Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[EestiTiger]

Hi all - I have been a bit absence from this thread this year due to the trauma of finalising my latest OWA booking in January. All is well but it was way harder than usual due to call centre re-ticketing dramas

I know the goalposts have shifted recently and have been poking around in the thread trying to find the answer but I am not having much luck So quick question... These new classic plus flights I can see - are they able to be added to a OWA?

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Hi all - I have been a bit absence from this thread this year due to the trauma of finalising my latest OWA booking in January. All is well but it was way harder than usual due to call centre re-ticketing dramas

I know the goalposts have shifted recently and have been poking around in the thread trying to find the answer but I am not having much luck So quick question... These new classic plus flights I can see - are they able to be added to a OWA?

I suspect not, unless there is some other overriding rule somewhere.
From the Book of Rules (my emphasis):

14.4.1 A oneworld Classic Flight Reward is a Classic Flight Reward Itinerary that includes travel on at least two oneworld Member Airlines other than Qantas and does not include any travel on any airline that is not a oneworld Member Airline.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Three cheers for the change to the thread title.

@JohnM it is safe to return. Just don’t look at the tags.

 

[djackal79]

Hi all, I'm trying to use the Qantas multi-trip tool to work out some potential routes for a trip to Europe, and Asia. When trying to book flights from Sydney it is either spitting out errors or adding in emirates flights which I don't want. I'm in Canberra and agnostic as to whether I fly out of Canberra or Sydney.

Just wondering if a) is there a trick to ensure emirates flights aren't shown and b) should I be including any layover stops individually, or can I just book the main stops on tour?

 

[sap1l]

a) is there a trick to ensure emirates flights aren't shown

Unfortunately not as far as I know.

b) should I be including any layover stops individually, or can I just book the main stops on tour?

Try the main stops first. If you need some combination of flights where you know there is availability but they aren’t being shown as a connection, then search for the layover separately.

Some airlines won’t let you ticket a flight either with a connection (i.e. you must not transit) or without a connection (i.e. you must transit). In that case you will get an error when you reach the final booking page.

 

[djackal79]

Cheers for the tips. I see it's going to take a bit more prep etc. before I commit to booking...so many combinations to test first...and i'll probs just go economy in the end. biz class looks too hard to find flights IMO

 

[sap1l]

Cheers for the tips. I see it's going to take a bit more prep etc. before I commit to booking...so many combinations to test first...and i'll probs just go economy in the end. biz class looks too hard to find flights IMO

Yeah, it does take a lot of prep and a good knowledge of routes.

Further up in this thread there are a few suggestions on finding & crafting routes if you’re up for some light reading

And in the end, economy is still very good value if you’re ok with it!

 

[djackal79]

Yeah, it does take a lot of prep and a good knowledge of routes.

Further up in this thread there are a few suggestions on finding & crafting routes if you’re up for some light reading

And in the end, economy is still very good value if you’re ok with it!

Yes, I've been monitoring this thread since before I had kids (and the oldest is almost 9) but put on hold the trip for said kids and then the separation (that included me separating from a ton of points). I've been going back slowly and surely through the thread (plus the latest guide is very handy) so hopefully I can work it out.

 

[smellan]

Hi Everyone,
I have searched everywhere to no avail I am planning on booking x3 OWA in Business next yr for the 318k FF points each. However, on some of my test runs I am not coming up with standard rewards BC flights only Classic Plus ones. Does anyone know if these flights can be used in the OWA itenary? I know its very difficult to get one seat let alone 3 and I am across ensuring it meets the guidelines but can't find clarity on the classic plus. thanks in advance, Sarah

 

[smellan]

Classic Plus is not eligible for an OWA itinerary. Its rare to get more than 2 J award seats so assuming it's 2 adults and a child, one adult may need to fly on different flights to find availability.

thanks so much for answering my query I have been looking everywhere! I have found a few flights in my practice runs with 3 seats in BC on classic rewards so fingers crossed. I'm not quitting yet! any suggestions in terms of airlines for getting back into aus- seems availability from back from lax, DFW is non existent. Fiji and NZ are not covered in the OWA. in your experience is it easier to get out of aus to the USA and back in through asia or the other way? we are looking at june/july time ( not 2025 but in 2026) so learning all i can now so i am ready for this time next yr to hop on and book!

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @smellan . The USA outwards and inwards will always be the most difficult portion of any trip. Via HKG or Japan might be worth looking at.

I don't know if its permitted under OWA, but I wonder if starting and finishing in SIN or HKG might be easier. You'd then get a cheap $ fare to and from those places.

 

[Mwenenzi]

...... Fiji and NZ are not covered in the OWA.....

Not sure what you mean by "Fiji and NZ"
Fiji Airways are due to become a full Oneworld member airline some time. Date not published, but may be 2024. That should open up more USA Canada routes for QF "Oneworld award". [BNE SYD CBR MEL ADL - NAN- LAX SFO HNL YVR]
NZ = Air New Zealand. A (limited) QF ff partner and full member of Star Alliance.
AS Alaska Airlines is hoping to take over HA Hawaiian Airlines (not a merger). USA govt decision due 15 Aug 2024. Would expect HA brand to become a OW airline. HA fly to Australia. That should open another USA route/airline for QF "Oneworld award". [SYD - HNL]

 

[Lynda2475]

Ive always found it easier to get tix in and out of USA than in/out LHR via SIN. But then I only every need 1 seat and avoid school holidays. YMMV.

 

[smellan]

Thanks so much for your replys that would be awesome if Fiji airways came on board and the hawaii air merger occurred. I have also considered starting it in Asia but will keep investigating. Thank you

 

[sap1l]

Thanks so much for your replys that would be awesome if Fiji airways came on board and the hawaii air merger occurred.

It may take a while for Fiji and Hawaii to come on board and start making award seats available to partners.

I have also considered starting it in Asia but will keep investigating

You can look at starting in Japan as well - I have seen 3 award seats on JL flights before.

AY (Finnair) also release 3+ award seats on long haul flights regularly. Not sure if it helps you as Helsinki is a bit out of the way, but it's something to consider.

 

[WilsonM]

Thanks so much for your replys that would be awesome if Fiji airways came on board and the hawaii air merger occurred. I have also considered starting it in Asia but will keep investigating. Thank you

I'd consider routing through Japan as well - Japan Airlines fly to a fair few US airports, so use flightconnections.com to find out where they do fly and you might get lucky! Getting Business Class for 3 is always difficult though, and JAL are no exception to that rule.

OWA's can start and finish in a different place, but the remaining distance between your final destination and point of origin is added on to the distance calculation - if your entire itinerary is 33k miles, but the distance between your final destination and point of origin is 3k miles, then you'd technically be over the limit. So getting as close to your point of origin is beneficial, although of course, not always possible.

 

[Mwenenzi]

It may take a while for Fiji and Hawaii to come on board and start making award seats available to partners.

Fiji is a QF ff partner now. Can get QF awards on FJ now. But FJ is not a full OW airline. QF own 16% of FJ. Should take a few mouse clicks for QF to add to its OW award. Unless it changes the basic premise of its OW award being on all (full) OneWorld airlines.

AS have stated will continue the HA brand when the takeover is completed. AS is a QF ff partner. Can get QF awards on AS now. HA is VA ff partner. How HA will be incorporated into Oneworld not published as yet. To me would expect to be a full OW member as a brand of AS.

 

[aversion]

Hi all, I have come up with a bit of a plan after poring over this thread so I'm after a sanity check to make sure I'm on the right track.

These are the stopovers I'd like to make, but realise that I'll have to add transit cities here and there to make it work.
BKK-HEL
LHR-KUL
KUL-MEL

MEL-SEA
SEA-NRT
NRT-BKK
So the minimum of 2 non-QF flights won't be a problem.

As far as mileage is concerned, if I find a route that, say, comes in at 34,600 miles according to gcmapper, am I flying too close to the sun or is there enough margin there for mileage limit to not be an issue?

Also, as I'd like to break the trip at Melbourne, I may need to book the first half of the trip and add the remaining flights at a later date. Is this easy enough to do or will I be left tearing out the remnants of my once bountiful hair?

Thanks in advance!

 

[sap1l]

These are the stopovers I'd like to make, but realise that I'll have to add transit cities here and there to make it work.
BKK-HEL
LHR-KUL
KUL-MEL

MEL-SEA
SEA-NRT
NRT-BKK
So the minimum of 2 non-QF flights won't be a problem.

Your stopovers look fine, but be aware that some of these routes may need indirect routings for award availability. In particular, MH’s LHR-KUL direct flight has really tight availability depending on your travel dates.

As far as mileage is concerned, if I find a route that, say, comes in at 34,600 miles according to gcmapper, am I flying too close to the sun or is there enough margin there for mileage limit to not be an issue?

36,400 is a bit high IME. QF’s own internal mileage calculations tend to put you above GCMap’s, so you generally want to aim closer to 34,000 miles.

Also I would be careful about assuming you can get the most direct route possible - especially if you are booking in parts and can’t guarantee award availability. You may have to spend extra mileage on a less direct route.

Also, as I'd like to break the trip at Melbourne, I may need to book the first half of the trip and add the remaining flights at a later date. Is this easy enough to do or will I be left tearing out the remnants of my once bountiful hair?

I would be booking your trip in parts anyway, as you really want to secure award seats as soon as they’re released.

Easy is relative If you aren’t a QF Platinum, be prepared for long calls on hold, many instances of HUACA, and hours of stress. But it’s definitely worth spending the time!

 

[aversion]

Your stopovers look fine, but be aware that some of these routes may need indirect routings for award availability. In particular, MH’s LHR-KUL direct flight has really tight availability depending on your travel dates.

Thanks for the input! I'm used to booking RTW flights so alternative routing, adding surface segments etc. is no big deal to me. I'm sure I'll find a way to make it work without exceeding the maximum amount of flights.

I'll try to keep the mileage to the lower end of 34k and see how we go. Fingers crossed that adding flights to an existing booking won't cause too much stress!