Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[FlyingFiona]

From my experience of booking (and cancelling) a OWA over the last few years I would say there is one factor that trumps all others in assessing pros and cons - availability. Definitely book now in my view.
And, as others have suggested, jump onto any changes requiring reticketing. MH is as merciless as everyone says.
Also factor in burning say 20K points on making changes/adding flights from the outset.

Thanks, good to know re points to budget for adding/changing flight, thanks.

To be honest, I'm only doing a there and back trip so a OWA shouldn't be necessary...until you cop a look at some of the JL and CX points being asked for the same. The MH+AY route I've got my eye on comes in at 179,500 which, if I had both ways, would be the same as a OWA + 20k in change fees... another reason to book it now I guess.

Besides which after reading @MelbFlyer and @N860CR 's experiences I probably don't mind dropping the extra points to avoid having to change the ticket! Makes me beyond mad though that QF put us in such a mindset because of their complete ineptitude.

 

[NoobTraveller]

Hello everyone, as my name suggests, I am not very well versed in this but after staying up until 4am, I was finally able to book a RTW trip for my wife and I.

Probably due to sleepiness, I had forgot to add a segment.

I called up and managed to add it and I followed the article's advice to refresh the online portal to make sure the booking is there. Which it is.

Now I've read a lot of the horror stories of bookings getting cancelled after trying to make changes via the call centre so what has me anxious is that they seem to have refunded me 318k points (i.e. one passenger's points)

Should I be concerned?

The new ticket hasn't been reissued yet however, I know it could take up to 24 hours.

Sorry if this is a silly question

 

[adenda]

they seem to have refunded me 318k points (i.e. one passenger's points)

Same thing happened to us prior to our OWA. Everything was ticketed, did the trip without incident only to have the points finally deducted within a day of our return.

 

[NoobTraveller]

Same thing happened to us prior to our OWA. Everything was ticketed, did the trip without incident only to have the points finally deducted within a day of our return.

How long did it take after you requested changes did you get your tickets reissued?

I called back as per MelbFlyer's suggestion but they told me to wait as the ticketing team needs to review for any errors.

If I go to each airlines's website:

- I can see the booking through Qantas and JAL

- Finnair says it's waiting for tickets to be issued

- AA cannot find my booking

I think I am just so paranoid reading all the horror stories so I'm just seeking reassurance

 

[N860CR]

How long did it take after you requested changes did you get your tickets reissued?

I called back as per MelbFlyer's suggestion but they told me to wait as the ticketing team needs to review for any errors.

If I go to each airlines's website:

- I can see the booking through Qantas and JAL

- Finnair says it's waiting for tickets to be issued

- AA cannot find my booking

I think I am just so paranoid reading all the horror stories so I'm just seeking reassurance

Ask them what the ticketing time limit is. They should be able to obtain a specific time (for Cathay yesterday - well this morning - it was only a few hours). That pressed the issue a but.

Post automatically merged: Apr 18, 2024

Now I've read a lot of the horror stories of bookings getting cancelled after trying to make changes via the call centre so what has me anxious is that they seem to have refunded me 318k points (i.e. one passenger's points)

That will often happen as when they reissue I believe they just charge the whole amount over again (so refund then recharge).

 

[NoobTraveller]

Ask them what the ticketing time limit is. They should be able to obtain a specific time (for Cathay yesterday - well this morning - it was only a few hours). That pressed the issue a but.

Is the ticketing time limit when a partner carrier will cancel the flights, or do you mean how long they said it would take to reissue the tickets.

 

[N860CR]

Is the ticketing time limit when a partner carrier will cancel the flights, or do you mean how long they said it would take to reissue the tickets.

It’s when they’ll cancel the sectors.

Anyone who works in airline res with half a brain (so not all of Qantas contractors) will realise how critical it is

 

[NoobTraveller]

It’s when they’ll cancel the sectors.

Anyone who works in airline res with half a brain (so not all of Qantas contractors) will realise how critical it is

So do I call and ask them what the ticketing time limit for JAL, Finnair, and AA is?

And if they say it's 24 hours or less I should be able to escalate to get the tickets reissued?

I have to say I'm a bit concerned that I can't find my booking on the AA site.

 

[adenda]

My suggestion is to use either Facebook Messenger or Twitter to request ticketing. You'll wait a long time - sometimes hours - between messages but they've always delivered for me.
Call centre staff - with the exception of HBA - never seem willing or able to expedite ticketing and just give the standard "24 to 48 hours" timeframe - even after I point out to them that will almost guarantee a cancelled booking on the likes of MH.

In my experience Qantas' social media channels are certainly aware of the risk of delayed ticketing leading to auto-cancelled bookings. If they try to fob you off to using a call centre, point out the auto-cancellation risk.

You could also email [email protected] as a backup.

 

[NoobTraveller]

My suggestion is to use either Facebook Messenger or Twitter to request ticketing. You'll wait a long time - sometimes hours - between messages but they've always delivered for me.
Call centre staff - with the exception of HBA - never seem willing or able to expedite ticketing and just give the standard "24 to 48 hours" timeframe - even after I point out to them that will almost guarantee a cancelled booking on the likes of MH.

In my experience Qantas' social media channels are certainly aware of the risk of delayed ticketing leading to auto-cancelled bookings. If they try to fob you off to using a call centre, point out the auto-cancellation risk.

You could also email [email protected] as a backup.

Thanks for the tip. I've contacted them via Facebook Messenger (only because I don't have Twitter). I'll see how it goes.

I have to say so far that I am so thankful to have you all to talk to. It definitely helps reassure me a bit.

 

[N860CR]

So do I call and ask them what the ticketing time limit for JAL, Finnair, and AA is?

I would. But as @adenda alluded to, it may not result in much. I find just refusing to hang up might motivate them a little.

Frustratingly, the manager I eventually spoke to last night who did acknowledge how hopeless her and her team had been admitted there was an after hours “emergency” ticketing team in Auckland who can handle critical matters. She said she called them and they refused to ticket. Entirely possibly she’s lying, but it does show that Qantas has a real disregard for their customers. I can say similar things about the “rewards escalation” email address who have sent me some condescending and downright rude emails when trying to fix their error (including them lying as well).

 

[NoobTraveller]

I would. But as @adenda alluded to, it may not result in much. I find just refusing to hang up might motivate them a little.

Frustratingly, the manager I eventually spoke to last night who did acknowledge how hopeless her and her team had been admitted there was an after hours “emergency” ticketing team in Auckland who can handle critical matters. She said she called them and they refused to ticket. Entirely possibly she’s lying, but it does show that Qantas has a real disregard for their customers. I can say similar things about the “rewards escalation” email address who have sent me some condescending and downright rude emails when trying to fix their error (including them lying as well).

That sounds horrible and it's examples like these that have me concerned.

I guess I should have just tried to plan everything perfectly and get it right the first time online to prevent having to deal with customer service.

It's a shame that QFF points are the easiest to accumulate in Australia but are not the easiest to use.

I had great experiences with Asia Miles years ago but there doesn't seem to be much chatter about their program anymore.

Once I use up my QFF points, I'll have to reconsider which loyalty program to concentrate on next.

 

[N860CR]

Once I use up my QFF points, I'll have to reconsider which loyalty program to concentrate on next.

Yep, I’m the same. All my earning is going to Velocity for the easy earns (big signups etc) and Kris where possible.

As good as these Oneworld tickets are, I’d rather just spend 300ish Velocity points getting to Istanbul or North Africa and buying my own tickets into Europe (and booking online).

 

[flapper]

So do I call and ask them what the ticketing time limit for JAL, Finnair, and AA is?

And if they say it's 24 hours or less I should be able to escalate to get the tickets reissued?

I have to say I'm a bit concerned that I can't find my booking on the AA site.

AA use a different PNR not the QF one. To find the AA PNR put the QF PNR into the MH app. It will show the QF & AA PNR. None of JL, AY or AA have a deathly 24 hr deadline to reticket, that said you should continue to follow up. Don't believe the it will issue within 24hrs line, that's just to get rid of you. I have found if it doesn't issue in a few hours it never will unless you keep chasing it.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Once I use up my QFF points, I'll have to reconsider which loyalty program to concentrate on next.

Same here.

I said to myself that once my OWA was over, I'd jump ship to other programs (ie. resume reaccumulating VFF points etc).

I did check VFF though and their business awards availability was horrible / almost non-existant for the routes I wanted. I don't churn CCs to redeem for economy seats.

Also not to mention the fact that even being massively broken, Qantas' multi-city rewards booking platform is much easier to identify reward seats than VFFs (ie. can only search one route at a time on VFF if using points, then having to click into each flight to see what's available).

Due to the above, I then thought to stay with QFF points as there's much better business reward seat availability - excluding leaving / entering Australia on QF, but, to modify the way in which I book - that is, separate PNRs for each flight, knowing the saga I had with my now done OWA.

I'll never book another multi leg (ie. 3+ legs) rewards trip, unless it's perfect from the get-go - which we all know when looking up to redeem for a OWA, is almost impossible, even if you look a year in advance.

If Qantas are able to improve their systems and make ALL phone consultants have the same visibility / capability to amend rewards bookings (not just Auckland and Hobart), then maybe.

For now though, it's definitely separate PNRs for me - I'm happy to pay the 3% international transaction fee for any flights not originating in Australia, just to ensure that I'm able to get the seat, rather than seeing it online then calling / arguing why it can't be added to my existing PNR, then HUACA / repeat, wasting my time, the consultant's time and other caller's time.

 

[NoobTraveller]

AA use a different PNR not the QF one. To find the AA PNR put the QF PNR into the MH app. It will show the QF & AA PNR. None of JL, AY or AA have a deathly 24 hr deadline to reticket, that said you should continue to follow up. Don't believe the it will issue within 24hrs line, that's just to get rid of you. I have found if it doesn't issue in a few hours it never will unless you keep chasing it.

Thank you so much Flapper! I have no idea how you knew about this workaround but it's so funny that we have to use MH to find the PNR for AA. It's cool and funny at the same time. It worked perfectly! Thank you so much.

Same here.

I said to myself that once my OWA was over, I'd jump ship to other programs (ie. resume reaccumulating VFF points etc).

I did check VFF though and their business awards availability was horrible / almost non-existant for the routes I wanted. I don't churn CCs to redeem for economy seats.

Also not to mention the fact that even being massively broken, Qantas' multi-city rewards booking platform is much easier to identify reward seats than VFFs (ie. can only search one route at a time on VFF if using points, then having to click into each flight to see what's available).

Due to the above, I then thought to stay with QFF points as there's much better business reward seat availability - excluding leaving / entering Australia on QF, but, to modify the way in which I book - that is, separate PNRs for each flight, knowing the saga I had with my now done OWA.

I'll never book another multi leg (ie. 3+ legs) rewards trip, unless it's perfect from the get-go - which we all know when looking up to redeem for a OWA, is almost impossible, even if you look a year in advance.

If Qantas are able to improve their systems and make ALL phone consultants have the same visibility / capability to amend rewards bookings (not just Auckland and Hobart), then maybe.

For now though, it's definitely separate PNRs for me - I'm happy to pay the 3% international transaction fee for any flights not originating in Australia, just to ensure that I'm able to get the seat, rather than seeing it online then calling / arguing why it can't be added to my existing PNR, then HUACA / repeat, wasting my time, the consultant's time and other caller's time.

I did a cursory look at all the other programs and it's a bit sad but it does seem like QFF is the lesser of all evils. I hope with the lack of competition, they don't get worse.

UPDATE: Just an update and a question for everyone who has helped and followed along so far. I believe I have been reissued new tickets. But the ticket numbers are exactly the same as the old ones, is that normal?

 

[MelbFlyer]

If you've added / removed or amended a flight, you should be issued a new / different e-ticket number (ie. shouldn't be identical to the old one).

I believe the only case of the same / an identical e-ticket number should be if there's an involuntary schedule change (ie. change of timing etc).

 

[NoobTraveller]

If you've added / removed or amended a flight, you should be issued a new / different e-ticket number (ie. shouldn't be identical to the old one).

I believe the only case of the same / an identical e-ticket number should be if there's an involuntary schedule change (ie. change of timing etc).

That's a bit concerning. The thing that helps reassure me I guess is that the new flights on the new E-ticket appear correct.

 

[MelbFlyer]

If all looks correct even despite the e-ticket number being the same, it should be okay.

If not already, do also check on the Royal Jordanian website as well - using your Qantas issued reference number.

Don't be too concerned about using the Royal Jordanian website to check (even if you don't have any flights on RJ) - as this will show if it's all good and an e-ticket number is issued / current.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If it’s the same ticket number I don’t think the ticket has been reissued. Which it will need to be.

The 24/48/72 hour mark is where you’ll find out if any partner airlines have ‘auto cancelled’ because ticketing wasn’t completed in time.

IIRC wasn’t there an issue with the QF site sending old ticket numbers if you request your itinerary be re-sent? Best to look at the royal jordanian site to see if the ticket number is indeed new.