Booking engine problems for Oneworld Award (Business)?

[JetLagged]

Hi all,

Thought I'd post a question here before harranging Qantas direct. Is anyone else having problems trying to do an award booking on the Aus site? Since last night I can't get an answer out of the system: either says it has a conection problem and please try again later, or a general Windows Explorer diagnostic message to the same effect. Also, on three occasions got through to the end only to be told that last fight left before previous flight arrived, even though last flight was 3 days later (SIN - PER - SYD).

I'm trying to check on the points required for a RTW JASA for my partner to compliment my travel plans in November 2011: basically SYD - LAX - SFO - JFK - LHR; then FRA - NRT - HKG - BKK - SIN - PER - SYD. LAX, NRT, BKK and SIN would only be transit stops.

Basically, two questions:

1. What an RTW JASA is in points, and
2. As they are all valid routes, better to just ringCustomer service, do you think?

Many thanks in eager anticipation.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Re: QANTAS booking engine problems for JASA?

RTW Y 140k (plus booking fee and taxes)
RTW J 280k (plus booking fee and taxes)

I personally think that this is the best way to use points (but that's just me).

I am not sure about max number of segments (and l think in the USA you get 6, and on a 2 class flight, they book into F...?). JohnK or Serfty know more about this than I do.
I can't find info on this on the QF website either. Link anyone?

Maybe here on QF.com

 

[strance]

Re: QANTAS booking engine problems for JASA?

Basically, two questions:

1. What an RTW JASA is in points, and

don't think you can get a RTW JASA .... ASA limited to Qantas and Jetstar flight numbers

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Re: QANTAS booking engine problems for JASA?

don't think you can get a RTW JASA .... ASA limited to Qantas and Jetstar flight numbers

I think that the OP meant a RTW in J Class?

 

[tuapekastar]

Re: QANTAS booking engine problems for JASA?

I think that the OP meant a RTW in J Class?

Possibly (well probably)...but possibly not. Jetlagged please end our suspense!

 

[JetLagged]

Re: QANTAS booking engine problems for JASA?

And the winner is: Oneworldplus2!

Sorry for the vagary, everyone.

Having spent numerous attempts since last evening to get definite 'costs' in terms of points required (checking on whether there has been major changes in OneWorld point requirements since other positings online here) from the QF website and it crashing all of the time, I became very frustrated - thank heavens the walls don't speak or they would tell of my prolific and proficient profanities!

 

[serfty]

Business class is 280K QFF points + [any assisted award booking fee¹] + Taxes/Levies/charges/FuelFines.

Max 16 segments, 35,000 KM and 5 stopovers.

For more, see here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/oneworld-award-140k-280k-420k-8228.html

¹ 6000 QFF points for international.

 

[N860CR]

The booking system struggles with mildly complex one world tickets. I had one sorted (before the LHR flight all got canned) however it wasn't working online. Kept throwing up a generic error message at the booking stage. General feeling is that it will have to be booked over the phone.

Very frustrating to be hit with an assisted booking fee when the website fails to perform. I'm assuming the 6K points can be swapped for a cash service fee?

 

[JohnK]

Very frustrating to be hit with an assisted booking fee when the website fails to perform. I'm assuming the 6K points can be swapped for a cash service fee?

Agree that QF award booking engine can be frustrating. The old one was more flexible.

Anyway apparently you can pay the award assistance fee in cash if you want although I don't know the actual amount.

 

[oz_mark]

Agree that QF award booking engine can be frustrating. The old one was more flexible.

Anyway apparently you can pay the award assistance fee in cash if you want although I don't know the actual amount.

Same as fees in the Fee Schedule: Schedule of Fees for bookings made from Australia
($60 for international)

 

[ozmille]

Personal opinion but it is strange that you have to pay a fee if the website is not working correctly...

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Personal opinion but it is strange that you have to pay a fee if the website is not working correctly...

ozmille, your not alone on this.
This is a 'pet hate' for many members on AFF.
Why should you have to pay an assistance fee for a service that can't be provided online :shock::shock::shock:

 

[Vinny]

For the last week I have been trying to book a J award trip BNE-CDG. I'm quite flexible with dates and have found plenty of availability shown on the site.

Each flight EX Australia involves a flight via SYD, MEL, or even ADL. It doesn't worry me at all.

When I check availability, there's plenty if I'm flexible here and there, but when I go to book the individual flights, domestic sectors are in business class, while overseas flights are invariable in economy on QF or any number of other airlines.

QF still charges the applicable business class award for economy fares. Points required vary from 280 000 to well over 350 000. I booked a RTW trip earlier in the year for 280 000. Really annoying and I'm sure they are aware of this.

Is this just a way to make a grab for a booking fee due to a phone booking?

 

[Vinny]

With regard to my above post. I'm still trying to book a QF classic award ticket to CDG. Booking non stop show nothing available for the next 6 months, but a stop over in both directions shows reasonably good availability. I click on the J seat icon where is shows availability, begin choosing flights only to find short haul flights usually in J, longhaul flights often in J or Y+ with a few J seats. Try again and the flights that were in Y now show J availability with others in Y.

My travel dates are entirely flexible.

The points required still varies from 280 000 even though most long haul are shown to be in Y and today it was 375 000 points with some J seats thrown in . Fuel fines and taxes vary from just above $930 to $1 100 for the same route! Quotes were minutes apart.

Is it worth phoning QF telling them of the problems with the site and telling them to waive the booking fee as it's impossible to book online the way their site performs? I know it's not the call centre operator's fault but surely QF is aware of the problem. It really is a mess as many would know.

 

[docjames]

Is it worth phoning QF telling them of the problems with the site and telling them to waive the booking fee as it's impossible to book online the way their site performs? I know it's not the call centre operator's fault but surely QF is aware of the problem. It really is a mess as many would know.

No, Qantas know this issue and dont seem to care. It's very misleading and has been pointed out mulitple times. I guess thier attitude is "we show the highest available class for any sector of your journey".

The points required still varies from 280 000 even though most long haul are shown to be in Y and today it was 375 000 points with some J seats thrown in . Fuel fines and taxes vary from just above $930 to $1 100 for the same route! Quotes were minutes apart.

I can only hypthesise that your earlier search blocked out some availability and so you are seeing more expensive options. It does also seem to occur on an not infrequent basis.


TBH, sometimes it's easier to pay the points fee to make sure you get what you want. Members have had varying degress of success in getting the fee waived when pointed out it couldnt be done online. They seem to have cracked down on the "waiver" of more recent times although it used to be commonplace.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Vinny, firstly, you are not alone with this issue. Many, many members on AFF have reported this. Fallen on deaf ears. I thought that QF would have sorted this one out by now.

1) Was looking at redeeming OZ-Europe in J recently. Same issue. J Dom and the rest was Y even though J only was selected in the search field. I've also seen this on Oz-LAX too.

2) Planning a J RTW (280k), but will have to call up the desk (and pay to do so) to complete my itinerary because l can't get AA158 JFK-BUD (direct) to show up (and avoid LHR).

 

[ozmille]

With regard to my above post. I'm still trying to book a QF classic award ticket to CDG. Booking non stop show nothing available for the next 6 months, but a stop over in both directions shows reasonably good availability. I click on the J seat icon where is shows availability, begin choosing flights only to find short haul flights usually in J, longhaul flights often in J or Y+ with a few J seats. Try again and the flights that were in Y now show J availability with others in Y.

My travel dates are entirely flexible.

The points required still varies from 280 000 even though most long haul are shown to be in Y and today it was 375 000 points with some J seats thrown in . Fuel fines and taxes vary from just above $930 to $1 100 for the same route! Quotes were minutes apart.

Is it worth phoning QF telling them of the problems with the site and telling them to waive the booking fee as it's impossible to book online the way their site performs? I know it's not the call centre operator's fault but surely QF is aware of the problem. It really is a mess as many would know.

Hi Vinny,

Depending on dates you can do a multi city eg SYD-SIN-LHR-CDG each as a separate sector and there is full availability on mostly BA flights in J. There will be some puzzle work getting the flights from BNE to SYD and back but it should be possible.

 

[Vinny]

Thanks to the above posters. I just kept plugging away at it today with dozens of attempted bookings but finally managed to get exactly what I wanted. I was after a couple of stopovers which was easier than attempting to book direct to CDG.

I was pleased with myself until I tried to reserve seats I booked with BA. They want AU $32.90 AU to reserve a J seat from NCE to LHR and $98.60 to reserve a seat in J from LHR to HKG.

I felt like I was dealing with a LCC.

QF offered me 1A or 11A or any other seat on a 744, so I took 11A as I like the storage bin and the upstairs cabin. CX need a phone call but I'm happy anywhere in their J cabin.

 

[N860CR]

I thought OneWorld Elites didn't have to pay the BA "pick your seat" fee? I remember flying SYD-BKK in BA J on a QF award as SG and I was able to select seats on the upper deck. FYI, the exit row on the upper deck is the place to be in the 744 J cabin!

 

[Vinny]

I thought OneWorld Elites didn't have to pay the BA "pick your seat" fee? I remember flying SYD-BKK in BA J on a QF award as SG and I was able to select seats on the upper deck. FYI, the exit row on the upper deck is the place to be in the 744 J cabin!

MMMM I'll give QF a call in the morning and pick a seat. Thanks for the info.