Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Jacques Vert]

Why do I see a lot of these bookings ending in tears?

 

[fresherbill]

Why do I see a lot of these bookings ending in tears?

I persevered with mine and I've gone from being disconsolate to cautiously happy. After two phone calls, I was put through to Suzanna, who got straight onto my changes. Without any drama, she produced a quote that matched what I was previously told, along with all the flights I wanted (except for a minor date change - one of the dates was no longer available). Weirdly, at the end of the whole process, the outstanding cash balance ended up being nil. It seems too good to be true, hence the "cautiously".

I would wholeheartedly agree that this is painful and you either have to not care about where you're going, or do the whole thing in economy if you want to escape any sort of pain while booking a oneworld classic award. Wanting to do it in business (with 2 pax, even 353 days out) has caused much anxiety and many tears. I would not care to do it again.

I found it interesting that in economy, I would have had my pick of dates and destinations from the outset without any compromise whatsoever.

 

[k_sheep]

The days of cheap xONEx fares seem gone. However, if you're prepared for outlay, they can reap a good number of points, although probably not in QF. I would start by planning your itinerary as DONE4/5 and see if you're happy with the cost. Unless k_sheep is a pseudonym for James Packer, I'd suggest starting outside Australia. I think Japan is the cheapest, closest departure country.

No Packer funds here! Yes would start in Japan or Philippines.

I fear I'm falling into the well-laid QF trap of thinking it's all too hard, and will use my hard-earned points for simple point-to-point flights

 

[DC3]

I persevered with mine and I've gone from being disconsolate to cautiously happy ...

... at the end of the whole process, the outstanding cash balance ended up being nil. It seems too good to be true, hence the "cautiously" ...

You can relax once it has been ticketed ..

 

[AL10]

You also may find flights to HKG require married segments and have trouble finding availability.

Do you have any ideas, as CX appears to have a lot of married segments unfortunately?

 

[cjd600]

Ahh I see. So it’s the date the ticket is issued. Not the date of travel.

It says "ticketed departure date".
Not ticketed date.

 

[abby-line]

It says "ticketed departure date".
Not ticketed date.

Thats how I read it too.

Fingers well and truly crossed!

 

[Sindah]

My friend and I would like to travel together so am thinking we need to book 2 pax in the same booking to ensure this. Whats the best way to book together but "pay" separately? (use 280K points from their account and 280K from my account). Is it possible to split the cash (taxes) portion over multiple credit cards as well?

 

[cjd600]

My friend and I would like to travel together so am thinking we need to book 2 pax in the same booking to ensure this. Whats the best way to book together but "pay" separately? (use 280K points from their account and 280K from my account). Is it possible to split the cash (taxes) portion over multiple credit cards as well?

To be on the same booking, I think all points would need to be in one account, and both the points transfer, and booking for 2 on points from one account need to (in theory) meet the 'family' member criteria.
Can you not just book separately, at the same time, same flights etc, pay separately, points separately?
Different bookings, travelling together

 

[Sindah]

To be on the same booking, I think all points would need to be in one account, and both the points transfer, and booking for 2 on points from one account need to (in theory) meet the 'family' member criteria.
Can you not just book separately, at the same time, same flights etc, pay separately, points separately?
Different bookings, travelling together

The system crashes out when trying to book online (doesnt seem to like more than 6 flights - get too many redirects error) which means we need to book over the phone. Im just concerned that in the time one person finishes/completes their booking, some legs may become unavailable for the other person.

 

[cjd600]

The system crashes out when trying to book online (doesnt seem to like more than 6 flights - get too many redirects error) which means we need to book over the phone. Im just concerned that in the time one person finishes/completes their booking, some legs may become unavailable for the other person.

I'd say book as far as you can in one go online, then both call to add remaining sectors.
I wouldnt recommend circumventing the 'eligible family member rules'.
Or even call together and have the flights added one by one to each booking.
I have had to add flights to a split family booking in this manner, ensuring that same flights were able to be added to separate bookings (split due to a previous sector not having the needed number of J seats)

 

[p--and--t]

To be on the same booking, I think all points would need to be in one account, and both the points transfer, and booking for 2 on points from one account need to (in theory) meet the 'family' member criteria.
Can you not just book separately, at the same time, same flights etc, pay separately, points separately?
Different bookings, travelling together

If the op has two separate PNRs then there is no guarantee they will sit together on any of their flights other than QF. Linking the two bookings, from experience, is totally ineffective.

 

[cjd600]

If the op has two separate PNRs then there is no guarantee they will sit together on any of their flights other than QF. Linking the two bookings, from experience, is totally ineffective.

I didnt say to link the bookings?!
I took 'travelling together' to mean on the same flights at least.
Talking of flights disappearing seems to suggest they want to be on the same flight ahead of guaranteed to sit next to each other.
Unless you have a compliant way of getting two non "eligible family members" on the same points booking PNR

 

[Sindah]

Thanks for the replies. We just want to be on the same flights (but both in biz class!), doesnt matter if we are not next to each other.

A separate question in regards to this condition
"
14.7.6 Subject to this clause 14.7, the following changes are permitted to a Classic Flight Reward flight before departure of that flight, provided the booking contains one or more Flight Segments that are not within Australia, and the Flight Segment(s) being changed do not include a partner airline that requires a ticket to be reissued for the change. Any such change will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger:

(a) change to flight number; and
(b) change to date of travel.
"
any idea which partner airlines require tickets to be resissued (and therefore I would want to avoid)?

 

[exceladdict]

Are there any issues with this proposed one:

MEL-SFO (stop) - [travel to PHL and NY myself] - HKG (stop) -[make my own way to melb return to hk] - TYO - LHR - VIE- AMS-DOH-SIN-MEL.

I'm unsure whether I will go straight from london to VIE.

Do you have any ideas, as CX appears to have a lot of married segments unfortunately?

A couple of ways you could approach it:
- use Narita as your stopover rather than HKG, there are a fair few JAL direct routes to the US
- go to a second destination somewhat close to HKG on CX - bkk, mnl, or similar. Ideally kul or sin would theoretically have cheaper prices for you back to Melbourne

Or, consider jigging the ticket to start in Manila, fly from there via Narita to SFO, SFO back to mel, then pause, and on to part two of your trip.

This will obviously impact the mileage but could be worth investigating

 

[Aristotle9]

The system crashes out when trying to book online (doesnt seem to like more than 6 flights

Do not use multi city for searching rather use the normal one way to find all the segments and dates that have availablity. Then start on the multicity with the exact dates. It took me 2-3 mins and I had 9 flights (2 married segments). If problem persists then it's likely a carrier issue and you will need to call.

 

[adenda]

I persevered with mine and I've gone from being disconsolate to cautiously happy. After two phone calls, I was put through to Suzanna, who got straight onto my changes. Without any drama, she produced a quote that matched what I was previously told, along with all the flights I wanted (except for a minor date change - one of the dates was no longer available). Weirdly, at the end of the whole process, the outstanding cash balance ended up being nil. It seems too good to be true, hence the "cautiously".

I would wholeheartedly agree that this is painful and you either have to not care about where you're going, or do the whole thing in economy if you want to escape any sort of pain while booking a oneworld classic award. Wanting to do it in business (with 2 pax, even 353 days out) has caused much anxiety and many tears. I would not care to do it again.

I found it interesting that in economy, I would have had my pick of dates and destinations from the outset without any compromise whatsoever.

Great news!
The key word here - in my experience as well - is perseverance. And unfortunately the other key lesson - also in my experience - is how variable the outcome can be dependent on the agent you speak/chat to.

I think the pain will evaporate into the distance when you take your first sip of champagne - either in the lounge or onboard.

 

[Aristotle9]

If the op has two separate PNRs then there is no guarantee they will sit together on any of their flights other than QF

Advanced seat selection ahead of time (except BA) will sort that out

 

[fresherbill]

You can relax once it has been ticketed ..

The new e-tickets came through about 5 minutes after I put the phone down. Something else that is adding to my too-good-to-be-true anxiety is that the 2 x 5000 point change fee hasn't been deducted, though IIRC with the original booking this can day or so. Having said that, I see that a couple of people escaped the change fees as recently as July, soooo...

I think the pain will evaporate into the distance when you take your first sip of champagne - either in the lounge or onboard.

I know I'll be raising a glass to everyone who has contributed to this thread. The trip may never have eventuated -certainly not in its current form - if not for the amazing advice and information here.

 

[squid01]

I didnt say to link the bookings?!
I took 'travelling together' to mean on the same flights at least.
Talking of flights disappearing seems to suggest they want to be on the same flight ahead of guaranteed to sit next to each other.
Unless you have a compliant way of getting two non "eligible family members" on the same points booking PNR

DO you have a link to what qantas deem as eligible family member.

My girlfriend and I have been amassing point for this ticket and all in the one FF point account. Looking to book at the end of the year.

We have lived together for the past 3 years and been together for almost 5. Does she qualify as 'family' or spouse if I can prove our living arrangements?