Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[PaulyB]

Can you ring and make the change? Sure if the seats are there.

The problem is not so much whether you can do it but the calibre of the people as I am sure you know. One thing I have found is to be sure they can see the flights and the class before making the change.

I also always ask how long the ticketing will take. If they say something like not til next year then hangup and start again. In fact if you are in doubt with any of it in the early stages , hangup..

You also need to be sure that none of the flights are not married, preventing you to make a change. That held me up a little at times.

Then you need to make sure they adjust the taxes with you on the call and then you need make sure it is updated on your screen - get them to go through it item by item with you looking at your own screen. Then when you are satisfied it has been sent to ticketing, ring back within 12 hours (and keep ringing) . I kept saying I was very concerned because flights can fall off the systems to hurry y them along which sometimes helped.

Can I guarantee it will all be roses? No - but persistence and expert knowledge will help along the way although I can't guarantee anyone doing things they will say they do like ringing back.

 

[kingzac]

Logged in last night and 2 sets of flights are gone without a trace. Now only my first 2 flight and my last two flights remain. NRT-CMB-MLE and MLE-CMB-CDG gone.
No notification of any change. Hoping it's just a glitch and they reappear, but they don't show up on any other apps either.

 

[SnowmanShroomz]

Hi all,
I booked the first segments of my OTW trip with some segments in business class.
After some changes, these flights have been changed to economy seats. All my flights are now in economy however the total points spent is 189,000 rather than the max. of 132,400 for economy trip. Not to mention the additional costs even though the changes have meant less flight times & downgrade to economy...? I still have a few segments left to book to finalize the trip but wary that something has gone wrong.
I have emailed Qantas support & called them 3 times only for them to promise to call me back and hang up, then never return the call.
Any advice on how to proceed?
Cheers

 

[PaulyB]

Logged in last night and 2 sets of flights are gone without a trace. Now only my first 2 flight and my last two flights remain. NRT-CMB-MLE and MLE-CMB-CDG gone.
No notification of any change. Hoping it's just a glitch and they reappear, but they don't show up on any other apps either.

Don't wait. Ring them and keep ringing until you get someone who takes action...

 

[PaulyB]

I have emailed Qantas support & called them 3 times only for them to promise to call me back and hang up, then never return the call.
Any advice on how to proceed?

Someone may be back with more sage advice but I would say ring back and don't hang up until you get a resolution you are happy with. Take a packed lunch... Don't believe anyone if they say they will call back.

And if the call drops out, ring again....

 

[SnowmanShroomz]

Thanks - that was going to a task for tomorrow.
Would love some input on whether I should be able to get the difference (189k - 132.4k = 56.6k) refunded? Or have I been "locked into" the business class ticketing system and that's why its messing up?
Cheers

 

[aikman]

Thanks - that was going to a task for tomorrow.
Would love some input on whether I should be able to get the difference (189k - 132.4k = 56.6k) refunded? Or have I been "locked into" the business class ticketing system and that's why its messing up?
Cheers

It's worth considering cancelling that booking and starting again. It will probably save you weeks of despair, frustration and anguish.

 

[PaulyB]

It's worth considering cancelling that booking and starting again. It will probably save you weeks of despair, frustration and anguish.

Sad but true...

 

[levelnine]

Would love some input on whether I should be able to get the difference (189k - 132.4k = 56.6k) refunded? Or have I been "locked into" the business class ticketing system and that's why its messing up?

You should be able to have the points difference refunded, but I'm not sure if the system will do it automatically or if it requires manual intervention.

I would be double checking to make sure my ticket meets all the rules for a OWA.

 

[Mr H]

Logged in last night and 2 sets of flights are gone without a trace. Now only my first 2 flight and my last two flights remain. NRT-CMB-MLE and MLE-CMB-CDG gone.
No notification of any change. Hoping it's just a glitch and they reappear, but they don't show up on any other apps either.

Those flights will not come back by magic. I presume they were all UL flights - so I'm thinking that QF did not ticket in time and UL auto-cancelled them. Call almost immediately, but first check whether the flights have gone back into availability for redemptions. If they have, you can get them booked again. If not, then they are likely to be lost for ever - so see whether there are obvious alternatives (change dates, etc.).

Sorry for your pain - it won't help you but you are not alone. The QF overseas ticketing system does not work.

 

[SnowmanShroomz]

Can't cancel unfortunately as the first flights are in May next year and won't be available any more!

 

[kingzac]

Logged in last night and 2 sets of flights are gone without a trace. Now only my first 2 flight and my last two flights remain. NRT-CMB-MLE and MLE-CMB-CDG gone.
No notification of any change. Hoping it's just a glitch and they reappear, but they don't show up on any other apps either.

Another hour of my life on the phone to Qantas. Managed to get the same flights readded (couldn't find one of them on search myself). No real response as to why they were removed from the booking but glad to have them back.
Agent was very nice, very faint accent so couldn't tell where she was but she seemed very genuine about getting them back when I told her what happened.

 

[Mr H]

Another hour of my life on the phone to Qantas. Managed to get the same flights readded (couldn't find one of them on search myself). No real response as to why they were removed from the booking but glad to have them back.
Agent was very nice, very faint accent so couldn't tell where she was but she seemed very genuine about getting them back when I told her what happened.

Good outcome. Now you need to check whether they have been ticketed and if they haven’t by tomorrow then you need to sit in the line with them until they do it or else you will lose them again.

 

[Kiwiash]

Hi Team!

Last week I managed to make a OWA booking for Jul-Aug next year on the following itinerary for 2 pax in Business.

MEL-HKG (QF)
HKG-BKK-AMM (RJ)
AMM-FCO (RJ)
AMS-HEL (AY)
HEL-JFK (AY)
JFK-ORD-SFO (AA)
YVR - HKG (CX)
HKG - MEL (QF - economy)

I consider myself extremely lucky to have managed to book these through an agent in Cape Town with touch wood, relatively few issues so far. The first agent transferred me to her team leader who was doing all of the RTW bookings because they are still in training apparently. Being armed with all the knowledge prior to calling was very helpful and I NEVER accepted a call back when it was offered.

I called back over the weekend to have the 1st sector upgraded to business on the same flight (QF29) because when I initially booked the agent couldn't see U class seats available even though they were appearing online. When I called back the new agent could see the seats and I now have new e-tickets confirming we are now in business for that flight. A small increase in taxes were also processed from my CC.

After the e-tickets came through a refund of 318,000 points were credited back to my account with the description "CANCELLED - CLASSIC FLIGHT 1 ADT REF xx_xx_ ON REDEMPTION". I was immediately scared that the agent had cancelled one of my tickets... BUT, I have 2 new e-tickets with the confirmed itinerary and I can still see my booking on the Qantas website and also seat selection for 2 pax is also showing on all the airlines websites.

So, long story short do I need to be alarmed or should I keep quiet and accept that Qantas' incompetency has benefitted me 318k in points???...

Cheers, Ash

 

[Mr H]

After the e-tickets came through a refund of 318,000 points were credited back to my account with the description "CANCELLED - CLASSIC FLIGHT 1 ADT REF xx_xx_ ON REDEMPTION". I was immediately scared that the agent had cancelled one of my tickets... BUT, I have 2 new e-tickets with the confirmed itinerary and I can still see my booking on the Qantas website and also seat selection for 2 pax is also showing on all the airlines websites.

So, long story short do I need to be alarmed or should I keep quiet and accept that Qantas' incompetency has benefitted me 318k in points???...

Cheers, Ash

Congratulations on getting a South African agent - I wish I could have some of your luck.

It is a common practice for changes to result in points being returned. Never fear, you will be debited the points again in the near future.

 

[Kiwiash]

Congratulations on getting a South African agent - I wish I could have some of your luck.

It is a common practice for changes to result in points being returned. Never fear, you will be debited the points again in the near future.

HUACA was my favored approach. Would usually get through to SA on 2nd/3rd attempt. Wait time was less than 15 mins, Points Club allegedly gets you priority calls but who knows the truth of that one. Now just have to wait for a Business seat on the return leg to show up!

 

[Rich]

Hi Team!

Last week I managed to make a OWA booking for Jul-Aug next year on the following itinerary for 2 pax in Business.

MEL-HKG (QF)
HKG-BKK-AMM (RJ)
AMM-FCO (RJ)
AMS-HEL (AY)
HEL-JFK (AY)
JFK-ORD-SFO (AA)
YVR - HKG (CX)
HKG - MEL (QF - economy)

I consider myself extremely lucky to have managed to book these through an agent in Cape Town with touch wood, relatively few issues so far. The first agent transferred me to her team leader who was doing all of the RTW bookings because they are still in training apparently. Being armed with all the knowledge prior to calling was very helpful and I NEVER accepted a call back when it was offered.

I called back over the weekend to have the 1st sector upgraded to business on the same flight (QF29) because when I initially booked the agent couldn't see U class seats available even though they were appearing online. When I called back the new agent could see the seats and I now have new e-tickets confirming we are now in business for that flight. A small increase in taxes were also processed from my CC.

After the e-tickets came through a refund of 318,000 points were credited back to my account with the description "CANCELLED - CLASSIC FLIGHT 1 ADT REF xx_xx_ ON REDEMPTION". I was immediately scared that the agent had cancelled one of my tickets... BUT, I have 2 new e-tickets with the confirmed itinerary and I can still see my booking on the Qantas website and also seat selection for 2 pax is also showing on all the airlines websites.

So, long story short do I need to be alarmed or should I keep quiet and accept that Qantas' incompetency has benefitted me 318k in points???...

Cheers, Ash

There is a similar question from 1 or 2 weeks ago in this thread. From memory the answer was inconclusive.
I hope it works out for you. It is a pretty good itinerary, especially because it looks like you only just booked it and have only 1 evonomy flight.
Is this all for 318k points each? If so, what are the actual stopovers?

 

[Kiwiash]

There is a similar question from 1 or 2 weeks ago in this thread. From memory the answer was inconclusive.
I hope it works out for you. It is a pretty good itinerary, especially because it looks like you only just booked it and have only 1 evonomy flight.
Is this all for 318k points each? If so, what are the actual stopovers?

Hey Rich! I'll go back and see if I can find the discussion.

Yes only booked it a week ago. 318k each, stops are HKG (by 3 hours...), AMM, FCO + Europe (surface sector to AMS), JFK, SFO (surface sector to YVR).

The most difficult part was getting out of North America, with the second hardest being in and out of Aus to HKG.

 

[sunny_aus]

Qatar business class reward seats are basically no longer bookable with Qantas points.

You'll need to find an alternative.

Thanks for that. I have done some rejigging looking for suitable flights, have found it a little difficult to get direct flights to destinations we wanted.

I have a couple more questions I was hoping people would be able to help out with.

Some current flights I have identified are:
1. BKK-AMM (RJ), arriving 0510
2. Departing at 0830: AMM-LHR-CPH (BA)

Will I be able to check our baggage all the way through from BKK to CPH? Or is that at the discretion of the RJ person checking us in at BKK?
If they are unable to, and we need to go through immigration, collect our bags and then check-in again at AMM, what happens if the first flight is delayed? Is there any chance of the AMM-LHR-CPH leg being rebooked as it's all part of the same OW Award Booking, or because it is officially two separate flight bookings, it's tough luck?

Similarly, have managed to find:
1. AMS-LHR-PVG (with BA), arriving 0755
2. Departing 1125: PVG-HKG (with CX)
We then have a 23hr transit in HKG (was planning on spending the night exploring) before a flight back to SYD via MNL the next day
Is there any change of BA checking our baggage all the way through to HKG? And if not, again if the inbound flight into PVG is delayed, what does that mean for the PVG-HKG leg?

Thanks

 

[Mr H]

Thanks for that. I have done some rejigging looking for suitable flights, have found it a little difficult to get direct flights to destinations we wanted.

I have a couple more questions I was hoping people would be able to help out with.

Some current flights I have identified are:
1. BKK-AMM (RJ), arriving 0510
2. Departing at 0830: AMM-LHR-CPH (BA)

Will I be able to check our baggage all the way through from BKK to CPH? Or is that at the discretion of the RJ person checking us in at BKK?
If they are unable to, and we need to go through immigration, collect our bags and then check-in again at AMM, what happens if the first flight is delayed? Is there any chance of the AMM-LHR-CPH leg being rebooked as it's all part of the same OW Award Booking, or because it is officially two separate flight bookings, it's tough luck?

Similarly, have managed to find:
1. AMS-LHR-PVG (with BA), arriving 0755
2. Departing 1125: PVG-HKG (with CX)
We then have a 23hr transit in HKG (was planning on spending the night exploring) before a flight back to SYD via MNL the next day
Is there any change of BA checking our baggage all the way through to HKG? And if not, again if the inbound flight into PVG is delayed, what does that mean for the PVG-HKG leg?

Thanks

You should be able to through check your bags both times because your flights are in the same ticket and the transit is less than 24 hours in any one airport. You will need to retain your luggage receipts and you may not get the boarding passes all at once, in which case the transit deals will ask to see those luggage checks.

If it is reassuring, I through checked luggage AMM-LHR-HEL-DEL-MEL using three different airlines (RJ, AY and QF) with long transits and the overall journey spreading over four days