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

[MEL_Traveller]

What a great outcome! The rules state that you can't add segments to a partially flown OWCA so I'm really surprised they did it.

Anyone know how Finnair seat selection works? When I go to seat selection on Finnair's website it says "waiting in cart" but there seems to be no way to purchase them (if purchasing is required). Seats selected show up on my Qantas app though. I know they changed their policy in June but their website does state:

same for a friend on an AY flight ex BKK tonight. I’ll see if i can find out if the seat held once they land.

 

[Phoenix-1]

Thanks, that would be great

 

[MelbFlyer]

Anyone know how Finnair seat selection works? When I go to seat selection on Finnair's website it says "waiting in cart" but there seems to be no way to purchase them (if purchasing is required)

I have an AY flight in October (AY100) in business and I cannot confirm my seats anymore either (I used to be able to), when adding / selecting seats, there's no option to "confirm" the seats - they just stay in the cart continuously.

It does come up in the Qantas Manage My Booking portal though - odd.

 

[SydneySwan]

I flew AY74 on Tuesday in J as part of a OWA. This flight was booked last year and I had selected a window seat (1-2-1 config on A350). I think I did seat selection on Finnair website.

Sometime in June my seat selection vanished and when I tried to select a seat online again on Finnair website I was unable to select a window but could select an aisle so I did.

When I arrived at the gate on Tuesday I asked if there were any windows available and was given a non-committal answer - flight very busy, etc.

When I got on the plane J was only 60-70% full so I asked if I could change seat to a window and was permitted to do so.

 

[Mr H]

I flew AY74 on Tuesday in J as part of a OWA. This flight was booked last year and I had selected a window seat (1-2-1 config on A350). I think I did seat selection on Finnair website.

Sometime in June my seat selection vanished and when I tried to select a seat online again on Finnair website I was unable to select a window but could select an aisle so I did.

When I arrived at the gate on Tuesday I asked if there were any windows available and was given a non-committal answer - flight very busy, etc.

When I got on the plane J was only 60-70% full so I asked if I could change seat to a window and was permitted to do so.

I kinda feel that once you go into J or F, seat choice should be free of charge and unrestricted. Being told where you can and can't sit feels very LCC to me.

 

[am0985]

I kinda feel that once you go into J or F, seat choice should be free of charge and unrestricted. Being told where you can and can't sit feels very LCC to me.

Agreed, though AY are selling these cheaper J fares that lack seat selection and lounge access so maybe they're classing them as part of this on seat selection.

Does seem a bit excessive for J though, I agree J should have both of these things as standard (a handful of people on cheapest fares unlikely to materially affect lounge crowding) and the restrictions should be more around cancellations/date changes etc.

 

[MelbFlyer]

I flew AY74 on Tuesday in J as part of a OWA. This flight was booked last year and I had selected a window seat (1-2-1 config on A350). I think I did seat selection on Finnair website.

Sometime in June my seat selection vanished and when I tried to select a seat online again on Finnair website I was unable to select a window but could select an aisle so I did.

When I arrived at the gate on Tuesday I asked if there were any windows available and was given a non-committal answer - flight very busy, etc.

When I got on the plane J was only 60-70% full so I asked if I could change seat to a window and was permitted to do so.

That is... not comforting.

I'm travelling with my partner on AY in business in a few months and if there was only 1 seat available here, then another only over there (ie. rows apart) - I'd be not very impressed.

On a side note, was the AY A350 the refurbished version (the blue scheme / non-reclining seat), or the older version?

I'm kind of hoping that I will get the non-refurbished version if not all A350s have been refurbished (ie. the reverse herringbone config with reclineable seats), as I experienced pretty much the same seat on CX back in 2019 and it was excellent.

Seems the only advantage of the newer version is that the seat is wider (due to no reclining mechanism), but not being able to recline and just using your body / pillows to get into position / sliding your body in for sleep / putting your pillow exactly where people's backsides have been sitting etc, sounds like a step backwards..

 

[cjd600]

That is... not comforting.

I'm travelling with my partner and if there was only 1 seat available here, and another only over there (ie. rows apart) - I'd be not very impressed.

On a side note, was the AY A350 the refurbished version (the blue scheme / non-reclining seat), or the older version?

I'm kind of hoping that I will get the non-refurbished version (ie. the reverse herringbone config with reclineable seats), as I had pretty much the same seat on CX back in 2019 and it was excellent.

Seems the only advantage of the newer version is that the seat is wider, but not being able to recline and just using your body / pillows to get into position sounds like a step backwards..

I've not flown the old version, but flew the new version in April on our OWA, HEL-LAX .I found it excellent, can get pretty comfy in it.
Stacked up well with other J's on the trip, QF A380, JL 777 and 789, and BA 777 Club Suites (also excellent).
We had 4 window seats, and no probs with our seats holding

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks, that would be great

Sorry, no update… friend has gone AWOL once hitting europe! But we didn’t hear anything regarding a seat change… although it’s possible they wouldn’t have known or cared if the seat had changed!

 

[blu]

Pulled together our next itinerary, which then failed with database errors on completion online. Rang the call centre where the result was worse. But managed to have success online next day after reorganising the flights/sectors. Was ticketed within an hour or two (QF, BA, IB).
For those familiar with Bangalaru, is there a good airside transit hotel for a 7am flight. Prefer not to shuttle in at 4am. BA.com site shows Indian Tourist eVisa is required.

edit: appears the transit hotel is in Terminal 1, with airport shuttle bus running between 24/7.

 

[SydneySwan]

On a side note, was the AY A350 the refurbished version (the blue scheme / non-reclining seat), or the older version?

I'm kind of hoping that I will get the non-refurbished version if not all A350s have been refurbished (ie. the reverse herringbone config with reclineable seats), as I experienced pretty much the same seat on CX back in 2019 and it was excellent.

Seems the only advantage of the newer version is that the seat is wider (due to no reclining mechanism), but not being able to recline and just using your body / pillows to get into position / sliding your body in for sleep / putting your pillow exactly where people's backsides have been sitting etc, sounds like a step backwards..

I had the new seat and found it excellent.

 

[melbkate]

Hi all I finalised my OWA today over a 24 hour Twitter exchange. I wanted to avoid if possible MH, UL and BA getting to Italy from Melbourne next May / June for 5-7 weeks. 2 people.

I booked the first 3 legs last week online after someone on this forum suggested getting to Europe via Delhi. Then I discovered AY has heaps of J availabily on the DEL-HEL route and with thier new seats too so booked next leg DEL-HEL with overnight in airside hotel. So I had my forward journey sorted. There's always plenty of availabilty on AY within Europe.

Then this weekend I found a day in early July on JL with J availabilty on HEL-HAN so I proceeded to add return segments on Twitter. Each reply on Twitter from Qantas took from between 1-6 hours painstaking! They often could not see seats I could see and so on.

In the end we got there and I have been sent my new e-ticket already.

I also looked at getting to Italy with RJ after someone suggested it as they fly into BKK and there was availability. I could have done that and flown MEL-BKK on JQ on a separate booking but this is much better as I love Finnair and less points and taxes as well.

MEL-DEL QF J - 12 hr layover in airside hotel
DEL-HEL AY J - STOP
HEL-FCO AY J - STOP
NCE-HEL AY J
HEL-HAN J JL STOP
NRT-MEL JL Economy

Taxes $456AUD each seems a bargain.

So thanks for those people who gave me some advice re routes and availability much appreciated.

 

[MelbFlyer]

They often could not see seats I could see and so on.

I've experienced this - many, many times.

You just have to callback / re-contact until you get someone who can - I did give up a few times though.

Finnair

I also have a flight on Finnair in business in October - have you attempted to choose your seats as of yet?

Apparently their new policy does not allow for seat allocation (even for those who've already allocated their seats prior to the new policy) and you're instead only given the choice either at the airport or whilst on the plane, as per a few posts above / previous page.

Pretty pathetic for business class tbh (even if on a rewards booking).

BA isn't any better either (probably worse) - they want AUD$140+/pp just to allocate seating in PE!

I'm surprised though that you only paid $456 in taxes - must be due to going via India and Finland which makes the taxes lowish.

My OWA itinerary is as per below, and it was 318k pts + $1.1k taxes/pp.

Melbourne > HK (QF Business)
HK > Paris via Helsinki (AY Business)
Barcelona > London Heathrow (BA "Business" - intentional inverted commas for Euro "business")
London Heathrow > Singapore (BA Premium Economy)
Singapore > Melbourne (QF Business)

For the London to Singapore flight, I couldn't find any business reward seats at the time of booking, and nothing either since.

A bit unfortunate, because the entire itinerary has been calculated up due to the rest of the trip being in business.

Probably a very low chance, but I've still kept looking on a daily basis - not even economy reward seats are showing on the day I need.

Ruling out EK completely despite them having some reward seats though (ie. searching London > Dubai, then Dubai > Singapore - some options come up), due to the ridiculous taxes they charge (more than the entire itinerary above!) and also not being under the OWA cap.

Also not prepared to transit in such places like Amman or Delhi just to gain business class either - I'm travelling with my partner and she insisted that there be as little transits as possible, even if in business. She wanted a CX flight from HK to Paris but unfortunately only AY came up as an option at the time, and also no alternatives since.

Even if I was travelling alone, I still wouldn't be prepared to transit via India / the Middle East either just for business class.

I know some people go out of the way (literally) just because there's business seats available, unfortunately I'm not one of them.

 

[Mr H]

Also not prepared to transit in such places like Amman or Delhi just to gain business class either - I'm travelling with my partner and she insisted that there be as little transits as possible.

Even if I was travelling alone, I still wouldn't be prepared to transit via India / the Middle East either just for business.

Your call, but long haul in J is a pretty big deal to sacrifice just to avoid transit in certain airports.

As it goes, Delhi is a great place for transit provided you are able to leave the airport and go to the Aerocity hotels or head into the city. The overnight flight DEL-MEL is long enough to get a proper night's sleep and the service I had from QF on that route was fantastic. My transits in the Middle East (Beirut, Amman, Doha) have been fine - especially since the new QR lounge opened in Doha. Amman is a perfectly good airport and J pax are looked after - but the airport is far out of the city and Jordan is very expensive (including the visa) if you are thinking of leaving the airport. I would avoid Cairo, but I would still fly through there if it was the difference between J and Y (and have done so previously on MS).

 

[MelbFlyer]

just to avoid transit in certain airports.

I guess it depends on the airport - had it been Dubai or Doha, I *may* be able to make an exception (but given EK / QR are either ridiculously expensive in taxes (EK) / reward seats almost non-existent using QFF points (QR), respectively), but Delhi is an automatic no from me.

For example (I know it's not under the OWA), I looked at a simple EK flight from Melbourne to Singapore in first class - the tax portion was $1.2k - I know it's first class and on Emirates, but that's a bit over the top.

The overnight flight DEL-MEL

I won't be flying from London straight back to Melbourne.

I'll be staying in Singapore for 2 nights, hence looking for business reward seats to Singapore from London (my Singapore to Melbourne flight has now been finally sorted after 3 months of constantly checking for any new reward seats / if I can get a consultant who is able to see the seats I see, and change them).

I guess I'll just have to make do with BA Premium Economy. I've looked at a few YouTube reviews and I've set my expectations very low (also have looked at a few QF business reviews too, and have also set my expectations quite low for them too).

I'd prefer CX's product going to HK (reverse herringbone as opposed to the straight facing / alternating aisle / inner seats in QF), but the timing of the CX flight at the time wasn't as good as QF's (which has changed for the worse since the booking now too though). Oh well, can't have the perfect itinerary.

 

[Warragul]

Amman is a perfectly good airport and J pax are looked after - but the airport is far out of the city and Jordan is very expensive (including the visa)

Their Visa fees are comparable to ours for a non ETA visitor visa, which is what a Jordanian national requires - $145.

 

[Mr H]

Their Visa fees are comparable to ours for a non ETA visitor visa, which is what a Jordanian national requires - $145.

I don't dispute that and I have paid more for other visas (e.g. Iran), but it does make an overnight stop in an airport hotel prohibitively expensive.

 

[melbkate]

Quick question re my OWA detailed a few posts above - I was emailed what I believe to be a new e-ticket within an hour of finalising on Twitter and I paid by CC on the phone the operator called me to do it yesterday and then I got this message:
"We can now confirm that both of your tickets were issued successfully. Please check your email for the new e-Ticket itinerary details" which they were.

However the CC shows no charges and the points for the initial booking have been refunded but the new amount of points have not been deducted.

Should I be worried?

 

[Mr H]

Quick question re my OWA detailed a few posts above - I was emailed what I believe to be a new e-ticket within an hour of finalising on Twitter and I paid by CC on the phone the operator called me to do it yesterday and then I got this message:
"We can now confirm that both of your tickets were issued successfully. Please check your email for the new e-Ticket itinerary details" which they were.

However the CC shows no charges and the points for the initial booking have been refunded but the new amount of points have not been deducted.

Should I be worried?

No - it takes them ages to take the money and points. Just when you think you must have got a freebie, you'll find they take the points.

 

[DC3]

Should I be worried?

Patience, Grasshopper.

QF will sort it all out “in the fullness of time”