Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Kangol]

Total points 290,000 including change fees and $1,571 taxes
10 flight segments (plus 2 non-flight segments) and 34,869 miles according to GCMap

280 or 290k?

 

[cjd600]

280 or 290k?

280k + 2 x 5k change fees = 290k?

 

[fairbasa]

280 or 290k?

I believe it was 280k + 2x 5k change fees

 

[nat000]

Hi
As part of the 5 stops, 16 segments, I am able to transit twice through LHR and also have it as one of the 5 stops. So 3 visits to LHR ?
eg. hkg-lhr(transit)-rek
rek-lhr (stop)
osl-lhr(transit)-yyz

 

[Auski]

Hi
As part of the 5 stops, 16 segments, I am able to transit twice through LHR and also have it as one of the 5 stops. So 3 visits to LHR ?
eg. hkg-lhr(transit)-rek
rek-lhr (stop)
osl-lhr(transit)-yyz

I tried on my dummy trial run after reading the above and seems to work.

Can this be added to the WIKI.

 

[madrooster]

Hi
As part of the 5 stops, 16 segments, I am able to transit twice through LHR and also have it as one of the 5 stops. So 3 visits to LHR ?
eg. hkg-lhr(transit)-rek
rek-lhr (stop)
osl-lhr(transit)-yyz

Yes this is permitted.

 

[hutch]

I tried on my dummy trial run after reading the above and seems to work.

Can this be added to the WIKI.

It already is in the wiki under the rules.

 

[Auski]

It already is in the wiki under the rules.

I have read all 475 pages, took a while and is a great resource, thanks to all who have contributed.
The addition of the WIKI made it a lot easier for newbies like me however my understanding was that you could have 2 transits OR 1 stop in a city and not both. That's why I thought it might be useful to add a clarification to the WIKI.

Thanks to all.

 

[hutch]

I have read all 475 pages, took a while and is a great resource, thanks to all who have contributed.
The addition of the WIKI made it a lot easier for newbies like me however my understanding was that you could have 2 transits OR 1 stop in a city and not both. That's why I thought it might be useful to add a clarification to the WIKI.

Thanks to all.

14.5.4 Stopover conditions:
(a) Five free stopovers are permitted;
(b) Additional stopovers are not permitted;
(c) You may only stop once in any one city;
(d) Only two transfers are permitted at any one city.

Sorry mate, not sure how you read it that way. Clarification might be useful (particularly on the difference between stop and transfer).

 

[nat000]

I rang qf the other day and put my itinerary to the test. It worked with 2 transits and 1 stop in lhr. It quoted the trip at 280k points. But couldn't calculate the taxes.

 

[exceladdict]

I rang qf the other day and put my itinerary to the test. It worked with 2 transits and 1 stop in lhr. It quoted the trip at 280k points. But couldn't calculate the taxes.

What was the outcome of this call?

 

[nat000]

What was the outcome of this call?

The outcome was that I confirmed that I can do 2 transits and 1 stop in LHR. But they don't know why it didn't calculate the taxes. It still couldn't after removing a LHR transit. But it did calculate the points correctly.

 

[blu]

I was having trouble with

EDI-LHR stop
LHR-ARN
ARN-LHR-DUB
DUB-LHR-NRT

CSA ended up dropping EDI-LHR and it worked.
Although it now appears total charges are wrong.

 

[PaulST]

Hi all, apologies that I’m going to be quite vague as I’m planning a 280p J 35K trip for May-June 2018.
I’m planning on spending 1 week in the UK and the flights on either side are primarily just to get me there with some interesting flights on either side of the trip to and from the UK. My initial thinking is as follows:
SYD to either BKK or HKG (either QF or CX metal) where I hope to catch the AY A350 to HEL. From there I hope to catch the A350 again down to LHR.
From LHR I essentially need to get to North America and then back to Sydney. I’m keen to try AA’s 787 J product and CX’s 77W J product, or the QF A380 J product since I haven’t tried that for a while.
Are there any particular American cities where award availability (from Europe and to Australia) is better?

 

[Auski]

Hi all, apologies that I’m going to be quite vague as I’m planning a 280p J 35K trip for May-June 2018.
I’m planning on spending 1 week in the UK and the flights on either side are primarily just to get me there with some interesting flights on either side of the trip to and from the UK. My initial thinking is as follows:
SYD to either BKK or HKG (either QF or CX metal) where I hope to catch the AY A350 to HEL. From there I hope to catch the A350 again down to LHR.
From LHR I essentially need to get to North America and then back to Sydney. I’m keen to try AA’s 787 J product and CX’s 77W J product, or the QF A380 J product since I haven’t tried that for a while.
Are there any particular American cities where award availability (from Europe and to Australia) is better?

I have booked BA1 the all business flight from LCY to JFK keen to try this one, am transiting from DUB and will avoid the LHR departure tax. BA1 also clears US customs in Shannon where it tops up with fuel, (cant take off from LCY with a full load). I found BA had best availability but their J generally not rated highly. From JFK to Syd CX had by far the best availability in777. Also flying with them SYD FRA.

 

[hutch]

I was having trouble with

EDI-LHR stop
LHR-ARN
ARN-LHR-DUB
DUB-LHR-NRT

CSA ended up dropping EDI-LHR and it worked.
Although it now appears total charges are wrong.

Is this a 140Y or 280J award? I would have thought you might have issues with:

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.

 

[hutch]

Hi all, apologies that I’m going to be quite vague as I’m planning a 280p J 35K trip for May-June 2018.
I’m planning on spending 1 week in the UK and the flights on either side are primarily just to get me there with some interesting flights on either side of the trip to and from the UK. My initial thinking is as follows:
SYD to either BKK or HKG (either QF or CX metal) where I hope to catch the AY A350 to HEL. From there I hope to catch the A350 again down to LHR.
From LHR I essentially need to get to North America and then back to Sydney. I’m keen to try AA’s 787 J product and CX’s 77W J product, or the QF A380 J product since I haven’t tried that for a while.
Are there any particular American cities where award availability (from Europe and to Australia) is better?

If looking for AY350, you might want to avoid BKK as last time I checked they were still using A330's on that route. HKG seemed pretty good for AY availability when I was booking... or if you are looking at trying products, you could try and get on JAL's 787 to HEL and then AY350 to LHR. Or backtrack from LHR back to HEL to head to North America.

As for the final leg, trying to get direct USA to Australia flights is tough. Not impossible, but tough. I've had luck through LAX before to book QFA380. Otherwise, CX has good availability to HKG from most N.A ports barring YVR (well at least I always had issues finding seats direct from there).

With the AA787... if I am not mistaken the 787-9 is reverse herringbone (good!) and the 787-8 has a front seat/back seat configuration which I wouldn't find appealing. I flew AA777-300 J which is basically the CX seat. I liked it (particularly as you have individual air vents unlike on CX.

 

[PaulST]

I have booked BA1 the all business flight from LCY to JFK keen to try this one, am transiting from DUB and will avoid the LHR departure tax. BA1 also clears US customs in Shannon where it tops up with fuel, (cant take off from LCY with a full load). I found BA had best availability but their J generally not rated highly. From JFK to Syd CX had by far the best availability in777. Also flying with them SYD FRA.

Ah yes I see there's some availability on BA1 and BA2 but I'd rather fly in a wide body. Having said that, there would be some novelty in flying in an all-J flight.
Yeah I'm finding heaps of BA flights, both J and F, but their offering isn't great. I've flown with them in J (787-9) and it was OK but nothing special.
After I removed the SYD-HKG leg, I noticed a lot of HKG-JFK opening up too, both in J and F! It's tempting as I haven't tried CX F yet!

If looking for AY350, you might want to avoid BKK as last time I checked they were still using A330's on that route. HKG seemed pretty good for AY availability when I was booking... or if you are looking at trying products, you could try and get on JAL's 787 to HEL and then AY350 to LHR. Or backtrack from LHR back to HEL to head to North America.

As for the final leg, trying to get direct USA to Australia flights is tough. Not impossible, but tough. I've had luck through LAX before to book QFA380. Otherwise, CX has good availability to HKG from most N.A ports barring YVR (well at least I always had issues finding seats direct from there).

With the AA787... if I am not mistaken the 787-9 is reverse herringbone (good!) and the 787-8 has a front seat/back seat configuration which I wouldn't find appealing. I flew AA777-300 J which is basically the CX seat. I liked it (particularly as you have individual air vents unlike on CX.

I think AY fly the A350 to BKK now, but I'd rather fly via HKG for the QF lounge and The Pier (business class, as I will have lost OWE by then). I've already tried JAL's 788 J and is was reasonable. I understand I'll need to ring QF to get JAL awards?

Thanks, a good tip about AA's 788 J product. I just assumed it was the reverse herringbone. I'll have to aim for 77Ws or 789s.
Are there any European ports that seem to have more availability into the USA? Again, I'm seeing heaps of BA availability but not even J or F AA availability across the Atlantic.

 

[hutch]

Ah yes I see there's some availability on BA1 and BA2 but I'd rather fly in a wide body. Having said that, there would be some novelty in flying in an all-J flight.
Yeah I'm finding heaps of BA flights, both J and F, but their offering isn't great. I've flown with them in J (787-9) and it was OK but nothing special.
After I removed the SYD-HKG leg, I noticed a lot of HKG-JFK opening up too, both in J and F! It's tempting as I haven't tried CX F yet!


I think AY fly the A350 to BKK now, but I'd rather fly via HKG for the QF lounge and The Pier (business class, as I will have lost OWE by then). I've already tried JAL's 788 J and is was reasonable. I understand I'll need to ring QF to get JAL awards?

Thanks, a good tip about AA's 788 J product. I just assumed it was the reverse herringbone. I'll have to aim for 77Ws or 789s.
Are there any European ports that seem to have more availability into the USA? Again, I'm seeing heaps of BA availability but not even J or F AA availability across the Atlantic.

When I was booking AY for March next year, BKK was still coming up A330. Might be different now. Good choice on HKG with great lounges and no need to go via Japan if you've already tried it out!

When I did AA 777 it was JFK to LHR. But looking at forums suggest award seat availability on American has basically dried up... maybe Madrid is an option? If you can't get AA availability you can fall back on Iberia (who also have pretty cheap taxes)

 

[PaulST]

When I was booking AY for March next year, BKK was still coming up A330. Might be different now. Good choice on HKG with great lounges and no need to go via Japan if you've already tried it out!

When I did AA 777 it was JFK to LHR. But looking at forums suggest award seat availability on American has basically dried up... maybe Madrid is an option? If you can't get AA availability you can fall back on Iberia (who also have pretty cheap taxes)

Hmmm you may be right about BKK. Eitherway, I'd prefer to stop in HKG.
Yeah I've been trying to find AA from Chicago, JFK, DFW and LAX and can't find a single J award ticket. I might have to give up on trying AA...


My current thinking is:
SYD-MEL
MEL-LAX - QF 789 (there's some availability, otherwise I'll ask for a WP release)
LAX-LHR - BA A388 or 747. The A380 is a better aircraft but there's a sentimental attraction towards the 747.
LHR-HEL - AY A350
HEL-HKG - AY A350
HKG - BNE or MEL - CX A359 or 77W
BNE/MEL- SYD.

Seem reasonable?