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.

 

[nicnor]

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.

Legend!! Can’t thank you enough for the super detailed response. This helped me a lot.

1. Btw, when you say "call at a reasonable hour", any rule of thumb on what day (i assume weekdays?) and around what time?
2. What is the Qantas phone number to call regarding changing booking?
3. If I plan to change my last 2 flight segments to other routes? Again, I assume this is allowable, and I will again only be charged 5000 points per person as long as I do all of these in 1 phone call?

Thanks again!!

 

[TeaKozy]

Same number as normal - 13 12 11. Follow the prompts (i.e. international booking, then on points) and you should get someone knowledgeable. I've had good luck calling between 7-9pm AEST, however not sure of the exact shifts each team works (i.e. when Hobart clocks off).

If something very bad happens and the flight isn't ticketed or you see any legs missing online following the call, call back immediately and send an email to [email protected]

As to change fees, I believe it's levied per booking - i.e. if you had one booking with two pax, all the changes would only set you back the one change fee (happy to be corrected on this one). You can also split the bookings if combined.

EDIT: Thanks to Serfty for confirming it's 5k per passenger. Oof.

 

[serfty]

As to change fees, I believe it's levied per booking - i.e. if you had one booking with two pax, all the changes would only set you back the one change fee (happy to be corrected on this one). You can also split the bookings if combined.

It is 5k per PAX ...

 

[nicnor]

Same number as normal - 13 12 11. Follow the prompts (i.e. international booking, then on points) and you should get someone knowledgeable. I've had good luck calling between 7-9pm AEST, however not sure of the exact shifts each team works (i.e. when Hobart clocks off).

If something very bad happens and the flight isn't ticketed or you see any legs missing online following the call, call back immediately and send an email to [email protected]

As to change fees, I believe it's levied per booking - i.e. if you had one booking with two pax, all the changes would only set you back the one change fee (happy to be corrected on this one). You can also split the bookings if combined.

EDIT: Thanks to Serfty for confirming it's 5k per passenger. Oof.

Thank you!!

 

[creedaventus]

Same number as normal - 13 12 11. Follow the prompts (i.e. international booking, then on points) and you should get someone knowledgeable. I've had good luck calling between 7-9pm AEST, however not sure of the exact shifts each team works (i.e. when Hobart clocks off).

If something very bad happens and the flight isn't ticketed or you see any legs missing online following the call, call back immediately and send an email to [email protected]

As to change fees, I believe it's levied per booking - i.e. if you had one booking with two pax, all the changes would only set you back the one change fee (happy to be corrected on this one). You can also split the bookings if combined.

EDIT: Thanks to Serfty for confirming it's 5k per passenger. Oof.

Hi TeaKozy,

Thanks a lot for your insightful replies to the other guy's questions. It is also helping me.

I interpret that we can add more flight segments to our existing booking, even if the flight dates > 12 months from my original ticket issue date. As long as, the new flights are within 12 months from the first date of my flight in the booking.

However, I seem to read somewhere that one person had an obstacle when ringing Qantas call centre where he was told that he cannot add flights to his booking as you are ONLY able to book flights within 365 days from the time you MADE the booking (the first ticket issue date).

Do you know much about this? Are we able to add flights with flight date on Nov 2027 if i already have an existing booking with ticket issue date on May 2026 and flights on March 2027. But i am calling them on Dec 2026 to add the remaining flights for Nov 2027. Do you know if it is possible?

So Nov 2027 would be within 12 months from my first flight i.e. Mar 2027, however it will be >12 months from my original ticket issue date May 2026. On Dec 2026, when I add the flights, and the ticket is reissued it will satisfy the condition of ticket issue date = Dec 2026; first flight Mar 2027; last flight Nov 2027. But need to pass the hurdle of the call centre operator wanting to do these for me in the first place.