Heads up about program changes

[daturtle]

Yeah on the Pacific side you have a few options but how do you cross the Atlantic?

Looks like everything to/from the Americas goes via LHR.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you are transiting LHR (less than 24hr) originating from a European port you do not actually get hit with the APD?

 

[RichardMEL]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you are transiting LHR (less than 24hr) originating from a European port you do not actually get hit with the APD?

JNB is not europe though (obviously ). I think UK have tightened up the transit rule w.r.t. APD's which sucks.. I used to take advantage of that back in the day to do a 22-23 hour transit and avoid the APD's but still get a night in London.

So BA is the only OW option to europe out of JNB? ugh.

 

[footy99]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you are transiting LHR (less than 24hr) originating from a European port you do not actually get hit with the APD?

Ah good spot!

Yep just priced then. Less than 24 hours in LHR (from any port it seems - just priced from JFK) removes the APD - saving about $300.

 

[serfty]

Ex South Africa ...

DONE4 AUD6,325

DONE5 AUD7,285

DONE6 AUD8,640

(from Expert Flyer)

a quick exercise in pricing I just did on the Oneworld site:

JNB-LHR-JFK-SYD-JNB = approx $AU8200
JNB-LHR-JFK-HKG-SYD-JNB = approx $AU9k

I forgot to mention they are approximate base fares (converted from SAR by E/F and rounded by me).

Those figures don't included any +++; that still needs to be added.

JNB-LHR-JFK-SYD-JNB is an xONE4 routing (SA-EUR-NA-SWP-SA)
JNB-LHR-JFK-HKG-SYD-JNB is an xONE5 routing (SA-EUR-NA-ASIA-SWP-SA)

 

[Danger]

Is it possible to do an ex-JNB itinerary without LHR?

Now that QR has joined oneworld, it certainly is.

 

[tm.smile]

American from continental Europe? Or Finnair from HEL?

 

[BD1959]

Yeah on the Pacific side you have a few options but how do you cross the Atlantic?

Looks like everything to/from the Americas goes via LHR.

Really? Looked at IB from MAD, probably puts BA and AA combined to shame, especially to central and latin america?

AA (both by itself and US) has various options to MAN, DUB and various other non-LHR ports.

AY has HEL-JFK and seasonal flights to various other North American destinations.

Maybe I took the statement out of context??

Regards,

BD

 

[Cynicor]

Really? Looked at IB from MAD, probably puts BA and AA combined to shame, especially to central and latin america?

AA (both by itself and US) has various options to MAN, DUB and various other non-LHR ports.

AY has HEL-JFK and seasonal flights to various other North American destinations.

Maybe I took the statement out of context??

Regards,

BD

Out of context. From JNB

But yeah- QR is the way to go, to avoid apd.

 

[BD1959]

Out of context.

Fair'nuff!

Regards,

BD

 

[medhead]

bit of a brain fart...
HKG-BNE, HKG-SYD, HKG-MEL, SIN-BNE, SIN-SYD and SIN-MEL now all get the same points and SC right?

I'm not sure of your purpose in this question. But it will depend on airline. Yes, they should all earn the same, but Qantas metal will earn more than other Oneworld airlines. I'm not sure that being on a QF codeshare on CX will get QF earning. But flying on CX with a CX flight number will still earn.

The flight from SIN and HKG-SYD can be on QF and I believe those will earn more than flights on CX from HKG.

 

[Colster]

Yeah on the Pacific side you have a few options but how do you cross the Atlantic?

Looks like everything to/from the Americas goes via LHR.

Finnair from NYC-HEL would avoid LHR or LGA

 

[defurax]

Finnair from NYC-HEL would avoid LHR or LGA

The issue is more related to OW flights operating out of JNB which excludes AY.

 

[dajop]

The issue is more related to OW flights operating out of JNB which excludes AY.

To avoid APD no need to avoid LHR. Can fly in there (inbound do not accrue APD). Journeys like JNB-LHR followed by any of the following would work:-
- open jaw (ferry, train or separate air ticket ) to another European city
- stop in London for xx_ days then continue on to another European city and have stopover there (>24 hrs) before traveling to North (or South) America.

The outbound journey from continental Europe or Ireland (including Northern Ireland) can connect through LHR just not stop there. The only proviso is not leaving from Germany, which has taxes almost as bad as the UK.

 

[RichardMEL]

Re SIN-SYD/HKG-SYD/BKK-SYD (etc) all earning the same points and SC's I think is that "Simpler and Fairer" isn't - I mean you're talking well over 1000 miles more flying distance to BKK then HKG than flying to SIN. With the old mileage based system (which yes most carriers are dumping) you'd get more for flying more distance wise. Yes, simpler to say OK your flights to any asian cities earn you 120 SC in J on QF metal sure, that's simpler.. but I'd argue not so fair.. though the way the SC tables were constructed anyway meant that pretty much all of South East Asia (inc up to HKG) earned the same from oz east coast cities.

Just my 2 cents

 

[daturtle]

Re SIN-SYD/HKG-SYD/BKK-SYD (etc) all earning the same points and SC's I think is that "Simpler and Fairer" isn't - I mean you're talking well over 1000 miles more flying distance to BKK then HKG than flying to SIN. With the old mileage based system (which yes most carriers are dumping) you'd get more for flying more distance wise. Yes, simpler to say OK your flights to any asian cities earn you 120 SC in J on QF metal sure, that's simpler.. but I'd argue not so fair.. though the way the SC tables were constructed anyway meant that pretty much all of South East Asia (inc up to HKG) earned the same from oz east coast cities.

Just my 2 cents

Simpler And Fairer...(for Qantas)

 

[Cynicor]

I could be wrong, but currently S+F means the new PER-SIN QF flight in discount Y earns fewer SCs and QFFP than the cheaper, shorter JQ (or 3K?) flight PER-DPS.

Is that correct?

 

[defurax]

I could be wrong, but currently S+F means the new PER-SIN QF flight in discount Y earns fewer SCs and QFFP than the cheaper, shorter JQ (or 3K?) flight PER-DPS.

Is that correct?

Yes, same for SYD-HNL I think.
At least according to the QFF calculator.

 

[hotpaws]

Interesting change to SC earn on Qantas flights in most recent "Simpler and Fairer" lot of enhancements.
SYD/MEL/BNE to JFK now earns a consistent number of SC, regardless of route taken. Previously, in J to get maximum SC, you needed to be on the same flight number through to JFK, now it does not matter which flight you take ex Australia, the SC and points earn is the same (and incidentally, the higher amount, 280 SC and 31000 points for WP). This has come about by an increase in the earning on the LAX-JFK leg. At least this will help if QF changes to LAX-JFK flight number again!

 

[Mattg]

Interesting change to SC earn on Qantas flights in most recent "Simpler and Fairer" lot of enhancements.
SYD/MEL/BNE to JFK now earns a consistent number of SC, regardless of route taken. Previously, in J to get maximum SC, you needed to be on the same flight number through to JFK, now it does not matter which flight you take ex Australia, the SC and points earn is the same (and incidentally, the higher amount, 280 SC and 31000 points for WP). This has come about by an increase in the earning on the LAX-JFK leg. At least this will help if QF changes to LAX-JFK flight number again!

Indeed. The latest round of "enhancements" are currently being discussed here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rogram/changes-to-partner-earns-qf-71369.html

 

[hotpaws]

Thanks Mattg,
I have been through that thread, which is all about changes to partner earn on QF, but just a comment about changes to QF earn on QF metal, which is what this thread is about.

Indeed. The latest round of "enhancements" are currently being discussed here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rogram/changes-to-partner-earns-qf-71369.html