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

[Matt_01]

Matt_01, I note your comment that you were able to add a sector to a booking for free. Can you confirm if you did this through the Call Centre?

Yes I had to call QF the only thing you can do on line is change date or cancel. If you want to change routes, add sectors change from domestic to international etc. a call to QF will be required. I was not charged a points change fee or assistance fees. The assistance fee is a new one to me as I have never been charged this nor has it ever been mentioned. I know with my status I am exempt from a number of QF fees but the points change fee is one that I normally incur hence my interest in getting these waived. Since my last post I have already changed another booking into an international flight and didn't pay any additional fees. The bookings I have in my stockpile were the cheapest I could find.

 

[ozflier]

Well, it looks like international travel from Australia may be starting up at the beginning of 2022.
I've had to cancel OWA bookings for late this year - just want to reduce stress.
So, let's hope that QFF business award seats start to come on offer for the January 2022 onwards period.
Not much on offer at the moment. I am guessing , most QF international flights in the system are just placemarkers - ie with all fare bases zeroed out.
There will be a lot of QFFliers with heaps of points they may want to use once the pandemic settles down - lets hope QF actually releases a reasonable number for the punters
Best of health to all posters.

 

[PineappleSkip]

There will be a lot of QFFliers with heaps of points they may want to use once the pandemic settles down

I'd be expecting a points devaluation once the pandemic settles down.

Cheers Hanrahan

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well, it looks like international travel from Australia may be starting up at the beginning of 2022.
I've had to cancel OWA bookings for late this year - just want to reduce stress.
So, let's hope that QFF business award seats start to come on offer for the January 2022 onwards period.
Not much on offer at the moment. I am guessing , most QF international flights in the system are just placemarkers - ie with all fare bases zeroed out.
There will be a lot of QFFliers with heaps of points they may want to use once the pandemic settles down - lets hope QF actually releases a reasonable number for the punters
Best of health to all posters.

Several factors... for QF, much smaller business class cabins, not as many flights, not as many destinations, lots of pax with vouchers or credits to be used. I think award seats may be quite scarce

 

[vetrade]

In Executive Traveller today Alan Joyce said he thought that demand for flights would only be back to 40% of pre-covid levels by mid 2022 because a lot of people would still be hesitant, and that the number of services would reflect that. I also read recently that QF may release more awards to help ensure planes don't fly with empty seats when they do get back in the air.

By July /August the supply / demand picture for awards should be clearer. People wanting to get award seats for 1stH 2022 will likely be booking them between now and then

 

[Danger]

I used my points to book a OWA for two family members back in 2019 for departure in 2020. That was pushed back to 2021. Today I got an automated email saying:

We've announced further network changes in response to the ongoing Coronavirus situation and as a result we've had to cancel your flight ... The value of your ticket has been stored as a Flight Credit and you won't be charged any change fees on rebooking. We'll email your Flight Credit details soon, and it will also outline how to access other options available to you (including a refund).

The one and only Qantas flight is the first sector and that's the one that been cancelled. I certainly hope Qantas doesn't go and cancel the rest of the itinerary like the email suggests.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I used my points to book a OWA for two family members back in 2019 for departure in 2020. That was pushed back to 2021. Today I got an automated email saying:



The one and only Qantas flight is the first sector and that's the one that been cancelled. I certainly hope Qantas doesn't go and cancel the rest of the itinerary like the email suggests.

I would be assuming the worst - that the whole ticket has - or will be - been cancelled. A phone call will confirm... hopefully catch it in time!

 

[Matt_01]

The one and only Qantas flight is the first sector and that's the one that been cancelled. I certainly hope Qantas doesn't go and cancel the rest of the itinerary like the email suggests.

Can you rebook the QF with another airline or get it out of the itinerary and rebook with cash. Your post is quite vague.

 

[Danger]

I would be assuming the worst - that the whole ticket has - or will be - been cancelled. A phone call will confirm... hopefully catch it in time!

Call me crazy but I'm waiting (for now) for Qantas to contact me.

Customers with international bookings impacted by cancellations will be contacted directly and offered alternatives.

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-and-jetstar-prepare-to-resume-international-flights-from-late-october/

I also think the email is a standard, poorly worded one sent to all and sundry.

Can you rebook the QF with another airline or get it out of the itinerary and rebook with cash. Your post is quite vague.

The flight is Australia to SIN so no oneworld carriers direct. It looks like there is the possibility of flying via HKG but that would make for a very rough 24-36 hours, even in J, as SIN is only a transit, then onwards to Europe and onwards again within Europe within a couple of hours. If it was me, I'd be asking to route via AKL and NRT on CX and JL(reminds me of the time CX cancelled HKG-JED on a DONE4 and I convinced a poor call centre lady to re-route me HKG-xLHR-JED) but the passengers aren't quite a huge fan of flying as I am.

 

[DC3]

Now that QF has just advised me that my first flight has been cancelled, I need to look into how long I can keep my current (280,000 points) PNR alive, pushing my trip out as far as possible.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Call me crazy but I'm waiting (for now) for Qantas to contact me.

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-and-jetstar-prepare-to-resume-international-flights-from-late-october/

I also think the email is a standard, poorly worded one sent to all and sundry.



The flight is Australia to SIN so no oneworld carriers direct. It looks like there is the possibility of flying via HKG but that would make for a very rough 24-36 hours, even in J, as SIN is only a transit, then onwards to Europe and onwards again within Europe within a couple of hours. If it was me, I'd be asking to route via AKL and NRT on CX and JL(reminds me of the time CX cancelled HKG-JED on a DONE4 and I convinced a poor call centre lady to re-route me HKG-xLHR-JED) but the passengers aren't quite a huge fan of flying as I am.

I'd be monitoring flights and any award seats that might come up for an optimal routing. If QF's direct services to London are running by the time of your intended travel plans I'd be asking to be put on that maybe.

QF contacting people probably makes sense with economy, where there are more seats and more options. For premium travel, if QF is contacting people by flight date order, and then again by status, available options could soon disappear (which we've seen happen before, unfortunately )

 

[Danger]

I'd be monitoring flights and any award seats that might come up for an optimal routing. If QF's direct services to London are running by the time of your intended travel plans I'd be asking to be put on that maybe.

QF contacting people probably makes sense with economy, where there are more seats and more options. For premium travel, if QF is contacting people by flight date order, and then again by status, available options could soon disappear (which we've seen happen before, unfortunately )

Travel is July, hence the reason QF cancelled following the announcement this week about resumption on 31 October so I don't think the direct LHR flight will be up then.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Travel is July, hence the reason QF cancelled following the announcement this week about resumption on 31 October so I don't think the direct LHR flight will be up then.

Then the options may be limited... QF can't force award seats on other carriers in the same way it can on its own metal. A refund might be the only option.... unless you find something else suitable and snag it.

 

[gfraser]

I have a similar problem to the last few .
I have OWA ticketed and taxes paid for later this year.
The first leg is SYD - SCL on QF 27 on 27 November. I am reading that SYD - SCL will not resume this year ( despite it having been booked 2 months ago).
Do Qantas have an obligation to rebook us or will this be cancelled and I have to find an alternative, if available albeit by a very circuitous route?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have a similar problem to the last few .
I have OWA ticketed and taxes paid for later this year.
The first leg is SYD - SCL on QF 27 on 27 November. I am reading that SYD - SCL will not resume this year ( despite it having been booked 2 months ago).
Do Qantas have an obligation to rebook us or will this be cancelled and I have to find an alternative, if available albeit by a very circuitous route?

*in theory* there are some limited protections in the QF terms and conditions. But these are generally limited to booking on the next available Qantas service, or the next available Qantas service to another (hopefully close by) destination that is still operating. Start off by asking them what they propose!

I’d be on the front foot with this, looking for award seats to get you to your destination. Perhaps something using Qantas to LAX/DFW or another Sth American destination, and then a connecting flight from there. You’d most likely need to find award seats for the connecting flight, but qantas should be able to create an award seat on their own services to get you to the gateway. You could always consider a paid fare from the gateway to SCL.

 

[ozflier]

Having started looking in earnest for award business class flights in early February 2022, I am again struck at the different availability of business award seats between

• The airline whose metal I will be flying on
• Qantas frequent flier program
• Other Oneworld carrier programs

Unequal availability seems to getting worse.

An example - Qatar , for example ,offers business award seats from BNE to DOH as seen on Expert Flyer today ,and on the BA site and yet none on QFF. All checked for the date 5 february 2022 within a period of 20 minutes.

QATAR on EF

QR 899

0

BNE 05/02/22 21:45

DOH 06/02/22 5:40

350

T,Th,Sa 85% / 20m

Business - Award U​ Yes​

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/javascript:void(0);

BA offers 4 business class seats BAEC

Sorry, there are no direct British Airways flights available on this route. Flights with partners are shown below

21:45 5 Feb BNE 05:40 6 Feb DOH Qatar Airways - QR0899 14h 55m, Non-stop Economy Premium Economy Cabin not operated on this flight 4 left Business Class​

QFF

No business class award seats available-



This is just not an isolated example .

Malaysian and American Airlines metal flights have the same issue . Sometimes the number of seats on offer are different – eg often only one MAS business award seat offered by QFF KUL to Oz but 2 by AA and BA. Cathay and JAL are not a problem in this respect.

I understand there are special arrangements for award release between OW partners but unequal availability seems to have got worse in the last few months.

Is this related to QF’s financial problems or examples of stinginess in paying other airlines to offer up their award seats.

I repeat that Economy seats are not an issue – but business are!

Maybe QFF will review the situation now that flying is returning, we hope, in November this year and we’ll get a pleasant surprise with future award availability .It would be nice to think we could use our accumulated and or returned points for a OWA before the next "program enhancement" takes place.

 

[ozflier]

Having started looking in earnest for award business class flights in early February 2022, I am again struck at the different availability of business award seats between

• The airline whose metal I will be flying on
• Qantas frequent flier program
• Other Oneworld carrier programs

Unequal availability seems to getting worse.

An example - Qatar , for example ,offers business award seats from BNE to DOH as seen on Expert Flyer today ,and on the BA site and yet none on QFF. All checked for the date 5 february 2022 within a period of 20 minutes.

QATAR on EF

QR 899

0

BNE 05/02/22 21:45

DOH 06/02/22 5:40

350

T,Th,Sa 85% / 20m

Business - Award U​ Yes​

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/javascript:void(0);

BA offers 4 business class seats BAEC

Sorry, there are no direct British Airways flights available on this route. Flights with partners are shown below

21:45 5 Feb BNE 05:40 6 Feb DOH Qatar Airways - QR0899 14h 55m, Non-stop Economy Premium Economy Cabin not operated on this flight 4 left Business Class​

QFF

No business class award seats available-

View attachment 242306

This is just not an isolated example .

Malaysian and American Airlines metal flights have the same issue . Sometimes the number of seats on offer are different – eg often only one MAS business award seat offered by QFF KUL to Oz but 2 by AA and BA. Cathay and JAL are not a problem in this respect.

I understand there are special arrangements for award release between OW partners but unequal availability seems to have got worse in the last few months.

Is this related to QF’s financial problems or examples of stinginess in paying other airlines to offer up their award seats.

I repeat that Economy seats are not an issue – but business are!

Maybe QFF will review the situation now that flying is returning, we hope, in November this year and we’ll get a pleasant surprise with future award availability .It would be nice to think we could use our accumulated and or returned points for a OWA before the next "program enhancement" takes place.

Apologies. Maybe this post should be under Qantas reopens international bookings from July 2021 [now October]. Would Mods please consider ?

 

[Jacques Vert]

I have a similar problem to the last few .
I have OWA ticketed and taxes paid for later this year.
The first leg is SYD - SCL on QF 27 on 27 November. I am reading that SYD - SCL will not resume this year ( despite it having been booked 2 months ago).
Do Qantas have an obligation to rebook us or will this be cancelled and I have to find an alternative, if available albeit by a very circuitous route?

Was SCL a main stopover or a transit to somewhere else?

 

[gfraser]

Was SCL a main stopover or a transit to somewhere else?

It was transit to Buenos Aires

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It was transit to Buenos Aires

I'd ask them to put you on a flight direct to Buenos Aires. They should be able to create a seat for you out of revenue inventory.