Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[kingzac]

I suspect I should be very concerned.

The flight that I am trying to have reinstated is LHE-CMB in J with UL. The missing flight did not go back into award inventory and there is no award availability for J.

When I spoke to the agent today to get my missing CX flights put back, he also tried to put back the LHE-CMB - the one that was deleted showed as pending. But he made a mistake in the process, and it showed on CMT as LHE-CBM (Columbus, not Colombo). The flight number was correct, the times were correct and it showed as confirmed. I pointed out the error to him and he laughed and said it was a good job it was not a real flight. He changed it and it now shows as LHE-CMB confirmed. Yet there was no flight available. Does this mean QF staff can get any garbage to show on Amadeus?

I had a similar issue with UL flights not being ticketed and dropping off, after two months of similar calls and even a similar mistake of typing the wrong airport. I was constantly told it was emailed to OW for reinstatement, I gave up and they agreed to cancel the whole booking and start again. Which has been ticketed this time and hopefully stays that way.

 

[gfraser]

We have a OWA booked for Aug 23 originating MEL and ending in SIN well within the limits.
Can we add on a SIN - CMB- MEL ( or any other flights) for July 24 - all within the limits using the same Booking Reference?

 

[Mr H]

We have a OWA booked for Aug 23 originating MEL and ending in SIN well within the limits.
Can we add on a SIN - CMB- MEL ( or any other flights) for July 24 - all within the limits using the same Booking Reference?

yes, provided it still meets the OWA rules

 

[Kangol]

We have a OWA booked for Aug 23 originating MEL and ending in SIN well within the limits.
Can we add on a SIN - CMB- MEL ( or any other flights) for July 24 - all within the limits using the same Booking Reference?

Yes, you have one year to complete the ticket.

Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions | Qantas

These Terms and Conditions form the basis of Qantas Frequent Flyer, to protect both Members and the Qantas Group.

www.qantas.com

Note it does say "original ticketed departure"

14.6 Classic Flight Rewards - ticketing​

14.6.1 Classic Flight Rewards will be valid for one year from the original ticketed departure date, unless otherwise specified. Some promotional Classic Flight Rewards (such as Classic Flight Rewards offered for a reduced number of Points) may be valid for a lesser period.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Should your e-ticket number change or remain the same when changing a booking?

 

[algae]

Should your e-ticket number change or remain the same when changing a booking?

It should change (unless it was a minor time change by the airline, in that case sometimes it changes sometimes it doesn't).

But if you've made a change and it doesn't have a new e-ticket number, then the change hasn't gone through. Time to call Qantas and ask them to ticket the booking

 

[CaptainCurtis]

It should change (unless it was a minor time change by the airline, in that case sometimes it changes sometimes it doesn't).

But if you've made a change and it doesn't have a new e-ticket number, then the change hasn't gone through. Time to call Qantas and ask them to ticket the booking

Thanks, that's what I suspected. Currently on the phone trying to make a change to an existing booking. There's J availability showing online for the segment, but the SA agent is saying that seat is only available for a new booking, not for an existing booking. Almost HUACA time.

 

[FishFood]

Happy to report that I had an almost successful OWA wrap up recently, the only reason it was almost successful was having to abandon it to attend a funeral.

Stop 1: PER - SYD
Stop 2: SYD - SIN - LHR
Stop 3: LHR - SFO
Stop 4: YVR - NRT
Stop 5: HND - KUL - DPS (abandoned)

Managed to get 36,619 km for 318k points and roughly $1600 in fees

Favourite business class was QF A380, then BA's 787 that had great food and service

 

[Mr H]

Favourite business class was QF A380, then BA's 787 that had great food and service

Interesting post. On my recent OWA, I also enjoyed QF the most and has BA as second. Everyone said I was mad in the head, but it seems I was not a complete outlier.

 

[PaulyB]

Interesting post. On my recent OWA, I also enjoyed QF the most and has BA as second. Everyone said I was mad in the head, but it seems I was not a complete outlier.

No you aren't Mr H. Since Covid I have only flown QANTAS domestically and internationally, - all paid/economy - and once SQ. By far and away, despite the management's best attempts to destroy my faith at times, we found the QF staff and crew were excellent and went out of their way to help. Hands down a better exp than SQ. Looking forward to my J flights later in the year.

 

[MelbFlyer]

So, I have just booked a classic reward flight trip as per below using QFF points (for November of this year):

Leg 1: Melbourne > Hong Kong via Sydney (QF408 and QF127)
Leg 2: Hong Kong > London (CX253)
Leg 3: London > Barcelona (BA480)
Leg 4: Barcelona > Paris via London (BA483 and BA316)
Leg 5: Paris > Hong Kong (CX260)
Leg 6: Hong Kong > Melbourne (CX163)

All the above for 318k points (capped) plus the related taxes.

Issue is, my partner is also on the trip as well and since we did her booking first under her QFF account, she was able to get business on all legs (also for 318k points capped).

For me, after her booking was completed, I was no longer able to find business seats on Legs 3, 5 and 6. It seems my partner's booking must have been the last / only available business seat on each respective flight. Looking at the seat selections though, there are some seats still available so I'm assuming that either Qantas' allocation of reward seats have been exhausted or only higher status QFF members have access to those (we're both Bronze).

I do have business for Legs 1, 2 and 4 though. Leg 3 is in Economy and Legs 5 and 6 are in Premium Economy. My PE seat is the closest possible to the business cabin though, so we're still not too far from one another.

Just wondering if anyone has been able to get a change of travel class after their booking?

I'd be willing to pay the extra points to upgrade to business if required (if any - but considering both our trips are 318k points, it would be "unfair" to me to have to pay more points - but of course I understand that it's first come, first served and seats have limited availability).

A few reasons for doing the booking separately and not going via Dubai on EK -
1. We wanted to be fair to each of us when using our points (we would have done a points transfer but then it wouldn't be equal, as I would have burnt all my points on my account whilst she still had like 200k points on hers)
2. We couldn't find business availability with 2 adults on the same QFF account (as compared to doing 1 adult twice, on separate accounts)
3. To avoid the exorbitant taxes by travelling via Dubai (was more than double compared to using HK as our transfer point!)

Thankyou in advance!

TL;DR - If anyone has been able to upgrade their classic reward flight class after booking.

 

[Kangol]

Just wondering if anyone has been able to get a change of travel class after their booking?

I'd be willing to pay the extra points to upgrade to business if required (if any - but considering both our trips are 318k points, it would be "unfair" to me to have to pay more points - but of course I understand that it's first come, first served and seats have limited availability).

A few reasons for doing the booking separately and not going via Dubai on EK -
1. We wanted to be fair to each of us when using our points (we would have done a points transfer but then it wouldn't be equal, as I would have burnt all my points on my account whilst she still had like 200k points on hers)
2. We couldn't find business availability with 2 adults on the same QFF account (as compared to doing 1 adult twice, on separate accounts)
3. To avoid the exorbitant taxes by travelling via Dubai (was more than double compared to using HK as our transfer point!)

Thankyou in advance!

TL;DR - If anyone has been able to upgrade their classic reward flight class after booking.

Yes, you can change class after booking if there is availability.
You pay the change fee of 5k points - the 318k stays the same.

If you were searching "1 adult twice, on separate accounts", you were both probably looking at the same single seat availability.

You can't include EK in a oneworld award, so that is a moot point - in case anyone else was wondering.
Would have been better to transfer an equal amount of points and search for 2 J seats, but hindsight is 20/20, as they say.

Good luck!

 

[MelbFlyer]

Yes, you can change class after booking if there is availability.
You pay the change fee of 5k points - the 318k stays the same.

If you were searching "1 adult twice, on separate accounts", you were both probably looking at the same single seat availability.

You can't include EK in a oneworld award, so that is a moot point - in case anyone else was wondering.
Would have been better to transfer an equal amount of points and search for 2 J seats, but hindsight is 20/20, as they say.

Good luck!

Thankyou

I just got off the phone with Qantas after an hours' wait and they've said the same thing - you can change class after booking if there is availability. They've mentioned from previous experience that it does pop-up from time to time. I'll just have to keep looking between now and November!

They did say however, that should business class seats re-appear for CX260 and CX163, I would need to pay the points difference (even despite the fact that my itinerary was 318k capped) - it was quoted at 55.8k points to top-up.

I don't mind as I have enough points, but I'd much prefer to pay 5k to change, rather than an additional 55.8k points on top of an already capped booking.

A bit conflicting information there.. hmm?

 

[algae]

I would need to pay the points difference (even despite the fact that my itinerary was 318k capped) - it was quoted at 55.8k points to top-up.

That's incorrect. You would have to pay:

• The 5k change fee in points
• Any additional taxes in $

Post automatically merged: Jan 29, 2023

Happy to report that I had an almost successful OWA wrap up recently

Favourite business class was QF A380, then BA's 787 that had great food and service

Great to hear positive stories of people actually completing OWAs again! It's been years of just bookings, changes and cancellations. Sorry to hear about the funeral though.

Was the BA 787 club suite or the older club world seat?

 

[MelbFlyer]

That's incorrect. You would have to pay:

• The 5k change fee in points
• Any additional taxes in $

So the phone consultant was incorrect then and assuming that I was able to find a business seat that pops up, I'd only have to pay 5k in points as a change fee, and any taxes?

Is there a specific link that I can refer to, or is it just people's experience?

 

[algae]

So the phone consultant was incorrect then and assuming that I was able to find a business seat that pops up, I'd only have to pay 5k in points as a change fee, and any taxes?

Is there a specific link that I can refer to, or is it just people's experience?

The OWA T&Cs basically state that as long as you stay within the OWA rules, your fare will cap out at 318. The itinerary is clearly within the OWA rules as your partner has their ticket.

The phone operators give incorrect advice regarding the OWA all the time unfortunately. They won't know the cost (points and $s) until they try making the change. Then it'll all recalculate and you'll be charged accordingly. So I wouldn't bother trying to point them to a clause in the T&Cs as it'll be a waste of time. The computer will tell them (and you) what the fare is.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

So the phone consultant was incorrect then and assuming that I was able to find a business seat that pops up, I'd only have to pay 5k in points as a change fee, and any taxes?

Is there a specific link that I can refer to, or is it just people's experience?

Here’s the rule that says your plan is legal:

14.7.4 Subject to this clause 14.7, the following changes are permitted to a Classic Flight Reward after ticketing and prior to commencement of any travel and will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger:

(a) change to flight number;
(b) change to date of travel;
(c) change to class of travel;
(d) change to any Segment routing or airline;
(e) change to name (only for Flights with a Qantas (QF) flight number on the ticket that are operated by Qantas); and
(f) request to cancel ticket and re-credit Qantas Points. Please note that only Qantas Points that would not have expired will be re-credited.


Here’s the link to the whole book of rules (the relevant rules for OWCA start at clause 13:

Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions | Qantas

These Terms and Conditions form the basis of Qantas Frequent Flyer, to protect both Members and the Qantas Group.

www.qantas.com

 

[algae]

Here’s the rule that says your plan is legal:

You'd probably know better than I, but would a phone operator try to charge MelbFlyer the 7,700 service fee in addition to the 5,000 change fee as the flights are in economy/premium economy?

Potentially something else to be ready to argue about when the time comes?

 

[MelbFlyer]

Thanks everyone! I'll just have to keep an eye on flights and see if any business seats pop up, and then rely on the below quote (regarding the computer calculations and hope that it will only charge a change fee, since my trip meets the requirement for the 318k cap) :

They won't know the cost (points and $s) until they try making the change. Then it'll all recalculate and you'll be charged accordingly. So I wouldn't bother trying to point them to a clause in the T&Cs as it'll be a waste of time. The computer will tell them (and you) what the fare is.

 

[Kangol]

You'd probably know better than I, but would a phone operator try to charge MelbFlyer the 7,700 service fee in addition to the 5,000 change fee as the flights are in economy/premium economy?

Potentially something else to be ready to argue about when the time comes?

Historically the service fee has been waived for changes made over the phone, because they can't be done online.
I've only booked F and J OWAs though.