Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[gourmet333]

Hi everyone.
FYI in the last couple of days a few more J Class Qantas FF rewards tickets have popped up to get you to Europe in May.
I was able to get a J- Class seat Mel-LHR and then onwards to milan with BA.
I was able to get a First Class ticket back in June AMS - MEL with Emirates. And yes the emirates taxes on that return leg were E879 eek!

 

[Guvner]

Noticed the same thing. Tried to get flights home from Athens last week for Oct 2022. No chance. Plenty popped up today.

 

[flapper]

Just wasted another 4 hours waiting for a call back (in queue) To be told, nope they still cannot select what i can clearly see on my end as bookable.
However she mentioned on my file they can add a note if a business reward seat pops up they can call me back (not sure if she was just trying to get me off the phone, but she didnt have a workable solution at all).

The part that really S**ts me, is that yes, the business class seats are hard to find a route that works, so i did the hard yards, make it all work, select and book them all, now by a cancellation out of my hands - its like nothing they can do bad luck try again another year.

Did you get to speak to someone in the HBA or AKL call centre? If not I would keep trying until I spoke to someone from those CCs. If someone calls you if a seat becomes available not only will I eat my hat I'll eat yours too.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Hi all, if I have a QF economy flight within a OWA J award, can I request an upgrade on that specific flight via QFF?

Yes done it more than once

 

[GaryLG]

The latest on my sage to get my ticketing completed is being told that BA have control of the ticket (I have 1 leg with them) even though all of it was booked through QF and I have to ring the UK to complete ticketing!!!!!

 

[renatts]

Does anyone know if Qantas are through-checking luggage at Brisbane Domestic for Domestic to International connections?
I'm told this stopped during Covid, but not sure if it's reinstated yet. Can't find anything online and don't really want to call the call centre about this.

I'm flying Brisbane - Melbourne to pick up QF9 Melbourne - London. QF9 just had a schedule change which only gives us 1h50m to transfer, which likely won't cut it if we have to collect bags and check into International. All part of the one Oneworld award booking.

 

[ozflier]

I'

Yes done it more than once

I'm not sure of the advantage of doing this as upgrade and reward come as the same fare class assuming
Could you not just keep an eye out on the QFF site for a u class seat to come up on that sector?

Does anyone know if Qantas are through-checking luggage at Brisbane Domestic for Domestic to International connections?
I'm told this stopped during Covid, but not sure if it's reinstated yet. Can't find anything online and don't really want to call the call centre about this.

I'm flying Brisbane - Melbourne to pick up QF9 Melbourne - London. QF9 just had a schedule change which only gives us 1h50m to transfer, which likely won't cut it if we have to collect bags and check into International. All part of the one Oneworld award booking.

Don't know answer but at least there is no interterminal non pedestrian transfer to worry about at Melbourne.

 

[Stusipad]

Questions for the OWA hive mind! Help a clueless first time overseas flyer..

I'm about to fly on an OWA including Qantas, Qatar, BA, AA, JAL flights all in Business Class.

Do the non Qantas airlines just consider me a regular Business Class passenger when it comes to their own lounge access? If those airlines don't allow access can l use a Qantas lounge (if one is available at the airport l am at)?

Secondly, my first flight is Melbourne to Brisbane with Qantas, and from then on it's on Qatar leaving Australia. I'm assuming l just treat the first leg as any other Domestic flight and use the usual Domestic Terminal/Baggage Checkin/Business Lounge, and then from Brisbane onwards use the international Domestic Terminal/Baggage Checkin/Business Lounge?

Does Qatar even have a business lounge in Brisbane?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Daver6]

Questions for the OWA hive mind! Help a clueless first time overseas flyer..

I'm about to fly on an OWA including Qantas, Qatar, BA, AA, JAL flights all in Business Class.

Do the non Qantas airlines just consider me a regular Business Class passenger when it comes to their own lounge access? If those airlines don't allow access can l use a Qantas lounge (if one is available at the airport l am at)?

You're like any other business passenger. You use their lounge or the lounge they'd normally use for their business passengers. Of course if you have OW status you can use any OW lounge.

Secondly, my first flight is Melbourne to Brisbane with Qantas, and from then on it's on Qatar leaving Australia. I'm assuming l just treat the first leg as any other Domestic flight and use the usual Domestic Terminal/Baggage Checkin/Business Lounge, and then from Brisbane onwards use the international Domestic Terminal/Baggage Checkin/Business Lounge?

Yes, you check-in at the domestic terminal in MEL. If you're connecting (as opposed to a stopover) in BNE, then your bags etc should all be checked through and you should be issued with your boarding pass in MEL. IF you have a stopover in BNE, then you'd just check-in at the international terminal.

Does Qatar even have a business lounge in Brisbane?

Thanks everyone!

 

[blu]

With airlines running detour routes avoiding Russia, what mileage is used for OWA calculations, original route or new route?

 

[Mr H]

With airlines running detour routes avoiding Russia, what mileage is used for OWA calculations, original route or new route?

I believe they always use point to point, not flight paths.

 

[Guvner]

That would make sense. I doubt mileage is anywhere near an exact science for purposes of award charts.

 

[blu]

thanks, looking at HND/NRT-LHR.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

thanks, looking at HND/NRT-LHR.

There are two or three mapping services airlines can use for calculating mileage. They’re all pretty much same same, varying maybe by a few miles here and there. Greatcirclemapper (.com) is pretty accurate. It will be the simple point-to-point calculation, not taking into account any detours.

 

[bnr032]

Did you get to speak to someone in the HBA or AKL call centre? If not I would keep trying until I spoke to someone from those CCs. If someone calls you if a seat becomes available not only will I eat my hat I'll eat yours too.

I wish i could be so lucky, But im just a bronze QFF, So never get that lucky.
I should note - i have called last week between 6am-8am all but once (first day when i noticed the flight available at 11am).
the last 2 times i was offered a call back (Thursday they plain didnt call back).
And dont worry, im not holding my breath waiting for them to call me saying we have a random seat for you.

 

[flapper]

Hong Kong have finally given up on Covid zero and are trying to increase vaccine uptake and plan to allow flights from Australia and to UK and France next month. I hope that means those with CX flights in there OWA bookings will be able to take those flights. I changed my CX flights for later this year to QF when I found a suitable replacement. It also allows for more flexibility when planning my OWA for next year.

 

[DC3]

… However she mentioned on my file they can add a note if a business reward seat pops up they can call me back …

Cape Town? Anyway, that will never happen.

 

[cambriamarsh]

I'm not sure of the advantage of doing this as upgrade and reward come as the same fare class assuming
Could you not just keep an eye out on the QFF site for a u class seat to come up on that sector?


It was on a Oneworld award, no extra cost at all but much better experience

 

[bnr032]

So a have a somewhat update again.
After trying one more time this morning
i asked if they could just refund my AA flight - Which she said she will, took credit card details to do the cash side, and said i would be refunded 101600 pts for that flight.
(for reference whilst i initially did have a Classic rewards one world flight, it didnt hit the miles to be a full 318,000 pts).
So the JAL Flight that i cannot get an agent to book for me, if i book seperately is only 90,000 pts. And everything i read states it doesnt matter they are on seperate bookings, baggage still gets checked through, and can get the Qantas Desk to print both boarding passes at check in at first flight (BNE).
So am i missing something here, or do i just make it seperate online bookings.

 

[Mr H]

So am i missing something here, or do i just make it seperate online bookings.

Even if you get your baggage through checked (don't assume that because someone else got it that you will), you are wearing the risk of delays and missed connections. On a through ticket, the first airline will have to look after you and make sure you get to your destination. On separate tix the airline is under no obligation to do so, especially if the second flight is on another carrier.

Having said that, many of us do mix and match separate itineraries, use one way flights or nest itineraries.