Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Limewood]

I as using a multi city.

 

[geoffshaw]

Sounds a bit steep.

Can you change to an AA flight rather than BA?

Searching now, I knew that BA would be expensive, but no way was I expecting that much!

 

[leer30]

I can only assist with the last query. I think all would agree that the best approach is to lock in the seats as soon as they become available. Paying the 5k change fee is a bugger but it's not as bad as flying in Y (Economy) when you should be flying in J (Business). (And, for reference, Vancouver is YVR.)

Thanks for that Danger - thought that was the best process from what I have read here.

 

[madrooster]

I just got off the phone from Qantas for the second time because I wanted to check what I was told by the first agent. We've been charged $626.80 per person for fuel surcharges on a BA JFK-LHR flight. $634.20 in total taxes, just for that one flight. Is that right?? Seems ridiculous to me. And they want ~$130 each to choose seats on top of that!

Are you originating in London or transiting? Half of that will be UK air passenger duty if you are originating in London. $300 or so for the BA fuel fines is correct for JFK-LHR, but not $600.

See the wiki at the top of this thread. The correct charges are listed.

 

[Mumanddad]

Not for long......
OpenSkies to Cease Operations in 2018

Yes, I saw that this morning. Due to cease in September 2018 and our booking is for late October. They are still selling our flight EWR-ORY on the BA website.

Do I wait now for someone to contact me so I don't have to pay change fees? Pretty well cleaned out our points doing the bookings, just have enough left for the change to add in the last leg when the flights open next month, I suppose I can take care of the trans-Atlantic flight then.

 

[flychrisfly]

I as using a multi city.

View attachment 112168

How many points did that cost you?

 

[Limewood]

Not booked yet around 650K for two. But be a lot less if ending HKG.

 

[madrooster]

Not booked yet around 650K for two. But be a lot less if ending HKG.

You'd pay a lot less points too if you didn't use EK for DXB-BNE...

 

[geoffshaw]

Are you originating in London or transiting? Half of that will be UK air passenger duty if you are originating in London. $300 or so for the BA fuel fines is correct for JFK-LHR, but not $600.

See the wiki at the top of this thread. The correct charges are listed.

Just called and spoke to a third agent. They confirmed $626.80 as the YQ for JFK-LHR when booked from Australia. When I search my exact flight on the ITA Matrix it shows the same number. I argued it should be US$188 for about 10 minutes, no dice. Not sure what to do apart from trying to get an AA flight.

 

[madrooster]

Just called and spoke to a third agent. They confirmed $626.80 as the YQ for JFK-LHR when booked from Australia. When I search my exact flight on the ITA Matrix it shows the same number. I argued it should be US$188 for about 10 minutes, no dice. Not sure what to do apart from trying to get an AA flight.

So, are you originating in London as per my last post?

 

[geoffshaw]

No

BA JFK-LHR flight.

EDIT:

Full ticket is MEL-xSYD-LAX (SURFACE) PHX-xORD-BUF (SURFACE) JFK-xLHR-KEF-xLHR-JMK (SURFACE) ATH-LHR (SURFACE) HEL-xNRT-MEL

 

[Danger]

I as using a multi city.

What is this referring to?

Yes, I saw that this morning. Due to cease in September 2018 and our booking is for late October. They are still selling our flight EWR-ORY on the BA website.

Do I wait now for someone to contact me so I don't have to pay change fees? Pretty well cleaned out our points doing the bookings, just have enough left for the change to add in the last leg when the flights open next month, I suppose I can take care of the trans-Atlantic flight then.

If you've got the Open Skies locked in and ticketed, I'd leave it. If BA doesn't pick up their routes you'll be re-accommodated, probably on something like JFK/EWR-LHR/LCY-CDG/ORY or JFK-CDG. The chances are Qantas won't help you at this stage anyway as the flights are still available for sale and showing in the GDS.

You won't be up for a change fee for an involuntary re-route.

 

[madrooster]

No

EDIT:

Full ticket is MEL-xSYD-LAX (SURFACE) PHX-xORD-BUF (SURFACE) JFK-xLHR-KEF-xLHR-JMK (SURFACE) ATH-LHR (SURFACE) HEL-xNRT-MEL

Was your booking initially created over the phone or on the QF website? If it was created over the phone message me the booking reference and I'll see if I can figure out where the $600 came from, from the ticketing data.

 

[geoffshaw]

No it was started online.

 

[Limewood]

You'd pay a lot less points too if you didn't use EK for DXB-BNE...

Ok Ill look into that.

 

[PLANT]

Did I make a rookie mistake on booking Reward flight Brisbane to Dublin in separate sections with less than 24hrs stopover in HK or not?
Resulting in MORE points than required being used?
I booked Brisbane HK on Qantas Economy rewards(1\2 price deal) and paid AU tax.
Then I booked HK to Dublin on Cathay Business via Qantas rewards and paid less taxes(Hk dollars).

I thought I did a dummy multi-sector booking and total Taxes were more because all taxes were in AU dollars?

I just remember that a reward ticket with less than 24hrs stopover can be less "points or taxes" than booked separately?

Please confirm

 

[madrooster]

Did I make a rookie mistake on booking Reward flight Brisbane to Dublin in separate sections with less than 24hrs stopover in HK or not?
Resulting in MORE points than required being used?
I booked Brisbane HK on Qantas Economy rewards(1\2 price deal) and paid AU tax.
Then I booked HK to Dublin on Cathay Business via Qantas rewards and paid less taxes(Hk dollars).

I thought I did a dummy multi-sector booking and total Taxes were more because all taxes were in AU dollars?

I just remember that a reward ticket with less than 24hrs stopover can be less "points or taxes" than booked separately?

Please confirm

It's irrelevant in your case because QF and CX would trigger as two awards (but on the same ticket) anyway, so the number of points would be identical. The way you have done it will have resulted in similar taxes than if combined anyway, given CX charges the same fuel fines worldwide.

 

[geoffshaw]

I've changed JFK-LHR on BA to LGA-ORD-LHR with AA. Refund amount was $483.84 each. Total taxes for the trip ended up at $695.41, which I am beyond happy with. Might have taken countless hours of research and time on the phone but you get bloody good value out of your points for it!

 

[glasszon]

Am I the only one who have bad luck with JL flights? I had to change my booking due to personal reasons and two of the segments are with JL, I spent 90 minutes with the first agent while she repeatedly calls Qantas helpline with the booking, and just before she could take payment the call was cut off.

Now I am calling back again and I don't like the chance of being reconnected to the current agent, wish me luck....

 

[glasszon]

Just to provide an update, looks like my prayer was answered as my second call I was connected to the Qantas Premium team and they really know what they are doing. There was dramas as my call was disconnected again (don't know why, I never had call disconnections before today) but he went ahead and processed the changes despite the disconnection and I just received the e-ticket, hurray!