Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[levelnine]

any ideas when they release the business seats please.

No one knows. Releases on Qatar (and many airlines) are completely random at the moment. They released a large batch of business seats into/out of Australia a few months ago, but nothing since.

 

[vetrade]

Huh? The taxes need to be recalculated and ticket needs to be reissued after every change.

Disagree. Tax changes do not automatically require a ticket re-issue. In fact, it is quite feasible that the change in taxes in this case would be so minor that the CSA may not bother doing a re-calculation. Plus, deleting the CMB - MLE leg may actually reduce the taxes a little. Both the DOH - CMB and DOH to MLE are 4hr 55min long and both are QR flights so I'd guess that the taxes are very similar. Some CSAs do proactively apply common sense and not create unnecessary work for themselves

Regarding ticketing, an amendment to the ticket does not always require the issuing of a new e-ticket number, which is the critical point referenced in this case. When problems arise it's usually because of a change in the e-ticket number. I've quite often made minor changes to OWA itineraries which have just been amended but have kept the original e-ticket number.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Disagree. Tax changes do not automatically require a ticket re-issue. In fact, it is quite feasible that the change in taxes in this case would be so minor that the CSA may not bother doing a re-calculation. Plus, deleting the CMB - MLE leg may actually reduce the taxes a little. Both the DOH - CMB and DOH to MLE are 4hr 55min long and both are QR flights so I'd guess that the taxes are very similar.

Regarding ticketing, an amendment to the ticket does not always require the issuing of a new e-ticket number, which is the critical point referenced in this case. When problems arise it's usually because of a change in the e-ticket number. I've quite often made minor changes to OWA itineraries which have just been amended but have kept the original e-ticket number.

That's right. Changes to things such as flight numbers, dates, or changing times aren't going to require a re-issue, just a revalidation: The sectors are all the same. But cancelling a whole sector - removing it from the ticket - will require a re-issue.

Once revalidated or reissued there may be a change in taxes. The agent may or may not waive those depending on the value, and whether or not the change was voluntary or involuntary.

 

[jkcfc]

That's right. Changes to things such as flight numbers, dates, or changing times aren't going to require a re-issue, just a revalidation: The sectors are all the same. But cancelling a whole sector - removing it from the ticket - will require a re-issue.

Once revalidated or reissued there may be a change in taxes. The agent may or may not waive those depending on the value, and whether or not the change was voluntary or involuntary.

Thanks for everyone's responses.

I did call (48mins on hold) and was quoted $400 more in taxes after a further 35mins.

I'd hoped for a reduction given we're reducing the total number of flights/1 less airline and the Qatar flight to Colombo and to Doha have the same flight duration.

Given past history of issues with re-ticketing (losing QR flights/having to call 6 times to get a new e-ticket etc) just felt its not worth the uncertainty given we secured Q-Suites from Melb to Doha to start our honeymoon.

We are travelling 9/10 May.

 

[Lynda2475]

Surcharges (taxes and other airline fees like fuel fines) have likely increased since you originally booked.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for everyone's responses.

I did call (48mins on hold) and was quoted $400 more in taxes after a further 35mins.

I'd hoped for a reduction given we're reducing the total number of flights/1 less airline and the Qatar flight to Colombo and to Doha have the same flight duration.

Given past history of issues with re-ticketing (losing QR flights/having to call 6 times to get a new e-ticket etc) just felt its not worth the uncertainty given we secured Q-Suites from Melb to Doha to start our honeymoon.

We are travelling 9/10 May.

The +$400 will be the new fuel surcharges! Ordinarily you'd be right, I would have expected a slight reduction in the overall taxes (one less stop = one less set of security and transit services).

 

[jkcfc]

Surcharges (taxes and other airline fees like fuel fines) have likely increased since you originally booked.

Yup must be. Last changes were made 23 March so that could be the price difference in a month. Tempted to try again tomorrow and just test if it was the agent or the new cost of flying.

 

[levelnine]

We are travelling 9/10 May.

Thanks for sharing this information. That's helpful to know for me — I'll be keeping a look out for release of more J seats closer to my flight date.

I know it is off topic, but where will you be staying for your honeymoon? Congrats, btw!

 

[flapper]

Thanks for everyone's responses.

I did call (48mins on hold) and was quoted $400 more in taxes after a further 35mins.

I'd hoped for a reduction given we're reducing the total number of flights/1 less airline and the Qatar flight to Colombo and to Doha have the same flight duration.

Given past history of issues with re-ticketing (losing QR flights/having to call 6 times to get a new e-ticket etc) just felt its not worth the uncertainty given we secured Q-Suites from Melb to Doha to start our honeymoon.

We are travelling 9/10 May.

I don't blame you for the reluctance to make a change. I could add an internal Europe flight to my OWA in Sep 2022, there is plenty of J availability but I don't want to take the risk of it not being reticketed within 24 hours. Last time it took me 5 phone calls. You think QF could train their staff with something so simple! Anyway, I will book that leg with a European LCC.

 

[Noah Count]

The booking process is underway for a split trip next year. As there are x3 of us we will most likely have to travel a day apart or on seperate flights, we have no issues with this and accept that getting x3 J seats on all flights can be difficult. I also suspect that the trip will change a fair bit but do not really care as there are no points penalties. Both bookings will look some thing like this:

Part 1 - Apr 23 School Holidays
ADL-AKL (positioning flight on a Seperate PNR), we will spend a few days in NZ prior to commencing the OW trip.
AKL-MEL-NRT (stop) (MEL-NRT booked with JL)
HND-SYD (stop)

Part 2 - Sep 23 School Holidays
AU-EU (stop)
EU-AU (finish)

We do not plan on ending in NZ however I have taken the miles to finish in NZ into account. There will be couple of challenges in pulling this off, the first being the miles restriction currently GC Maps has the miles between 34K-35K depending on the routing. The second will be booking part 2, the QF booking system thinks AKL is part of AU. When doing dummy bookings it will not allow this to be booked and this error is thrown up
"ERROR : please check those fields

• This itinerary can’t include more than one flight departing from the same city or country of the first flight (including transits). Choose another route to continue."

After speaking with QF about this they have confirmed that my proposed itinerary meets all the OW reward rules and the issue is within the their booking engine. On the upside, if the booking engine is not fixed by the time I need to start booking part 2 I have been provided with a reference number so the agents can see the authority to manually quote the booking. I also suspect there may be a few seat requests along the way. I know this is a bit of madness however I thought I would give it a shot to squeeze in 2 trips for 318K points.

 

[jkcfc]

Thanks for sharing this information. That's helpful to know for me — I'll be keeping a look out for release of more J seats closer to my flight date.

I know it is off topic, but where will you be staying for your honeymoon? Congrats, btw!

Emerald Maldives

I'll shoot you a PM with more details about looking for flights to Maldives as to not derail the purpose of this thread (anymore than I have).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The booking process is underway for a split trip next year. As there are x3 of us we will most likely have to travel a day apart or on seperate flights, we have no issues with this and accept that getting x3 J seats on all flights can be difficult. I also suspect that the trip will change a fair bit but do not really care as there are no points penalties. Both bookings will look some thing like this:

Part 1 - Apr 23 School Holidays
ADL-AKL (positioning flight), we will spend a few days in NZ prior to commencing the OW trip.
AKL-MEL-NRT (stop) (MEL-NRT booked with JL)
HND-SYD (stop)

Part 2 - Sep 23 School Holidays
AU-EU (stop)
EU-AU (finish)

We do not plan on ending in NZ however I have taken the miles to finish in NZ into account. There will be couple of challenges in pulling this off, the first being the miles restriction currently GC Maps has the miles between 34K-35K depending on the routing. The second will be booking part 2, the QF booking system thinks AKL is part of AU. When doing dummy bookings it will not allow this to be booked and this error is thrown up
"ERROR : please check those fields

• This itinerary can’t include more than one flight departing from the same city or country of the first flight (including transits). Choose another route to continue."

After speaking with QF about this they have confirmed that my proposed itinerary meets all the OW reward rules and the issue is within the their booking engine. On the upside, if the booking engine is not fixed by the time I need to start booking part 2 I have been provided with a reference number so the agents can see the authority to manually quote the booking. I also suspect there may be a few seat requests along the way. I know this is a bit of madness however I thought I would give it a shot to squeeze in 2 trips for 318K points.

I thought the ADL-AKL-MEL->onwards would be against the rule of only one departure from the country of origin (ie Australia). Unless ADL-AKL is a separate ticket?

 

[Noah Count]

Unless ADL-AKL is a separate ticket?

ADL-AKL is a seperate PNR, I will up date my post so it is clear.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

ADL-AKL is a seperate PNR, I will up date my post so it is clear.

Of course then it should be fine! I think there's been a bit of an issue with exNZ tickets going back via Oz for a while - reported upthread IIRC. Seems QF's systems see NZ and AU as the same country.

 

[Mr H]

Seems QF's systems see NZ and AU as the same country.

They kind of are.

 

[Wolf creek]

Emerald Maldives

I'll shoot you a PM with more details about looking for flights to Maldives as to not derail the purpose of this thread (anymore than I have).

I am also looking at Maldives in the future if you have some valuable pointers could you pm me aswell pls,sorry to be a pest

 

[levelnine]

I know this is a bit of madness however I thought I would give it a shot to squeeze in 2 trips for 318K points.

Even with P1, I imagine trying to get award seats in not one, but two, school holidays is going to be a big ask unless you are happy to fly QF for most legs. Looking forward to updates on how the booking process goes!

 

[Mr H]

I did call (48mins on hold) and was quoted $400 more in taxes after a further 35mins.

Your call, but if it is a moneyhoon I would spring for the flights that your fiancee wants. It means flying all in J, no worrying about lounges, and arriving at a sociable hour having been treated like minor royalty, not feeling like you've been herded like cattle for 4 hours.

 

[Noah Count]

Even with P1, I imagine trying to get award seats in not one, but two, school holidays is going to be a big ask unless you are happy to fly QF for most legs. Looking forward to updates on how the booking process goes!

A bit OT, we often travelled international 1-2 times per year school holidays and in the past it has been relatively easy to get a couple of J rewards with QF (as a P1) although more often than not these had to be released, I would travel on revenue to maintain my status. In my experience the OW partners do not seem to have the same restrictions around school holidays as QF. We already have the MEL-NRT with JL one day apart. There looks to be pretty good AY availability for 3 PAX on the same flight SIN-HEL, HEL-CDG, then CDG-HEL-SIN, this of course may change in 6 months time. Depending on what happens with CX I may look at them but they are not at the top of the list at the moment. Looking at possible options it seems to be quite doable with the baulk of travel available with the OW airlines. I will be relying on status and seat requests as a fallback back option, I have at least one flight with JL and just need a second OW carrier in the mix. There are domestic flights we will need get us from ADL-to any departure port in AU and then back ADL, the internal domestic flights break the mileage cap so these will need to be on a seperate PNR.

The trip may shape up along these lines AKL-MEL-NRT-HND-SYD-HEL-CDG-HEL-SIN-SYD-(AKL, only there for the total miles calculation). According to GC Maps this comes in at 34621 miles I do not know how accurate this is and how it compares to QF miles calculations. The end goal is just to get to JP and the EU and back in J for 318K points, if I have to pay for some internal EU flights I am happy to do this. I am only having a crack at this as I have to 31 Dec to make this work without points penalties, and I have access to the VIP line.

 

[levelnine]

I would travel on revenue to maintain my status.

That makes it a bit easier having one person revenue, as I do find 2x J far more possible — the big challenge I've always encountered is getting flights in and out of Australia during school holidays. JL is fairly good, as was CX in the before times, but QF was pretty atrocious, but I guess that changes when you're P1.