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

[soh]

I'm part way through a J booking and will be making some initial changes today. Tried the webchat last night and the additional fees and charges for my proposed changes seemed a little high. I don't have sufficient QF points to make a dummy booking so could someone run the numbers for me please? I have checked ITA matrix and have a rough idea what it should be but would really appreciate some confirmation.

Current booking (2 adults and 1 child in J) - $943 total for 3.

SYD-HKG (CX) x
HKG-LAX (CX) x
SFO-HND (JL) x
NRT-MEL (JL) x

Wish to remove SYD-HKGxLAX and change to:

SFO-HND (JL) x
NRT-MEL-SYD (JL-QF) x
SYD-ADL-HKG (QF-CX)x
HKG-LGW (CX) x

QF are looking for an additional $1014 so bringing it close to $2k.

 

[rock86]

I'm part way through a J booking and will be making some initial changes today. Tried the webchat last night and the additional fees and charges for my proposed changes seemed a little high. I don't have sufficient QF points to make a dummy booking so could someone run the numbers for me please? I have checked ITA matrix and have a rough idea what it should be but would really appreciate some confirmation.

Current booking (2 adults and 1 child in J) - $943 total for 3.

SYD-HKG (CX) x
HKG-LAX (CX) x
SFO-HND (JL) x
NRT-MEL (JL) x

Wish to remove SYD-HKGxLAX and change to:

SFO-HND (JL) x
NRT-MEL-SYD (JL-QF) x
SYD-ADL-HKG (QF-CX)x
HKG-LGW (CX) x

QF are looking for an additional $1014 so bringing it close to $2k.

It looks as though you are changing your first flight from departing the US now?

If so, that will increase taxes a fair bit on your QF legs as they charge a much higher surcharge (don't know why) on their flights from travel originating from the US.

 

[madrooster]

QF are looking for an additional $1014 so bringing it close to $2k.

Your entire ticket gets repriced as a US origin (that means none of the fuel fines listed in this thread's wiki apply). I can tell you JL and QF charge some quite steep fuel fines for originating in the US.

 

[soh]

Your entire ticket gets repriced as a US origin (that means none of the fuel fines listed in this thread's wiki apply). I can tell you JL and QF charge some quite steep fuel fines for originating in the US.

I feared that may be the case. Things are only going to get worse as I still need to add on the final Europe to US segment. Not sure if the INV-LHR-JFK (BA/AA) trick to avoid APD is going to help much. Any tips on reducing fines on US originators?

 

[Scarlett]

It's time to start the 280K process again and I suspect I'm writing this down just to get it clearer in my head. Have done a few different RTW and RTW-style bookings (CIRC-fares) in the past and I do still consider this the fun stage where everything is still possible...

As I've done in the past I'm planning to create a mixed booking for my family with different tickets using award (280K) J and DONE3. To clarify, 2 x 280K tickets and 1 x DONE3 ticket. In the past I've been able to get the itineraries very close (all but one flight together) but preliminary investigation shows a little more variation might be needed for 2019.

Planned flights:
TYO-DFW(or other entry to USA with long but <24hrs transit)-DCA (stop)
ABQ-ORD-LAX(overnight but again <24h transit)-MAD-ZRH (stop)
NCE-DOH-MCT (stop)
DOH-LHR(long transit again)-CMB (stop)
CMB-SIN-HKG (stop)
HKG-TYO (finish)

Valid in the oneworld tool for DONE3 and under 35K miles so now to keep an eye on likely seat availability and start the booking process when the first award seats open.

As I've already received lifetime SG, going to try and use this trip to get my wife to WP, as her membership year will tick over close to the end of the trip.

Anyone care to recommend annual Travel Insurance which will cover for ~75 day single trip within the year? Pretty certain my current provider only covers up to 45 days.

There will also be a few other positioning flights booked separately and to enable the 'land segments'. Plus visits around the listed countries to: Sth Korea, Monaco, China and Macau. By end 2019 my tally of countries I've played golf in should be in the mid-60's (so only about 125 others to go then!).

Happy for any comments, especially as fresh eyes generally see the problems that I may not have considered. Or for 'must sees' or other recommendations on the places we'll hopefully be heading to.

 

[geoffshaw]

Planned flights:
TYO-DFW(or other entry to USA with long but <24hrs transit)-DCA (stop)
ABQ-ORD-LAX(overnight but again <24h transit)-MAD-ZRH (stop)
NCE-DOH-MCT (stop)
DOH-LHR(long transit again)-CMB (stop)
CMB-SIN-HKG (stop)
HKG-TYO (finish)

Great Circle Mapper gives me 36497 miles when I put that in?

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Anyone care to recommend annual Travel Insurance which will cover for ~75 day single trip within the year? Pretty certain my current provider only covers up to 45 days.

Last time I looked (about 4 months ago) 1Cover, MediBank & AusPost were all 90 days.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Great Circle Mapper gives me 36497 miles when I put that in?

I get the same, in Statute Miles. But my belief (I may be wrong...) is that it’s measured in Nautical MIles (which are slightly longer); giving about 31,710. If it is NM, then distance is OK.

 

[geoffshaw]

I get the same, in Statute Miles. But my belief (I may be wrong...) is that it’s measured in Nautical MIles (which are slightly longer); giving about 31,710. If it is NM, then distance is OK.

Someone else will come in but I'm under the impression it's statute miles.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Someone else will come in but I'm under the impression it's statute miles.

You’re right, I’m wrong...
From the Book of Rules:

14.5.2 Classic Flight Rewards using the oneworld Classic Flight Reward table must be no more than a distance of 56,315 kilometres (35,000 miles). Longer journeys must be broken into separate Itineraries.​

For that conversion to be true, it must be Statute Miles...

So Scarlett may have to go back to the drawing board...

My apologies for doubting you.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I’d like to add a sector to my existing 280k award. Seats have just appeared and I will remain within the other rules (miles, stops, layovers).

QF online chat quoted 5,000 pts per person for the change (as expected), but they also want 8,000 per person for a service fee.

HUCA right? The service fee doesn’t apply for J bookings?

 

[rock86]

I’d like to add a sector to my existing 280k award. Seats have just appeared and I will remain within the other rules (miles, stops, layovers).

QF online chat quoted 5,000 pts per person for the change (as expected), but they also want 8,000 per person for a service fee.

HUCA right? The service fee doesn’t apply for J bookings?

Yeah, that doesn't seem right at all.

 

[Ken1]

I’d like to add a sector to my existing 280k award. Seats have just appeared and I will remain within the other rules (miles, stops, layovers).

QF online chat quoted 5,000 pts per person for the change (as expected), but they also want 8,000 per person for a service fee.

HUCA right? The service fee doesn’t apply for J bookings?

I had this happen when I called up to add a flight to my 280K J award that I booked last year and when I reminded them that the 8,000 points per person service fee didn't apply to J awards they then remembered that this was correct and only charged the 5,000 points change fee. Yes I would call again.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Given AY charge a flat rate fuel surcharge for up to six sectors, if I add an AY sector to an existing award booking should the overall price remain the same - aside from the 5,000 pt per person change fee?

For my current booking (below) taxes were SGD 706.90 per pax. I want to add HEL-OSL before the revenue fare to CPH and they want another SGD 224.10 in taxes for a measly 242 extra miles.

If I was to book the same sector on the QF website the cash payment is EUR 14.90 which converts to SGD23.72.

Sept:
SIN-NRT (JL)
NRT-HNL (JL)
HNLxKIXxSYD-BNE (JL, QF, QF)

Dec:
BNExSYDxPEK-HEL (QF, QF, AY)
Revenue fare to CPH
CPHxHEL-SIN (AY, AY)

 

[madrooster]

I feared that may be the case. Things are only going to get worse as I still need to add on the final Europe to US segment. Not sure if the INV-LHR-JFK (BA/AA) trick to avoid APD is going to help much. Any tips on reducing fines on US originators?

Virtually all carriers except AA and LA charge fuel fines from a US origin when using QF points. The methods to avoid APD are the same no matter what your origin is.

 

[madrooster]

Given AY charge a flat rate fuel surcharge for up to six sectors, if I add an AY sector to an existing award booking should the overall price remain the same - aside from the 5,000 pt per person change fee?

I can only confirm AY charges a flat 125 EUR fuel fine for AU origins. As you are originating from SG, the filed fines may be different.

If your PNR was originally created over the phone then I can have a look at the ticketing data for you if you send me the record locator.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I can only confirm AY charges a flat 125 EUR fuel fine for AU origins. As you are originating from SG, the filed fines may be different.

If your PNR was originally created over the phone then I can have a look at the ticketing data for you if you send me the record locator.

Thanks for the offer. The PNR began as an online booking.

 

[madrooster]

Planned flights:
TYO-DFW(or other entry to USA with long but <24hrs transit)-DCA (stop)
ABQ-ORD-LAX(overnight but again <24h transit)-MAD-ZRH (stop)
NCE-DOH-MCT (stop)
DOH-LHR(long transit again)-CMB (stop)
CMB-SIN-HKG (stop)
HKG-TYO (finish)

FQM   TYO   DFW   WAS   ABQ   CHI   LAX   MAD   ZRH   NCE
DOH   MCT   DOH   LON   CMB   SIN   HKG   TYO

CTY   DC   TPM   cough   MPM  DC LVL  <HGL  >LWL   25M  XTRA
TYO 3
DFW 1 PA  6436  6436
WAS 1 US  1177  7613
ABQ 1 US  1654  9267
CHI 1 US  1118 10385
LAX 1 US  1745 12130
MAD 2 AT  5834 17964
ZRH 2 EH   771 18735
NCE 2 EH   270 19005
DOH 2 EH  2788 21793
MCT 2 EH   451 22244
DOH 2 EH   451 22695
LON 2 EH  3240 25935
CMB 3 EH  5397 31332
SIN 3 EH  1709 33041
HKG 3 EH  1594 34635
TYO 3 EH  1823 36458

You are way over on mileage at 36458 miles.

 

[Scarlett]

FQM TYO DFW WAS ABQ CHI LAX MAD ZRH NCE
DOH MCT DOH LON CMB SIN HKG TYO
You are way over on mileage at 36458 miles.

Madrooster and geoffshaw - thanks for the eagle eyes. That itinerary with the circuitous ABQ-ORD-LAX routing is designed to maximise SC for the DONE3 ticket. The award tickets will have to use ABQ-PHX-LAX to stay under the mileage limit.

 

[Scarlett]

Last time I looked (about 4 months ago) 1Cover, MediBank & AusPost were all 90 days.

TOOJimmy, thanks. Will check them out. I’ve used 1cover before and was satisfied with the fine print and pricing at that time.