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

[Cynicor]

So for curiosities sake - I was checking on expedia.com.au the prices of award flights I am hoping to book.
I notice they give a breakdown of the fare including the taxes and this pretty much equated to what the QF site was giving me.

I have a couple of JAL flights I hope to take, I am wondering if its a fair assumption to use expedia to estimate the taxes. ??

Interestingly, the flights I hope to book come in at $63077.66 retail (2 pax in J) and taxes are $1718.00 - I hope I can pull this off!!

Just waiting patiently for my dates to roll around - curiosity is getting the better of me.

The max price they could come in at is the price of 2x DONE5s tbh. Still a good saving though.
Edit as soon as I posted: Actually, i guess this isn't true if there is backtracking, as that's not allowed on DONEX

 

[blu]

Does CX cancel reservations due to delayed ticketing by QF?
If so, would QF charge another 5000 points to make a replacement J booking?

I would have preferred JL's schedule, but NZ CSA couldn't see the availability shown on JL website.

 

[fairbasa]

Does CX cancel reservations due to delayed ticketing by QF?
If so, would QF charge another 5000 points to make a replacement J booking?

I would have preferred JL's schedule, but NZ CSA couldn't see the availability shown on JL website.

Yes. QR and CX are the worst for it. As it's their fault, QF couldn't charge you the 5k points if they haven't ticketed in time (although they might try ). You're not making a change, they're just reinstating your original booking.

However, make sure you stress you would like any changes sent to the priority queue for ticketing to try and avoid losing seats in the first place.

Side note: I received an itinerary change notification in my QF app yesterday for my Oneworld Award. I accepted the change (AA moved a flight by 15mins). Last night I noticed my points balance had gone down 10k. Turns out QF charged me a 2x pax 5k change fees for an involuntary schedule change! I rang up QF to get the charge refunded. Something to keep an eye on!

 

[madrooster]

Does CX cancel reservations due to delayed ticketing by QF?

Short answer no, unless there's not much time left before departure.

 

[yld200]

Just got off the phone with QF after making some changes to my booking and feeling a little frustrated. The changes made gave me a refund (no idea how) which had to go back to the original card. I advised them that the card had been cancelled and account closed. So on hold I went for at least 30 minutes while the rep sought advice, she came back every 5-10 minutes saying they're still looking at it and at the end she just said the refunds been processed to the original card and you'll have to follow up with the financial institution to get it re-reimbursed.

What the hell, are they serious?

The card is long gone and I'm pretty sure I know which one it is and now I have to follow up with Amex to sort this out? Surely this is BS from QF. Anyone else had any experience like this?

 

[Kangol]

Just got off the phone with QF after making some changes to my booking and feeling a little frustrated. The changes made gave me a refund (no idea how) which had to go back to the original card. I advised them that the card had been cancelled and account closed. So on hold I went for at least 30 minutes while the rep sought advice, she came back every 5-10 minutes saying they're still looking at it and at the end she just said the refunds been processed to the original card and you'll have to follow up with the financial institution to get it re-reimbursed.

What the hell, are they serious?

The card is long gone and I'm pretty sure I know which one it is and now I have to follow up with Amex to sort this out? Surely this is BS from QF. Anyone else had any experience like this?

Some cards can accept the credit, others cannot. If the latter, you need a stat dec saying that the card is closed and you want the refund sent to another one. I have been in both positions.

 

[yld200]

Pretty frustrating, but I have no idea how I've managed to score a $1400 refund I will see how this develops and report back on end result.

Hopefully it re-tickets asap as I've got a few QR flights in the mix. I did asked for it to be processed manually asap which they said 'we'll keep an eye on it and let you know how it goes'.

My new and hopefully final J itinerary is:
MEL>ADL - QF
ADL>DOH - QR
DOH>DXB - QR Y (stop)
DXB>DOH - QR Y
DOH>ESB - QR (stop)
ESB>IST - Paid sector to be booked
IST>LHR - BA (stop)
Pick up a french lease car in London
4-5 day drive from London to Bosnia stopping in Northern France, Munich and Zegreb
Visit family in Bosnia
Drive from Bosnia to Italy via the Adriatic Coast - Dubrovnik, Split, etc.
FCO>LHR - BA
LHR>JFK - AA (stop)
JFK>BOS - AA Y
BOS>NRT - JL (stop)
NRT>MEL - JL

Final taxes and fines are TBD.

When madrooster looked into my PRN he advised that taxes weren't right and I needed to be charged more. QF have just advised they are refunding me $1400 so lets see how it plays out and what the final amount is.

 

[yld200]

Just a quick update on my situation. I had a call last night from a Platinum team rep who advised me that they stuffed up my taxes and I did actually have to pay an additional $146.10 /pax which was fine.

24 hours later and still no ticket has come through. I called again tonight and was on hold for around 45 minutes while the rep sorted it out with the ticketing team, apparently a small technical issue due to the taxes issue was updated and has been sent off for re-ticketing and is back in the cue for priority ticketing.

Fingers crossed it's in my inbox in the morning.

 

[jkcfc]

Hi everyone,


I'm looking to complete the following itinerary for 2x140k redemptions and just wanted to see if I've overlooked anything.
Have used QA, BA and AA searches to find availability and think I can get the following:


7/10/17 00.35 MEL-NRT 08.35 (Stop 1) (JL0774)
12/10/17 10.40 HND-JFK 10.35 (Stop 2) (JL0006)
17/10/17 12.30 LGA-MIA 15.49 (Stop 3) (AA1311)


19/10/17 - Want to go from MIA to either CUN or SJD however can only find Economy AAnytime rather than Economy MileSAAver on the AA search engine (is there any chance this could possibly be booked when calling up?)


Alternative: 12.17 MIA-MEX 14.52 (Stop 4) (AA0505) then fly to SJD on a mexican airline.


3/11/17 11.20 MEX-DFW 15.02 (Stop 5) (AA1526)


4/11/17 20.55 DFW-SYD 6/11/17 06.05 (QF8)
6/11/17 08.45 SYD-MEL 10.20 (QF461)


Our main goals of the trip is to visit NY and Mexico (Cabo San Lucas, Playa del Carmen/Tulum and Mexico City for Day of the Dead)
Texas is a higher preference compared to Miami but thought it would be easier to get a connection into Mexico.


Q's:
1. Any flights that don't fit in the rules
2. Is there a way to get an awards flight from somewhere in US to another airport in Mexico other than Mexico City (MEX)
3. Should I keep looking for a new destination for a couple of days 17th-19th Oct to connect from NY to Mexico?


Thanks!

 

[yld200]

I haven't flow into Mexico before so can't offer any first hand experience.

The easiest way to check would be to use the oneworld interactive map. Find the airport you want to go to and see which airports have direct flights there.
https://www.oneworld.com/flights/where-we-fly

Otherwise.
1. Looks ok
2. Use the one world map to see what other airports you could fly to and it's just a matter of searching.
3. If you can find a flight into Mexico from another airport then yes you could connect

 

[yld200]

Tickets finally came through yesterday evening after 4 follow up calls

Taxes for the below itinerary came in at $870 /pax which I think is pretty reasonable. Some coughpy BA euro J flights but happy with the long haul flights I've got

Another interesting thing to note is that for my last change I was only charged 3,500 points /pax which is the old rate. Not complaining but someone stuffed up.

T-102 days to go.

Pretty frustrating, but I have no idea how I've managed to score a $1400 refund I will see how this develops and report back on end result.

Hopefully it re-tickets asap as I've got a few QR flights in the mix. I did asked for it to be processed manually asap which they said 'we'll keep an eye on it and let you know how it goes'.

My new and hopefully final J itinerary is:
MEL>ADL - QF
ADL>DOH - QR
DOH>DXB - QR Y (stop)
DXB>DOH - QR Y
DOH>ESB - QR (stop)
ESB>IST - Paid sector to be booked
IST>LHR - BA (stop)
Pick up a french lease car in London
4-5 day drive from London to Bosnia stopping in Northern France, Munich and Zegreb
Visit family in Bosnia
Drive from Bosnia to Italy via the Adriatic Coast - Dubrovnik, Split, etc.
FCO>LHR - BA
LHR>JFK - AA (stop)
JFK>BOS - AA Y
BOS>NRT - JL (stop)
NRT>MEL - JL

Final taxes and fines are TBD.

When madrooster looked into my PRN he advised that taxes weren't right and I needed to be charged more. QF have just advised they are refunding me $1400 so lets see how it plays out and what the final amount is.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Just added ZAG-LHR-DUS to my 280k booking and there was no mention of any change fee. The change has gone through and no points have been deducted from my account. Is there a chance the fee will still be charged or does it normally happen at the time of the change?

 

[Kangol]

Just added ZAG-LHR-DUS to my 280k booking and there was no mention of any change fee. The change has gone through and no points have been deducted from my account. Is there a chance the fee will still be charged or does it normally happen at the time of the change?

The change fee normally occurs at the time of the charge (at ticketing normally) as a separate line.
Have you received the e-ticket?

 

[CaptainCurtis]

The change fee normally occurs at the time of the charge (at ticketing normally) as a separate line.
Have you received the e-ticket?

Nope, haven't received the updated e-ticket just yet so maybe it will still be charged. Little bit odd though that there was no mention of the fee while on the phone. No additional taxes/fuel surcharges was nice though!

 

[melbkate]

Thought I'd give a quick report back on our first OWA thanks to all the credit card points gathered from bonuses and info gained on this thread Had a brilliant trip through France, Spain, Portugal, Italy with quick stops in Helsinki and Tokyo on the way home.

MEL-HKG-CDG CX STOP - didn't like the herringbone seats, so uncomfortable, food average, disappointing
surface Paris to Bordeaux
BDO-MAD-LIS IB STOP - IB left our bags in Madrid we got them back to Lisbon the following day, IB good but unexciting otherwise
surface Lisbon to Madrid
MAD-NAP IB STOP
surface Naples to Milan
MXP-HEL AY STOP - Finnair Business on short flights small plane and seats no difference to Economy, however food was excellent as was beautiful crockery, no entertainment!
HEL-NRT JL STOP - JL lie flat seats ok they had a mattress pad and doona, no PJs, good food, they didn't hand out the 2 arrival cards needed to fill out and hand in so had to waste 10 mins filling those out on exit which was annoying
NRT-MEL QF - best leg by far. Loved their lie flat seats with mattress pad and doona and PJs, could actually sleep, cabin crew so attentive helping with anything without asking or making you feel needy, food great and the entertainment brilliant - so many options.

Tips for first timers: look out for those priority and express entrances and exits at the airports so great!

 

[Battymum]

Hi there

Well I am finally in the middle of booking my oneworld classic award.
I have so far booked -
SYD-HKG
HKG-LGW
ORY-JFK
JFk-YVR

This has brought the total to 275,000 points - so still under the max.

My question is, the ORY-JFK sector is on British Airways -Openskies - is this flight going to make the OWA fall over when I try and book the next legs?

The next legs I hope to book are YVR-NRT and NRT-SYD on JAL.


Second question - is Westjet allowed in these awards - I can see that you can now include it on a oneworld explorer? If so how can I search award availability?

Thanks

Lisa

 

[Danger]

Hi there

Well I am finally in the middle of booking my oneworld classic award.
I have so far booked -
SYD-HKG
HKG-LGW
ORY-JFK
JFk-YVR

This has brought the total to 275,000 points - so still under the max.

My question is, the ORY-JFK sector is on British Airways -Openskies - is this flight going to make the OWA fall over when I try and book the next legs?

The next legs I hope to book are YVR-NRT and NRT-SYD on JAL.


Second question - is Westjet allowed in these awards - I can see that you can now include it on a oneworld explorer? If so how can I search award availability?

Thanks

Lisa

Open Skies is no drama but I'm fairly sure you'll be out of luck with WestJet.

 

[Radio8tiv]

Open Skies is no drama but I'm fairly sure you'll be out of luck with WestJet.

Hi there

Well I am finally in the middle of booking my oneworld classic award.
I have so far booked -
SYD-HKG
HKG-LGW
ORY-JFK
JFk-YVR

This has brought the total to 275,000 points - so still under the max.

My question is, the ORY-JFK sector is on British Airways -Openskies - is this flight going to make the OWA fall over when I try and book the next legs?

The next legs I hope to book are YVR-NRT and NRT-SYD on JAL.


Second question - is Westjet allowed in these awards - I can see that you can now include it on a oneworld explorer? If so how can I search award availability?

Thanks

Lisa

as mentioned, open skies is an affiliate of one world so no problem but west jet is not, they are a qantas partner much like emirates, but not oneworld.
Use this for reference/research https://www.oneworld.com/member-airlines/oneworld-airline-affiliates

 

[Battymum]

Bother.
Never mind, I was planning on booking westjet as a separate flight anyway.

But that's good to know about openskies!

 

[Battymum]

Whats the average "on hold" time when calling QFF - currently on hold 1hour 41 mins?

I made changes to my booking on Thursday and the eticket came through with additional charges of $968 - but my credit card was charged $1134.
It seems petty to quibble over $166 - when I have just added two business class flights, but I just want to know why it doesn't add to what the eticket says.