Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[redwoodw]

So I have finally had my trip re-ticketed with the correct itinerary.

It took over 30 calls, but I have new e-ticket numbers and everything is confirmed in Business (U).
The lady I spoke to today was fantastic. She waited on hold with ticketing and wouldn't hang up until it had been processed manually and I had the new ticket numbers.

I didn't have to pay any fare difference and it didn't matter that the route technically didn't qualify for a oneworld award (Only AY and QF flights). I even questioned this, thinking it may have been the reason the ticket wasn't coming through, but she said it didn't matter. I was dubious, but she obviously knew what she was talking about.

It doesn't mention it on the Qantas e-ticket - but I requested one from Finnair, and it has a bit more detail on it. It has section under taxes that says Restrictions/Endorsements, and next to that states 'Involuntary Reroute QF FF Redemption'

I'm not sure why Qantas has all of a sudden started actively trying to help re-route people on Qantas metal, but I'm extremely happy.
Sure I would have preferred my original Route - BNE - MEL - NRT - HEL, I was keen to try out JAL Business, but considering JAL cancelled the flight I really can't complain with the result.

Did the flights on request changed to confirmed automatically or you had to call in for some form of manual intervention? My flights been on request for 2 days now... agent this morning said there's nothing they can do which I'm sceptical

 

[renatts]

Did the flights on request changed to confirmed automatically or you had to call in for some form of manual intervention? My flights been on request for 2 days now... agent this morning said there's nothing they can do which I'm sceptical

I called Saturday and a guy from Cape Town escalated that and fixed it.
Unfortunately the call dropped while I was on hold. I'm fairly confident he would have also got it ticketed for me. I was devastated.

I didn't mention it being requested, I just asked about the delay in ticketing and he went off and fixed it himself.

 

[redwoodw]

I called Saturday and a guy from Cape Town escalated that and fixed it.
Unfortunately the call dropped while I was on hold. I'm fairly confident he would have also got it ticketed for me. I was devastated.

I didn't mention it being requested, I just asked about the delay in ticketing and he went off and fixed it himself.

Sounds like HUACA it is.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm not sure why Qantas has all of a sudden started actively trying to help re-route people on Qantas metal, but I'm extremely happy.

I think it must be because of ‘subdued demand’ as qantas likes to call it.

Qantas Frequent Flyer owns the points and pays for any redemptions to the airline you fly. If planes are full and Qantas can sell lots of seats, they don’t really need the low value FF award redemptions.

But if their planes are not so full, they might as well get whatever $$ they can for the empty seats, as long as they help cover costs.

By transferring you off a partner airline and on to a qantas flight, qantas is getting that small bit of revenue. Even if a one way award if 50k in economy, that’s still $500 for a seat (1c per point) that they otherwise wouldn’t have got. (In ordinary times when planes are full and qantas can sell that seat for $800 they don’t really want or need your FF award, but now they do!)

Once planes start to fill up again I’m not sure this policy will continue.

 

[bnr032]

An update on my cancelled AA flight from LAX-HND…waited 1.5 hours on the phone to Qantas and for once it was worth it.

Managed to get a really helpful agent who without any prompting, was able to offer up an alternative on QF from LAX-BNE-MEL which actually works out much better for me so thanks AA for canceling the flight.

Worth noting this was released inventory and not existing classic awards seats so many thanks QF.

No Such luck for me.
My original part of this trip was BNE-HND-LAX

but the HND-LAX was canned from AA (at the time there was no JAL business seats left - still isnt).
I just waited 1.5 hrs for a call back, and the agent from fiji, whilst helpful - could only find a business seat but meant a 2 day layover in Tokyo - which atm since its closed for tourism - wasnt ideal (i also gave her the option to start sector from BNE again, and gave a couple of days either side grace for options)
However during the call (i was searching online too) we now have BNE-HND-HEL-LAX. So going the long way around - but ohwell lets call it an adventure. (and ill keep checking online for any other options to be released in the mean time)

 

[k_sheep]

Phoned today to add the final flights to my itinerary; just adding data points as a QFF gold
Call 1, 6:10am QLD time (0710 AEDST). Answered in South Africa in 5 mins, staff adamant flights couldn't be added to an award and tried to book one separately and link PNRs. Politely said I'll do it online and hung up.
Call 2, 6:40am. Answered in Fiji in 11 mins. Lovely gentleman who found the flights, short hold to determine taxes, said there will be no more points required. I expressed concern about losing the other flights during reticketing and he understood and reassured me he will push it through as quickly as possible. New E-tickets arrived in 43 minutes.

Relatively painless, thankfully!

 

[QF029]

I finalised my itinerary for June a few weeks ago. It still doesn't appear to be ticketed which is not a big deal except it would be reassuring to have it locked in be able to select seats on OW partner flights.

Any suggestions other than calling and pushing?

After another 2 calls this is now resolved. The problem was a $3.10 change in taxes that they didn't charge properly.

Kudos to the QF call centre guy who spent a couple of hours chasing this down and mercifully didn't keep me on hold.

 

[Stusipad]

Well, as expected my route all fell in a heap. Hadn't received an e-ticket so called up to find out why and was told l had to pay another 180,000 points (+$450) due to the EK booking - the exact one l warned the previous attendant that 'Emirates cant be included in an OWA booking' and was assured that 'no it was possible'.. Sigh..

Waiting on hold to see if an acceptable compromise can be reached. Fist bump to anyone else having more success than me!

Edit/Update: Aaaannnddd... Call dropped whilst on hold. Annoying, as l had found a Qatar flight that looks like it will work whilst waiting, but l couldn't tell anyone because (l was on hold..) Sad Panda, back on the phone again.

 

[renatts]

Well, as expected my route all fell in a heap. Hadn't received an e-ticket so called up to find out why and was told l had to pay another 180,000 points (+$450) due to the EK booking - the exact one l warned the previous attendant that 'Emirates cant be included in an OWA booking' and was assured that 'no it was possible'.. Sigh..

Waiting on hold to see if an acceptable compromise can be reached. Fist bump to anyone else having more success than me!

I’m still nervous about my solution for the same reason. Doesn’t fit “oneworld award” parameters or taxes.

I just double checked my e-ticket from Qantas and realised there’s no ticket number, however when I request the ticket from Finnair it does have a ticket number that matches the one e-mailed to me by the agent in text format.

It’s all very confusing. My booking must look like an absolute mess.

Does anyone know any way to check the validity of the ticket number I have? Would hate to turn up to the airport and be told it’s not valid…

 

[Stusipad]

I’m still nervous about my solution for the same reason. Doesn’t fit “oneworld award” parameters or taxes.

I just double checked my e-ticket from Qantas and realised there’s no ticket number, however when I request the ticket from Finnair it does have a ticket number that matches the one e-mailed to me by the agent in text format.

It’s all very confusing. My booking must look like an absolute mess.

Does anyone know any way to check the validity of the ticket number I have? Would hate to turn up to the airport and be told it’s not valid…

I would be SUPER suss on that booking.. I was getting itinerary emails from Amadeus that looked cool, and checkmyticket looked good (to my inexperienced eyes) but when l didn't get an e-ticket email l went asking questions. Sure enough, l get 'give us 50% more points, oh AND 50% more money for taxes'... What a shambles.

 

[ozflier]

Just being hypothetical here but what if
some flight disruption resulted in the need for QF to allow a breach on the OWA award rules eg more than 5 stopovers or use of Air France on one sector .
I can understand this could happen but I am wondering what happens if another change is needed later on prior to scheduled trip - will the new calculation / taxes be done and, in the presence of the illegal component in the OWA the booking being cancelled !!
I have multiple itineraries on the go at the moment- half are OWAs and never in my experience have I had so many airline caused changes to my flights requiring assistance by QFF staff.
I haven't needed to request a change that was contrary to OWA rules ( and I have no idea if it would be granted ,but one is getting close depending if HKG will be open for transits in April!

Post automatically merged: Feb 22, 2022

I’m still nervous about my solution for the same reason. Doesn’t fit “oneworld award” parameters or taxes.

I just double checked my e-ticket from Qantas and realised there’s no ticket number, however when I request the ticket from Finnair it does have a ticket number that matches the one e-mailed to me by the agent in text format.

It’s all very confusing. My booking must look like an absolute mess.

Does anyone know any way to check the validity of the ticket number I have? Would hate to turn up to the airport and be told it’s not valid…

"It’s all very confusing. My booking must look like an absolute mess".
You are not the only one!

 

[renatts]

Just being hypothetical here but what if
some flight disruption resulted in the need for QF to allow a breach on the OWA award rules eg more than 5 stopovers or use of Air France on one sector .
I can understand this could happen but I am wondering what happens if another change is needed later on prior to scheduled trip - will the new calculation / taxes be done and, in the presence of the illegal component in the OWA the booking being cancelled !!
I have multiple itineraries on the go at the moment- half are OWAs and never in my experience have I had so many airline caused changes to my flights requiring assistance by QFF staff.
I haven't needed to request a change that was contrary to OWA rules ( and I have no idea if it would be granted ,but one is getting close depending if HKG will be open for transits in April!

Post automatically merged: Feb 22, 2022

"It’s all very confusing. My booking must look like an absolute mess".
You are not the only one!

I’m frustrated because when I originally called I had found a route that maintained OWA status and would have been negligible taxes, but they agent insisted on booking QF9 as a converted revenue ticket instead. By insisted I mean refused to give me anything else.

When I called yesterday I specifically mentioned the points and taxes, and told her that I had a solution to fix that if it’s the problem. She was adamant that it had no effect on it and I wouldn’t need to be charged.

So I have offered solutions and actively tried to pay at least twice, plus tried to fix the route to a OWA at least 5 times.

I would actually prefer to fix it and make it a oneworld award again, but it seems agents in all overseas centres aren’t willing to do it.

We are flying BNE - MEL - LHR - HEL and then AMS - HEL - SIN - BNE.
QF and AY.

We are going to Copenhagen, so are more than happy to start there - BA have a flight from LHR to CPH 20 mins before our LHR - HEL flight, but every time I’ve offered to change to that I’ve been told no. That would give us the 2 Airlines other than QF.

I’m terrified if I try change it now I’ll lose QF9. Which was converted to U class from C class.

All this could be solved with a 2 minute call to Hobart to confirm/fix anything that needs it, which is probably the most frustrating part of all.

 

[vetrade]

I’m frustrated because when I originally called I had found a route that maintained OWA status and would have been negligible taxes, but they agent insisted on booking QF9 as a converted revenue ticket instead. By insisted I mean refused to give me anything else.

When I called yesterday I specifically mentioned the points and taxes, and told her that I had a solution to fix that if it’s the problem. She was adamant that it had no effect on it and I wouldn’t need to be charged.

So I have offered solutions and actively tried to pay at least twice, plus tried to fix the route to a OWA at least 5 times.

I would actually prefer to fix it and make it a oneworld award again, but it seems agents in all overseas centres aren’t willing to do it.

We are flying BNE - MEL - LHR - HEL and then AMS - HEL - SIN - BNE.
QF and AY.

We are going to Copenhagen, so are more than happy to start there - BA have a flight from LHR to CPH 20 mins before our LHR - HEL flight, but every time I’ve offered to change to that I’ve been told no. That would give us the 2 Airlines other than QF.

I’m terrified if I try change it now I’ll lose QF9. Which was converted to U class from C class.

All this could be solved with a 2 minute call to Hobart to confirm/fix anything that needs it, which is probably the most frustrating part of all.

I don't understand why the agents are refusing your request. If there's availability they have no reason to deny you the itinerary of your choice, provided it is within the OW rules regarding stopovers, distance etc. Without entering into any explanatory discussion why don't you just call again and say you want to change LHR - HEL to LHR - CPH? Should be plenty of availablity on that route.

 

[Mr H]

I don't understand why the agents are refusing your request. If there's availability they have no reason to deny you the itinerary of your choice, provided it is within the OW rules regarding stopovers, distance etc. Without entering into any explanatory discussion why don't you just call again and say you want to change LHR - HEL to LHR - CPH? Should be plenty of availablity on that route.

Agreed. My calls tend to run with me saying "I would like to amend a One World Award. I would like to delete two flights and add three flights". The agent then asks me which flights and tells me if he or she runs into a problem - in which case we work together to find an alternative. The more I can be clear about what I want - flight numbers, dates, times, routes, ICAO phonetic alphabet - the smoother the process seems to be. I have never had an agent refuse to book me on my preferred flight except where there was phantom availability or (once) where I had asked for one half of a married sector.

 

[vetrade]

Don't know if it's only a temporary hitch or not, but seat selection at rj.com is not available ATM.

 

[renatts]

Agreed. My calls tend to run with me saying "I would like to amend a One World Award. I would like to delete two flights and add three flights". The agent then asks me which flights and tells me if he or she runs into a problem - in which case we work together to find an alternative. The more I can be clear about what I want - flight numbers, dates, times, routes, ICAO phonetic alphabet - the smoother the process seems to be. I have never had an agent refuse to book me on my preferred flight except where there was phantom availability or (once) where I had asked for one half of a married sector.

Yeah mate, that’s exactly what I do too. I have never had a refusal until the last two weeks.

The last 5 agents I spoke to didn’t know what a Oneworld Award was, and said they couldn’t help me.
You can only spend so many hours and have your itinerary broken so many times before you just give up.

 

[ozflier]

Don't know if it's only a temporary hitch or not, but seat selection at rj.com is not available ATM.

I have six flights set up with RJ ( and there have been plenty of Covid related changes ) and have always found that if RJ seat allocation is down, selection can be done via Royal Air Maroc.

 

[djkelly69]

My calls tend to run with me saying "I would like to amend a One World Award. I would like to delete two flights and add three flights". The agent then...*

*... puts me on hold while they 'review my booking', and never come back until it goes to the dreaded survey.

 

[vetrade]

I have six flights set up with RJ ( and there have been plenty of Covid related changes ) and have always found that if RJ seat allocation is down, selection can be done via Royal Air Maroc.

Can't select seats for the AY flight I wanted there either. Will try again in a couple of days

 

[renatts]

*... puts me on hold while they 'review my booking', and never come back until it goes to the dreaded survey.

Yeah had that twice, haha

I feel like it got harder when Qantas realised the priority numbers were on OzBargain. I wonder if anyone has got through to Hobart since then, who isn’t gold+ anyway.