Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Matt_01]

Now it looks like plan may work I am now working on routes. So stops and transfer in the same city is it 1 stop and 2 additional transfer or 1 stop and 1 transfer.

Ideally looking for x3 J on the same aircraft but can split to x2 and x1 departing and arriving around similar times get back from the UK 1 could depart the following day if the best I can get is x2. JL presents the best options however as JL and QF seem to mainly use HND this may be problematic. This was one option

Apr 23
ADL-AKL (positioning flight)
AKL-BNE/MEL-HND (QF) or AKL-MEL-NRT (JL) - Stop
HND-SYD. (QF or JL) - Stop

Sep 23
SYD-HND-CDG (JL). or MEL-NRT-HEL-CDG - Stop
CDG-LHR-HND-SYD-ADL (BA/JL/QF) - Finish

For the return as the points cap and the ticket is reissued after each change I have no plan to return to NZ. This routing is around 33K-34K miles so is tight. The concerns I have with the above is that what may be available JL been the best option we are stopping in HND then 2 transfers, is this allowed under the rules.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

The concerns I have with the above is that what may be available JL been the best option we are stopping in HND then 2 transfers, is this allowed under the rules.

Yes, you are allowed 1 stop & 2 transfers in the same city. I have done so on multiple occasions.

From the QFF T&C’s:

14.5.4 The following Stopover conditions apply to oneworld Classic Flight Rewards:
(a) up to five free Stopovers are permitted;
(b) additional Stopovers are not permitted;
(c) only one Stopover is permitted in any one city in the Itinerary; and
(d) only two Transfers may be taken at any one city in the Itinerary.

 

[Spacetravel]

I'm closing in on my OWA departure date 7th March, getting excited!

Is it possible to make changes to the OWA after departing?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm closing in on my OWA departure date 7th March, getting excited!

Is it possible to make changes to the OWA after departing?

Limited changes can be made as outlined in 14.7 of the conditions: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/freque...ms-and-conditions.html#classic-flight-rewards

 

[Spacetravel]

Limited changes can be made as outlined in 14.7 of the conditions: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/freque...ms-and-conditions.html#classic-flight-rewards

Thanks! While sort of hard to understand, it looks like I'm best to go with assuming I can't make changes.

There is a flight in the middle of my itinerary that's pretty arbitrary and I'm not entirely sure I want to be locked into that exact date/ time, I might cancel it before I leave and book it separately for the added flexibility. Might also add a flight from somewhere onto the flights departing LAX and LHR to SYD to cut back on the taxes.

Anyway for reference here is my upcoming OWA! So excited for this massive trip:
SYD > MEL QF Economy (separate Ticket)
MEL > SYD > YVR QF Business (Stop 1)
YVR > DFW > MIA AA "First" Business (Stop 2)
MIA > LAX AA "First" Business (Stop 3)

- Separate bookings to return to Aus and back:
LAX > SYD QF Award Economy
SYD > LAX QF Award Business
LAX > LAS AA Revenue "First" Business
LAS > LAX AA Revenue Economy (plan on attempting to have baggage through checked to LHR from revenue to award booking at LAS)

OWA resumes
LAX > LHR Business > BER BA Economy (Stop 4)
BER > LHR > ATH BA Business (Stop 5)

- Separate booking:
ATH > LHR (unknown)
LHR > BRU Charter SN Economy
BRU > LHR Charter SN Economy

OWA resumes
LHR > SIN > SYD QF Business(Finished)

 

[11sjw]

On a QFF Points Collectors FB forum I'm a member of a few people have complained of ticketed bookings being cancelled without any notifications received. Has anyone in this thread experienced this?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

On a QFF Points Collectors FB forum I'm a member of a few people have complained of ticketed bookings being cancelled without any notifications received. Has anyone in this thread experienced this?

Might need some more detail on that. It has been known with some bookings with Qatar airways for example that if they aren't ticketed in time then you can lose the seats. Which is a particular problem for award flights. I don't recall anybody saying that random tickets were simply cancelled without any notification.

 

[madrooster]

LAS > LAX AA Revenue Economy (plan on attempting to have baggage through checked to LHR from revenue to award booking at LAS)

OWA resumes
LAX > LHR Business > BER BA Economy (Stop 4)

AA can only do this if it's on the same PNR. I can't see any reason why you can't put the LAS-LAX on the award ticket? Usually it's not hard to get Y space on that route.

 

[11sjw]

Might need some more detail on that. It has been known with some bookings with Qatar airways for example that if they aren't ticketed in time then you can lose the seats. Which is a particular problem for award flights. I don't recall anybody saying that random tickets were simply cancelled without any notification.

Yeah, didn't have much further detail other than flight was ticketed and had been paid for (points and $ had both been deducted). All I could deduce was that upon a later login the booking had, essentially, disappeared.

 

[Matt_01]

@There'sOnlyOneJimmy thanks, I was aware of what the rules state and my the past bookings had only been 1 stop and 1 transfer through the same city or 2 transfers trough the same same city.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yeah, didn't have much further detail other than flight was ticketed and had been paid for (points and $ had both been deducted). All I could deduce was that upon a later login the booking had, essentially, disappeared.

That’s not a common occurrence. Points and $ does not necessarily = ticketing unfortunately. And if partner airlines are involved it can get complicated.

Would be interesting to get the full details.

 

[Spacetravel]

AA can only do this if it's on the same PNR. I can't see any reason why you can't put the LAS-LAX on the award ticket? Usually it's not hard to get Y space on that route.

I read on flyer talk they will through check if you have award to revenue or revenue to award on different PNRs?

The days I want are very busy with 0 award availablity. It was $500 each way for economy

 

[DC3]

I read on flyer talk they will through check if you have award to revenue or revenue to award on different PNRs?

The days I want are very busy with 0 award availablity. It was $500 each way for economy

As long as that FT information is current. I thought that AA had stopped doing that unless on the same booking reference.

 

[madrooster]

I read on flyer talk they will through check if you have award to revenue or revenue to award on different PNRs?

As long as that FT information is current. I thought that AA had stopped doing that unless on the same booking reference.

In practice it's hit and miss, like with QF doing the same. In other words don't be reliant on it.

 

[Spacetravel]

In practice it's hit and miss, like with QF doing the same. In other words don't be reliant on it.

Thanks for the info, yeah I was just going to have a crack. (Assuming no delays) My transit time is 4.5 hours, so it should be long enough to collect bags and recheck in without too much stress. If my flight is delayed, then the stress will start.

 

[Eija]

@Matt_01 I see your trying the two for one trick. I did something similar in 2018 positioning/commencing in AKL. If you finish in ADL. You still need to include miles back to port of origin in the 35K miles. See Qantas T&C’s 14.5.3. I’m out of practise so don’t know how “For the return as the points cap and the ticket is reissued after each change I have no plan to return to NZ.” changes port of origin?

 

[Ktan89]

Hey @Matt_01,
You can transit through 2 times at the airports and do 1 stop over.
I've done this before:
SYD - hnd - GMP (transit less than 24h)
GMP - hnd - DOH (transit less than 24h)
YVR - NRT (stop more than 24h - Stop over) HND - SYD

 

[Ponky]

OK so I have decided to ring the call centre to try and make a few changes to my booked OWA itinterary. However, I am hearing impaired and struggle to hear over the phone, especially when the person on the other end has a heavy accent. Accordingly, I worry that if I get through to the call centres in the Philippines or South Africa I am going to have a very hard time getting the transaction sorted.

- Is there any alternative to using the phone that people are aware of?
- If not, in your experience what is the best time to call to get onto an Aus-based call centre (I'm in Perth)?
- In general, what is the quality of the sound/connection like when you get through to the call centres?

Normally, my wife helps me with such calls, but given people's experiences of being on hold potentially for hours, I am not sure it is going to be possible to have her sitting around waiting on hold with me for that amount of time.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

OK so I have decided to ring the call centre to try and make a few changes to my booked OWA itinterary. However, I am hearing impaired and struggle to hear over the phone, especially when the person on the other end has a heavy accent. Accordingly, I worry that if I get through to the call centres in the Philippines or South Africa I am going to have a very hard time getting the transaction sorted.

- Is there any alternative to using the phone that people are aware of?
- If not, in your experience what is the best time to call to get onto an Aus-based call centre (I'm in Perth)?
- In general, what is the quality of the sound/connection like when you get through to the call centres?

Normally, my wife helps me with such calls, but given people's experiences of being on hold potentially for hours, I am not sure it is going to be possible to have her sitting around waiting on hold with me for that amount of time.

There might be something of use for you on the “Help for Deaf or Hearing Impaired Passengers” page - refer link:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/specific-needs/deaf-or-hearing-impaired-passengers.html

 

[djkelly69]

In general, what is the quality of the sound/connection like when you get through to the call centres?

IME pretty poor for the overseas call centres, Aus ones no problem.