Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[ozflier]

Hi,

Long time lurker, but first time poster on this thread. Thankyou to all those who have shared their knowledge and experiences - it has been invaluable in figuring out how these flights work.

Read the thread 12 months ago and decided to increase our points to have enough for 5 x 140,000 points tickets for a Dec/Jan holiday in 2017/18. Have managed about 800,000 points and now doing dummy bookings to see where we can go as I figure I will need to book these in Dec/Jan this year.

I just put through a dummy booking for Aug/Sept 2017 on Qantas (that actually worked) and priced out at 140,000 points and $1061 each:

MEL - AKL (QF) (O/N transit or same day flight)
AKL - SCL - LIM (LAN/QF) (stop 1)
overland LIM to SCL (probably a paid flight from Calama to SCL)
SCL - GIG (LAN) (Stop 2)
GIG - IGR (TAM) (Stop 3)
IGR - GRU (TAM) - LHR - JNB (BA) (Stop 4)
JNB - SYD - MEL (QF)

Went back in to try and see if I could do one of the JNB as CPT but now Qantas website is limiting me to 6 flights in one itinerary on multi-city bookings. Could also see a direct GRU - JNB on Iberia (but do they ever release more than 4 xY on the same flight) on the BA website which I couldn't find on Qantas.

There's a stop left - we could have a look around Sao Paulo or if I could do direct flight GRU - JNB there is enough miles left to fly home JNB - DOH - MLE - HKG - MEL (QR) Any other ideas? Trying to stick to warmer climates as we did a Europe winter trip last Christmas.

Question is - what are my chances of finding this type of itinerary in Dec/Jan? We'll fly out as soon as the boys finish school in early Dec and need to be home before school starts. Do I need to book the MEL - SCL flights in December or am I safe to leave it until January flights home are released. I'm FF Gold. I have enough points to do one phone booking change, but that's about it (assuming 8,000 phone booking fee each and 5,000 points change fee each). Suppose we could sign up for a few more credit cards, but would have to be quick to get the points in time.

Also, for anyone looking for flights from SCL to Easter Island and return I could see 7 J class seats on most days from July to Sept on BA website. Could not find any Y class seats though. Would add that in if I could find Y seats.

Fik

To/from South America difficult.
I had problems ++ booking last year.
Nov/Dec seem to be really difficult to score an award seat.
Things may have changed now there is more competition the Australasia to South America route.
Good luck.

 

[Fik]

Thanks for the reply Ozflier. Might have to book something if I can see it for December and pay a change fee for later flights.

 

[ozflier]

Thanks for the reply Ozflier. Might have to book something if I can see it for December and pay a change fee for later flights.

I had a lot of trouble getting seats to Easter Island.
I cannot remember ever seeing economy ones only business.
It is worth seeing if you can - idyllic .

 

[Geoffrey]

Hi guys, quick question.
If I have a mix of J and Y flights in my booking, what is my baggage allowance on the Y flights?

 

[wokstar]

I currently have a mix of J and Y flights and looking through 'manage my booking' via the Qantas website shows the Y flights baggage included as 3 pieces (CX & AB).

However I also have two J flights on CX with only 2 pieces of included luggage (flying BNE>HKG>JFK)...?

I think the luggage allowance depends on whether that Y flight is part of a J flight, as both my Y flights do follow on from transits from J flights.

A standalone Y sector would probably have a different luggage allowance?

 

[Geoffrey]

That makes sense, thank you.

Now my real question: I have booked the first part of my award, and when I call again to add segments to this booking, I'm told that this is not possible after it's been ticketed. I've hung up and called again, and multiple CSRs have told me the same thing: they're unable to add flights to my booking.

How should I approach this?

 

[wokstar]

I haven't come across that problem personally and when I've called to add/change flights, I've used words similar to: "I would like to add/change flights to an existing award booking"

Not sure if there is a different phone line/call centre, but the last two times I've called: 131313, entered QFF # & PIN, then option 1 & option 1.

 

[Kangol]

That makes sense, thank you.

Now my real question: I have booked the first part of my award, and when I call again to add segments to this booking, I'm told that this is not possible after it's been ticketed. I've hung up and called again, and multiple CSRs have told me the same thing: they're unable to add flights to my booking.

How should I approach this?

Use the phrase "I would like to make a change to my booking". Then feed them with all the details. You are better off doing your research first about what you want; there is no value in not having that info.

 

[Geoffrey]

Thank you very much guys
I'm actually calling from the US, and it sounds like the calls are transferred to a team in NZ. As soon as I asked to speak to the frequent flyer department in Australia, I was able to change my booking.

 

[madrooster]

WARNING to those who have QR segments in their award bookings - make sure you watch your QR segments to ensure that they stay confirmed.

I just had an instance of QR coming into a PNR and cancelling an award seat AFTER ticketing.

 

[fairbasa]

WARNING to those who have QR segments in their award bookings - make sure you watch your QR segments to ensure that they stay confirmed.

I just had an instance of QR coming into a PNR and cancelling an award seat AFTER ticketing.

Wow, that's a new low...even for QR! Maybe Oneworld should start fining them.

 

[cjd600]

WARNING to those who have QR segments in their award bookings - make sure you watch your QR segments to ensure that they stay confirmed.

I just had an instance of QR coming into a PNR and cancelling an award seat AFTER ticketing.

Not good....will need to check daily with trepidation until March 29!

 

[Geoffrey]

What's the process in this case?! :shock:

 

[wokstar]

WARNING to those who have QR segments in their award bookings - make sure you watch your QR segments to ensure that they stay confirmed.

I just had an instance of QR coming into a PNR and cancelling an award seat AFTER ticketing.

How were you made aware of this? Did you just get a new e-ticket emailed with the QR segments removed or something?

 

[madrooster]

How were you made aware of this? Did you just get a new e-ticket emailed with the QR segments removed or something?

PNR change alert in Amadeus. The fact QR came in and stripped the seats made it show up automatically in the alerts.

No email is generated when this occurs.

Currently in the process of getting those seats restored... though I'm not worried about it at all.

 

[madrooster]

WARNING to those who have QR segments in their award bookings - make sure you watch your QR segments to ensure that they stay confirmed.

I just had an instance of QR coming into a PNR and cancelling an award seat AFTER ticketing.

Update: QR has restored the seats and QF have done an involuntary reissue on the ticket.

 

[Kangol]

Update: QR has restored the seats and QF have done an involuntary reissue on the ticket.

That's worrying after ticketing. I made a change recently and checked in <24 hours - QR seats were gone.
Called QF who were aware of the QR issues, had to go to a supervisor and I asked, "what if they don't give the seats back"?
Their response, "they have to, the flights have been ticketed".
QR segments reinstated within a day.

Different to earlier experiences where the new ticket was issued quite quickly. Within the hour IIRC.

 

[EestiTiger]

Hi team,


How excited am I…


With the amazing advice from all the contributors to this thread, I have been able to piece together a trip I have thought would never be possible. I particularly want to call out the awesome advice from Nizar, snabbu, Jacques Vert, madrooster, drron, vetrade and others I have learnt from. You guys have the most incredible patience...


My trip is in August - September 2017 for two months.


BNE-SYD J QF
SYD-NRT F JL
NRT-LHR F BA STOP
LHR-HEL J BA STOP
HEL-LHR J AY
LHR-JFK F BA STOP
JFK-LAX F AA STOP
LAX-HKG F CX STOP
HKG-BNE J CX


Ended up costing $1327 and 420,000 points. Yes I could have made it cheaper but that was not my priority.


Thanks again to all the contributors on here. See you in the trip report next year

 

[Kerrodt]

Hi team,


How excited am I…


With the amazing advice from all the contributors to this thread, I have been able to piece together a trip I have thought would never be possible. I particularly want to call out the awesome advice from Nizar, snabbu, Jacques Vert, madrooster, drron, vetrade and others I have learnt from. You guys have the most incredible patience...


My trip is in August - September 2017 for two months.


BNE-SYD J QF
SYD-NRT F JL
NRT-LHR F BA STOP
LHR-HEL J BA STOP
HEL-LHR J AY
LHR-JFK F BA STOP
JFK-LAX F AA STOP
LAX-HKG F CX STOP
HKG-BNE J CX


Ended up costing $1327 and 420,000 points. Yes I could have made it cheaper but that was not my priority.


Thanks again to all the contributors on here. See you in the trip report next year

congratulations Ozmatt. That's a really interesting and exciting itinerary. I might use it as a base for my planning.

 

[Kangol]

Nice. Why BA from TYO-LHR? JL unavailable?

I am yet to see a 420k F award with more than 4 *true* long haul F segments. ie. long enough to appreciate the product (say 9-10+ hours).
You can easily get 4 with one or two medium haul (6-7 hour) segments.
Maybe a circle pacific route with a transpac return, but you'd likely have to start outside Australia and take into account positioning, if you are based in Oz.