Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Chesty]

Could you see about QF LAX-MEL?

That would be ideal, just not sure of their willingness to open up inventory if there are no current classic awards available. Will call them tomorrow to find out I guess.

Post automatically merged: Feb 20, 2022

Call Qantas. It seems some others in the same situation as you have been offered an alternative on Qantas metal. No guarantees, but seems worth a try.

Cheers, good to know and will give it a try.

 

[Mr H]

That would be ideal, just not sure of their willingness to open up inventory if there are no current classic awards available. Will call them tomorrow to find out I guess.

Post automatically merged: Feb 20, 2022

Cheers, good to know and will give it a try.

You won’t necessarily succeed, but calling up with solutions stands a better chance of success than calling up with problems.

 

[Stusipad]

Just had a flight part of my OWA….LAX to HND in August cancelled which buggers my whole trip. No alternate option offered.

Not sure what I am meant to do here but contact Qantas and have the whole trip cancelled?
I can’t see any other alternatives that will get me to my connecting flight back to MEL.

I just dealt with a similar issue on the same route and found l was told 'there were no other flight options open for the entire month' but when l looked l could see a JAL flight from LAX to HND and then Qantas from HND to SYD and then onto MEL. When l pointed this out the rep said 'Oh yes, l see. I missed that one..' ?? WTF? She booked that one and l am waiting on ticketing now.

 

[bnr032]

Im in a similar boat - Had a business reward seat from HND - LAX as part of my trip, Got the email overnight AA has cancelled the flight.
Currently looking at alternatives (this leg is realistically BNE - LAX but it was the only business connection i could find when i booked).
Any one else had success with them offering you a business class seat on a flight that doesnt show rewards as an alternative?

 

[Mr H]

I just dealt with a similar issue on the same route and found l was told 'there were no other flight options open for the entire month' but when l looked l could see a JAL flight from LAX to HND and then Qantas from HND to SYD and then onto MEL. When l pointed this out the rep said 'Oh yes, l see. I missed that one..' ?? WTF? She booked that one and l am waiting on ticketing now.

This is an excellent example of why it is better to go in with solutions than problems. Why even ask the agent to find a solution when you have one already? It just causes them to lose face which is seldom helpful.

 

[renatts]

This is an excellent example of why it is better to go in with solutions than problems. Why even ask the agent to find a solution when you have one already? It just causes them to lose face which is seldom helpful.

I can’t speak for stu, but the agents I spoke to would not listen to my solution and actively refused to book the replacement route I had found.
The one who first booked me on QF9 MEL - LHR kept saying that this was better because it’s Qantas, so if anything goes wrong they’ll be able to help.
I can’t argue with the logic in theory, but we’ll see how I go in reality.

 

[ozflier]

I am in a similar bind.
Two domestic AA sectors cancelled and no anywhere reasonable alternatives that I can see with business class seating.
Has anyone experienced QFF requesting AA to free up revenue seats in that situation?

 

[Mr H]

I am in a similar bind.
Two domestic AA sectors cancelled and no anywhere reasonable alternatives that I can see with business class seating.
Has anyone experienced QFF requesting AA to free up revenue seats in that situation?

I have not heard of partner airlines freeing revenue seats for QF awards.

 

[Chesty]

This is an excellent example of why it is better to go in with solutions than problems. Why even ask the agent to find a solution when you have one already? It just causes them to lose face which is seldom helpful.

All well and good if there is a solution available….i.e classic award availability.

 

[Mr H]

All well and good if there is a solution available….i.e classic award availability.

It could be anything. It could be connecting using unusual city pairs. It could be releasing inventory from a revenue flight. It could be using a different cabin. The worst that can happen is they say no. The point is that if you rely on the agents to find the solutions they are not going to invest as much creativity into the process as you might. In the post upthread, the poster had a solution but chose not to mention it until the agent said there was no solution.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have not heard of partner airlines freeing revenue seats for QF awards.

I am in a similar bind.
Two domestic AA sectors cancelled and no anywhere reasonable alternatives that I can see with business class seating.
Has anyone experienced QFF requesting AA to free up revenue seats in that situation?

Usually AA is pretty good, if they have schedule changes they will protect you on other flights, even if booked via a partner award program. I’ve had three or four domestic AA changes and each one has been reaccommodated… also one international award where they opened up inventory on an AA TATL flight out of PHL that has been closed to awards for months! These were all booked through QF.

QF and all oneworld airlines can work with the oneworld disruption desk in the event awards get cancelled or disrupted. The desk is supposed to work between the airlines to find an alternative. No guarantees of course.

 

[Mr H]

QF and all oneworld airlines can work with the oneworld disruption desk in the event awards get cancelled or disrupted. The desk is supposed to work between the airlines to find an alternative. No guarantees of course.

I'll look forward to that when my current redemption has its NRT flights cancelled.

 

[bnr032]

Usually AA is pretty good, if they have schedule changes they will protect you on other flights, even if booked via a partner award program. I’ve had three or four domestic AA changes and each one has been reaccommodated… also one international award where they opened up inventory on an AA TATL flight out of PHL that has been closed to awards for months! These were all booked through QF.

QF and all oneworld airlines can work with the oneworld disruption desk in the event awards get cancelled or disrupted. The desk is supposed to work between the airlines to find an alternative. No guarantees of course.

Can i ask how that happened? Online through AA i can no longer find my booking.
It would appear AA are no longer servicing Tokyo (amongst other places) Due to Boeing supply issues (what they are claiming?)
Original booking was a QF Reward obviously.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can i ask how that happened? Online through AA i can no longer find my booking.
It would appear AA are no longer servicing Tokyo (amongst other places) Due to Boeing supply issues (what they are claiming?)
Original booking was a QF Reward obviously.

It might be different when it comes to a completely cancelled route. In the case of AA domestic sectors, or sectors where one of multiple daily flights has been cancelled (or there are connecting options), AA is pretty good at moving you to the next available flight. It’s done automatically and you’ll get notification from Qantas.

 

[Stusipad]

This is an excellent example of why it is better to go in with solutions than problems. Why even ask the agent to find a solution when you have one already? It just causes them to lose face which is seldom helpful.

In the post upthread, the poster had a solution but chose not to mention it until the agent said there was no solution.

Wow.. Bold of you to assume l had a solution before the agent told came up empty handed. I found the route whilst she was assisting me.

I must have offended you at some point in the past or something?

 

[Mr H]

Wow.. Bold of you to assume l had a solution before the agent told came up empty handed. I found the route whilst she was assisting me.

Fair enough - but that wasn't how it seemed from your post. If I had been in your position I would have identified that flight option ahead of the call and proposed it straight out. I always try to have alternatives worked out before calling about a schedule change - but I know we are all different

 

[cjd600]

Fair enough - but that wasn't how it seemed from your post. If I had been in your position I would have identified that flight option ahead of the call and proposed it straight out. I always try to have alternatives worked out before calling about a schedule change - but I know we are all different

Probably prudent to see if the agent had another option that may not be visibly available to you, as well as having your own alternatives ready....

 

[Chesty]

An update on my cancelled AA flight from LAX-HND…waited 1.5 hours on the phone to Qantas and for once it was worth it.

Managed to get a really helpful agent who without any prompting, was able to offer up an alternative on QF from LAX-BNE-MEL which actually works out much better for me so thanks AA for canceling the flight.

Worth noting this was released inventory and not existing classic awards seats so many thanks QF.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

An update on my cancelled AA flight from LAX-HND…waited 1.5 hours on the phone to Qantas and for once it was worth it.

Managed to get a really helpful agent who without any prompting, was able to offer up an alternative on QF from LAX-BNE-MEL which actually works out much better for me so thanks AA for canceling the flight.

Worth noting this was released inventory and not existing classic awards seats so many thanks QF.

Dunno why QF is being so proactive here… might be because their planes aren’t full and they’re happy to get their points or $$ instead of AAdvantage for the traffic they’re uplifting.

 

[renatts]

So I have finally had my trip re-ticketed with the correct itinerary.

It took over 30 calls, but I have new e-ticket numbers and everything is confirmed in Business (U).
The lady I spoke to today was fantastic. She waited on hold with ticketing and wouldn't hang up until it had been processed manually and I had the new ticket numbers.

I didn't have to pay any fare difference and it didn't matter that the route technically didn't qualify for a oneworld award (Only AY and QF flights). I even questioned this, thinking it may have been the reason the ticket wasn't coming through, but she said it didn't matter. I was dubious, but she obviously knew what she was talking about.

It doesn't mention it on the Qantas e-ticket - but I requested one from Finnair, and it has a bit more detail on it. It has section under taxes that says Restrictions/Endorsements, and next to that states 'Involuntary Reroute QF FF Redemption'

I'm not sure why Qantas has all of a sudden started actively trying to help re-route people on Qantas metal, but I'm extremely happy.
Sure I would have preferred my original Route - BNE - MEL - NRT - HEL, I was keen to try out JAL Business, but considering JAL cancelled the flight I really can't complain with the result.