Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[blu]

I think I have accepted QF time changes on Qatar and Malaysian websites (MMB).

 

[icecream]

Thanks, last time it was a small change on JL which I just accepted in QF MMB but this time it was AY and only option was to call. A short while later AY emailed and I accepted the chance there and was sent the new itinerary by AY (same ticket numbers)

 

[Princess Fiona]

There may be no award seats in J at the moment, but if you misconnect they’ll put you in any J seat. Always the chance it is physically full, but you’d hope there’s a seat or two left.

On a similar note, I’m connecting from Europe to Manchester via LHR. Haven’t actually done a domestic connection in the UK before. Is there any form of baggage check at Heathrow or is it just checked through to final destination? My connection is only about 90 mins.

Bags will be checked through to MAN. No need to recheck at LHR

 

[Amanad78]

Does anyone know if Finnair ever release 2 x J seats to Qantas? I can only find 1 J seat looking as far out as possible on SIN-HEL.
If they only ever release 1 seat I'll look for a different route/airline.
(Was trying to put together a double Europe trip but it won't work if if AY only release 1 seat.)

TRIP 1
SIN-HEL. STOP 1. AY
HEL-HND/NRT. STOP 2. AY/JAL
NRT/HND-(SYD/MEL)-BNE. STOP 3. JAL/QF

TRIP 2
BNE-HKG. STOP 4. CX
HKG-(HEL)-LHR. STOP 5. AY
LHR-(HEL)-SIN. END. AY

Another option was BA or QF LHR-SIN or vice versa.

Edit to add , found 2 x J on HEL-HND so I guess they are out there!

 

[timmytime]

2.5 weeks ago, I made some changes to my OWA and removed a number of flights. This ended up being ticketed properly, with new flight numbers and have checked that everything is in place

However, I was told that I would receive $1.3k in taxes back, but I am yet to receive anything. If you look at my e-ticket, the price that I am paying and the price that my wife is paying also do not match up. Does anyone know what I could do/need to say to get this fixed?

Have contacted reward ticketing escalations, but they have not replied

 

[cjd600]

Does anyone know if Finnair ever release 2 x J seats to Qantas? I can only find 1 J seat looking as far out as possible on SIN-HEL.
If they only ever release 1 seat I'll look for a different route/airline.
(Was trying to put together a double Europe trip but it won't work if if AY only release 1 seat.)

TRIP 1
SIN-HEL. STOP 1. AY
HEL-HND/NRT. STOP 2. AY/JAL
NRT/HND-(SYD/MEL)-BNE. STOP 3. JAL/QF

TRIP 2
BNE-HKG. STOP 4. CX
HKG-(HEL)-LHR. STOP 5. AY
LHR-(HEL)-SIN. END. AY

Another option was BA or QF LHR-SIN or vice versa.

Edit to add , found 2 x J on HEL-HND so I guess they are out there!

I had 4J CDG-HEL-LAX last year

 

[ozflier]

Does anyone know if Finnair ever release 2 x J seats to Qantas? I can only find 1 J seat looking as far out as possible on SIN-HEL.
If they only ever release 1 seat I'll look for a different route/airline.
(Was trying to put together a double Europe trip but it won't work if if AY only release 1 seat.)

TRIP 1
SIN-HEL. STOP 1. AY
HEL-HND/NRT. STOP 2. AY/JAL
NRT/HND-(SYD/MEL)-BNE. STOP 3. JAL/QF

TRIP 2
BNE-HKG. STOP 4. CX
HKG-(HEL)-LHR. STOP 5. AY
LHR-(HEL)-SIN. END. AY

Another option was BA or QF LHR-SIN or vice versa.

Edit to add , found 2 x J on HEL-HND so I guess they are out there!

it seems the most likely release to QFF is 1 x Business reward seat but they are available - I have had to book far ahead but i have found 2 x reward AY Biz late Jan SIN-HEL-CPH and further on plenty of 2 AY rewards february HEL to the USA.
I haven't looked close to the date .
You may ask why use AY to get to north america - for me ,its to avoid the outrageous UK deparure tax if you go via LHR. To be fair it is not so bad if you fly out of a European city via LHR to the US!

 

[sap1l]

Finally finished booking (and ticketing) all the legs of my upcoming OWA:

KUL-NRT MH J (Stopover)

HND-SYD QF J (Stopover)

SYD-SIN BA J (Transit)
SIN-HKG CX J (Transit)
HKG-AMS CX J (Stopover)

AMS-LHR (Surface)
LHR-HEL AY J (Transit)
HEL-BKK AY J (Stopover)

BKK-SIN (Surface)
SIN-SYD BA Y+ (Transit)
SYD-MEL QF J (Stopover)

MEL-KUL MH J (End)

Totaling 34,937 miles on GCM!

Hoping to get QF to release SIN-SYD or SIN-MEL J (There are quite a few I9 flights for my dates), but even if not, I'm pretty happy I don't need to call up much anymore.

Consolidating some advice that has helped me:

Try and ticket your OWA from Australia if possible. This can be done by either starting the initial booking from Australia, or asking the CC to do so. IME, I had trouble getting my flights reticketed after changes until I got QF to change my ticketing location to Australia.

QF agents can instantly re-ticket an itinerary with certain carriers (CX and MH for sure) so you don't lose flights. If an agent refuses to do so, HUACA until you get one that does. I've found South Africa more able to re-ticket.

If an agent cannot remove/change a flight from your itinerary, it may be a married segment, which means that you must fly a route as a connection. IME JL does this the most, marrying x-HND-y routes so that you cannot break them into a stopover in Tokyo.

The following "script" has worked for me the best when trying to make changes: Start with "I want to check for award availibility". Then you feed the agent each route + date + flight number and ask them to add each one to your booking. Finally you ask them to remove any existing flights that you don't need anymore. IME when you say you want to change flights, some agents say that you cannot make segment changes. And asking for an availibility check first means that if you need to HUACA, the agent wouldn't have touched your existing flights yet.

 

[N860CR]

The following "script" has worked for me the best when trying to make changes: Start with "I want to check for award availibility". Then you feed the agent each route + date + flight number and ask them to add each one to your booking. Finally you ask them to remove any existing flights that you don't need anymore. IME when you say you want to change flights, some agents say that you cannot make segment changes. And asking for an availibility check first means that if you need to HUACA, the agent wouldn't have touched your existing flights yet.

I’ve used that method a few times. Confirm the seats exist, then hang up and call back if the person sounds incompetent (which they do most of the time).

 

[Gary169]

Please excuse my novice question, but I'm trying to establish the feasibility of OneWorld RTW tickets for the following.
MEL-HND (stopover), HND-JNB (stopover), JNB-FRA (stopover), LHR-JFK, VAN-MEL
Am I allowed to break in one city (eg FRA) and recommence in LHR?
I know this is high level but I'm in the initial planning stage.
PS I'm now Silver in QFF

 

[cjd600]

Please excuse my novice question, but I'm trying to establish the feasibility of OneWorld RTW tickets for the following.
MEL-HND (stopover), HND-JNB (stopover), JNB-FRA (stopover), LHR-JFK, VAN-MEL
Am I allowed to break in one city (eg FRA) and recommence in LHR?
I know this is high level but I'm in the initial planning stage.
PS I'm now Silver in QFF

Yes, but the mileage FRA-LHR will be included in the 35k limit for the One World Award, even though you don't fly it.

 

[elanshin]

Please excuse my novice question, but I'm trying to establish the feasibility of OneWorld RTW tickets for the following.
MEL-HND (stopover), HND-JNB (stopover), JNB-FRA (stopover), LHR-JFK, VAN-MEL
Am I allowed to break in one city (eg FRA) and recommence in LHR?
I know this is high level but I'm in the initial planning stage.
PS I'm now Silver in QFF

In theory this should be ok. (I assume VAN is Vancouver - YVR). In practice, depending in when, MEL - TYO (HND/NRT) might be relatively busy and harder to find tickets. May need to consider a stopover besides Australia east coast. (KUL/SIN/CGK/HKG for example).

TYO - JNB leg has to go on CX so this may be a restriction if CX awards aren't there.

From JNB, your options of going to FRA involve either going with QR (almost no chance) or BA which means you're flying into London already.

You do have the distance to go from JNB - LHR (or other London airports) - FRA then back.

From YVR your options are limited to go QF to SYD then MEL unless you find a way down to LAX.

 

[Gary169]

In theory this should be ok. (I assume VAN is Vancouver - YVR). In practice, depending in when, MEL - TYO (HND/NRT) might be relatively busy and harder to find tickets. May need to consider a stopover besides Australia east coast. (KUL/SIN/CGK/HKG for example).

TYO - JNB leg has to go on CX so this may be a restriction if CX awards aren't there.

From YVR your options are limited to go QF to SYD then MEL unless you find a way down to LAX.

Yes I thought I might have to go YVR-SYD-MEL. Thank you

 

[elanshin]

Yes I thought I might have to go YVR-SYD-MEL. Thank you

Oh I just realised you don't have the distance to detour via SIN/KUL/CGK to tokyo from MEL. That would push you past 35000 miles so you'll need to be diligent in finding a MEL - TYO flight.

Make sure you check MEL/SYD/BNE for QF/JL options.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Please excuse my novice question, but I'm trying to establish the feasibility of OneWorld RTW tickets for the following.
MEL-HND (stopover), HND-JNB (stopover), JNB-FRA (stopover), LHR-JFK, VAN-MEL
Am I allowed to break in one city (eg FRA) and recommence in LHR?
I know this is high level but I'm in the initial planning stage.
PS I'm now Silver in QFF

Also note that leaving from LHR will attract significant tax if flying anything but standard economy. If flying premium economy or higher, you’re far better off leaving from the mainland if you can arrange your itinerary to suit.

 

[madrooster]

Does anyone know if Finnair ever release 2 x J seats to Qantas?

Yes. As many as 8 seats for long hauls.

 

[ozflier]

Yes I thought I might have to go YVR-SYD-MEL. Thank you

You can theoretically fly Akaskan or American VYR-LAX most likely indirectly BUT
both airlines are pretty miserly with biz reward seats especially on the American west coast.
YOU could access Westjet economy reward seats on QFF but not allowed on a OWA.
Alternatively, paid Westjet fare one way last year VYR-LAX was in the range of 200AUD so that could be an option.

 

[timmytime]

2.5 weeks ago, I made some changes to my OWA and removed a number of flights. This ended up being ticketed properly, with new flight numbers and have checked that everything is in place

However, I was told that I would receive $1.3k in taxes back, but I am yet to receive anything. If you look at my e-ticket, the price that I am paying and the price that my wife is paying also do not match up. Does anyone know what I could do/need to say to get this fixed?

Have contacted reward ticketing escalations, but they have not replied

Just wanted to follow this up sorry

 

[jeza]

2.5 weeks ago, I made some changes to my OWA and removed a number of flights. This ended up being ticketed properly, with new flight numbers and have checked that everything is in place

However, I was told that I would receive $1.3k in taxes back, but I am yet to receive anything. If you look at my e-ticket, the price that I am paying and the price that my wife is paying also do not match up. Does anyone know what I could do/need to say to get this fixed?

Have contacted reward ticketing escalations, but they have not replied

Just wanted to follow this up sorry

QF refunds timing in my experience like everything QF are consistently inconsistent.

If you would like to get a bit more clarity on what taxes & charges are on each ticket try entering your PNR's into the Finnair website & getting an e-ticket emailed to you from there. They list all the taxes & charges.

As a data point to earlier discussions I recently had a 20 minute timing change to a flight on a OW Classic Award (not full 318K but a couple of flights on the PNR) & the ticket was reissued (new 081 number) not just revalidated.

 

[JustWannaTravel]

Hi everyone, I have been following this thread and have booked an OWA for April 2025 thanks for all the knowledge I got from here.

I first book my first 2 leg MEL-NRT and NRT-LHR. Then 2 days ago I booked the rest of the flights when they came available. I have been scared to call up and make the changes due to many stories here about incompentent agents and long wait time, however, someone picked up the call quickly and been able to make the required changes. I was then told ticket will be issued 24 to 48 hours.

The next day I check but havent received any new ticket, and my 2 flight with Iberia showed as cancelled. I called up again and got it added back to my booking.

Today, I woke up and found out my first 2 flights (MEL-NRT and NRT-LHR) are gone from the booking, and 2 flights with Iberia are shown as cancelled again. I also searched up on Qantas and can see my MEL-NRT business seats are available to book, however, NRT-LHR are not (very likely that someone took it already). I called up and my agent added the MEL-NRT flight back to my booking, also added in the NRT-LHR but now in C Class (Commercial flight) and was told they have contacted Japan Airlines to change this from C to U, which might take some time.

I have checked on CMT and all flight shown up (however, the E-ticket number is the old one), Cathay platform shows only first flight (MEL-NRT) as confirmed, the rest are shown as ticket not issued. Do you guys have any advice for me? I have emailed ticket escalating email and trying to contact Qantas team through Messenger as well.

Later on, I would like to swap my last leg to direct HKG-MEL when Cathay releases those seats (currently having HKG-KUL-MEL on MH), but this now makes me want to not making any changes.

Thanks guys.