Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[PaulyB]

Just made a stupid stupid mistake. Found some better flights home from Tokyo on Qantas in J and rang to book them.

Made the change but completely forgot to confirm that the seats she had were in J before she made the change.

She says she is able to cancel the change but, let's see. Still showing up on TripIt as the original flights and Royal Jordanian so there is hope...

 

[PaulyB]

She says she is able to cancel the change but, let's see.

Well - 10m later it all looks OK. But I will be checking. That's another 2 hours on the phone to QANTAS. I think I will write a book and call it Long Haul Fight

 

[EestiTiger]

Well - 10m later it all looks OK. But I will be checking. That's another 2 hours on the phone to QANTAS. I think I will write a book and call it Long Haul Fight

Think I can add a chapter or two to your book

 

[Phoenix-1]

I booked a flight for a family member for 2023 when he didn't have any points. The flight is linked to his QFF number. Now he'd like to convert it to a Oneworld award booking - can he do it, or do I have to do it since the ticket was booked under my account?

 

[PaulyB]

I booked a flight for a family member for 2023 when he didn't have any points. The flight is linked to his QFF number. Now he'd like to convert it to a Oneworld award booking - can he do it, or do I have to do it since the ticket was booked under my account?

I'd defer to a more definitive answer but I would very much doubt it. The issue (among other things) will be getting seats as he woul be searching for seats under a whole different set of rules.

I would suggest that he enjoys the trip and books another OWA in its own right.

 

[algae]

I booked a flight for a family member for 2023 when he didn't have any points. The flight is linked to his QFF number. Now he'd like to convert it to a Oneworld award booking - can he do it, or do I have to do it since the ticket was booked under my account?

In the future you can just transfer points to him and then he can book it on his account

 

[cjd600]

I booked a flight for a family member for 2023 when he didn't have any points. The flight is linked to his QFF number. Now he'd like to convert it to a Oneworld award booking - can he do it, or do I have to do it since the ticket was booked under my account?

You'll have to do it, and keep using your points (he can transfer to you)

 

[VPS]

Whilst 13 weeks in on my 15 week OWCA my father suddenly passed away so I had to race home. Three flights left on the itinery which were still to come (next one for tomorrow).

From a travel insurance perspective do we just ring Qantas and cancel those flights? We tried when coming home for them to change the flights but they wouldn’t.

Just want to dot our i’s and cross our t’s to ensure we do it correctly for travel insurance. Posting in this thread as not sure if it being a OWCA would effect anything in that regard.

Thanks

If you have any issues about travel insurance and FF points @Jacques Vert may be able to help. There is a TR somewhere where they had to come home early

Sorry for your loss and good luck with getting some compensation

 

[flapper]

The airlines have been busy updating their Northen Summer 2023 schedules. Overnight I had 2 minor flight time changes for BA flights and 2 major time changes on JL flights meaning I miss my connection by hours from NRT to FRA. The email says they are working on it and will be in contact soon and yes there goes a flock of pigs flying by.
1st call to MNL, she said she found a number of alternatives. I asked on JL in J. Then she said Oh is it a rewards booking. It all went downhill from there. I asked her to contact the OW liason desk to request they release revunue seats. She said I should call back in 24-48 hours as more rewards seats might be released. I told her politley I was going to hang up and call back and hope I get someone who knows how to contact the OW liason desk.
2nd call CT. She seemed to know her stuff. She 1st searched for alternative flights and then came back and said she will get her supervisor to email JL and ask them to resolve the conflict. While I waited she got her supervisor to do that (she said they are not authorised to make these requests themselves). She said it should take 24 hours, sometimes even less to get a response. She said someone will call back (I'm not hopeful of that). I confirmed she had put a note on the booking.
I'm dreading calling back tomorrow and finding no email has been sent or they tell me to wait 72 hours and then 5 days, then 7 days, yes that has happened to me before.

 

[turnipapple]

My OWA leaving Christmas Day suddenly has better flights for my return leg. Wouldn't need to fly economy. But guessing it's too risky as they would need to rebook all the other legs

Separate note - is Vietnam possible for OWA? I keep getting errors saying it's not available for classic rewards.

 

[Mr H]

My OWA leaving Christmas Day suddenly has better flights for my return leg. Wouldn't need to fly economy. But guessing it's too risky as they would need to rebook all the other legs

Separate note - is Vietnam possible for OWA? I keep getting errors saying it's not available for classic rewards.

Your call but I would not attempt to edit a OWA three days before departure. You do not want to be in ticketing limbo when you get to the airport.

Anywhere in the world is possible for OWA, but the search engine only allows some countries for a point of origin for the first flight. You can search by entering a dummy MEL-SYD and then the flight you actually want in the second row. But I am noticing some anomalies creeping in. For example, the search engine will no longer recognise IKA (Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport) and it certainly used to.

 

[thrillho]

Hi all! Possibly not the right thread, but I don't want to start a new one for a minor question that's kind of relevant!

Looking at booking a reward multicity, and was having a bunch of issues getting to the payment page (could select flights, in J, and input my and partner's names and details, but error would pop up).

Found out it was an issue with leaving one airport that Qantas doesn't like, so I was able to tweak and refind those flights. Got to the payment page, and got distracted, and timed out (had to click start over).

When I went to re-do the same flights, it said they're not available in J anymore.

I suspect the Qantas website is still holding them as it'd be mortally unlucky if someone was looking at same flights on the same day at the same time. Plenty of availability days either side.

How long do these flights get 'held' in the system? I don't want to have to check every 10 mins, just wanna book.

 

[algae]

Hi all! Possibly not the right thread, but I don't want to start a new one for a minor question that's kind of relevant!

Looking at booking a reward multicity, and was having a bunch of issues getting to the payment page (could select flights, in J, and input my and partner's names and details, but error would pop up).

Found out it was an issue with leaving one airport that Qantas doesn't like, so I was able to tweak and refind those flights. Got to the payment page, and got distracted, and timed out (had to click start over).

When I went to re-do the same flights, it said they're not available in J anymore.

I suspect the Qantas website is still holding them as it'd be mortally unlucky if someone was looking at same flights on the same day at the same time. Plenty of availability days either side.

How long do these flights get 'held' in the system? I don't want to have to check every 10 mins, just wanna book.

Yep that's 100% my experience.
Think the website releases them after 10mins or so

 

[turnipapple]

Your call but I would not attempt to edit a OWA three days before departure. You do not want to be in ticketing limbo when you get to the airport.

Anywhere in the world is possible for OWA, but the search engine only allows some countries for a point of origin for the first flight. You can search by entering a dummy MEL-SYD and then the flight you actually want in the second row. But I am noticing some anomalies creeping in. For example, the search engine will no longer recognise IKA (Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport) and it certainly used to.

Thanks. I tried it as a second flight (SYD - SIN > SIN - SGN). What am I doing wrong?

 

[Mr H]

Thanks. I tried it as a second flight (SYD - SIN > SIN - SGN). What am I doing wrong?

View attachment 312107

Dunno - add it to the list of glitches. I guess you will have to phone up.

 

[turnipapple]

Dunno - add it to the list of glitches. I guess you will have to phone up.

Fair enough. Good to know it's just a glitch I guess. I originally took it as fact that Vietnam wasn't included.

 

[Mr H]

Fair enough. Good to know it's just a glitch I guess. I originally took it as fact that Vietnam wasn't included.

I can't ever be 1,000,000% sure but as far as I am aware there are no restrictions on any specific countries or locations - any restrictions are done through award seat availability, not on geography.

 

[algae]

Fair enough. Good to know it's just a glitch I guess. I originally took it as fact that Vietnam wasn't included.

I didn't think it was a glitch?
I thought that's been the case for quite some time.
Not actually sure how we're meant to book Vietnam award seats through. Maybe via phone?

Try a search of this thread with "Vietnam" and see if anything useful pops up (I'm on mobile otherwise I'd do it myself sorry)

 

[aikman]

There's a specific restriction on CX flights between HKG & HAN but otherwise you can book reward seats from other cities to Vietnam. Not sure why Singapore to Vietnam comes up with an error.

 

[turnipapple]

I can't ever be 1,000,000% sure but as far as I am aware there are no restrictions on any specific countries or locations - any restrictions are done through award seat availability, not on geography.

I didn't think it was a glitch?
I thought that's been the case for quite some time.
Not actually sure how we're meant to book Vietnam award seats through. Maybe via phone?

Try a search of this thread with "Vietnam" and see if anything useful pops up (I'm on mobile otherwise I'd do it myself sorry)

I tried booking with cash, then clicked rewards from there and it somehow worked

Another Q: I'm seeing flights I want for December 2023 but can't see later dates to continue the OWA itinerary (bronze). I see people say just book and add to the itinerary as time goes on. But I have experienced, and seen from others, call center staff not being able to find/book flights and amend itineraries.

Any ideas what to do?