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

[cjd600]

That is a crucial piece of context (not sure if you mentioned before?). I doubt a 4x J OWA would be achievable for anyone short of P1, especially in the current award environment, but happy to be proved wrong.

APR/MAY 2023

SYD-HND JL stop
HND-JFK JL stop
JFK-LHR BA stop, transit Paris
CDG-HEL-LAX AY stop
LAX-HND-SYD JL

4 x J as a mighty NB
(well ........LAX-HND-SYD we did have to split 2x2 a day apart, but the rest is the 4 of us together)

 

[levelnine]

(well ........LAX-HND-SYD we did have to split 2x2 a day apart, but the rest is the 4 of us together)

As I mentioned, the Australian legs are the ones where it is near impossible to get 4x J. From what I've seen, and as your SYD-HND leg indicates, JL seems to be one's best bet.

 

[cjd600]

As I mentioned, the Australian legs are the ones where it is near impossible to get 4x J. From what I've seen, and as your SYD-HND leg indicates, JL seems to be one's best bet.

Yes, ideally would have been SYD-EUR-USA, but JL into JFK was our only way to EUR for 4, the long way round......different from when we first started this award in 2019 and had 4J SYD-DOH-CDG on QR.....and CX into LHR for 4 if we wanted....ah, the good ol' days of choice and availability

 

[sqrt()]

After realising I managed to book a RTW award ticket where AY1339 HEL-LHR departed (1930 on 01/08) before AY144 BKK-HEL arrived (05:50 02/08), I called a few times to try get the AY1337 changed to 03/08 (no availability on 02/08, apparently).

First call the agent tried to charge me an additional $1500 in tax for moving it two days forward... (HUAC)
Second call I managed to get the booking changed but no new ticket appeared...
Third call I was told the booking was in a queue to be ticketed, and no booking could be ticketed manually (huh?) (HUAC)
Fourth call I got a super competent agent who ticketed it straight away.

CMT and E-ticket from Finnair website confirms change. No additional charge. I won't be able to add another stopover but pretty happy I can stop calling QF for now (even if there's no wait time now).

 

[levelnine]

ah, the good ol' days of choice and availability

It certainly is one of the more frustrating aspects of the OWA. The game has changed considerably since the pandemic, and all for the worst. On top of it being way more difficult to book due to call centre issues and now more expensive due to increased fuel surcharges, availability into and out of Australia has plummeted with reductions in QR releases, almost complete disappearance of CX, huge demand for QF seats and difficulties in using JL due to border closures.

 

[algae]

Is the finnair website garbage or is something up with my booking?

CMT shows my ARN>HEL>KIX flights as ticketed with a ticket number. Qantas sent me the email with pdf invoice. In theory should be fine. Yesterday the finnair website found my booking, however would load forever when i tried to load the seat selection page.

Now today i'm getting "No booking was found. Please check the name and booking reference." when i go to manage my booking on the finnair website.

I suspect this is just a website glitch as a result of me being too keen to book seats and their website isnt very good..... but i could be wrong....

 

[vetrade]

Is the finnair website garbage or is something up with my booking?

CMT shows my ARN>HEL>KIX flights as ticketed with a ticket number. Qantas sent me the email with pdf invoice. In theory should be fine. Yesterday the finnair website found my booking, however would load forever when i tried to load the seat selection page.

Now today i'm getting "No booking was found. Please check the name and booking reference." when i go to manage my booking on the finnair website.

I suspect this is just a website glitch as a result of me being too keen to book seats and their website isnt very good..... but i could be wrong....

Why not try the RJ or QR websites to see if your booking comes up there. And if you've got an "O" (the letter) or a "0" (zero); or an "I" or a "1" in your PNR check you haven't typed it incorrectly

 

[algae]

Why not try the RJ or QR websites to see if your booking comes up there. And if you've got an "O" (the letter) or a "0" (zero); or an "I" or a "1" in your PNR check you haven't typed it incorrectly

Sorry I should have added the booking shows up fine on the British, Cathay, JAL and Iberia websites and I've selected seats for every other flight (other than Iberia which doesn't appear to offer that option).

Also checked Rj and QR (even though I don't have flights with them) and all flights show fine. Any particular reason you suggested those?

 

[vetrade]

Any particular reason you suggested those?

I've found the RJ and QR websites easy to navigate for selecting seats and checking eTicket numbers, even if your're not flying with them.
For IB seat selection you can't use the QF booking number - you need to call QF and ask them for IB's 5 letter booking locator and then select your IB seats on their website.

 

[Mr H]

Real quickie...

If I have a choice of

• MEL-SIN (QF J) and SIN-KUL (MH J) or
• MEL-SYD (QF J) and SYD-KUL (MH J)

is there an obvious option to pick or is it much of a muchness?

 

[Guvner]

Avoiding SYD transfer would be the deciding factor for me.

 

[kctt]

MEL-SIN (QF J) and SIN-KUL (MH J)

I would pick SIN transfer as well. Much nicer airport.
You would also complete immigration in Mel if your trip starts from Mel. With SYD transfer, you would have to do immigration to exit Australia in Sydney?

 

[jase05]

Avoiding SYD is definitely a bonus but IMO MH service comfortably trumps QF and I’d pretty much always choose that

 

[Mr H]

Avoiding SYD is definitely a bonus but IMO MH service comfortably trumps QF and I’d pretty much always choose that

I am leaning towards the MH from SYD. I am mostly interested in comfort on board and I have an idea that QF is spartan. I don't drink, so wine selection is not an issue for me.

 

[jase05]

I am leaning towards the MH from SYD. I am mostly interested in comfort on board and I have an idea that QF is spartan. I don't drink, so wine selection is not an issue for me.

Everyone is different but I really enjoy the MH flights. Seats are comfy although could be better but the food is a standout for me and much better than what QF dishes up. Service is generally attentive and I just find it a all round good product

 

[kctt]

The last leg of my J OWA booking would be BKK - Sydney.
There is direct economy with QF flight at the moment.
Should I just book that as a holder and call to change if there is business seats available in the future or should i just leave it out and call to add when there is a better flight available?
Is Call 131211 to change booking available 24/7? better agent in weekend vs weekdays?

 

[DC3]

Should I just book that as a holder and call to change if there is business seats available in the future or should i just leave it out and call to add when there is a better flight available?
Is Call 131211 to change booking available 24/7? better agent in weekend vs weekdays?

I book what I can, when I see availability, and then monitor for something better.

Cape Town and Manila never seem to sleep. Similarly Auckand. Hobart is open 7.00am-11.00pm, seven days.

 

[algae]

I've found the RJ and QR websites easy to navigate for selecting seats and checking eTicket numbers, even if your're not flying with them.
For IB seat selection you can't use the QF booking number - you need to call QF and ask them for IB's 5 letter booking locator and then select your IB seats on their website.

Agreed I do like the way they structure the itinerary. RJ and MH seem to be identical which is another option.

I did get the IB booking locator from the BA website which brings up the trip but doesn't let me pick a seat. Not too fussed they're only short flights.

 

[kctt]

Cape Town and Manila never seem to sleep. Similarly Auckand. Hobart is open 7.00am-11.00pm, seven days.

Thank you. I will try my luck

 

[Mr H]

Everyone is different but I really enjoy the MH flights. Seats are comfy although could be better but the food is a standout for me and much better than what QF dishes up. Service is generally attentive and I just find it a all round good product

Thanks Jase and everyone who pitched in. It is especially helpful when people explain their reasons because, as you say, everyone is different. I can live with transit through SYD, especially since the lounges in SIN that aligned with my flight option (14.25) were contract lounges that looked dire. Food, on the other hand, really floats my boat. The opportunity for a daytime long haul MH flight looked good (mmm satay) and the throne seats look interesting. Nobody came back and told me the QF J product was unmissable, so I have (Cape Town ticketing willing) booked the SYD option.