Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[MEL_Traveller]

I guess there's a point in booking award space now knowing I won't use it on those date, however it should be released for someone else to book it when I make my changes? .

There is no guarantee the award space you are holding will be released for anyone else. It’s probably only a slim chance, if any, that it will.

 

[N860CR]

I'm looking to book a OWA however leave the last leg back to Aus off until they become available on QF. I'll be waiting for the DEL-MEL sector which does seem to consistently become available 320ish days out. Has anyone run into too many "that's for new bookings only" when adding QF sectors? I've found it to be more of a problem adding other airline sectors myself.

I'm bouncing off max millage... Route is SYD-KUL-CMB(1)-KUL-BKK(2)-AMM(3)-MAD(4)-HEL-JFK(5)-HEL-DEL-MEL-SYD. I'm adding up to 34,517 from GC Map. Seem reasonable?

 

[Mr H]

There is no guarantee the award space you are holding will be released for anyone else. It’s probably only a slim chance, if any, that it will.

Correct. It’s a super-selfish way to act that has no benefit to anyone.

 

[DC3]

There is no guarantee the award space you are holding will be released for anyone else

Exactly

 

[Marina2983]

The only issue I've run into is that they couldn't add our infant to the same PNR due to partner airline issues. So the infant is on a separate but linked PNR. This has meant we cannot select bassinet seats ahead of time and have to just hope for the best (they put in a request but that's it).

Ironically the partner airlines that allegedly resulted in the system issue (AY and JL) both gave me bassinet seats without any issues or payment required.

May I ask how you ended up adding the infant on? ie did you have better luck calling up or messaging on the messenger app?

Post automatically merged: Feb 25, 2025

Should be pretty straightforward and I have added one in the past. I recommend using the chat function on Messenger, it can take 24 hours for a reply but if you are not in a rush, lets you write down exactly what you want (i.e. avoid spelling mistakes, wrong dates etc) and they can do most things there

Then if you need to pay an amount (which you will for some taxes/charges), they call you up for the payment over the phone

Thank you! I will try this out and hope for a good outcome

 

[chiken_nugets]

May I ask how you ended up adding the infant on? ie did you have better luck calling up or messaging on the messenger app?

Via Facebook messenger. Time is not of the essence so it’s much easier particularly with name, DOB, etc.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm looking to book a OWA however leave the last leg back to Aus off until they become available on QF. I'll be waiting for the DEL-MEL sector which does seem to consistently become available 320ish days out. Has anyone run into too many "that's for new bookings only" when adding QF sectors? I've found it to be more of a problem adding other airline sectors myself.

I'm bouncing off max millage... Route is SYD-KUL-CMB(1)-KUL-BKK(2)-AMM(3)-MAD(4)-HEL-JFK(5)-HEL-DEL-MEL-SYD. I'm adding up to 34,517 from GC Map. Seem reasonable?

The only restriction I can think of is that DEL-SYD, via MEL, would need to show at time of booking as a single request. Trying to add MEL-SYD can be problematic, or blocked (unless you have easy access to Hobart or Auckland).

 

[Marina2983]

Anyone able to help with a script for contacting qantas about adding a flight?

I currently have a ticketed OWA
SGP>CDG
CDG>FCO
FCO>NRT
NRT>SYD

I’d like to contact them about adding
SYD>ADL

am I correct in assuming this will only cost the change fee of 5k points + taxes etc per passenger or will it be the full rewards price of ~27k points per passenger?

 

[DC3]

this will only cost the change fee of 5k points + taxes etc per passenger

That’s it. 5,000 points per passenger, plus taxes recalculated, for changes to the itinerary. Any issues, then HUACA.

 

[Mr H]

Anyone able to help with a script for contacting qantas about adding a flight?

I currently have a ticketed OWA
SGP>CDG
CDG>FCO
FCO>NRT
NRT>SYD

I’d like to contact them about adding
SYD>ADL

am I correct in assuming this will only cost the change fee of 5k points + taxes etc per passenger or will it be the full rewards price of ~27k points per passenger?

Hello - I would like to add a flight to an existing booking...

You may run into the issue that connecting domestic flights can only be added at the same time as the international leg it connects to. Should not be a problem if there is more than 24 hours between flights but this would count as one of the five stopovers.

Assuming you are flying in J, it will just be the change fee per passenger plus repricing of the taxes and fees.

 

[FlyingFiona]

Anyone able to help with a script for contacting qantas about adding a flight?

I currently have a ticketed OWA
SGP>CDG
CDG>FCO
FCO>NRT
NRT>SYD

I’d like to contact them about adding
SYD>ADL

am I correct in assuming this will only cost the change fee of 5k points + taxes etc per passenger or will it be the full rewards price of ~27k points per passenger?

Think there is something about them not adding domestic legs afterwards...?

 

[DC3]

Think there is something about them not adding domestic legs afterwards...?

Ask the Call Centre for a copy of that policy.

 

[Wolf creek]

Really trying hard to get the most out of my points,especially Qantas devaluing coming mid year.Lookig to get 2 holidays for the price of one.
Starting OWA overseas at AKL doing Europe for 2 months come home for a couple of months go somewhere in Asia and be under 35000 miles for 320000+.
Starting in Asia is not doable as partner needs to fly business due to back complaint can only spend 4 hrs max in sit up economy.
Wandering if any posters have ideas or experiences with favourable itineraries,starting overseas.
Ty

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ask the Call Centre for a copy of that policy.

It’s the ‘new bookings only’ policy, verbal.
It’s the ‘qantas doesn’t fly on any day of the week after 8am between Sydney and Melbourne’ policy, verbal
It’s the ‘your computer doesn’t show real time availability, but ours does, and there are no seats’ policy. Again, verbal.

 

[elanshin]

Really trying hard to get the most out of my points,especially Qantas devaluing coming mid year.Lookig to get 2 holidays for the price of one.
Starting OWA overseas at AKL doing Europe for 2 months come home for a couple of months go somewhere in Asia and be under 35000 miles for 320000+.
Starting in Asia is not doable as partner needs to fly business due to back complaint can only spend 4 hrs max in sit up economy.
Wandering if any posters have ideas or experiences with favourable itineraries,starting overseas.
Ty

I'm not sure if AKL is still bugged and counted as "Australia" for OWA computer, but another thing you could consider is SIN or KUL starting point and using another award flight (QF or otherwise) to get there.

I guess the real question is, where do you want your 2 holidays to be.

 

[Wolf creek]

I would think the best value would be LCC to Asia flying economy to start holiday.If you allocate 70,000 points for business to start your OWA journey the value does start to slide downwards.
I did read one post where he did Europe his return was Bali,came back to Oz on another ticket then flew back to Bali to finish off his OWA trip.
Basically 3 holidays....

 

[ozflier]

I would think the best value would be LCC to Asia flying economy to start holiday.If you allocate 70,000 points for business to start your OWA journey the value does start to slide downwards.
I did read one post where he did Europe his return was Bali,came back to Oz on another ticket then flew back to Bali to finish off his OWA trip.
Basically 3 holidays....

Just a heads up - 4 business reward seats QF16 LAX-BNE 5 april released this am (or at least that's when I found them) - I have taken 2 of them but still at least 2 left !

 

[MelbFlyer]

Just a heads up - 4 business reward seats QF16 LAX-BNE 5 april released this am (or at least that's when I found them) - I have taken 2 of them but still at least 2 left !

This is part of the overall problem - it's QF releasing random batches of business reward seats relatively close to the departure date.

It gets hard to plan so far out (as seats are now randomly released), and in most cases you can't really tell your boss "Hey, I'm going to go to the U.S. or Europe for 2-4 weeks", only weeks or a few months out.

 

[kirks069]

We want to book a oneworld Classic Flight Reward itinerary starting from December 2025 through to December 2026.
In the Points Hack article How to fly around the world in Business Class with Qantas Points it states:
"If your itinerary is particularly long, you might not be able to book everything in one go. That’s okay – you can book some of the flights now and add more later. Remember that whenever you change the booking, you’ll have to pay a change fee of 5,000 Qantas Points per person."

Does doing this mean that the total points cost is still 318,000 ?
How does this work? Do we book the first leg now (Perth to London, December 2025) and pay the points + taxes, and book the next leg (London to Montreal, October 2026) when the flights become available?
How does this effect our points?
Won't we pay more or does the system somehow recognise that we're doing an Around the World and adjust the points?
What happens to the taxes we pay; do they get refunded?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[elanshin]

@madrooster do you know if an involuntary change months out, QF can substitute a QF flight with an EK flight? (Already started the OWA).

Basically going from CHC-MEL to CHC - SYD - MEL