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

[Phoenix-1]

The only time I have transited through Vantaa the queue for the Schengen business lounge was a mile long.

Counterpoint to this: no line at all both times I've transited through HEL

Edit: Nevermind, I was thinking of the Non-schengen lounge.

 

[MelbFlyer]

A bit disappointed that we won't have time to visit the Business lounge in Helsinki, but that is minor.

You're not missing out on much tbh, the Finnair business lounge within the Schengen area at Helsinki Airport is very average with limited food options and cramped seating.

The only time I have transited through Vantaa the queue for the Schengen business lounge was a mile long.

I was there around 2 months ago between 6-7am local time and by the time I left, the line was all the way up / down the stairs.

 

[firede]

Just finalised my first oneworld award booking (in J) ever and overall okish happy with the experience. Was not able to book online and called the general hotline and received an agent where I was not sure about the skill level, but she just entered the flights/flight numbers exactly as I told her and I didn't really have to discuss anything with her.

I had issues with my first flight as I intended to fly MEX-DFW-LAX and then LAX-SYD the next day, but within 24 hours so it doesn't trigger a stopover. Despite availability on the multi-city search for MEX-DFW-LAX she said there was no availability (an alternative start from SJD was also not available despite showing availability on the search - she may have been right as the flight does not show up today anymore). I ended up finding MZT-PHX-LAX (in Economy, but short flights so I don't mind too much) while on the phone and she was able to book that.

So, that now leaves me with the following itinerary starting in February:

MZT-PHX-LAX (economy) (AA) - transit
LAX-SYD (QF) - stopover
BNE-PER (QF) - stopover
PER-BNE (QF) - stopover
BNE-LAX (QF) - stopover
SEA-HEL-MUC (AY) - stopover
MUC-LHR-MEX (BA)

I called yesterday and have received the ticket today for a total of 318k points and 1.8k AUD. Quite Australia heavy, but it works perfect for my travel plans as I will come from visiting South America over this summer.

I have two questions:
- I fly MZT-PHX-LAX (AA/economy) and arrive in LAX at 10pm and fly LAX-SYD (QF/J) the following day at 8pm. Will I have lounge access in PHX given that I have no status?

- It seems like I may have mucked up by booking MUC-LHR-MEX with the high fees from BA. I will monitor to see if I can change to MUC-MAD-MEX (on IB) or are there any other ideas on how to save on fees? I don't have to start from MUC and can reposition as I'll be travelling in Europe anyway.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[markyb]

4 x J seats will be difficult, depending on your itinerary and the airlines that fly these routes. And, yes, you could book through a family member with gold/platinum and that should open up more options on the Qantas flights in/out of Australia at an earlier date.

So does gold/platinum not make a difference for other Oneworld airlines on flights outside Australia? Turns out the family member is gold - but I also wonder about implications when/if needing to call to finish or amend the OWA they'd want to talk to said family member, not me.

 

[Rynosaurus]

Hi All, new member here, apologies in advance if I'm using the forum in the wrong way (and if the questions have been asked before). I'm starting to plan my RTW flight commencing December 2024. I have a couple of questions and would greatly appreciate if someone here can assist:

1. I know that you can only use full oneworld member airlines. However, if the flight is showing as 'Operated by Fiji Airways' when looking at the multi-city search on Qantas Frequent Flyer site - does that mean is a code share and is ok?
2. Can I book the first 1-2 legs of the journey now and add the other legs as flights become available? I know that changes can be made for 5000 points per person - but I just wasnt sure if I had to book the entire journey first up or if you can partially book it.

Thanks

 

[Warragul]

1. Travel, not just the flight number, has to be on Oneworld carriers, so FJ is out.
2. Yes that is an option. The problem is getting on to an agent that is across the ins and outs of this type of booking. This can be an ardous task. If you can book them in one go, do it.

 

[MelbFlyer]

1. I know that you can only use full oneworld member airlines. However, if the flight is showing as 'Operated by Fiji Airways' when looking at the multi-city search on Qantas Frequent Flyer site - does that mean is a code share and is ok?
2. Can I book the first 1-2 legs of the journey now and add the other legs as flights become available? I know that changes can be made for 5000 points per person - but I just wasnt sure if I had to book the entire journey first up or if you can partially book it.

1. Using FJ within your itinerary will mean that your total trip wont be capped under the Oneworld Award - the thresholds are :

132k pts for Economy
249k pts for Premium Economy
318k pts for Business
455k pts for First

2. Get as much as possible done in your booking online, as it WILL be a difficult task to get onto a consultant that can :

Firstly - See the award seats you can see online and want to add,
and depending on meeting the first condition
Secondly - Add the award seats to your booking

If you call up and get a consultant who says that you can't add award seats / they can't see any available reward flights on the dates you're looking at, despite award seats clearly showing online - end the call immediately and re-call back until you can get someone who can.

Example -
My existing awards booking had a leg on Jetstar economy (was the only option at the time of my initial booking) and I kept searching over a period of a few weeks / months to try to find something other than Jetstar. One day I finally saw some new (or cancelled) business reward seats on the day I wanted - so I called Qantas to attempt to take it.

It took me around 15-20 calls over a few days just to get someone who could see the QF business seats I wanted to add to my existing itinerary to replace my existing Jetstar economy seat.

In the end, I eventually got there and redeemed the QF business reward seat to replace the JQ economy one.

If the consultants you're getting are giving you no answers, don't take no for an answer - you just will have to persevere / callback and at times, make a bit of noise.

 

[BriarFlyer]

So does gold/platinum not make a difference for other Oneworld airlines on flights outside Australia? Turns out the family member is gold - but I also wonder about implications when/if needing to call to finish or amend the OWA they'd want to talk to said family member, not me.

Status makes no difference with the release date of other Oneworld airline award seats. And, yes, you should consider the implications in case you need to call to finish or amend your OWA. I wouldn't using this strategy unless it's a close family member.

 

[Rynosaurus]

Thanks @Warragul and @MelbFlyer

 

[Jacques Vert]

Hi ya'll, I'm in the process of trying to book my first OWA, I just need one more sector added to my itinerary, but when I called CS they were unable to add it and said they would get IT to help and call me back (surprise, they did not). The flight has now disappeared, and my itinerary is starting next week.

It's now next week; did you manage to sort out your itinerary?

 

[Mr H]

Get as much as possible done in your booking online, as it WILL be a difficult task to get onto a consultant that can :

Firstly - See the award seats you can see online and want to add,
and depending on meeting the first condition
Secondly - Add the award seats to your booking

I am not sure this is great advice. Having followed this thread for some time, it seems the agent issues are worst when trying to amend an existing booking. Setting up a new booking by phone is usually trouble free. Booking partly on line and then using an agent to add to it - rather than doing it all through an agent - means you will have an extra change fee and you are in the twilight world of amendments when you could have been in the sunny uplands of doing a new booking.

 

[DC3]

I know that you can only use full oneworld member airlines. However, if the flight is showing as 'Operated by Fiji Airways' when looking at the multi-city search on Qantas Frequent Flyer site - does that mean is a code share and is ok?

You need pick a oneworld airline. FJ is not one of them.

Regarding booking, I make as many on-line as possible on the day. After that we are are the mercy of the Call Centres for changes/add-ons, etc

 

[MelbFlyer]

I am not sure this is great advice. Having followed this thread for some time, it seems the agent issues are worst when trying to amend an existing booking. Setting up a new booking by phone is usually trouble free. Booking partly on line and then using an agent to add to it - rather than doing it all through an agent - means you will have an extra change fee and you are in the twilight world of amendments when you could have been in the sunny uplands of doing a new booking.

What do you mean?

My post was heavily implying that one should do as much as they can online, at the time of the booking to avoid having to contact Qantas in the future should they wish to make a change.

I know that it is difficult to amend existing rewards bookings due to the amount of times I had to HUACA just to get a simple change done.

Long story short - the less contact you have with Qantas call centre agents, the better.

 

[timmytime]

Wondering if it is possible select seats on reward flights?

Currently building a RTW itinerary. We currently have flights for 2 from SYD-HND-LHR with JAL

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Wondering if it is possible select seats on reward flights?

Currently building a RTW itinerary. We currently have flights for 2 from SYD-HND-LHR with JAL

Yes of course!

The exact same rules and eligibility apply to reward seats as paid ones. So depending on you class of service and status with the airlines, various seats may be open to you for pre-allocation.

All other benefits also apply, such as lounge access, depending on your class or service and status.

 

[timmytime]

Yes of course!

The exact same rules and eligibility apply to reward seats as paid ones. So depending on you class of service and status with the airlines, various seats may be open to you for pre-allocation.

All other benefits also apply, such as lounge access, depending on your class or service and status.

Fantastic! Do you know how I might choose these seats now? As the flights until late next year

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Fantastic! Do you know how I might choose these seats now? As the flights until late next year

As soon as you have made your booking. You can select seats using our 6-digit booking reference.

Some times you need a unique reference for different airlines in the same itinerary, but start with the Qantas one v

Go to the JAL site, manage booking, then select seats.

You can also go to the royal jordanian airlines website and enter your booking reference there and it often gives you seat maps for other airlines.

 

[saddy]

My first OW award trip is in 3 months time. Apart from early issues with booking, it's been fairly uneventful (other than airlines making minor changes to flight times). Just based on the combined expert experience on here, how confident should I be nothing messes up between now and then? I know things can always happen and don't think I'll be fully confident or relaxed until I'm on the last leg back home!

 

[elanshin]

My first OW award trip is in 3 months time. Apart from early issues with booking, it's been fairly uneventful (other than airlines making minor changes to flight times). Just based on the combined expert experience on here, how confident should I be nothing messes up between now and then? I know things can always happen and don't think I'll be fully confident or relaxed until I'm on the last leg back home!

Realistically as confident as any other bookings you make.

It ultimately depends a lot on which airlines are involved, but outside of operational issues on the day, generally speaking most of the big airlines don't make any major changes within 3 months.

 

[DC3]

… how confident should I be nothing messes up between now and then? …

There’s also plenty of good information upthread, including personal experiences when things don’t go as planned