Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Jordan613]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Yes, But...

The but part is that the booking engine doesn't recognise that the 140k point cap is is place until the itinerary qualifies as a OWCA. For example if your chosen sectors are all on QF plus only one other OW airline at the point (no pun intended...) that the itinerary breaches the 140k point cost, then the number of points required will continue to accumulate. So if you don't have enough points on the clock at that time, then the whole system will seize up (and steam will start to seep out of the computer speakers) and it won't allow you to continue.

One workaround is to put in a dummy sector that will force the itinerary to qualify as a OWCA, and continue on with the booking to the point that it would actually qualify without the dummy sector, and then go back and remove the dummy - tedious I know, but effective nonetheless...

hth,
TOOJ#3

Thanks TOOJ!

You wouldn't happen to know what would happen if you booked an eligble itinery and then by the chance of god were unable to complete it? They wouldn't try to claw it back?

Cheers!

 

[OzziTravellers]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

A big thanks to everyone for your help on here - just finalised and booked our 2nd OW Y awards (for 4 of us) with 10 flights/segments over 7 weeks in Xmas/NY 2015/16 ... booked it in parts, paid the change fees, lost some sleep but all done.

Here's the successful 140k point itinerary if anyone wants some ideas:

MEL - LAX - BNA - Stop 1 - QF/AA - Going to 2 other destinations in USA at our own cost/points
MIA - MAD - Stop 2 - IB
MAD - LHR - Stop 3 - BA
LBA - LHR - FRA - Stop 4 - BA - travel around Europe at own expense
DUS - LHR - JNB - Stop 5
JNB - DOH - MEL - QR

10 segments, 5 stops, 3 continents (other than AU), 33743 miles.

Main reason for posting though was some info for anyone doing this with Iberian involved. I saw a problem appear online with my booking during the process and called QF and they told me they don't usually ticket these immediately if the booking is a fair time away (ours was 11-12 months) but turns out lately Iberian have apparently changed their processes a bit and will cancel seats if something isn't ticketed within a couple of days - as such QF had to contact IB and reinstate seats (which they did) and then QF had to ticket it immediately upon confirmation. Just sharing what I was told - can't guarantee the accuracy of this info.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Thanks TOOJ!

You wouldn't happen to know what would happen if you booked an eligble itinery and then by the chance of god were unable to complete it? They wouldn't try to claw it back?

Cheers!

Here's an extract from the T&C's that seems to address your question:

14.3.9 If a Member fails to board a Flight Segment of an itinerary containing only Classic Award Flight Segments, the remaining Segments will be cancelled. The cancelled Segments will only be reinstated if Classic Award seats are available. If any Segments are reinstated, the Reinstatement Fee will apply (see the Fee Schedule). In addition the Points required for the entire Itinerary including both travelled and reinstated Segments will be recalculated and any additional Points required will be deducted from the Member's account.
Note: If a Member fails to board a Flight Segment of a Classic Award on a flight operated by a Jetstar Airline, the Flight Segment will be considered used and cannot be reinstated. Any recalculation of the Points for the Itinerary will include that Segment as travelled.
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It may be worth your while looking at the other clauses - refer https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/terms#jump13

 

[Danger]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

The but part is that the booking engine doesn't recognise that the 140k point cap is is place until the itinerary qualifies as a OWCA.

What is "OWCA"?

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

What is "OWCA"?

OneWorld Classic Award

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

What is "OWCA"?

My apologies Danger; I've been using OWCA as my own shorthand for so long now that I just used it as if it was a regular word...
OneWorld Classic Award.

Perhaps I should petition TWMBO to consider it's inclusion as a recognised acronym .

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I think we're on the same page Jimmy.

 

[travelislife]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Okay, so I have just added my next set of flights, currently have the following all booked for the end of this year, Dec/Jan:

MEL-HKG (J) CX 08:50-15:15
1 and a half day stopover in Hong Kong (Stopover 1)
HKG-MIL (J) CX 00:45-07:00
3 days in Milan, 7 days skiing (Stopover 2)
LIN-TXL (Y) AB 21:05-22:45 single class aircraft
3 days in Berlin (Stopover 3)
TXL-MAD (Y) AB 12:55-16:00 single class aircraft, though longish flight which is a bit annoying
8 hour transit in Madrid, not ideal
MAD-SAO (J) IB 00:35-07:25

Total taxes are currently at $713.17 per person. Current points 'spent' is 259,000 per person plus 3,500 change fee. Total 262,500.

Then looking at about 12 days in Brazil before heading to Buenos Aires and then back home (hopefully on Qantas direct from SCL but might have to be via the states).

Had been looking from LHR (BA) and MAD (IB) into either SAO or GIG (as TAM doesn't seem to release anything in business class out of CDG/FRA/MIL) and didn't end up with the best connection, unless anyone else has some great ideas? It is for the 4th/5th Jan at the moment. Maybe TXL-DOH-SAO/GIG? But doesn't look like availability at the moment.

Okay, so my OneWorld award is developing, not necessarily how I wanted it!

MEL-HKG (J) CX 08:50-15:15
Stopover 1: 1 and a half day stopover in Hong Kong
HKG-MXP (J) CX 00:45-07:00
Stopover 2: 3 days in Milan, 7 days skiing
LIN-TXL (Y) AB 21:05-22:45 single class aircraft
Stopover 3: 3 days in Berlin
TXL-LHR (J) BA 18:05-19:00
LHR-GRU (J) BA 00:35-07:25+1
GRU-MAO 09:30-11:33 (Planned on TAM, seats don't get released till ~90 days out)
Stopover 4: 2.5 weeks in Brazil, will have to book a couple of other internal flights
GIG-EZE (Planned on TAM)
Stopover 5: 3 days in Buenos Aires
Then a long trip home.
EZE-DOH (J) QR 23:20-22:45+1
DOH-PER (J) QR 01:50-17:45
Overnight in Perth, not by choice, no availability on the red eye in J
PER-MEL (J) QF 16:45-23:20

The route above is 34,698 miles in GC Map (not including GRU-MAO) so if I can't get better flights home I will have to pay for that leg separately.

Total taxes are now at $1285.17 per person. Which seems quite high as there shouldn't be any APD. I haven't done any checks yet on this.

Current points 'spent' is 280,000 per person plus 7,000 in change fees. Total 287,000.

To try and improve the trip home (and remove the O/N in Perth) I can get seats DOH-Asia so over the last couple of days I have looked for 2 seats out of CGK, BKK, SIN, HKG, KUL in to MEL/SYD/BNE and nothing has come up at all. Also nothing out of DFW or LAX to SYD/MEL/BNE, also nothing out of DXB-MEL/SYD. I have been following this and I know it is peak time but Qantas don't appear to be releasing anything at all at the moment. Obviously nothing on QF SCL-SYD or LA SCL-AKL either.

Happy enough that I have at least got something locked in, now it is just a case of monitoring and improving, am happy to pay the small 3,500 fee for changes. Time to subscribe and set up the expert flyer alerts I think.

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

GRU-MAO 09:30-11:33 (Planned on TAM, seats don't get released till ~90 days out)

Don't hesitate about dropping this sector. TAM sells these flights for about 300AUD in J, better pay cash, you'll get points and status credits

 

[katrinazzz]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Hi everyone, I'm new here.

I was hoping to get some advice.

Would something like this be achievable?

SYD-TPE-IST-LIM-CCS-JFK-DFW-HNL-SYD

LIM-CCS and JFK-DFW would be surface segments.

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Would something like this be achievable?

SYD-TPE-IST-LIM-CCS-JFK-DFW-HNL-SYD

Very unlikely Katrina.
It would be time well spent for you to read a big chunk of this thread because the 2 basic problems with your itinerary have been discussed quite a bit previously.
I see you are a first time poster so your unfamiliarity is not surprising ...........so we'll try to help get you "up to speed" - and welcome aboard
Firstly, award seats for South America are generally very hard to come-by to the extent than even many experienced people don't even bother trying to find them when planning a 140 /280 /420K award.
Secondly, you'll have the same problem with ANY flights into / out of HNL - award seats are virtually never released for these sectors.

 

[katrinazzz]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I spent some time skimming through this thread, I probably should have read a little closer, sorry!

Thanks for your input.

I'm trying to think of good substitutes now.

Is it difficult to get award seats for South Africa?

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Is it difficult to get award seats for South Africa?

fairly easy, both from Australia direct or via Doha on Qatar or from Europe on British Airways

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I spent some time skimming through this thread, I probably should have read a little closer, sorry!

Thanks for your input.

I'm trying to think of good substitutes now.

Is it difficult to get award seats for South Africa?

I'm going to Sth Africa in April as part of a OW J RTW, katrinazzz, and got award seats into SA (SYD - JNB on QF) and out of SA (JNB - DOH - CDG on QR) without any trouble at all. Also BA award seats to CPT return from JNB were plentiful too. I did book close to when they were released though, just to be sure. If Europe via LHR might be an option for you, I found JNB - LHR plentiful but CPT - LHR hard to get (CPT is a popular destination for Brits).

 

[katrinazzz]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Okay, I might replace South America with South Africa then!

I was hoping to end the trip in a tropical island type place. Any ideas on for a good alternative to Hawaii?

If not, how is Alaska and Vancouver with award seats?

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Okay, I might replace South America with South Africa then!

I was hoping to end the trip in a tropical island type place. Any ideas on for a good alternative to Hawaii?

If not, how is Alaska and Vancouver with award seats?

When in South Africa go to Mauritius on Comair (BA affiliate)

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Okay, I might replace South America with South Africa then!

I was hoping to end the trip in a tropical island type place. Any ideas on for a good alternative to Hawaii?

If not, how is Alaska and Vancouver with award seats?

No idea about Alaska. Vancouver has limited access mainly because there are few OW flights from the US there. AA/US has flights from DFW and PHX but award availability is generally poor especially if you're trying to co-ordinate with other flights (we're going to YVR on our trip too and tried to juggle flight combinations from within the US for months without success). Eventually we settled on JFK - YVR with CX (good availability) and we're paying separately for flights from YVR - YYC - LAS with Westjet and then we're coming home on QF from LAX. AA awards availability is terrible since the tie-up between AA and US early last year. You can fly from YVR back to Oz via Tokyo or HKG (JL or CX)

For your "tropical island" option you could try the Caribbean if that fitted with your criteria. Not sure what availability is like nowadays to Bahamas etc but I do know that you won't get award seats to the trendy places like St Lucia (most of those islands are mainly serviced by AA). You could check out the route maps on oneworld.com and then search for awards on AA's website (search via their US site rather than the Oz version at aa.com.au). Even Bermuda is an option (it's a fair bit north of the other islands though) with flights from JFK (and MIA, IIRC) and also London - so you can get access from both sides of the Atlantic. Otherwise your best options are probably the islands of Thailand / Malaysia etc.

Agree with Sergeyvzn that Mauritius is worth a visit. And to throw something else into the mix Zanzibar is fantastic too (and very safe). It's just off the coast of Tanzania where the only OW flights are from the north (with QR from a variety of cities). No OW flights from JNB unfortunately but a one way paid flight to or from Dar es Salaam might be an inexpensive way of incorporating it into a OW award ticket.

 

[daruma]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Hello, I'm a long time lurker here.

This might be a stupid question but say you were flying from Lima to Sydney, and you had to go Santiago in between. Do they calculate the miles as Lima - Sydney, or do they calculate Lima - Santiago - Sydney?

 

[Daver6]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Hello, I'm a long time lurker here.

This might be a stupid question but say you were flying from Lima to Sydney, and you had to go Santiago in between. Do they calculate the miles as Lima - Sydney, or do they calculate Lima - Santiago - Sydney?

The latter.

 

[mydogsteelo]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Hello There

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone that's contributed to this thread, my wife and i just booked our first 280k tickets and we owe it all to you .

trip is:
Brisbane to Paris (via Hong Kong on Cathay),
Paris to Moscow (via London on BA)
Moscow to London on BA
London to Nairobi on BA
--
then we are going to get lifemile tickets from Nairobi or Dar al-Salam to Cape Town, seems there is lots of availability on South Africian Airways. (hopeing a 2x1 deal is next month we have a few points but need a few more)
--
Cape Town to Hong Kong (via johannesburg)
Hong Kong to Brisbane

Really looking forward to it. thanks again everyone