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

[DC3]

Firstly, you are looking to book a Oneworld Award, not an RTW. Despite your suggested itinerary actually going around the world, this is not a requirement for a Oneworld Award. You have up to 35,000 miles and can zig zag around without completing a lap of the planet provided you stick to the rules (which are mentioned numerous times in this thread).

The more common rules are ............

Very generous of you to post this information. As you say, the rules are mentioned numerous times in this thread. So, I’m not sure whether some are actually prepared to do much research.

However, with the huge number of posts in this thread, the task may appear rather daunting, although many have successfully tackled this.

Maybe a wiki would help, starting with the information in your post?

Edit: Time spent on research is seldom wasted.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Noting the change fee is 5,000 points per person (6,000 to cancel), and is currently waived up until 31 March 2021.

Of course it is; and I've pointed the difference out to many others previously. I promise to be more careful next time.

 

[ozflier]

HI I am quite new never booked RTW ticket now the border restrictions are easing I would like top travel using classic reward flight but not sure how to book RWT ticket

Question: Do I have to booked each segment individual or call call centre & tell them cities & see what they suggest

I want to start journey either from Mel, Syd , Adelaide preferably Mel
Mel - HND - LHR
LHR- JFK
JFK- YYZ
YYZ - Mel or something similar to this

Any suggestions??

If you are going to do more travel like this , it may be worthwhile subscribing to something like EXPERTFLYER - there is a basic version that covers most of what you need for some AUD 7.50 per month. Particularly so if you are after a J OWA.
I find EF the best way to design my OWA - can also see if award seats are available though not all airlines allow this information to be accessed. Other free sites will offer this information but not as easy to find in one convenient place.
Knowing which aircraft is flying the route also helps - ie if you have a choice of a small or a larger aircraft , you would consider the latter as hopefully there would be a greater chance of an award seat.
As another poster says , you have to be flexible in terms of airlines and dates . Economy class awards are much easier to get but I think J is better value for money if you have the points.
I think now is a good time to access award seats compared to the pre covid past - maybe its just no one is booking or the airlines are desperate for the fees the booking comes with.
I try to find the longest sequence of flights with the greatest likelihood of getting award seats even if it doesn't start in Australia - you can always add on later.
I suggest that you look at award availability at the least on the qantas site and get an idea of what is going to be available on your preferred dates if you have decided those yet.
You could look at say november / december 2021 for starters and see what flights are available . Maybe then work back in dates. Bear in mind that some carriers have not released their schedules for the northern winter season beyond october 2021 so there may be gaps in availability.

 

[Matt_01]

.....
I want to start journey either from Mel, Syd , Adelaide preferably Mel
Mel - HND - LHR
LHR- JFK
JFK- YYZ
YYZ - Mel or something similar to this

Any suggestions??

If you start looking at the QF you should find it relatively easy to book this trip as availability is normally pretty good. Due to the different lead times I would start booking the flights as they become available. As you start to add in other sectors the ticket will go off for manual processing, I tend not to worry about the time this takes as until it is ticketed you can make additional changes without having to pay additional change fees (change fees are applicable once the ticket is issued).

The way you have written the first segment I am assuming that you are not planning to stop in JP. If this is the case just check what your arrival airport in JP to avoid transfers. If you are not looking to stop in JP have your considered MEL-HKG-LHR.

YYZ back to AU if you are looking for the easiest route CX would be a good option, however if you are not fussed about flying coming back the long way also normally simple to get.

Also I always try and get as many flights in the class I have chosen to fly, the number of points required will be based and priced in the highest level of travel. What this means is that you take one flight in F and the rest in J the whole trip is priced as F and you may unnecessarily burn additional points.

In 2020 I had similar routes booked on 2 occasions but both were cancelled. I am currently looking at doing similar in early 2022 and have started planning.

 

[stirlo]

I wish the government would hurry up and put out some more detailed vaccine guidance.

Just cancelled my SYD-JNB on 02/06/21 and moved it back to 29/09/21. Now I see Qantas is saying July/August might be possible and Scomo has brought forward the vaccine by a month. :/

Current booking is: SYD-JNB, JNB-lhr-MAD, BIO-mad-HAV, HAV-mad-DME, SVO-HND, HND-SYD. starting on the 29/09 and getting back early December.

Anyone think it’s worth trying to move it forward a month of two now? Or is even this booking too risky?

 

[Saanch]

What happens if you have a baby in the Classic Flight rewards ticket and you have to reschedule the ticket and the baby will be above the 2 Years mark? Do I have to give additional points for the baby?

Anyone had any experience on this?

 

[ozflier]

I wish the government would hurry up and put out some more detailed vaccine guidance.

Just cancelled my SYD-JNB on 02/06/21 and moved it back to 29/09/21. Now I see Qantas is saying July/August might be possible and Scomo has brought forward the vaccine by a month. :/

Current booking is: SYD-JNB, JNB-lhr-MAD, BIO-mad-HAV, HAV-mad-DME, SVO-HND, HND-SYD. starting on the 29/09 and getting back early December.

Anyone think it’s worth trying to move it forward a month of two now? Or is even this booking too risky?

I have a OWA booked for this 9 September delayed several times since early last year.
My fingers are crossed but I am hopeful I get away.

 

[madrooster]

What happens if you have a baby in the Classic Flight rewards ticket and you have to reschedule the ticket and the baby will be above the 2 Years mark? Do I have to give additional points for the baby?

Anyone had any experience on this?

You have to issue a child ticket and that means you need an extra seat. Note children do not get a discount on the number of points required, although they are exempt from some taxes.

 

[mrsterryn]

Can I pay the taxes with a flight credit ?
Contemplating a trip and the flight credits will almost cover the taxes component

 

[Matt_01]

Can I pay the taxes with a flight credit ?
Contemplating a trip and the flight credits will almost cover the taxes component

I happened to be on the phone with the VIP team when I saw this post. I thought the question was interesting and had not thought of it so while I was on the phone I asked the agent is this possible. As per normal there is never a simple answer and was informed if the the credit is a 'travel pass' the answer is yes I do not know what the travel pass is I do not have any and I assume it is a Covid thing as the agent mentioned that these credits are essentially like a credit/debit card in the QF system. If the credit is what could be considered a traditional 'voucher' the answer is no.

 

[Guvner]

Qantas TravelPass | Qantas

Find out about your Qantas TRAVELPASS and how to use it.

www.qantas.com

 

[kingzac]

informed if the the credit is a 'travel pass' the answer is yes I do not know what the travel pass is I do not have any and I assume it is a Covid thing as the agent mentioned that these credits are essentially like a credit/debit card in the QF system. If the credit is what could be considered a traditional 'voucher' the answer is no.

I was issued a travel pass when I took the extra 10% option when cancelling a flight credit.
It comes up as a payment option when logged in booking single flights, not sure about One World Reward bookings but I was told I could use it over the phone.

 

[mrsterryn]

I just have regular flight credits. Thanks for that @Matt_01

 

[Matt_01]

not sure about One World Reward bookings but I was told I could use it over the phone.

When looking at the link to the rules that @Guvner posted it mentions you need to call QF for rewards bookings.

 

[11sjw]

Anyone have any experience scoring themselves J on AY?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Anyone have any experience scoring themselves J on AY?

Yes, but it was before the change.

J awards on AY are now restricted to AY members until T-60 days.

 

[11sjw]

Yes, but it was before the change.

J awards on AY are now restricted to AY members until T-60 days.

That would explain it. Thank you.

 

[Amanad78]

Yes, but it was before the change.

J awards on AY are now restricted to AY members until T-60 days.

Didn't know that, thank you. Is there generally J availability 60 days out or should I look for alternative options. (Just planning itinerary at this point, plan to travel in a couple of years).

Also, is it true that you can't use the AA lounges in Canada if flying J to US under 5 hours? Eg. Vancouver to LAX?

Thanks

 

[motef]

Didn't know that, thank you. Is there generally J availability 60 days out or should I look for alternative options. (Just planning itinerary at this point, plan to travel in a couple of years).

Also, is it true that you can't use the AA lounges in Canada if flying J to US under 5 hours? Eg. Vancouver to LAX?

Thanks

For Canada, to the USA that is true that travelling in J or even F won't get you access to an AA Lounge

From the AA.com website

***North America is defined as the U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico (except MEX), Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Qualifying First and Business​

Includes customers in First or Business on a qualifying departing international or transcontinental flight marketed and operated by American or a oneworld® airline.*

DetailsExpand

Qualifying international flights​

Flights between the U.S. and:​

• Asia
• Australia
• Central America
• Europe
• Mexico City (MEX)
• New Zealand
• South America

Qualifying transcontinental flights​

3-class nonstop flights between:​

• New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX)
• JFK and San Francisco (SFO)
• LAX and Miami (MIA) – traveling on Boeing 777-300 aircraft only

You can get access if you are an OWE or OWS

 

[Captain Halliday]

Didn't know that, thank you. Is there generally J availability 60 days out or should I look for alternative options. (Just planning itinerary at this point, plan to travel in a couple of years).

Prior to Covid it varied by route. Some with lots of availability, others with none.

But who knows in the current circumstances.

I’d suggests looking at alternatives and if someone comes up on AY at the 60 day mark, you can always change.