. I had one domestic flight ticketed in Y, but after a schedule change J was available… they wouldn’t ticket.

Yet, but weirdly on OWA they are happy to upgrade you from Z to U 72 hours out if youve asked for an upgrade.

 

[Murmal]

Fifi2207 weirdly ? I'd use other adjectives like, happily, greedily or unfairly.

Out of curiosity, has anyone been able to smoothly upgrade to a J sector in a OWA booking when a seat becomes available, when the rest of the booking is already all J, without having to persist and call up to 100x?

 

[Gromit]

Yeah. There seems to be some sort of ‘rule’ to that effect. I don’t know if it’s a system limitation, or even a valid rule, but agents and the ticket desk - at least in the o/s centres - won’t change class of travel. I had one domestic flight ticketed in Y, but after a schedule change J was available… they wouldn’t ticket.

Thanks, After a lot of pain I managed to fix it by getting them to remove flights then add new ones (nearly felt like crying after the first operator removed the wrong flights and when she realised she said "please hold" and disconnected me). Rang back and got new operator who apologised and fixed it all up and didn't even get a change fee. 2 hours on phone all up, but only a total of 3 calls which while painful I am calling a win.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks, After a lot of pain I managed to fix it by getting them to remove flights then add new ones (nearly felt like crying after the first operator removed the wrong flights and when she realised she said "please hold" and disconnected me). Rang back and got new operator who apologised and fixed it all up and didn't even get a change fee. 2 hours on phone all up, but only a total of 3 calls which while painful I am calling a win.

That’s good news!

Thinking back my flight may have been complicated by the taxes and carrier charges. I think they had gone up since booking and to prevent a recalculation they insisted I remain in the same class originally booked.

The new carrier charges were several hundred dollars more, so maybe it was a favour! (the flight was only an hour)

 

[drross]

Class changes were available in the past on a OWA, eg Y to J NAP-LGW on BA in 2019. The operator sounded SA and was very helpful.

South Australian?

 

[Mr H]

South Australian?

Yes, they sound helpful until they serially kill you.

 

[Scooty]

I need to bite the bullet and find some time get on the phone to makes some changes to my RTW flight later this year. I wish I spent some time reading through this thread as I just hastily managed to cobble together the best business class flights I could find to make the criteria. Still relatively happy with the outcome.

Late last month I received an email advising of some changes to some legs and do I want to accept, need to run the gauntlet and speak to someone.......

Well I bit the bullet earlier tonight and made the call to amend my booking.
I wanted to add a flight in from LA to Las Vegas (spend 3 nights in Vegas), then Las Vegas to New York. I also wanted to drop a leg (Amsterdam-LHR).

I explained the flights I wished to add/drop and even provided Flight numbers. He took it all onboard and then said he needed to verify some things and put me on hold. Came back and told me that it would be a 200k point change to confirm. I advised that it was my understanding that these flights still met the criteria for our 318K per person original booking and asked to speak to his supervisor. This had taken 20 mins, so I didn't expect much....

After around 15 mins on hold someone else came on. I gave her the run through and that I didn't expect that I should have to pay more points, it should meet the criteria. She went away for a bit longer and then came back to confirm the changes (additions/removals) and that there would be no cost, plus all flights still business class. She said it could take 24-72 hours for the new itinerary to be emailed to me (which seemed non-sensical). Thanked her pleasantly and hung up.
Checked the Qantas app after having a shower and the changes were there! Plus an email confirming everything.

Took me a little over 45 mins but I think I'm good... time will tell, however I'm clocking that up as a win. I read elsewhere that there may be 5k qantas points change fee pp.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Well I bit the bullet earlier tonight and made the call to amend my booking.
I wanted to add a flight in from LA to Las Vegas (spend 3 nights in Vegas), then Las Vegas to New York. I also wanted to drop a leg (Amsterdam-LHR).

I explained the flights I wished to add/drop and even provided Flight numbers. He took it all onboard and then said he needed to verify some things and put me on hold. Came back and told me that it would be a 200k point change to confirm. I advised that it was my understanding that these flights still met the criteria for our 318K per person original booking and asked to speak to his supervisor. This had taken 20 mins, so I didn't expect much....

After around 15 mins on hold someone else came on. I gave her the run through and that I didn't expect that I should have to pay more points, it should meet the criteria. She went away for a bit longer and then came back to confirm the changes (additions/removals) and that there would be no cost, plus all flights still business class. She said it could take 24-72 hours for the new itinerary to be emailed to me (which seemed non-sensical). Thanked her pleasantly and hung up.
Checked the Qantas app after having a shower and the changes were there! Plus an email confirming everything.

Took me a little over 45 mins but I think I'm good... time will tell, however I'm clocking that up as a win. I read elsewhere that there may be 5k qantas points change fee pp.

Did the email include an e-ticket with ticket numbers beginning with 081-? If so, you're good to go. If not, follow up within 24 hours.

 

[Scooty]

Did the email include an e-ticket with ticket numbers beginning with 081-? If so, you're good to go. If not, follow up within 24 hours.

Yes, both ticket numbers have the prefix "081" - thank you for the heads-up.
For future reference, does that mean that all flights are confirmed?

 

[N860CR]

Yes, both ticket numbers have the prefix "081" - thank you for the heads-up.
For future reference, does that mean that all flights are confirmed?

Yep. If there’s a ticket number then you’re good. If it just says “confirmed” then it’s not… well, confirmed.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Took me a little over 45 mins but I think I'm good... time will tell, however I'm clocking that up as a win. I read elsewhere that there may be 5k qantas points change fee pp.

Good job, that is a total win. Especially if you're not charged the 5k pp change fee!

 

[elanshin]

Good job, that is a total win. Especially if you're not charged the 5k pp change fee!

Took me a little over 45 mins but I think I'm good... time will tell, however I'm clocking that up as a win. I read elsewhere that there may be 5k qantas points change fee pp.

Good result. the 5k change fee likely will get charged and that will come out at a random time later. last time mine got charged completely rdmly separately to the e-ticketing and changes.

 

[Gromit]

seem to be on a roll, added another segment today and again first operator was able to complete (after I gave her exact flight numbers as initially told she sees no availability). only awaiting some US domestic segments to become available and all done, though at this point I could live with not getting those as all the main international segments booked. Only one dud call for all my changes and additions thus far, so 4 out of 5 successful.

Fingers crossed the last changes when US domestic segments available is as easy.

 

[madrooster]

Heads up...

If you are planning on:

1. Making a redemption booking that originates in AU
2. Changing a redemption booking that originates in AU

using QF/BA/JL/CX/QR points (but not AA/AS) and it involves JL flights ... you might want to consider making that booking on/before 31/03 as JL will start levying fuel fines from 01/04 on redemptions that match the above criteria.

That fuel fine will be 347 AUD or 228 USD per JL journey depending on the routing so it's no small amount!

 

[adamk8]

Hi all,

We have a OW award ticket booked already and I found a better routing for one of the segments that opened up. The existing is BUD-MAD-OPO (but with overnight stay in MAD), the new one is VIE-MAD-OPO (with 1.5 hour layover in MAD). Both options are with Iberia. I see the seats open and Qantas customer service can see the seats open, however, when they go to book update it, they say the booking is not allowed or not available on my existing reservation, only for new reservations.

Is this kind of limitation possible (I had not heard of it before)? Any workarounds? Or should I call back to get another agent and see if they can find a way to book it? I was thinking perhaps it's due to the existing flight conflicting so if they can remove it first, then re-book it may go through?

Thanks!

 

[Murmal]

Hi all,

We have a OW award ticket booked already and I found a better routing for one of the segments that opened up. The existing is BUD-MAD-OPO (but with overnight stay in MAD), the new one is VIE-MAD-OPO (with 1.5 hour layover in MAD). Both options are with Iberia. I see the seats open and Qantas customer service can see the seats open, however, when they go to book update it, they say the booking is not allowed or not available on my existing reservation, only for new reservations.

Is this kind of limitation possible (I had not heard of it before)? Any workarounds? Or should I call back to get another agent and see if they can find a way to book it? I was thinking perhaps it's due to the existing flight conflicting so if they can remove it first, then re-book it may go through?

Thanks!

It seems to be a common block. Not a transparent one, which is very annoying when you spend hours doing your own investigations looking for award availability to present itself.
The explanation I received from Reward Ticket Escalations was that the Revenue Management system can show different availability when attempting to change an existing PNR or create a new booking. 'Revenue Management' can block an upgrade to a U on a particular segment (even though most of the OWA is already in U) or changes where no additional benefit to the airline is gained.
The moral of the story is that Qantas aims to get the most revenue (points or $) from cash or award bookings and a new award booking will almost always get them more. The customer has already booked and paid for the original PNR, there's more to be gained from a new booking.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Th

Heads up...

If you are planning on:

1. Making a redemption booking that originates in AU
2. Changing a redemption booking that originates in AU

using QF/BA/JL/CX/QR points (but not AA/AS) and it involves JL flights ... you might want to consider making that booking on/before 31/03 as JL will start levying fuel fines from 01/04 on redemptions that match the above criteria.

That fuel fine will be 347 AUD or 228 USD per JL journey depending on the routing so it's no small amount!

Thanks for the heads up.
A follow up question if I may:
If such a booking is made pre 31/3, but the booking is changed post 1/4 (say to add some legs as they become available later), would you expect the fuel fines, taxes, etc to be ‘re-priced’ at that time and so become subject to these new JL fees?