Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[pye1201]

Given that it’s early days yet to gauge how the September 18 changes to the award travel will pan out I would appreciate thoughts from more experienced award travellers than myself. Early signs on this forum are encouraging that Qantas may not readjust from 280K to 318K points charged for a Oneworld Classic Flight reward and in fact allow the original 280K points charge to stand on ticketed itineraries which are changed/adjusted before commencement of travel. I have an itinerary (paid for and ticketed) to commence 1 June 2020 as follows:

SYD-HKG-CMB(stopover)-DOH-LHR(stopover)-JFK(stopover)-LGA-DFW-MEX(stopover)-LAX-HKG(stopover)-SYD.

As we are planning on taking 9 months to complete this itinerary, I have booked dummy dates for the latter half of the itinerary and if Qantas demonstrates they will leave the points charge at the original 280K, I intend to make those date flight date changes before June 2020 (if not my plan was to make the changes in July whilst in Europe, having completed the first two legs of the itinerary).

I realise that once travel has commenced it will be impossible to make any changes other than date and flight number, however is it possible to add a flight to that itinerary before the date of travel, given I have used only 12 of the 16 allowed segments. I would like to add a flight after the MEX-LAX-HKG sector to BKK (using a second transit in HKG) with a surface sector back to HKG (we wanted to explore Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam from the stopover in HKG) before our return in 2021. From previous information on this thread, that would give me two transits and one stopover in HKG which is allowed under the rules?

Would someone more knowledgeable than me like to clarify that for me?

 

[exceladdict]

Given that it’s early days yet to gauge how the September 18 changes to the award travel will pan out I would appreciate thoughts from more experienced award travellers than myself. Early signs on this forum are encouraging that Qantas may not readjust from 280K to 318K points charged for a Oneworld Classic Flight reward and in fact allow the original 280K points charge to stand on ticketed itineraries which are changed/adjusted before commencement of travel. I have an itinerary (paid for and ticketed) to commence 1 June 2020 as follows:

SYD-HKG-CMB(stopover)-DOH-LHR(stopover)-JFK(stopover)-LGA-DFW-MEX(stopover)-LAX-HKG(stopover)-SYD.

As we are planning on taking 9 months to complete this itinerary, I have booked dummy dates for the latter half of the itinerary and if Qantas demonstrates they will leave the points charge at the original 280K, I intend to make those date flight date changes before June 2020 (if not my plan was to make the changes in July whilst in Europe, having completed the first two legs of the itinerary).

I realise that once travel has commenced it will be impossible to make any changes other than date and flight number, however is it possible to add a flight to that itinerary before the date of travel, given I have used only 12 of the 16 allowed segments. I would like to add a flight after the MEX-LAX-HKG sector to BKK (using a second transit in HKG) with a surface sector back to HKG (we wanted to explore Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam from the stopover in HKG) before our return in 2021. From previous information on this thread, that would give me two transits and one stopover in HKG which is allowed under the rules?

Would someone more knowledgeable than me like to clarify that for me?

Should be. My current ticket has one transit, one open jaw ending in, and one stop in Tokyo.

 

[pottsy]

I realise I can only change date/flight number once travel has commenced, on my OWA but (if I ever get up the energy) can I change airline & route for one leg 'prior' to travel commencing?

 

[DC3]

I realise I can only change date/flight number once travel has commenced, on my OWA but (if I ever get up the energy) can I change airline & route for one leg 'prior' to travel commencing?

Yes, make any changes that you like, availability depending of course.

 

[pottsy]

Yes, make any changes that you like, availability depending of course.

Thanks very much for prompt answer

 

[DC3]

Thanks very much for prompt answer

Just remember the 5,000 points per passenger for each time that you make changes (i.e., for each phone call)

 

[pye1201]

Should be. My current ticket has one transit, one open jaw ending in, and one stop in Tokyo.

Thanks exceladdict - appreciate the answer. And with DC3's response to another query above, I will assume that I can add the flight I want to BKK pre-departure as well.
Cheers

 

[cambriamarsh]

Thanks exceladdict - appreciate the answer. And with DC3's response to another query above, I will assume that I can add the flight I want to BKK pre-departure as well.
Cheers

Just about to start our Oneworld Award going AKL-SYD HKG TLV with the SYD HKG leg in Y. CX had not released availability AKL HKG direct as of 6.30pm last night.

After checkin at AKL thought I'd have another look and 2 seats in J AKL HKG direct. Unfortunately all checked in so too late.

Moral of the story seems to be

1. Don't really on10.00 as being the only time of release of awards.
2. NEVER give up checking.

Trip is for the MDs 60th. She is taking it very well.

 

[Azusa]

Hi,
I have another question, would like to get your opinion on the best way to go about this.
So next year in end Aug we are going on the OWA, and the trip starts from Melbourne to Osaka, Osaka to Orlando then Orlando to europe...
When the flight was planned I was using the latest information at the time, despite AA release their flight a lot later than other airline, the Osaka to Orlando leg seems to be available frequent enough. I was searching around yesterday afternoon and noticed there were hardly any from mid Jul onwards, in fact even for economy isn't that many. I am a little worried about there isn't any available for my travel date (around early sept) and the alternative is to get ourselves to Tokyo and fly out from there but Tokyo only has economy available plus it has to go through London before going to Orlando (which i am trying to avoid because i have two transit in my trip already to when we leave orlando to europe, not to mention it would go over the 35k milage), any alternative suggestion? if i wait until AA release their flights ~331 days out will that be too risky? Thanks!

This was our original plan, departing late Aug (bold are the stopovers, underlined are booked)
MEL-HKG-KIX-LAX- MCO-LGW-LHR-MXP-LGW-PRG-DOH-HKT-HKG-SYD-MEL

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Bit of a technical question, but must a OWA booking meet all necessary rules/criteria from the time it is first booked or can it be 'converted' to a OWA later when the necessary rules are satisfied? My trip is scheduled to start in September next year, so at this point I can only book the way there (most likely AKL-DOH-LCA on QR) - can I book just these flights now, and then book the rest later as part of a OWA?

 

[exceladdict]

Bit of a technical question, but must a OWA booking meet all necessary rules/criteria from the time it is first booked or can it be 'converted' to a OWA later when the necessary rules are satisfied? My trip is scheduled to start in September next year, so at this point I can only book the way there (most likely AKL-DOH-LCA on QR) - can I book just these flights now, and then book the rest later as part of a OWA?

The latter. It should max out once the rules are met. Note this means it may cost more than the amount until you add the second Oneworld carrier etc.

 

[DC3]

Yes, as exceladdict has said. You can start with just one (or more flights). Then, you can keep phoning to add more flights.

Eventually it maxes out on points cost and stays there, provided you keep within the rules.

 

[exceladdict]

Hi,
I have another question, would like to get your opinion on the best way to go about this.
So next year in end Aug we are going on the OWA, and the trip starts from Melbourne to Osaka, Osaka to Orlando then Orlando to europe...
When the flight was planned I was using the latest information at the time, despite AA release their flight a lot later than other airline, the Osaka to Orlando leg seems to be available frequent enough. I was searching around yesterday afternoon and noticed there were hardly any from mid Jul onwards, in fact even for economy isn't that many. I am a little worried about there isn't any available for my travel date (around early sept) and the alternative is to get ourselves to Tokyo and fly out from there but Tokyo only has economy available plus it has to go through London before going to Orlando (which i am trying to avoid because i have two transit in my trip already to when we leave orlando to europe, not to mention it would go over the 35k milage), any alternative suggestion? if i wait until AA release their flights ~331 days out will that be too risky? Thanks!

This was our original plan, departing late Aug (bold are the stopovers, underlined are booked)
MEL-HKG-KIX-LAX- MCO-LGW-LHR-MXP-LGW-PRG-DOH-HKT-HKG-SYD-MEL

Your itinerary should be doable enough but I'd suggest you may need to be flexible with your intercontinental legs, just from an availability perspective. For example you're better off flying NRT-SEA/LAX/SFO/ORD/wherever on JL to get a business class seat for the long haul, and marrying that up with AA economy to MCO, rather than going all out for the specific AA long haul leg.

Same goes to get to Europe. Look at options on AY via HEL, etc. Then just add on a domestic AA leg to get to your city of departure. Worst case scenario do an open jaw and pay for the AA ticket; you get the value on this award by getting comfortable long haul J.

 

[Azusa]

Your itinerary should be doable enough but I'd suggest you may need to be flexible with your intercontinental legs, just from an availability perspective. For example you're better off flying NRT-SEA/LAX/SFO/ORD/wherever on JL to get a business class seat for the long haul, and marrying that up with AA economy to MCO, rather than going all out for the specific AA long haul leg.

Same goes to get to Europe. Look at options on AY via HEL, etc. Then just add on a domestic AA leg to get to your city of departure. Worst case scenario do an open jaw and pay for the AA ticket; you get the value on this award by getting comfortable long haul J.

Thank you excelladdict, i cannot thank you enough for all the help i have received. You have practically saved me a lot of stress with this.

I have searched for flights and it is much easier to get myself into Osaka - LAX then LAX to Orlando with Osaka-LAX in business, that part is now locked in and worse case if we can't get LAX-MCO with AA its probably easy enough for us to just buy a ticket to get there ourselves.

Our Orlando to Milan is booked already with BA so thats all good, from here on it should be relatively okay to book fingers crossed despite it cost us a few points in changing the booking.

Just as a side note, when i try to book in there are a lot of availability show up via the website but the agent actually couldn't find any for at least a couple i can see, she said that even if one segment is available it will still show up even there is no availability, is that true or she is just fibbing?

Thank you thank you so much again!

 

[exceladdict]

Thank you excelladdict, i cannot thank you enough for all the help i have received. You have practically saved me a lot of stress with this.

I have searched for flights and it is much easier to get myself into Osaka - LAX then LAX to Orlando with Osaka-LAX in business, that part is now locked in and worse case if we can't get LAX-MCO with AA its probably easy enough for us to just buy a ticket to get there ourselves.

Our Orlando to Milan is booked already with BA so thats all good, from here on it should be relatively okay to book fingers crossed despite it cost us a few points in changing the booking.

Just as a side note, when i try to book in there are a lot of availability show up via the website but the agent actually couldn't find any for at least a couple i can see, she said that even if one segment is available it will still show up even there is no availability, is that true or she is just fibbing?

Thank you thank you so much again!

Very welcome.

It's not uncommon for agents to not be able to see availability that you can; but it does depend on the airline you're searching for and what website you're looking on. Referred to as "phantom availability". In most cases the agent is right; but you can double check for example JAL availability by checking on another oneworld partner such as BA.

That said, booking my last trip the agent couldn't even see QF flights that were showing online! So there is an element of lucky dip.

 

[adenda]

I dare anyone to top these taxes:

MEL-xHKG-BRU CX
BRU-xLHR-HEL BA
HEL-LJU (Slovenia) AY
GLA-xLHR-SFO BA
SFO-xHKG-MEL CX

Taxes came to almost $1900 for one.

Try this:

MEL-ADL QF
ADL-DOH-ZRH QR
ZRH-LHR-MIA BA
MIA-LIM LA
LIM-MAD-BCN IB
BCN-DOH-KUL QR
KUL-ADL MH
ADL-MEL QF

... for the bargain price of $2,133.26 per person. Searched for each leg as paid flights on ITA Matrix and the taxes and charges came up as several hundred more so decided to just swallow it. As others have said, still worth it for J across the board (including 14+ hours in Q Suites)

 

[adenda]

Try the

To select seats use manage your booking on CX & IB website or app. I found it works for CX but not IB.

Try "Manage Your Booking" on Finnair or Royal Jordanian - worked for me (and seat selections stuck) where IB wouldn't.

 

[azza_1992]

I'm looking at modifying an existing one-way award (PNR dated pre-17/9) to take advantage of the cheaper 280k rate.

Existing booking (all J, QF): BNE-PER-LHR
Proposed routing (all J, QF, BA, JL): BNE-PER-LHR(stop)-HEL-NRT(stop)-FRA-LHR

I've run the LHR-HEL-NRT-FRA-LHR portion through the QF website to get an idea of additional taxes/surcharges I'm on the hook for, and it's higher than expected.

1. Air Passenger Duty: 172GBP - Shouldn't this be 26GBP as I'm departing from the UK on a short <2k miles flight?
2. Other carrier charges: 300AUD - Presumably this is a 150AUD "Q surcharge" on both JAL flights. I thought this rate only applied once per booking with any number of JAL flights?

Any ideas what I've got wrong?

 

[motef]

What are peoples thoughts on existing bookings that contain a LATAM flight as part of the award now they are leaving OW?

Will that leg be cancelled?

 

[travellerqff]

What are peoples thoughts on existing bookings that contain a LATAM flight as part of the award now they are leaving OW?

Will that leg be cancelled?

Probably all honoured if booked before the yet-be-announced cut off date.