Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[immature]

Can you depart from the country of original departure twice (but different cities)? It appears not?

I don't believe so, as per this rule in the QFF T&Cs:

14.3.5 A Classic Flight Reward Itinerary must contain no more than one departure from the city or country of first departure on that Itinerary.

 

[blu]

(thanks, final questions)

I may have to book two flights through my WP son's account.
Does that mean the whole booking/itinerary would have to be done through his account?
Are there travel insurance coverage implications in doing that (in event of disruption to travel)? Technically his points?

 

[grussellt]

Could your son transfer points to your account to complete the booking?

 

[Captain Halliday]

I'm considering changing my ticketed 280K award and would appreciate input/advice.

My ticketed trip is:
SINxDOH-VCE on QR (stop 1)
own arrangements VCE-DUB-LON-FRA
FRA-HKG on CX (stop 2)
HKGxCNS-BNE on CX (stop 3)
BNE-LAX on QF(stop 4)
own arrangements LAX-LAS-JFK-YVR-LAX
LAX-BNE-DRW on QF in Y due no J availability (stop 5)
Add in miles back to SIN to validate award = 34,996 miles

I'm considering changing to:
SINxDOH-VCE on QR (stop 1)
own arrangements VCE-DUB
DUB-LHR on BA (stop 2)
LHR-FRA on BA-HKG CX (stop 3)
HKGxCNS-BNE on CX (stop 4)
BNE-LAX on QF -LAS on AA in Y due no J availability (stop5)
own arrangements LAS-JFK-YVR
YVRxHKG-SIN (end)
34,502 miles

So my questions are:
1. Anyone see issues with the routing/transits/stops/awardrules?
2. Is my maths right - 34,502 miles?
3. Can I add LHR-FRA on BA to the existing FRA-HKG provided there's <24hrs in FRA as a transit? I've confirmed availability for my intended travel date. In other words, will MSC be an issue here from CX perspective?
4. If I add LHR-FRA (BA) will fines and UK departure tax be calculated on LHR-FRA, or LHR-HKG?
5. LHR-FRA in Y is ~AUD350 for 3 pax. Is it even worth adding it into this award or am I better off paying cash? I seem to have no other use for that stopover.

 

[froggerADL]

I'm considering changing my ticketed 280K award and would appreciate input/advice.

My ticketed trip is:
SINxDOH-VCE on QR (stop 1)
own arrangements VCE-DUB-LON-FRA
FRA-HKG on CX (stop 2)
HKGxCNS-BNE on CX (stop 3)
BNE-LAX on QF(stop 4)
own arrangements LAX-LAS-JFK-YVR-LAX
LAX-BNE-DRW on QF in Y due no J availability (stop 5)
Add in miles back to SIN to validate award = 34,996 miles

I'm considering changing to:
SINxDOH-VCE on QR (stop 1)
own arrangements VCE-DUB
DUB-LHR on BA (stop 2)
LHR-FRA on BA-HKG CX (stop 3)
HKGxCNS-BNE on CX (stop 4)
BNE-LAX on QF -LAS on AA in Y due no J availability (stop5)
own arrangements LAS-JFK-YVR
YVRxHKG-SIN (end)
34,502 miles

So my questions are:
1. Anyone see issues with the routing/transits/stops/awardrules?
2. Is my maths right - 34,502 miles?
3. Can I add LHR-FRA on BA to the existing FRA-HKG provided there's <24hrs in FRA as a transit? I've confirmed availability for my intended travel date. In other words, will MSC be an issue here from CX perspective?
4. If I add LHR-FRA (BA) will fines and UK departure tax be calculated on LHR-FRA, or LHR-HKG?
5. LHR-FRA in Y is ~AUD350 for 3 pax. Is it even worth adding it into this award or am I better off paying cash? I seem to have no other use for that stopover.

From what I've read here, you need to be very careful about changing anything with a QR flight included as it can to flights being cancelled.

 

[timi2fly]

I am looking to book my QANTAS oneworld Classic Flight Reward for a "round the world trip".

I am struggling to find a definitive answer on the following questions because I am reading information supporting both sides.

Could someone please help me with a definitive answer for the following in relation to the QANTAS oneworld Classic Flight Reward:
(1) Does the rule apply that restricts you from visiting the same continent twice? I cannot seem to read this anywhere on the QANTAS site, however many 'expert' and 'advice' sites seem to suggest this rule applies.
(2) Do I need to continue in the "same direction" (east or west) in my trip? Again, I cannot find this in the QANTAS literature and some sites seem to suggest this.

I recognise that these rules would apply if I was booking a tradition (ie paid) Oneworld RTW trip, however my understanding is that the QANTAS oneworld Classic Flight Reward is not bound by these rules.

I am greatly looking forward to some resolution to these questions so that I can crack on and lock in some flights.

Regards,

Tim

 

[Captain Halliday]

I'm considering changing my ticketed 280K award and would appreciate input/advice.

My ticketed trip is:
SINxDOH-VCE on QR (stop 1)
own arrangements VCE-DUB-LON-FRA
FRA-HKG on CX (stop 2)
HKGxCNS-BNE on CX (stop 3)
BNE-LAX on QF(stop 4)
own arrangements LAX-LAS-JFK-YVR-LAX
LAX-BNE-DRW on QF in Y due no J availability (stop 5)
Add in miles back to SIN to validate award = 34,996 miles

I'm considering changing to:
SINxDOH-VCE on QR (stop 1)
own arrangements VCE-DUB
DUB-LHR on BA (stop 2)
LHR-FRA on BA-HKG CX (stop 3)
HKGxCNS-BNE on CX (stop 4)
BNE-LAX on QF -LAS on AA in Y due no J availability (stop5)
own arrangements LAS-JFK-YVR
YVRxHKG-SIN (end)
34,502 miles

So my questions are:
1. Anyone see issues with the routing/transits/stops/awardrules?
2. Is my maths right - 34,502 miles?
3. Can I add LHR-FRA on BA to the existing FRA-HKG provided there's <24hrs in FRA as a transit? I've confirmed availability for my intended travel date. In other words, will MSC be an issue here from CX perspective?
4. If I add LHR-FRA (BA) will fines and UK departure tax be calculated on LHR-FRA, or LHR-HKG?
5. LHR-FRA in Y is ~AUD350 for 3 pax. Is it even worth adding it into this award or am I better off paying cash? I seem to have no other use for that stopover.

From what I've read here, you need to be very careful about changing anything with a QR flight included as it can to flights being cancelled.

Thanks froggerADL. I'm aware of the QR issue and have already had to deal with that on one previous change to this award.

But I'm keen to hear from those with experience in these award is my proposed changes are valid and/or practical.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

I am looking to book my QANTAS oneworld Classic Flight Reward for a "round the world trip".

I am struggling to find a definitive answer on the following questions because I am reading information supporting both sides.

Could someone please help me with a definitive answer for the following in relation to the QANTAS oneworld Classic Flight Reward:
(1) Does the rule apply that restricts you from visiting the same continent twice? I cannot seem to read this anywhere on the QANTAS site, however many 'expert' and 'advice' sites seem to suggest this rule applies.
(2) Do I need to continue in the "same direction" (east or west) in my trip? Again, I cannot find this in the QANTAS literature and some sites seem to suggest this.

I recognise that these rules would apply if I was booking a tradition (ie paid) Oneworld RTW trip, however my understanding is that the QANTAS oneworld Classic Flight Reward is not bound by these rules.

I am greatly looking forward to some resolution to these questions so that I can crack on and lock in some flights.

Regards,

Tim

The short answer...
#1 - NO
#2 - NO

Refer to the rule summary at the top of this thread: all the major points are listed there.

 

[blu]

Many thanks to a QF CSO in the NZ call centre who overcome a couple of frustrating roadblocks in our itinerary (booking engine shows availability, only to fail when confirming). Call was two hours with no points cost. For peak holiday season, two J awards:
SYD-SIN, SIN-MAN, LHR-ARN, LHR-ARN, LHR-DUB, DUB-LHR, LHR-TOK, TOK-SYD





s

 

[Captain Halliday]

Hs anyone had issues adding a CX flight to an existing OW Award booking?

I've tried to add YVRxHKG-SIN. Availability shows on both QF and BAEC websites, but the QF CSA says it is "showing no availability."

In both QF and BAEC I searched YVR-SIN because im aware of the MSC issues, so I don't think it's that.

Any ideas or is it a case of HUACA?

 

[EestiTiger]

Hs anyone had issues adding a CX flight to an existing OW Award booking?

I've tried to add YVRxHKG-SIN. Availability shows on both QF and BAEC websites, but the QF CSA says it is "showing no availability."

In both QF and BAEC I searched YVR-SIN because im aware of the MSC issues, so I don't think it's that.

Any ideas or is it a case of HUACA?

It isn't to do with needing to do a 24hr stopover in Hong Kong? I had a lot of trouble last year trying to get my award ticketed due to CX and being required to have a stopover when flying JFK-HKG-BNE. Once I added the HKG-BNE leg to the following day, it ticketed fine.

 

[Captain Halliday]

It isn't to do with needing to do a 24hr stopover in Hong Kong? I had a lot of trouble last year trying to get my award ticketed due to CX and being required to have a stopover when flying JFK-HKG-BNE. Once I added the HKG-BNE leg to the following day, it ticketed fine.

It could be. But I already have a HKG stopover, so breaking the trip won't be possible without significant changes to the itinerary.

YVR-SIN is available on QF and BA as an award seat with a 50 min connection in HKG, so it seems strange it can't be added into the existing booking.

 

[wokstar]

I have added a CX flight without issue before, also without needing to do a 24 hour stopover. Also had HKG as a previous transit on the itinerary too.

In my case I had booked BNE-HKG-JFK all on CX with an 8 hour transit in HKG, and then later added HEL-HKG-SGN on AY (HEL-HKG) and CX (HKG-SGN) with a 20 hour transit in HKG.

I did have a minor drama at the time of booking when there was only Y available for the CX leg HKG-SGN, but has since been fixed once J seats became available for that particular flight.

**************************

Trying to book Japan domestic flights on JAL is proving to be difficult, with available seats shown on BAEC but the QF call centre operators cannot see any available seats. I am wanting to book flights in September and I am wondering if I am calling too early, assuming this because JAL's own award system doesn't allow for booking domestic flights greater than 2 months away. However when asking the QF call centre to check for award availability 1-2 months away, they still can't see anything, despite award seats showing on both BAEC and JAL.

Has anyone here been able to book Japan domestic flights on JAL as part of a 280k award fare?

 

[blu]

What is the cost for changing flight times (same day) - for DUB-LHR-NRT.
Thinking of taking a later flight, but only for convienience.
Is it 5,000 points Change fee per seat + 5,000 points Service Centre assistance (ie: 15,000 points per pax)?

 

[fairbasa]

J/F: 5k per seat

Y: 5k per seat + 8k/$80 service fee

 

[blu]

thanks, so flight times not changeable online.

 

[XeroChance]

I was just told by a QF call agent that I can't look up segments separately and have them under 1 "oneworld RTW" flight.

A.k.a
SYD-KUL MH140
10:10PM-5:00AM(+1)
next day
KUL-HKG MH72
9:15AM-1:05PM
[in KL for only 4 hours 15 minutes]

QF agent said that since MH wasn't showing SYD-KUL-HKG as one award flight, I would be unable to book the above as one of my five oneworld RTW flights.

What are people's experiences with segment stitching? Is the agent clueless or actually knowledgeable and I can't actually book this?

 

[Captain Halliday]

I was just told by a QF call agent that I can't look up segments separately and have them under 1 "oneworld RTW" flight.

A.k.a
SYD-KUL MH140
10:10PM-5:00AM(+1)
next day
KUL-HKG MH72
9:15AM-1:05PM
[in KL for only 4 hours 15 minutes]

QF agent said that since MH wasn't showing SYD-KUL-HKG as one award flight, I would be unable to book the above as one of my five oneworld RTW flights.

What are people's experiences with segment stitching? Is the agent clueless or actually knowledgeable and I can't actually book this?

CX, AA & QR use Married Segment Control. I'm not aware of MH using it, but it's possible.

If another AFFer can't provide a definite answer you might want to HUACA.

 

[Radio8tiv]

I had an issue with married segment, but after directing the csr that each was available as seperate segments, I was able to get it put up to supervisor level and they were able to book it under a invol reroute.

 

[travelislife]

I have added a CX flight without issue before, also without needing to do a 24 hour stopover. Also had HKG as a previous transit on the itinerary too.

In my case I had booked BNE-HKG-JFK all on CX with an 8 hour transit in HKG, and then later added HEL-HKG-SGN on AY (HEL-HKG) and CX (HKG-SGN) with a 20 hour transit in HKG.

I did have a minor drama at the time of booking when there was only Y available for the CX leg HKG-SGN, but has since been fixed once J seats became available for that particular flight.

**************************

Trying to book Japan domestic flights on JAL is proving to be difficult, with available seats shown on BAEC but the QF call centre operators cannot see any available seats. I am wanting to book flights in September and I am wondering if I am calling too early, assuming this because JAL's own award system doesn't allow for booking domestic flights greater than 2 months away. However when asking the QF call centre to check for award availability 1-2 months away, they still can't see anything, despite award seats showing on both BAEC and JAL.

Has anyone here been able to book Japan domestic flights on JAL as part of a 280k award fare?

Can definitely book the seats shown as available on BAEC. It is a common problem with QF agents. I think they need to open a different window/system for JAL flights.

You just have to get the right person who knows how to do it. Took me 3 goes for my Christmas flights last year that were shown as available on BAEC but kept getting computer says 'no' from Qantas reps.