Adding a new segment to an existing oneworld classic-reward

[nicnor]

Hi peeps,

I am based in Melbourne. I’ve recently booked Business class ‘Oneworld Classic Flight Rewards’ for two adults with the following routes:

ADL – PER (economy), PER-KUL
KUL – CDG
MXP – HEL, HEL – HND
NRT – HKG, HKG – KUL
KUL – PER
PER – MEL (Economy)

1. I actually wanted to add MEL – ADL on business class at the very start of the trip. But due to Qantas website only allowing 6 segments i couldn’t do this. Is this the ONLY way to add this to the existing booking -> to call Qantas operator to add this segment?
2. With the above, the only extra i will pay is the 5000 change fee pts + $50-60 tax per person right? I don’t need to pay the classic flight rewards pts of around 18000-19000 given i am already maxed out at 318000 points?
3. I’ve read that if I call to change and/or add segment to an existing booking, they would release all the booked business rewards seats segments I am having (people losing their bookings), which are very risky. Is this true?
4. If the above is true, how should I ensure this doesn’t happen in the call with the operator? What did people usually say to the operator to ensure remaining bookings are still kept and safe? Is there any way to do this on website, instead of calling? I have heard that a lot of the qantas operator call centre don’t even understand ‘Oneworld classic flight reward’ hence my worry.
5. If I want to change PER – MEL from the date I booked to 1 day before bcs they just released a business classic flight rewards seat, would they allow me to change it? And again do i only need to pay the differences in tax? Given i have paid the 5000 change fee pts above?
6. My main goal is to just fly business class from Milan back to Melbourne, but I wasn’t able to find any such flight. Hence why my itinerary is as above. Do people have any advice on how to rearrange my bookings e.g. what routes are usually more available from Europe back to Melbourne in business class?

Any advice would be welcomed as it is my first time booking oneworld classic flight rewards.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TeaKozy]

1. This is generally the case. Anything slightly more complex than normal usually breaks things and necessitates a call.

2. Correct - you're only liable for the change fee, assuming that the ticket still complies (i.e. maximum of 5 stops and less than 35,000 miles total distance).

3. Competency is key - it now seems that anything Classic Rewards-related go to specialists who are far less likely to completely hose a booking. Not to say that there isn't a risk, however if you call at a reasonable hour, state that you'd like to amend a Oneworld Classic Reward and have validated you're still complying with all the rules of the ticket should mitigate much of the risk. Having status and getting through to Hobart definitely helps.

4. As above, state what you're trying to do. They should either be familiar - or transfer you to someone that is. Unfortunately you may have to do a bit HUACA'ing.

5. I don't see what not - again, as long as you comply with the rules of the ticket, there's no reason you couldn't move the flight. Ideally batch all your changes into the one call to minimise change fees.

6. Availability to Europe is limited at the best of times, even for Platinum's/P1's who can request reward seats be released. My last Classic Oneworld flights (back in 2018!) were MEL-HKG-FRA on the way over (all CX), and LHR-KUL-MEL (BA/MH) on the way home (originally LHR-CMB-MEL with a 10 hour layover) - didn't fly one sector on QF. No silver bullet unfortunately beyond getting lucky and creative with your routing as you've done.