Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Mr H]

My next question is it possible to add platinum classic reward requested seats to an existing oneworld classic booking? ie I want to ask to release some I fare seats back from the US to Melbourne and add them onto the existing booking.

No reason why that shouldn’t be possible.

 

[V1V2]

What a waste of time this article is. Classic reward points are long gone and cut right down. It’s all about poor value classic plus now. Qantas are cunning dressing it as an enhancement. It’s disgusting greed. RIP classic rewards. Qantas well knows they have cut down on availability of the same very significantly!! Shame Qantas.

 

[bagman]

What a waste of time this article is. Classic reward points are long gone and cut right down. It’s all about poor value classic plus now. Qantas are cunning dressing it as an enhancement. It’s disgusting greed. RIP classic rewards. Qantas well knows they have cut down on availability of the same very significantly!! Shame Qantas.

I have to agree. Josh at Frequent Flyer Concierge did his absolute best to get me Business Class RTW for Sep/Oct but nothing for Classic Flight Reward. Economy had availability but…no thanks. If I’m using my points I’m going Business. Interestingly I’ve been told Sep/Oct is the new “high season” for traveling out of Australia. Evidently 2 out of 3 flight bookings from this particular agency are during that period.
I remember when Sep/Oct used to be shoulder

 

[jrb17a]

Is this a joke? It's 2025, not 2006 or 2007. You can't book a reasonable RTW in J with 316,000 points.

 

[Warragul]

Is this a joke? It's 2025, not 2006 or 2007. You can't book a reasonable RTW in J with 316,000 points.

Depends what you mean by reasonable doesn't it?

I ( and partner)did Sydney - New York- Casablanca- Amman- Frankfurt-Tokyo- Sydney 18 months ago. Seemed reasonable to me.

 

[pye1201]

I've booked a Oneworld Award itinerary (34,616 miles) all in business class except for one leg - LAX-HND on AA which is in economy. I'm Qantas platinum and my husband has Platinum Pro status with AA - has anyone ever had any experience upgrading with AA points an AA flight originally booked with Qantas on a OWA ticket? Is it possible?
Hoping this isn't a question that's been answered before - I've searched but no luck finding any info..

 

[levelnine]

I'm Qantas platinum and my husband has Platinum Pro status with AA - has anyone ever had any experience upgrading with AA points an AA flight originally booked with Qantas on a OWA ticket? Is it possible?

You can't upgrade award flights with miles on AA.

 

[pye1201]

You can't upgrade award flights with miles on AA.

I was hoping there was some way to upgrade that flight - I guess I'll have to cross fingers I can find business class availability with EF between now and the flight and get it changed.
Thanks for that!

 

[fastferret]

Could you maybe try emailing the QF reward seat escalations email and see if they can get JL to release PE or even J seats (due to the equipment change)?

I emailed escalations on Sunday night. They responded the next day, which was great.

They reached out to JAL for release of J seats, but JAL declined.

It was the response I expected, but kudos to Qantas for their prompt action and reply.

 

[Lynda2475]

Is this a joke? It's 2025, not 2006 or 2007. You can't book a reasonable RTW in J with 316,000 points.

Looks like a typo as an OWA (which doesn't have to be RTW) is 318k not 316k.

 

[pyramidforce]

Can I add a flight before the first leg of an already booked OWA?

 

[Mr H]

Can I add a flight before the first leg of an already booked OWA?

Yes

 

[MelbFlyer]

What a waste of time this article is. Classic reward points are long gone and cut right down. It’s all about poor value classic plus now. Qantas are cunning dressing it as an enhancement. It’s disgusting greed. RIP classic rewards. Qantas well knows they have cut down on availability of the same very significantly!! Shame Qantas.

You can still build a OWA itinerary, but granted, it is harder these days.

Economy should be relatively simple to find (except for peak periods such as school holidays), but business is where the pain point is.

I was able to redeem a business OWA to Europe (using QF / AY / BA) and back in 2023 and it was already difficult at the time - I wouldn't want to try now!

The combination of the below makes it harder:
- More people accumulating points
- QF and partners not releasing as many seats, and somewhat sporadically, making it harder to plan
- More articles about how to redeem award seats ie. Point Hacks

I'm just glad that I was able to redeem and take said trip back in 2023. I'm resigned to the fact that it was good whilst it lasted. Moving forward it will be more difficult no doubt.

 

[DC3]

Can I add a flight before the first leg of an already booked OWA?

The flights can be booked in any order, depending upon availability (and who you gat at the Call Centre )

 

[elanshin]

What a waste of time this article is. Classic reward points are long gone and cut right down. It’s all about poor value classic plus now. Qantas are cunning dressing it as an enhancement. It’s disgusting greed. RIP classic rewards. Qantas well knows they have cut down on availability of the same very significantly!! Shame Qantas.

You can most certainly still build OWA. Remember the hardest is just getting off this rock. But if you make that lart flexible you can easily fill in the rest. Asia to europe or us has loads of availability.

 

[v0idd]

Hey guys, booked a trip for me, my wife and my 1 year old for end of this year in J.

This was the most creative way I could get to Brazil to see the inlaws without flighting to SCL, but also visiting Japan, and EU under 35k

Still missing Japan to USA section and the home leg.

MEL-HKG (QF) transit
HKG-KIX (CX) stop 1
ITM-HND-JFK (JL) stop 2 (missing this flight)
JFK-GRU-CNF (LA) seperate
CNF-GRU-BOG (LA) seperate
BOG-MAD (IB) stop 3
HEL-HKG (AY) transit
HKG-SIN (CX) stop 4
SIN-MEL (missing this flight)

Do I still have room for more stop overs or surface segments?

Maybe a flight within Europe?

Cheers

 

[DC3]

Do I still have room for more stop overs or surface segments?

As long as you keep within the rules, including within 35.000 miles, 16 segments, up to 5 stops (the final city does not count as a stop), etc, etc:

How to Fly Around the World with a Qantas Oneworld Classic Flight Reward [Mega Guide]

Book a Qantas Oneworld Classic Flight Reward to fly around the world with up to 5 stopovers from just 152,200 Qantas Frequent Flyer points!

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Deb70]

Only 6 weeks to go to start Qantas Classic RTW business
MEL-HKG (QF)
HKG-HEL-AMS (AY)
AMS-HEL-DUB (AY)
MXP-MAD (IB)
MAD-HGK-PER (CX)
PER-MEL (QF)
My question is what business lounges may we access in HKG, AMS, HEL, MXP, MAD and 2nd visit to HGK?

 

[RB001]

Only 6 weeks to go to start Qantas Classic RTW business
MEL-HKG (QF)
HKG-HEL-AMS (AY)
AMS-HEL-DUB (AY)
MXP-MAD (IB)
MAD-HGK-PER (CX)
PER-MEL (QF)
My question is what business lounges may we access in HKG, AMS, HEL, MXP, MAD and 2nd visit to HGK?

The Oneworld page for lounge access is a lot better than it once was. If you have status or other programs from credit cards, etc then there is obviously more choice.
In any case - enjoy!

 

[Deb70]

The Oneworld page for lounge access is a lot better than it once was. If you have status or other programs from credit cards, etc then there is obviously more choice.
In any case - enjoy!

Thank you I did not realize that as it is a Qantas ticket and not a Oneworld ticket would we still get access to Oneworld lounges?