Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Jacques Vert]

I’ve been doing a lot of reading (this thread is golden) and clicking as I plan a year away with the family. I’m looking to lock in the early legs of this as I’m hoping for Jan 2020 departure. Unfortunately this booking blows the multi city tool on Qantas and I don’t know if I can call and do a dummy check over the phone. I’m using Y and there are 4 of us!

MEL – SIN Qantas
Land segment SIN – HKG
HKG – FCO CX
Land segment FCO - MAD
MAD – MEX Iberia
Land segment MEX - CUN
CUN – LIM – SCL LATAM
SCL- MEL (or SCL- AKL- MEL) LATAM

I’m getting this in at just under 30 000 miles and think that I’m meeting the rules. I’ve also broken it down into manageable chunks on the Qantas website to get an approx of extra charges and it looks like about $2000 all in for four of us.

I’d love any feedback if others have looked at similar routes.

It is not uncommon for itineraries including IB flights to throw an error on the multi-city tool.

Of course you can call and ask them to check availability and taxes on any itinerary; not a problem (although best to avoid peck call times such as when Pakistan closes their airspace or when weather has closed SYD on a Friday afternoon).

However, note that some agents will advise that each of your land segments will be counted as two stopovers and therefore you have too many (not correct but that is how some agents interpret the rules). Best to book online if you can.

 

[blu]

Would lke to go LAX-SLC (then SLC-AUS) but only OW affiliates like American Eagle fly direct? They would be excluded from OWA? I think AA mainline is via Phoenix which would be out of the way for SLC.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Would lke to go LAX-SLC (then SLC-AUS) but only OW affiliates like American Eagle fly direct? They would be excluded from OWA? I think AA mainline is via Phoenix which would be out of the way for SLC.

I believe that American Eagle is an eligible carrier for the One World Classic Award.
An easy way to test that belief would be to create a dummy booking which includes a sector on AE, and see if the points cap continues to operate.

 

[Kangol]

I believe that American Eagle is an eligible carrier for the One World Classic Award.

American Eagle is allowed.
It's treated like AA, in the same way Qantaslink is treated like Qantas.

 

[blu]

thanks, I knew there was an itinerary here a couple of years back that had SLC, thought things may have changed with regional jets. The Embraer 175 will be a first for us and looking forward to that (preferably in first).

 

[p--and--t]

Would lke to go LAX-SLC (then SLC-AUS) but only OW affiliates like American Eagle fly direct? They would be excluded from OWA? I think AA mainline is via Phoenix which would be out of the way for SLC.

AA seems to have a number of "affiliates" and carriers who operate on behalf of that affiliate of AA. (i.e. third or fourth party).

I have travelled on at least three "operators" (metal) on behalf of AA in the US on a 280K redemption and also on straight out QF award bookings.

All depends on the routing and the code share arrangement.

Theresonlyonejimmy is spot on - test the system for the flight you want.

BTW: I have flown SLC-LAX on Eagle within the last six months on a 280K redemption

 

[Warren Mason]

Yesterday when I checked flights from AMS to London (various airports) there were 10 or 11 flights all with seats in both classes on Dec 27. I didn't have the time to call and book yesterday so I was going to wait till Fri. Checking again tonight and there is only 1 flight via Dublin on Dec 16 for the entire month. Is this something that BA does or has there been a sudden increase in bookings just because I was looking?

 

[exceladdict]

I can't recall if this question has been asked, apologies if a double up. Is it possible to change the initial departure point/POS after booking?

i.e. if I book MNL/HKG/SIN, could I later add on PER/DOH/MNL to start with?

 

[cjd600]

I can't recall if this question has been asked, apologies if a double up. Is it possible to change the initial departure point/POS after booking?

i.e. if I book MNL/HKG/SIN, could I later add on PER/DOH/MNL to start with?

Yes

 

[p--and--t]

I can't recall if this question has been asked, apologies if a double up. Is it possible to change the initial departure point/POS after booking?

i.e. if I book MNL/HKG/SIN, could I later add on PER/DOH/MNL to start with?

Yes

Just be aware if you change sectors or airports in your booking your taxes and charges will be automatically recalculated, particularly with change of POS to anywhere in AU then they are likely to increase.

It is my understanding legislation for point of sale MNL prevents airlines adding some fuel charges etc. Happy to stand corrected if this is misinformation.

 

[p--and--t]

Yesterday when I checked flights from AMS to London (various airports) there were 10 or 11 flights all with seats in both classes on Dec 27. I didn't have the time to call and book yesterday so I was going to wait till Fri. Checking again tonight and there is only 1 flight via Dublin on Dec 16 for the entire month. Is this something that BA does or has there been a sudden increase in bookings just because I was looking?

I just logged into BA and looked for avios availability on Dec 27th and found 16 flights on that day with 2 or 4 Y seats and 11 flights with 2 J seats. These "should" be available for QF award flights.

 

[Warren Mason]

I just logged into BA and looked for avios availability on Dec 27th and found 16 flights on that day with 2 or 4 Y seats and 11 flights with 2 J seats. These "should" be available for QF award flights.

I could see these using the QF on-line search on Sunday but they are not there any more. If I search for flights to Dublin they all show up again with a transit through London which of cause won't work. I assume that if Ican't see them the booking agents won't be able to book them? I guess I will just have to keep watching and grab them if they return or catch the train.

 

[jetset]

Quick question guys:
I want to make a partial booking and going to add legs next year as they become available.

Do I have to do this over the phone? Are there any online options to amend bookings?
The reason I ask is because I'm getting a WP family member to book for me and they're not going to spend hours on the phone arguing with Qantas.

 

[cjd600]

Quick question guys:
I want to make a partial booking and going to add legs next year as they become available.

Do I have to do this over the phone? Are there any online options to amend bookings?
The reason I ask is because I'm getting a WP family member to book for me and they're not going to spend hours on the phone arguing with Qantas.

You can make the first piece of the booking online (in most cases).
Any subsequent change/addition/amendment must be over the phone, or by online chat. I you give booking reference, name, date and destination of first flight etc identification questions, you should be able to do it via chat. But WP might be able to have more 'access' to especially QF award seats than you have doing it yourself. Partner airlines shouldnt be any different

 

[jetset]

You can make the first piece of the booking online (in most cases).
Any subsequent change/addition/amendment must be over the phone, or by online chat. I you give booking reference, name, date and destination of first flight etc identification questions, you should be able to do it via chat. But WP might be able to have more 'access' to especially QF award seats than you have doing it yourself. Partner airlines shouldnt be any different

Interesting. So if the first flight is booked for me by my WP family member, would I be able to make the amendments or would it have to be my WP family member?

 

[madrooster]

Interesting. So if the first flight is booked for me by my WP family member, would I be able to make the amendments or would it have to be my WP family member?

The person who is supplying the points needs to do it.

 

[cjd600]

Interesting. So if the first flight is booked for me by my WP family member, would I be able to make the amendments or would it have to be my WP family member?

havent tried it....not sure if they'll make changes for the person in the booking, or if it needs to be made by the person who made the booking. Not sure how'd they'd know either way if you can answer their questions. Pretty sure they only ask Names of people travelling, booking ref and first flight to/from + date of departure

 

[Jacques Vert]

The reason I ask is because I'm getting a WP family member to book for me and they're not going to spend hours on the phone arguing with Qantas.

As a WP, at least they shouldn't have to wait hours for the phone to be answered

havent tried it....not sure if they'll make changes for the person in the booking, or if it needs to be made by the person who made the booking. Not sure how'd they'd know either way if you can answer their questions. Pretty sure they only ask Names of people travelling, booking ref and first flight to/from + date of departure

As the (additional) points will be coming from the WP's account, the QF agent will want to know their QFF number and PIN; if doing it by chat you'll need to know those details and the names, etc., as cjd600 as stated above.

If calling (probably the easier way), get the WP to make the initial call and then advise the agent s/he is handing the phone over to you (and that they are happy for you to handle things from there). I've done this before on a couple of occasions without issue.

 

[cjd600]

As a WP, at least they shouldn't have to wait hours for the phone to be answered



As the (additional) points will be coming from the WP's account, the QF agent will want to know their QFF number and PIN; if doing it by chat you'll need to know those details and the names, etc., as cjd600 as stated above.

If calling (probably the easier way), get the WP to make the initial call and then advise the agent s/he is handing the phone over to you (and that they are happy for you to handle things from there). I've done this before on a couple of occasions without issue.

Good point....just dug out an old chat transcript, and they provide secure online form for you to hand over your PIN )ie the WP pin)

 

[jetset]

Thanks for the tips guys, will probably just use online chat!