Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Pom-DownUnder]

I am not sure if it is (part of) the issue here, but I had issues trying to book flights for my OWA which transited DOH (eg. MLE-DOH-SIN) when availability for the individual segments showed online. When I called the system would let them put in/reserve the first leg, but then no U availability would show for the DOH-xx_ leg.

After speaking with a few o/s operators who couldn't explain why they couldn't book it, a very knowledgeable Aussie operator explained it was because DOH doesn't like 'through fares' in business class on certain routes. I understood this to basically mean they don't like you transiting DOH, but rather want you to stop there for more than 24 hours. It seems similar or related to married/divorced segments.

As it looks like you are only in DOH for less than 24 hours, perhaps this is causing issues?

any idea what those certain routes are? I will be looking to book SYD-DOH-MAN or SYD-DOH-LHR and return fairly soon.

 

[ozflier]

any idea what those certain routes are? I will be looking to book SYD-DOH-MAN or SYD-DOH-LHR and return fairly soon.

Qatar Air is well known for married segments as well as Cathay Pacific.
I'm not sure there is workaround and I know QFF agents do find it frustrating.

 

[flapper]

I am not sure if it is (part of) the issue here, but I had issues trying to book flights for my OWA which transited DOH (eg. MLE-DOH-SIN) when availability for the individual segments showed online. When I called the system would let them put in/reserve the first leg, but then no U availability would show for the DOH-xx_ leg.

After speaking with a few o/s operators who couldn't explain why they couldn't book it, a very knowledgeable Aussie operator explained it was because DOH doesn't like 'through fares' in business class on certain routes. I understood this to basically mean they don't like you transiting DOH, but rather want you to stop there for more than 24 hours. It seems similar or related to married/divorced segments.

As it looks like you are only in DOH for less than 24 hours, perhaps this is causing issues?

I have had the same problem with QR as well, you need to book both segments including transit in DOH at the same time. You can't book to DOH and add a transit leg later, like the next day when it becomes available. This makes it hard as flights into and out Oz are always snapped up so quickly. It also means you can't change the flight to the final destination, as the segments are always married.

 

[ozflier]

Please note that business revenue or reward seats are not sold/offered by QR on a whole number of Doha to Middle East destinations so, for example, you are never going to get an AMM-DOH-SYD BUSINESS CLASS reward on QR. The best would be AMM- DOH in Y or F ( changing the whole award to a F one ) in conjunction with DOH-SYD in J .
The workaround would be finding another OW airline that offered J seats in the ME sector eg in the above example, Royal Jordanian.

 

[ozflier]

Dunno… I find Eurobusiness on BA (and others like AF, KL, LX) to be far superior to anything QFd offers on the same size plane. Quality of catering, champagne, ratio of staff to pax and personal space (width wise) leave QF way behind. For a one or two hour flight I’d gladly take the extra space in eurobusiness compared to someone reclining in front of me on a QF 737

Granted some euro business aren’t that great… like IB.

I agree .
However,it is sitting in Eurobusiness seats for more than 3 hours that is pushing the friendship - eg LHR- Istanbul and LHR - Cairo ( 4 hrs 10 minutes and 5 hours respectively)



















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[Mr H]

Can I express my frustration when great flights have a connection time of, say, 45 minutes? Slightly too short to ticket same day and slightly too long to do a day apart and count as transit.

 

[aeries]

This must be heartbreaking.
Expertflier has not been showing award availability on QR for months.
I have lost "u" award seats once on QR due to a delay in QFF's ticketing of over a week.
That really taught me a lesson.
Can you tell us if your ultimate aim is to get home from LHR to SYD.
I see your point that multiple business award seats just" disappeared".
Can you confirm that your ultimate aim is to get home from LHR to SYD without any particular transits or stopovers.

My partner wants to try Qsuites, hence the stop at Qatar. I can't really force a stopover in DOH like with ITA using the QF website...And ideally, I'd like to visit one more Asian city before returning to Syd. Been toying with the idea of BKK or ICN, or even DOH-PER-HKG or something of the like

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

My partner wants to try Qsuites, hence the stop at Qatar. I can't really force a stopover in DOH like with ITA using the QF website...And ideally, I'd like to visit one more Asian city before returning to Syd. Been toying with the idea of BKK or ICN, or even DOH-PER-HKG or something of the like

When your searching for award seats, keep in mind that QSuites are only available on *some* routes / aircraft - refer QR website for details.
Also, aircraft substitutions can occur after you’ve booked…

 

[vetrade]

I've found this to be the most comprehensive reference for QSuites, especially as they periodically update the info to keep it current:

Qatar Airways Qsuite Guide, Routes with Flight Numbers

Guide for Qatar Airways Qsuite, all Qsuite routes with the corresponding flight numbers, aircraft registration numbers and when they will be retrofitted

www.premium-flights.com

 

[aeries]

When your searching for award seats, keep in mind that QSuites are only available on *some* routes / aircraft - refer QR website for details.
Also, aircraft substitutions can occur after you’ve booked…

Of course, and given that half the A350s are grounded, we're only planning on flying routes like LHR-DOH where the Qsuites are most likely to be on.

I've found this to be the most comprehensive reference for QSuites, especially as they periodically update the info to keep it current:

Qatar Airways Qsuite Guide, Routes with Flight Numbers

Guide for Qatar Airways Qsuite, all Qsuite routes with the corresponding flight numbers, aircraft registration numbers and when they will be retrofitted

www.premium-flights.com

I've been using that resource too! That's why I'm fine with LHR-MUC-DOH, at least it's not on the 787

 

[Stusipad]

So my OWA begins on Wednesday, with MEL-BNE-DOH-FCO, and the 'What ifs' are beginning to play on my mind...

Is 2hrs going to be enough time to get from BNE Domestic to the International terminal, get through customs, check in, etc? My Qantas flight lands at 8.30pm and the Qatar international flight leaves at 10.40pm.. Would you think that's enough time?

Thanks all! Probably just need some reassurance.

 

[DC3]

So my OWA begins on Wednesday, with MEL-BNE-DOH-FCO, and the 'What ifs' are beginning to play on my mind...

Is 2hrs going to be enough time to get from BNE Domestic to the International terminal, get through customs, check in, etc? My Qantas flight lands at 8.30pm and the Qatar international flight leaves at 10.40pm.. Would you think that's enough time?

Thanks all! Probably just need some reassurance.

Probably OK. QF632 MEL-BNE has been late an average of 14 minutes over the past 2 months, according to EF.

The Terminal transfer bus is scheduled to run every 10 minutes, with a 5 minute ride.

Does QR boarding close 15-20 minutes prior to flight departure? So, that window between flights may be reduced a bit. Quite doable if everything goes as planned.

Anyway, there’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush when things are not going as planned on the day and you realise that you may not make the flight.

Edit: Had the flight MEL-BNE been on Wednesday of this week, instead of next week, then it would have arrived in BNE at 7.30pm, rather than 8.30pm, due to daylight saving ending in Victoria (and elsewhere).

 

[cjd600]

So my OWA begins on Wednesday, with MEL-BNE-DOH-FCO, and the 'What ifs' are beginning to play on my mind...

Is 2hrs going to be enough time to get from BNE Domestic to the International terminal, get through customs, check in, etc? My Qantas flight lands at 8.30pm and the Qatar international flight leaves at 10.40pm.. Would you think that's enough time?

Thanks all! Probably just need some reassurance.

You'll be fine...enjoy your trip! And report back anything worthwhile from your experience

 

[Guvner]

Anyone with a CMB stop in their OWA might be interested in this: Sri Lanka declares emergency after violent protests over economic crisis

 

[jkcfc]

Anyone with a CMB stop in their OWA might be interested in this: Sri Lanka declares emergency after violent protests over economic crisis

This shouldn't affect a 2.5hr transit should it?

 

[ozflier]

This shouldn't affect a 2.5hr transit should it?

I'd be pretty hopeful that you would be ok.

 

[am0985]

Just in the early stages of scouting out availability for a 2023 trip and...US - South America availability is screwed now isn't it?

Wanted to go to Brazil from NYC/Chicago then to UK from there. But this seems to be the real sticking point with LAN out of the alliance. Anyone seen much good availability in the past for JFK - GRU in AA J?

 

[Mr H]

Just in the early stages of scouting out availability for a 2023 trip and...US - South America availability is screwed now isn't

For South American itineraries you may be better using Star Alliance if you collect in any of their schemes.

 

[am0985]

For South American itineraries you may be better using Star Alliance if you collect in any of their schemes.

Yep I've got KrisFlyer.

There's some limited availability on ORD - GRU in United Polaris for only 55k KF (bargain for a 10hr flight!) so considering biting the bullet doing that for that particular segment.

 

[Lynda2475]

Also might be easier to find flights if you go in the other direction, go to UK first, as should be more choices from UK/EU into Brazil vs just AA from the USA. Or start in Brazil (you could fly via DOH) then go to UK from Brazil and then home from UK via the USA.