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

[funnybrus]

Thank you for that.

I've actually done a 180 overnight and have been researching starting my trip in February 2024 instead (I am very flexible and I think weather will be better for the trip I plan to do).

So some context, I'm Irish, I live in Melbourne, would like to go to South America, visit my sister in Vancouver, visit family and friends in Ireland and return to Melbourne before returning to work in August 2024. Have been fortunate enough to travel a lot of Asia and I'm keen to spend as much time at home as possible so not totally maxing out my flights.

Current itinerary

MEL - SANTIAGO (connecting) - EZE Buenos Aires 8th Feb 2024
SANTIAGO - BOG direct 14th March 2024
MEX - LAX (connecting) - VAN 30th April 2024
VAN - LGW (connecting) - DUB 24th May 2024

I have managed to find all of these on classic rewards, first 3 economy and last one is business class

I want to fly back from LHR - MEL mid July 2024 (hopefully business +- a stopover) but currently only showing flights until 24th May 24

Should I go ahead and book the first 4 segments? I'm happy to pay the extra points as I'm worried as there are less than 5 seats left for the MEX - VAN leg.
AA are the only option for that flight and don't want to risk it being sold out, particularly when London to Melbourne should have lots of options.

It is totalling 198000 points and 900AUD in charges.

Am I missing something? I think I meet all the rules but it seems too good to be true.

Any and all advice would be appreciated

How are you getting to SCL? I haven't seen Qantas open up any availability in any class for 2024 yet, and you can't use Latam as they are no longer part of oneworld.

 

[sjcotz]

How are you getting to SCL? I haven't seen Qantas open up any availability in any class for 2024 yet, and you can't use Latam as they are no longer part of oneworld.

Ohhhhh that's why it seemed too good to be true.

Could I still book given its coming to 198,000 points for the 4 flights?
I know it wouldn't be a one world reward ticket, but I only have one more flight to book with 120,000 points leftover.
Apologies in advance if this is incredibly dense question to ask.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Ohhhhh that's why it seemed too good to be true.

Could I still book given its coming to 198,000 points for the 4 flights?
I know it wouldn't be a one world reward ticket, but I only have one more flight to book with 120,000 points leftover.
Apologies in advance if this is incredibly dense question to ask.

Yes you can still book those flights but as you say it won't be a Oneworld Award and therefore there will be no maximum number of points required. Given you may be flying in Y (economy) on some/many flights, you may find the total number of points is within your reach.

Note that the Oneworld Award max's out at 318,000 for Business Class, 132,400 for Economay. If you include non-Oneworld airlines (such as LATAM) it costs the total of the individual fights added together which, depending on how many of your flights are in Busniess, usually works out to be considerably more than the 318,000.

Also note that if you wish to return from DUB in Business, you will need more than 120,000 points (at least 159,000 and possibly considerably more depending on what itinerary is available).

Good luck

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes you can still book those flights but as you say it won't be a Oneworld Award and therefore there will be no maximum number of points required. Given you may be flying in Y (economy) on some/many flights, you may find the total number of points is within your reach.

Note that the Oneworld Award max's out at 318,000 for Business Class, 132,400 for Economay. If you include non-Oneworld airlines (such as LATAM) it costs the total of the individual fights added together which, depending on how many of your flights are in Busniess, usually works out to be considerably more than the 318,000.

Also note that if you wish to return from DUB in Business, you will need more than 120,000 points (at least 159,000 and possibly considerably more depending on what itinerary is available).

Good luck

Although could possibly make own way to London and fly QF from there? 126k points?

 

[Jacques Vert]

Although could possibly make own way to London and fly QF from there? 126k points?

LHR - MEL in J on QF is 144,600; on BA it's 159,000.

The chance of a QF Bronze member getting an award seat ex LHR in J on QF metal is about as low as it gets. The OP could pick up flights ex DUB or LHR on BA but if he wants a stopover (as suggested in post 14,400) then the points cost will be higher.

Of course, if lack of availability means he has to travel via an indirect routing then the points cost will be higher again.

OTOH, he may have enough to book PE (124,800 without a stopover), depending on what routing is available.

JV

 

[MEL_Traveller]

LHR - MEL in J on QF is 144,600; on BA it's 159,000.

The chance of a QF Bronze member getting an award seat ex LHR in J on QF metal is about as low as it gets. The OP could pick up flights ex DUB or LHR on BA but if he wants a stopover (as suggested in post 14,400) then the points cost will be higher.

Of course, if lack of availability means he has to travel via an indirect routing then the points cost will be higher again.

OTOH, he may have enough to book PE (124,800 without a stopover), depending on what routing is available.

JV

oooh! been a while since i’ve redeemed qantas to the uk!!

 

[Kangol]

Just wanted to check because I haven't done exactly this before, but is a 24 hour and 0 minute connection considered a transfer?
You could argue, the second the clock strikes 24 hours and 0 minutes, it is no longer "within" 24 hours.

Has anyone ever done a 24 hour and 0 minute transfer before (and more importantly count as a transfer, not a stop)?

Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions | Qantas

These Terms and Conditions form the basis of Qantas Frequent Flyer, to protect both Members and the Qantas Group.

www.qantas.com

'Stopover' in relation to:

(a) an Australian domestic Itinerary, means a break of journey at an intermediate point when onward travel does not take place on the same calendar day; and
(b) for all other Itineraries, including those containing a domestic to international connecting flight, means when a passenger arrives at an intermediate point and is not scheduled to depart within 24 hours of arrival;

'Transfer' in relation to:

(a) an Australian domestic Itinerary, means a break of journey at an intermediate point when onward travel takes place on the same calendar day; and
(b) for all other Itineraries, including those containing a domestic to international connecting flight, means when a passenger arrives at an intermediate point and is scheduled to depart within 24 hours of arrival;

 

[Captain Halliday]

Just wanted to check because I haven't done exactly this before, but is a 24 hour and 0 minute connection considered a transfer?
You could argue, the second the clock strikes 24 hours and 0 minutes, it is no longer "within" 24 hours.

Has anyone ever done a 24 hour and 0 minute transfer before (and more importantly count as a transfer, not a stop)?

23:59 transit
24:00+ stopover

 

[tpor5488]

Hi,
First time posting a question. I really enjoy reading all the comments and suggestions. This is a fantastic resource. Planning my first OneWorld Award flight for next year. I want to include HND - LHR but I see that route now flies east over Canada rather than west over Russia. Anyone know how that will affect the mileage calculation for that sector? I ask because if I add ANC to my route in Great Circle Mapper as a test, it adds 2000 miles to the total.
Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[Kangol]

23:59 transit
24:00+ stopover

Oh thanks, did that really mess up your plans?

 

[funnybrus]

Hi,
First time posting a question. I really enjoy reading all the comments and suggestions. This is a fantastic resource. Planning my first OneWorld Award flight for next year. I want to include HND - LHR but I see that route now flies east over Canada rather than west over Russia. Anyone know how that will affect the mileage calculation for that sector? I ask because if I add ANC to my route in Great Circle Mapper as a test, it adds 2000 miles to the total.
Thanks in advance for any replies.

Mileage will still be calculated on point to point.

 

[tpor5488]

Mileage will still be calculated on point to point.

Thanks funnybrus for your reply.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Oh thanks, did that really mess up your plans?

I’ve not encountered it as an issue personally. But usually I either zip through an airport or stop for several days.

 

[bookworm]

Hi all you good people, following all your amazing help, I have had a grand trip last year and ready to plan my next award trip in May next year.

This time though, it will be in economy and my husband and I are taking along 2 of our adult kids.

I’ve been encountering the same problem every time :-

Once I’ve selected all flights and I’m taken to the payment page , I receive the following message and am asked to start over -
‘We are unable to confirm your selected flights. Select ‘Start over’ and choose alternative flights.(15079-23951-421)’

Is anyone able to shed some light on this?

Why am I allowed to proceed to payment page at all?
Thank you

 

[blu]

Maybe you could list your flights?
Could be a charges calculation problem? You may need to ring. You could try each sector singly as a test to see if one is failing, just don't go to completion.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is it 6 flight segments using multi city? That will throw up an error

 

[bookworm]

Thank you, I had to call them and they went through the basic itinerary with me :-
Perth to Sydney
Sydney to LAX
LAX to Tokyo
Tokyo to Sydney
Sydney to Perth

All flights were available on my end , I thought I would add in other legs later on.

I completed all passenger details and then went to payment page and had issues there. In any case they found that even though the return leg Tokyo to Australia was showing up on my side , there was some issue there.

I was asked to book the legs up to that point , which I did and gave them the booking reference, they said they have made the note that I need to add on the rest of the flights. I’m not happy about this and will call them again tomorrow.
For what it’s worth, they assured me that I would not be charged extra points.

So here’s hoping.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Thank you, I had to call them and they went through the basic itinerary with me :-
Perth to Sydney
Sydney to LAX
LAX to Tokyo
Tokyo to Sydney
Sydney to Perth

All flights were available on my end , I thought I would add in other legs later on.

I completed all passenger details and then went to payment page and had issues there. In any case they found that even though the return leg Tokyo to Australia was showing up on my side , there was some issue there.

I was asked to book the legs up to that point , which I did and gave them the booking reference, they said they have made the note that I need to add on the rest of the flights. I’m not happy about this and will call them again tomorrow.
For what it’s worth, they assured me that I would not be charged extra points.

So here’s hoping.

Which call centre?

 

[Lynda2475]

Is SYD a stopover both ways (will you be there more than 24 hours)? You cant stop over in the same city twice although you can transit it.

 

[djkelly69]

Could also be the QF Int to Dom issue?