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

[Danger]

So I did ring today and was told the same thing however luckily I was put through to the premium help desk so was able to speak to someone willing to help. In the end, Mrs Nick on IB6250 and myself on AA94 2 hours later so a great outcome (eventually) . . .

It really shouldn't be this hard.

Hi all,

Newbie question, but can you book a routing that's not available on the Qantas website by calling Qantas, giving there is availability?

ie: MEL > HKG > LHR/CPH/BCN to lower fuel surcharges + add an under 24hr stopover?

Thanks in advance!

I did my booking in one go on one call. However, due to a change of plans to meet a new tour choice, I had a second bite at the cherry to change a destination and add two extra sectors. Because QF site kept saying airports didn't exist, I wasn't charged a change fee.

You have to register with BA Executive Club. It's free. You need to quote a non-Australian postal address otherwise they won't register you. I have friends in the US and they allowed me to use their address.

Once you have your Executive Club member ID, login and go to "Spending Avios" and then search for award flight sectors. You don't need to have any points to search for award flights.

BA will usually show you all/most JAL availability.
Qantas shows ziltch JAL.
Qantas only shows major routes between hubs in the USA,
BA will show most routes internal to the USA if you know the route upfront but sometimes you have to be a little creative in what you search for. It helps if you have used Oneworld site first or go to AA for what routes exist and then go to BA and look for seats on that route.

Note that just because one airline's booking engine shows availability doesn't mean QF will have access to it.

 

[p--and--t]

It really shouldn't be this hard.





Note that just because one airline's booking engine shows availability doesn't mean QF will have access to it.

Thanks for that "Danger" (I have tried to qualify all my remarks that I am a Newbie myself although I just saw I've been upgraded from Newbie to Junior - not sure I deserve it LOL)

In your experience, in rough terms how often would you not be able to access a seat shown on a BA search (I luckily had a 100% match)?

I noted from my searches and booking that the likelihood of a seat being shown on the Qantas site as opposed to one I was able to book is low unless it was a seat the Qantas favoured to offer (i.e. the Qantas site does not offer up large numbers of seats across a spectrum of airlines that are actually available to book).

Qantas did not offer me up front any business award seats whatsoever when I was searching to get from MEL-DOH, I just kept coming up with no availability week after week.

However, when I searched for only HKG to DOH there appeared to be hundreds of seats spread out over a couple of months. I had to ask the Qantas engine for a multi-sector MEL-BNE, then BNE-HKG and then ask for HKG-DOH and magically they became available and I got a through connection same day all the way to DOH on the exact day I wanted.

 

[Danger]

Thanks for that "Danger" (I have tried to qualify all my remarks that I am a Newbie myself although I just saw I've been upgraded from Newbie to Junior - not sure I deserve it LOL)

In your experience, in rough terms how often would you not be able to access a seat shown on a BA search (I luckily had a 100% match)?

I noted from my searches and booking that the likelihood of a seat being shown on the Qantas site as opposed to one I was able to book is low unless it was a seat the Qantas favoured to offer (i.e. the Qantas site does not offer up large numbers of seats across a spectrum of airlines that are actually available to book).

Qantas did not offer me up front any business award seats whatsoever when I was searching to get from MEL-DOH, I just kept coming up with no availability week after week.

However, when I searched for only HKG to DOH there appeared to be hundreds of seats spread out over a couple of months. I had to ask the Qantas engine for a multi-sector MEL-BNE, then BNE-HKG and then ask for HKG-DOH and magically they became available and I got a through connection same day all the way to DOH on the exact day I wanted.

I've seen probably 10 or 12 examples in the past four or so years where AA/BA was showing availability but QF wasn't and occasionally vice versa.

 

[rock86]

Thanks for that "Danger" (I have tried to qualify all my remarks that I am a Newbie myself although I just saw I've been upgraded from Newbie to Junior - not sure I deserve it LOL)

In your experience, in rough terms how often would you not be able to access a seat shown on a BA search (I luckily had a 100% match)?

I noted from my searches and booking that the likelihood of a seat being shown on the Qantas site as opposed to one I was able to book is low unless it was a seat the Qantas favoured to offer (i.e. the Qantas site does not offer up large numbers of seats across a spectrum of airlines that are actually available to book).

Qantas did not offer me up front any business award seats whatsoever when I was searching to get from MEL-DOH, I just kept coming up with no availability week after week.

However, when I searched for only HKG to DOH there appeared to be hundreds of seats spread out over a couple of months. I had to ask the Qantas engine for a multi-sector MEL-BNE, then BNE-HKG and then ask for HKG-DOH and magically they became available and I got a through connection same day all the way to DOH on the exact day I wanted.

QR at present seems notoriously stingy on their reward inventory for partner airlines, whether this has something to do with QF's partnership with EK............ (that is said without any substantiation).

 

[jeza]

As someone who is considering doing my first 280K RTW in 2019/20 all the info so far has been great. Thank you all!

My tentative plan is to split the trip into 2 parts doing USA/Canada one year & Europe/Asia the other. July/August 2019 for the first part, May/June 2020 the 2nd & returning to OZ inbetween to recharge the bank account.

Open to suggestions whether to do the US or Europe in the first. I currently have a bit over 400k in points so I'm hoping to have enough points by then to book a separate return J reward to get back to Oz

From what I understand from reading this thread is that this August/September I should book the first part of the trip & then book the 2nd half in June 2019 before I actually begin the trip . To do this I have to call & pay the 6K in points change fee.

Am I correct in my thinking?

Also open to suggestions on whether to do the USA or Europe section first & any other advice those that have done this can offer.

 

[p--and--t]

QR at present seems notoriously stingy on their reward inventory for partner airlines, whether this has something to do with QF's partnership with EK............ (that is said without any substantiation).

Is it QR that is stingy or QF preferencing EK in their engine?

QF website wouldn't offer me a QR flight on a generic search, but the seats are definitely there.

They are blatantly obvious on BA website and can be accessed on QF website if you know the search parameters to trigger them.

The Qantas call centre could see them as well and had no problem reserving them for me.

I have a suspicion QF algorithm is set to not reveal the seats that are sitting there for the taking because they are cosying up to EK as a part of the renewed partnership. There is a problem of course for OW tickets because you can't book an EK flight unless it has a QF code share number.

Only a guess, but fits the pattern I experienced.

 

[p--and--t]

As someone who is considering doing my first 280K RTW in 2019/20 all the info so far has been great. Thank you all!

My tentative plan is to split the trip into 2 parts doing USA/Canada one year & Europe/Asia the other. July/August 2019 for the first part, May/June 2020 the 2nd & returning to OZ inbetween to recharge the bank account.

Open to suggestions whether to do the US or Europe in the first. I currently have a bit over 400k in points so I'm hoping to have enough points by then to book a separate return J reward to get back to Oz

From what I understand from reading this thread is that this August/September I should book the first part of the trip & then book the 2nd half in June 2019 before I actually begin the trip . To do this I have to call & pay the 6K in points change fee.

Am I correct in my thinking?

Also open to suggestions on whether to do the USA or Europe section first & any other advice those that have done this can offer.

Don't know about others but I always suffer jet lag travelling long distances in easterly direction (e.g. ->USA) and rarely flying westerly (e.g. ->J'burg)

 

[jetpack]

Also open to suggestions on whether to do the USA or Europe section first & any other advice those that have done this can offer.

I think it comes down to personal preference. The only other factor I can think of is that USA seems to be harder to get seats on so if you can find seats to America then maybe get that out of the way first.

 

[SelfFundedWP]

Thanks for that "Danger" (I have tried to qualify all my remarks that I am a Newbie myself although I just saw I've been upgraded from Newbie to Junior - not sure I deserve it LOL)

In your experience, in rough terms how often would you not be able to access a seat shown on a BA search (I luckily had a 100% match)?

I noted from my searches and booking that the likelihood of a seat being shown on the Qantas site as opposed to one I was able to book is low unless it was a seat the Qantas favoured to offer (i.e. the Qantas site does not offer up large numbers of seats across a spectrum of airlines that are actually available to book).

Qantas did not offer me up front any business award seats whatsoever when I was searching to get from MEL-DOH, I just kept coming up with no availability week after week.

However, when I searched for only HKG to DOH there appeared to be hundreds of seats spread out over a couple of months. I had to ask the Qantas engine for a multi-sector MEL-BNE, then BNE-HKG and then ask for HKG-DOH and magically they became available and I got a through connection same day all the way to DOH on the exact day I wanted.

Looking into this as I cant see any syd-lhr availability via doh on qantas or BA site, can see from expert flyer theres availability on my chosen dates. Anyone know qatar fare codes? Doesnt come up on expert flyer and tried searching here...

 

[p--and--t]

Looking into this as I cant see any syd-lhr availability via doh on qantas or BA site, can see from expert flyer theres availability on my chosen dates. Anyone know qatar fare codes? Doesnt come up on expert flyer and tried searching here...

I don't have expert flyer and don't know QR codes.

For the months I wanted to fly I couldn't find any online seats whatsoever non-stop QR SYD-DOH.

So I searched HKG-DOH, BKK-DOH, SIN-DOH etc and found heaps of seats QR HKG-DOH. My next task was to find from somewhere in AU on any airline to HKG. I found a perfect QF BNE-HKG connection. Next there was availability on QF MEL-BNE.

I was happy with this as I needed to specifically get to DOH to connect with a flight to QR DOH-NBO.

A few extra hours in Business class via HKG to get to my destination, for some taxes only, suited me fine.

 

[SelfFundedWP]

I don't have expert flyer and don't know QR codes.

For the months I wanted to fly I couldn't find any online seats whatsoever non-stop QR SYD-DOH.

So I searched HKG-DOH, BKK-DOH, SIN-DOH etc and found heaps of seats QR HKG-DOH. My next task was to find from somewhere in AU on any airline to HKG. I found a perfect QF BNE-HKG connection. Next there was availability on QF MEL-BNE.

I was happy with this as I needed to specifically get to DOH to connect with a flight to QR DOH-NBO.

A few extra hours in Business class via HKG to get to my destination, for some taxes only, suited me fine.

Yeah i tried that. Seems anything with Doh in it on the qantas site makes it go silly with error codes or resetting back to the search page. Will persevere tomorow

 

[jetpack]

Finding availability on QR flights is frustrating because of married segments. There's hundreds of city pairs you can search which may or may not show the flights you want. They also seem to give different availability to BA and QF for some reason.

 

[SelfFundedWP]

Finding availability on QR flights is frustrating because of married segments. There's hundreds of city pairs you can search which may or may not show the flights you want. They also seem to give different availability to BA and QF for some reason.

I guess in a way its good as the harder these seats are to find means less people (non AFF members of course ) are seeing/booking them.

 

[Danger]

Is it QR that is stingy or QF preferencing EK in their engine?

QF website wouldn't offer me a QR flight on a generic search, but the seats are definitely there.

They are blatantly obvious on BA website and can be accessed on QF website if you know the search parameters to trigger them.

The Qantas call centre could see them as well and had no problem reserving them for me.

I have a suspicion QF algorithm is set to not reveal the seats that are sitting there for the taking because they are cosying up to EK as a part of the renewed partnership. There is a problem of course for OW tickets because you can't book an EK flight unless it has a QF code share number.

Only a guess, but fits the pattern I experienced.

Looking into this as I cant see any syd-lhr availability via doh on qantas or BA site, can see from expert flyer theres availability on my chosen dates. Anyone know qatar fare codes? Doesnt come up on expert flyer and tried searching here...

Yeah i tried that. Seems anything with Doh in it on the qantas site makes it go silly with error codes or resetting back to the search page. Will persevere tomorow

Finding availability on QR flights is frustrating because of married segments. There's hundreds of city pairs you can search which may or may not show the flights you want. They also seem to give different availability to BA and QF for some reason.

My view is QR has ramped up an attack on QF with the latter's launch of PER-LHR. Adding the A380 to Perth (which, really, for a carrier with about six A380s is just bizarre) and now adding Q-Suite aircraft to MEL and SYD, I think it's game-on. I reckon part of the attack is limiting award seats available to QF flyers.

And I wouldn't be remotely surprised if sometime soon QF slashes earnings on QR.

 

[Saurs82]

As someone who is considering doing my first 280K RTW in 2019/20 all the info so far has been great. Thank you all!

My tentative plan is to split the trip into 2 parts doing USA/Canada one year & Europe/Asia the other. July/August 2019 for the first part, May/June 2020 the 2nd & returning to OZ inbetween to recharge the bank account.

Open to suggestions whether to do the US or Europe in the first. I currently have a bit over 400k in points so I'm hoping to have enough points by then to book a separate return J reward to get back to Oz

From what I understand from reading this thread is that this August/September I should book the first part of the trip & then book the 2nd half in June 2019 before I actually begin the trip . To do this I have to call & pay the 6K in points change fee.

Am I correct in my thinking?

Also open to suggestions on whether to do the USA or Europe section first & any other advice those that have done this can offer.

We are planning something similar for next year but doing Africa first hopefully April then Europe September/October. Trying to run my itinerary via the Qantas multi city bit on the website but its not playing ball today!
Anyone see anything wrong assuming its under 35k miles
ADL to Johannesburg
Cape Town to Melbourne
Melbourne to Paris
Rome to Adelaide
Thankyou

 

[geoffshaw]

You can't depart your staying country twice. It's in rule 14.3

A Classic Flight Reward Itinerary must contain no more than one departure from the city or country of first departure on that Itinerary

 

[Saurs82]

You can't depart your staying country twice. It's in rule 14.3

A Classic Flight Reward Itinerary must contain no more than one departure from the city or country of first departure on that Itinerary

Ah I missed that rule! Well that mucks up my plans lol thankyou for pointing that out
Maybe I could go via hong kong or Singapore then?
Adl - Johannesburg
Johannesburg - hongkong
(separate return Adl-hK flight)
hong kong - paris
rome - Adelaide

Is there a site most people use for calculating miles?

 

[JohnM]

Is there a site most people use for calculating miles?

MileageMonkey

Great Circle Mapper

 

[Scarlett]

As someone who is considering doing my first 280K RTW in 2019/20 all the info so far has been great. Thank you all!

My tentative plan is to split the trip into 2 parts doing USA/Canada one year & Europe/Asia the other. July/August 2019 for the first part, May/June 2020 the 2nd & returning to OZ inbetween to recharge the bank.

Jeza, I think there are two main issues you'll need to consider:
- Departing starting country twice
- 12 month ticket validity

For the first, you can get creative and depart from countries nearby on first or second part of trip and just purchase separate connecting flights.
For the second make sure you understand when inventory is released and when you need to be making the changes to your itinerary.

 

[Radio8tiv]

Ah I missed that rule! Well that mucks up my plans lol thankyou for pointing that out
Maybe I could go via hong kong or Singapore then?
Adl - Johannesburg
Johannesburg - hongkong
(separate return Adl-hK flight)
hong kong - paris
rome - Adelaide

Is there a site most people use for calculating miles?

Departing from HKG will attract lower taxes normally then departing from AUS, This may help offset the cost of the return ticket to HKG for the start and end of your journey