Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[leer30]

Thanks. What was the route you ended up booking?

June to August 2019

PER xHKG YVR (stop) CX (both A350)
YVR - JFK (stop) CX (777)
**ground segment to Chicago**
ORD xLHR BRU (stop) BA (A380 + A320)
**ground segment to Rome**
FCO xLHR BER (stop) BA (A320)
**ground segment to Frankfurt**
FRA - NRT (stop) JL (787)
NRT xHKG PER CX (A330 + A350)

As a bit of an AVgeek, I'm looking forward to trying our the CX A350, BA A380 and JL 787

Was going to go FCO to HKG (stop) then to NRT - but just couldn't get Qatar or Cathay on the days required, so adjusted trip to make Berlin a stopover and fly out JL from Frankfurt to NRT direct on a Dreamliner (seemed to have a fair bit of availability)

 

[Aussiejosh]

Does anyone know what taxes on Royal Jordanian is like?
From two flights I've calculated i have got the following in AUD

Rome - Amman ~$250
Amman - Hong Kong ~$450
Amman - Cairo ~$340

Anyone confirm they are high? Is it one to avoid?

 

[landl]

Have been booking my third J OW RTW fare x 2 and to say it’s been a nightmare is an understatement.

I had BNE-HKG-DOH-LHR ticketed with CX/QR with about $AUD1000 in surcharges.

I rang to add CDG-LHR-JFK/JFK-YVR/YVR-HKG/HKG-CMB/MLE-HKG-BNE/ with BA/CX/UL.

I had J confirmed on everything and then the Qantas CSR said he would request J on the UL leg, which I said didn’t matter because it was only an hour flight. Over the next week I repeatedly contacted Qantas and told them the QR flights would drop out if it wasn’t ticketed quickly. They insisted all would be well. Six days later, the QR flights dropped out.

Since then I’ve been shunted from one person to another.

At some point someone removed the UL/CX flights MLE-CMB-HKG and added MLE-DOH-SIN-BNE with QR/QF. As it stands now I have BNE-SYD-SIN-LHR (QF)/ CDG-LHR-JFK (BA)/JFK-YVR (CX) /YVR-HKG (CX) /HKG-CMB (CX) /MLE-DOH-SIN (QR)-BNE (QF).

Last night I was told this was the best that could be done and that we should ticket it before the QR seats dropped out. Then he dropped the bombshell – surcharges $4300 on top of the $1000 already paid!

Last year I did BNE-ADL-DOH-ATH/ATH-LHR-CDG/BER-HEL-JFK/JFK-YVR/LAS-LAX-HKG-PEK/PEK-SYD-BNE for 2 x J and paid a little under $2800. When I told the CSR it had to be the QF flights that had blown it out, he maintained he did a dummy booking with CX flights and it came out close to the same. I can’t believe it! Would appreciate any help. I’m desperate ☹

 

[serfty]

Please, please don't use the term "taxes" in total reference to additional payments beyond the points needed for a redemption.

"Taxes" generally form but a minor part of any additional payment required which is composed of various mandated airport/government fees/levies and carrier surcharges. The fees/levies are set; it's the carrier surcharges such as fuel and insurance imposed by the airlines that vary so much.

Use "Surcharges", co-payment, "+++" or similar.

Why? The blanket use of the term "taxes" plays into the carriers' hands in masking their onerous surcharges.

 

[rock86]

As it stands now I have BNE-SYD-SIN-LHR (QF)/ CDG-LHR-JFK (BA)/JFK-YVR (CX) /YVR-HKG (CX) /HKG-CMB (CX) /MLE-DOH-SIN (QR)-BNE (QF).

Carrier surcharges, approximate from the above and also multi-city tool (using Aus as point of travel).

BNE-LHR(QF) $ 540
CDG-JFK(BA) $ 309
JFK-YVR(CX) $ 26
YVR-HKG(CX) $ 117
HKG-CMB(CX) $ 117
MLE-SIN(QR) $ 516
SIN-BNE(QF) $ 240

Carrier surcharge approximate total per pax = $ 1,865

So another ~$800 in actual taxes per pax to bring you to the total paid, as tough as a pill it is to swallow it does all add up.

 

[JohnM]

And, following on from @serfty, please, please, please don't use J OW RTW.

First up, there is no such thing as a specific 'package'.

A OneWorld Explorer (aka xONEx) is a RTW 'package', in the case of Business Class booking into the D bucket. This is the true RTW fare.

This thread is all about the OW Award fixed 140K, 280K (in the case of Business Class), 420K points 'package'. There is no requirement to go 'RTW'.

 

[landl]

Carrier surcharges, approximate from the above and also multi-city tool (using Aus as point of travel).

BNE-LHR(QF) $ 540
CDG-JFK(BA) $ 309
JFK-YVR(CX) $ 26
YVR-HKG(CX) $ 117
HKG-CMB(CX) $ 117
MLE-SIN(QR) $ 516
SIN-BNE(QF) $ 240

Carrier surcharge approximate total per pax = $ 1,865

So another ~$800 in actual taxes per pax to bring you to the total paid, as tough as a pill it is to swallow it does all add up.

Thank you for your help

 

[bobcat]

Hi all, this is my first attempt at planning and booking a RTW trip.

Oct 3: SYD to NRT (Qantas or Japan Air)
Oct 12: NRT to FCO (Cathay, less than 24-hour stopover in Hong Kong ... if not possible, Qatar via Doha)
Nov 3: FCO/MXP to LIS/OPO (Iberia)
Nov 12: OPO/LIS to BOS (Iberia or AA, less than 24-hour stopover in Madrid)
Dec 10: DFW to SYD (QF)

Iberia flights to US look like hard work. Am now thinking about doing something this (especially given AY surcharge):
SYD-NRT-HKG-FCO-HEL-LIS-HEL-BOS-DFW-SYD

Plan would be both stops in HEL less than 24 hours, so they're transits rather than stopovers.

Doesn't come up while searching rewards A>B but can find some decent options as multi-city bookings.
Am I ok to book FCO-HEL-LIS then LIS-HEL-BOS as multi-city bookings, then add to oneworld award shell? Even though they are separate segments, it should still count as transit because >24 hours .. yeah?

 

[Kangol]

So another ~$800 in actual taxes per pax to bring you to the total paid, as tough as a pill it is to swallow it does all add up.

You are still getting a very good deal and in some circumstances paying less than 10% or even 5% of the equivalent revenue fare.

The underlying culture of entitlement is astounding.

Points are just another form of currency that do not follow banking regulations. They are exchanged for services or goods of value, after all.

If the cost is a concern, don't travel. Or make more money. Just saying.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Iberia flights to US look like hard work. Am now thinking about doing something this (especially given AY surcharge):
SYD-NRT-HKG-FCO-HEL-LIS-HEL-BOS-DFW-SYD

Plan would be both stops in HEL less than 24 hours, so they're transits rather than stopovers.

Doesn't come up while searching rewards A>B but can find some decent options as multi-city bookings.
Am I ok to book FCO-HEL-LIS then LIS-HEL-BOS as multi-city bookings, then add to oneworld award shell? Even though they are separate segments, it should still count as transit because >24 hours .. yeah?

Don’t think you can make a multi city booking then add it to a Oneworld award, others can confirm

 

[Aussiejosh]

It is possible on a rare instance, if you have an issue and can manage to convince them (I had it when one of my flights there was no availability on the phone but I booked it online and they merged it). But I just tried about an hour ago for the same issue and they wouldn't have a bar of it

Also be careful with Finnair (AY) as they do have married segments. I just tried booking ROM-HEL then HEL-PEK within a 24 hour stopover and it wouldn't let me book both. Could do one or the other.

 

[cjd600]

It is possible on a rare instance, if you have an issue and can manage to convince them (I had it when one of my flights there was no availability on the phone but I booked it online and they merged it). But I just tried about an hour ago for the same issue and they wouldn't have a bar of it

Also be careful with Finnair (AY) as they do have married segments. I just tried booking ROM-HEL then HEL-PEK within a 24 hour stopover and it wouldn't let me book both. Could do one or the other.

I've never come across being able to 'merge' bookings.. it'd make this game a great deal easier if that was the case and one didn't need to rely on the QF call centre lottery.
Agree re beware AY, and would also add IB to that. I've had trouble with both trying to add intra-Europe flights, showing available on QF

 

[madrooster]

Agree re beware AY, and would also add IB to that. I've had trouble with both trying to add intra-Europe flights, showing available on QF

Both AY and IB use married segment control. You must search as origin destination.

 

[cjd600]

Both AY and IB use married segment control. You must search as origin destination.

Yep, did that (searched origin to dest). And called QF to add to the booking.
QF staff still couldnt add AY searching NCE-HEL (results showing BA NCE-LHR, AY LHR-HEL), or IB to IB searching NCE-JFK (results showing NCE-MAD IB, MAD-JFK IB )
The AY and IB flights were stated as the problem each time ("only available for new bookings was one of the more common reasons given,amongst many on various calls). They also wouldnt let me add MAD-JFK IB, whioch was showing as a standlone. But would let me take HEL-JFK on AY (which I was happy with until the issues trying to get top HEL)
Both searches came up as NCE-HEL. (as I have HEL-JFK already booked AY)
Have had to do BA/BA and overnight LHR, NCE-LHR-HEL
:-(

 

[rock86]

You are still getting a very good deal and in some circumstances paying less than 10% or even 5% of the equivalent revenue fare.

The underlying culture of entitlement is astounding.

Points are just another form of currency that do not follow banking regulations. They are exchanged for services or goods of value, after all.

If the cost is a concern, don't travel. Or make more money. Just saying.

Huh

A 'culture of entitlement' is a pretty long bow to draw from that comment.

I'm more then happy to pay the carrier charges and taxes as it's still a good deal, have never said that I wasn't anywhere on this forum. It still is however somewhat of hard pill to swallow when you redeem QF awards, when other programs used do not impose such surcharges.

Associating a feeling when comparing it to another program is a far cry away from a culture of entitlement.

 

[ellen10]

I rang today to add 2 CX flights and then realised that they were probably married segments. The operated confirmed that as she tried to book it without success, then she tried again and the booking went through. She was surprised and so was I. I confirmed again with her that it would work, at first the points count blew out so she put me on hold spoke to someone and then came back online to say that it was all booked. I actually would not relax until the new ticket was in my email box. So my 280 x 2 J bookings is complete.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

HI everyone,

Am in the middle of a 280k award and looking to change some flight's from BOG to MIA however apparently not able to use web chat when outside Australia. It looks like we might need to contact Chile office during business hours but would much prefer to try via the web chat option and wondering if anyone might know how I could do this​

 

[sudoer]

however apparently not able to use web chat when outside Australia

That's correct.

would much prefer to try via the web chat option and wondering if anyone might know how I could do this

Do you have access to a VPN with exit node in Australia? I've used Torguard to appear in other countries, but YMMV.

Avoid free VPN services - if you're not paying, you (/your data) are the product.

 

[QFFBNE]

Looking for some advice booking AA SFO to JFK next September?

Using the various advice in this thread I have almost completed booking multi-city booking for two pax in J leaving mid Sept 2019 and returning mid Oct 2019
Route is:
BNE/SYD/SFO - QF booked
SFO/JFK _ AA not booked
JKF/LHR - BA booked
London to Paris - train
CDG/FCO - BA not booked
FCO/DOH/HKG/BNE - QR to HKG (16 hour stopover) then CX to BNE all booked

BNE/SFO was easy to book, as was JFK to LHR.

Plenty of options available for the Paris to Rome leg so I wont bother booking until I finalise the itinerary to save 5,000 point change fees.
We wanted to do QR on the return from Rome to Brisbane and could get J seats as far as Singapore but of course its the leg into Australia that's the hardest. Ended up having a stop over in HKG which although short is no problem and J all the way.

However The only flights I haven't been able to get yet are the SFO/JFK leg. AA are the only Oneworld partner we can use (5 flights a day) but still no award seats showing up for the 15th/16th or 17th of Sept. Does anyone have any idea when AA release their award seats or their availability?

Also for those having trouble getting through to QFF I usually ring around 6.30 am and have at the most a 5 minute wait on hold. Have to give credit too because every single operator has been brilliant to deal with..

 

[rock86]

Looking for some advice booking AA SFO to JFK next September?

Using the various advice in this thread I have almost completed booking multi-city booking for two pax in J leaving mid Sept 2019 and returning mid Oct 2019
Route is:
BNE/SYD/SFO - QF booked
SFO/JFK _ AA not booked
JKF/LHR - BA booked
London to Paris - train
CDG/FCO - BA not booked
FCO/DOH/HKG/BNE - QR to HKG (16 hour stopover) then QF to SYD all booked

BNE/SFO was easy to book, as was JFK to LHR.

Plenty of options available for the Paris to Rome leg so I wont bother booking until I finalise the itinerary to save 5,000 point change fees.
We wanted to do QR on the return from Rome to Brisbane and could get J seats as far as Singapore but of course its the leg into Australia that's the hardest. Ended up having a stop over in HKG which although short is no problem and J all the way.

However The only flights I haven't been able to get yet are the SFO/JFK leg. AA are the only Oneworld partner we can use (5 flights a day) but still no award seats showing up for the 15th/16th or 17th of Sept. Does anyone have any idea when AA release their award seats or their availability?

Also for those having trouble getting through to QFF I usually ring around 6.30 am and have at the most a 5 minute wait on hold. Have to give credit too because every single operator has been brilliant to deal with..

If you can't get direct SFO-JFK flights may be beneficial looking connecting via one of AA domestic hubs ie. DFW, ORD, CLT, PHX