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

[serfty]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Guys does anyone know what happens if you book a OW 280k award but then on a shorter journey the airline you are flying has only a two-class Y and F configuration, which class does the fare allow you to book into ?
I'm booking a 280k OW award for my parents and one of the legs is DOH-MED which is on the A320 domestic regional configuration of only Y and F. They arrive into DOH some 7 hours prior on a flight from PER so lounge access would indeed be handy.

Thoughts ?
Cheers

If no Business class (e.g. U) on a flight segment, then you get booked in economy - no upgrade to F.

---

No need to go around the world.

...

It would conceivably be possible to do AKL-HKG-xNRT-LAX-NRT-xLAX-xHKG-PER!

Great Circle Mapper

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Unfortunately, they will be booked into Y. If at least one sector is in F, the whole trip becomes priced at the F rate

 

[madrooster]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

No need to go around the world.

That routing wouldn't be valid given the distance of PER-AKL would need to be added in (to get back to the origin, even though you aren't actually flying it), which would take it over 35000 miles?

 

[Nizar]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Just booked a CGK-DOH(23 hours)-LHR-AMS(stop), CDG-KUL-MEL(stop)-PER-DOH-MED(stop), JED-KUL-CGK
with QR, BA, MH and QF. Comes in at 31,494 miles.

Taxes/fees/surcharges came in at $1329/person.
Now just gotta make sure we get the coveted Dreamliner on the DOH-LHR, QR seem to chop and change aircraft all the time on this route so fingers crossed !

Took a ridiculous 1h 45mins to book over the phone, though got the booking fee waived at least.

 

[Grooba]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Nice work! Looks like a great itin

what class did you book?

 

[Nizar]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Nice work! Looks like a great itin

what class did you book?

Cheers !
That was a 280k award so in J. Which is why I am so keen to jump on the Dreamliner
PHOTO TOUR: inside Qatar Airways' Boeing 787 Dreamliner - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

They fly like 5 times a day DOH-LHR (QR1/3/5/7/9/11) but it seems only QR7 is the one that is guaranteed the 788. I could unfortunately only get on QR11 which seems to have, based on what they have been using over the past few weeks, a somewhat lower Dreamliner probability. Hmmm. But the day of the DOH-LHR leg is not until 29th April next year so perhaps QR would get a few more deliveries by then ?

 

[Isochronous]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Is there any start point that lowers the taxes QF charges?

 

[serfty]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Not really, QF assess fuel fines on all segments, irrespective of start point.

 

[A100]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

If you are travelling on J Oneworld award, does QF still provide the chauffeur service? So say BNE-SYD-DXB, stopover, DXB-LHR and then LAX-BNE - will they provide a car in Brisbane, Dubai (both ways) and then back again in BNE? thanks!

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

If you are travelling on J Oneworld award, does QF still provide the chauffeur service? So say BNE-SYD-DXB, stopover, DXB-LHR and then LAX-BNE - will they provide a car in Brisbane, Dubai (both ways) and then back again in BNE? thanks!

My understanding is that you get the chauffeur service provided you are flying out of, or into, Oz on a QF flight and the flight is at least 12 hrs duration

 

[Nizar]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

My understanding is that you get the chauffeur service provided you are flying out of, or into, Oz on a QF flight and the flight is at least 12 hrs duration

I thought QF hadn't started chauffeur drive for flights to SCL or JNB ?

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I thought QF hadn't started chauffeur drive for flights to SCL or JNB ?

My reply was in reference to A100's question regarding DXB and LAX.........I don't know what the situation is regarding SCL and JNB but from memory the QF website sets out the chauffeur drive T&Cs quite clearly so any info on which destinations qualify (or not) would be easy to access there.

 

[gamblingblues]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Hey all - longtime lurker of this thread, as I assembled the points necessary to book a six-week holiday next June.

I wanted to express my appreciation for the information and back-and-forth contained across these 100 or so pages, as they were my primary resource in getting my #@&% together to book a RTW in J using points for 2014.

Lessons learnt:

1) Even eight months out, flexibility is key. Much of what I wanted to do had to be shifted +/- one day to make things work
2) I called up Qantas to make the booking at 530AM on a Saturday (I'm an early riser) and I felt like I had the agent's full attention and collaboration. Not sure if that's standard service or was helped due to the timing of my call, but I appreciated the way I was handled over the phone.
3) Bouncing around Europe on the RTW fare can be challenging because it seems like the easiest flights to make go through LHR and you can only go through LHR so many times (I thought it was twice, though the agent told me once and we made once work) on a valid award fare. Berlin and Helsinki were secondary hubs to use, and since one of my destinations was Oslo, Helsinki is pretty convenient in that regard.
4) Thought the "must travel in one direction" rule was stricter, but it seems to apply when bouncing between continents/zones. I was able to go Europe --> Vancouver --> Chicago --> Tokyo on a valid award fare (didn't eat up all my allowable miles either)
5) Was difficult to find any availability to go between Vancouver and Chicago, so I chose to get myself to Portland, OR and then fly my award ticket to Chicago from there. Because there's no business class on American Airlines, I had to settle for Economy. I think I could have gotten First if my flight was coupled with an overseas leg offering J. Because the agent couldn't book it that way, the system wouldn't let her book me straight into First.
6) The BA and AA websites were invaluable for checking award availability. I mapped everything out the day before using QF/BA/AA award ticket searches and it was all bookable by the time I made the phone call.

Again, thanks for the civil discourse and helpful commentary across all these pages. Here's what I'm flying:

1) BNE - PER - DOH - MAD with QF/QR/QR
2) MAD - LHR - OSL with IB/BA
3) OSL - HEL - JFK - YVR with AY/AY/CX
4) (independently getting to PDX) PDX - ORD with AA - this is the only leg not in J
5) ORD - NRT with JL
6) NRT - SYD (787!) - BNE with JL/QF

280k points, 6k booking fee, $872 taxes and fees.

 

[Nizar]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Sounds like an awesome itinerary !

280k points, 6k booking fee, $872 taxes and fees.

I booked a 280k award a few weeks ago and managed to get the telephone booking fee waived as I told the agent I was unable to book the itinerary online

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Hey all - longtime lurker of this thread, as I assembled the points necessary to book a six-week holiday next June.

I wanted to express my appreciation for the information and back-and-forth contained across these 100 or so pages, as they were my primary resource in getting my #@&% together to book a RTW in J using points for 2014.

Lessons learnt:

1) Even eight months out, flexibility is key. Much of what I wanted to do had to be shifted +/- one day to make things work
2) I called up Qantas to make the booking at 530AM on a Saturday (I'm an early riser) and I felt like I had the agent's full attention and collaboration. Not sure if that's standard service or was helped due to the timing of my call, but I appreciated the way I was handled over the phone.
3) Bouncing around Europe on the RTW fare can be challenging because it seems like the easiest flights to make go through LHR and you can only go through LHR so many times (I thought it was twice, though the agent told me once and we made once work) on a valid award fare. Berlin and Helsinki were secondary hubs to use, and since one of my destinations was Oslo, Helsinki is pretty convenient in that regard.
4) Thought the "must travel in one direction" rule was stricter, but it seems to apply when bouncing between continents/zones. I was able to go Europe --> Vancouver --> Chicago --> Tokyo on a valid award fare (didn't eat up all my allowable miles either)
5) Was difficult to find any availability to go between Vancouver and Chicago, so I chose to get myself to Portland, OR and then fly my award ticket to Chicago from there. Because there's no business class on American Airlines, I had to settle for Economy. I think I could have gotten First if my flight was coupled with an overseas leg offering J. Because the agent couldn't book it that way, the system wouldn't let her book me straight into First.
6) The BA and AA websites were invaluable for checking award availability. I mapped everything out the day before using QF/BA/AA award ticket searches and it was all bookable by the time I made the phone call.

Again, thanks for the civil discourse and helpful commentary across all these pages. Here's what I'm flying:

1) BNE - PER - DOH - MAD with QF/QR/QR
2) MAD - LHR - OSL with IB/BA
3) OSL - HEL - JFK - YVR with AY/AY/CX
4) (independently getting to PDX) PDX - ORD with AA - this is the only leg not in J
5) ORD - NRT with JL
6) NRT - SYD (787!) - BNE with JL/QF

280k points, 6k booking fee, $872 taxes and fees.

AA do have business class on their 3 class transcontinental services between the West and East coast on B 767-200 and soon on A 321 but the availability is scarce. At the moment you can get a J seat pretty much on every day in February-March 2014, as of April you've got nothing (talking about 2014 her, of course). However, they seem to be appearing regularly , just not at 11 months out point like other seats. You can wait for a few months till the J seats are released for June and get your US sectors changed for J

 

[gamblingblues]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

AA do have business class on their 3 class transcontinental services between the West and East coast on B 767-200 and soon on A 321 but the availability is scarce. At the moment you can get a J seat pretty much on every day in February-March 2014, as of April you've got nothing (talking about 2014 her, of course). However, they seem to be appearing regularly , just not at 11 months out point like other seats. You can wait for a few months till the J seats are released for June and get your US sectors changed for J

From PDX to ORD it's AA2315 on a 737, sadly. Two class service, per SeatGuru.

 

[JohnK]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Not really, QF assess fuel fines on all segments, irrespective of start point.

I hope surface sectors do not require the payment of fuel fines!

 

[serfty]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

...

...

Nice routing.

Some comments ....

...

3) Bouncing around Europe on the RTW fare can be challenging because it seems like the easiest flights to make go through LHR and you can only go through LHR so many times (I thought it was twice, though the agent told me once and we made once work) on a valid award fare. Berlin and Helsinki were secondary hubs to use, and since one of my destinations was Oslo, Helsinki is pretty convenient in that regard.

...

The Agent was wrong! The rule is:

(c) only one Stopover is permitted in any one city in the Itinerary; and
(d) only two Transfers may be taken at any one city in the Itinerary.

Now, I am not certain that means one can traverse a city three times, once being a stopover (i.e. Stopover at xx_ ≠ Transfer at xx_) or that it means one can traverse a city twice times, only once being a stopover (i.e. Stopover at xx_ = Transfer at xx_).

...
4) Thought the "must travel in one direction" rule was stricter, but it seems to apply when bouncing between continents/zones. I was able to go Europe --> Vancouver --> Chicago --> Tokyo on a valid award fare (didn't eat up all my allowable miles either) ...

There is no "travel in one direction" rule for QFF oneworld classic awards.

e.g. HKG-MEL-SYD-HNL-SYD-LAX-NRT-SIN-HKG is a valid routing.

 

[zainman]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

can anyone suggest a routing that maximises F travel? i.e, getting most variety of F amongst OW carriers and also as close to the 35,000 mile limit as possible?

Starting SYD...:?:

 

[serfty]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

can anyone suggest a routing that maximises F travel? i.e, getting most variety of F amongst OW carriers and also as close to the 35,000 mile limit as possible?

Starting SYD...:?:

First start with 420K QFF points plus about $2000 + another 10K or so for assisted booking fees.

here's a quicky ...

Great Circle Mapper [SYD-LHR-MIA-LAX-JFK-LHR-BKK-HKG-SYD]

Good luck on getting the MIA-LAX-JFK segments in First ...