Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[yaksha98]

Best to do the leg work yourself - chances of getting a non-Hobart agent that has the lateral thinking to do that for you is slim.

 

[adenda]

Such a pain that Qantas website won't show AA Award availability currently.

Didn't know that - does that mean telephone agents won't find seats on AA despite them showing on the AA and BA websites?
When did this start as I only recently added an AA flight to my OWA that I first found on AA and then on QF?

 

[PointsTraveller!]

Didn't know that - does that mean telephone agents won't find seats on AA despite them showing on the AA and BA websites?
When did this start as I only recently added an AA flight to my OWA that I first found on AA and then on QF?

See below. It’s been around two weeks with no or very low availability shown.

Qantas Classic Rewards on AA not Showing! [IT Glitch?]

Has this happened before where there are literally no reward seats available in the USA? Don’t think so. Extremely frustrating. I was going to call QF tomorrow to see if I could still book something over the phone but ended up booking a cheap paid option direct with AA… I did lodge a form...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Tonkatough]

Amongst all the 'suboptimal' experiences here, I had an excellent experience booking a OneWorld J ticket for 2, departing Adelaide in June 2023. After a few weeks of online researching, I spent an hour on the phone working through the process with a very helpful and knowledgeable Hobart agent. Ticketed by the end of the day.

There was one missing segment that I could only get Y seats that I wanted to see if anyone here could help with: does anyone know of any J availability form London (any airport) to Hong Kong (any connection) departing on Wednesday 5 July, noting all Qatar availability at the time was either phantom or could not actually be booked?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lynda2475]

I have a SYD-LAX-SYD in J that Im trying to change to make it a OWA now that more flights have been released.

I want:
SYD-DFW QF7 +
DFW-LHR BA192 +
LHR-HEL AY1340 +
HEL-JFK AY15 +
JFK - LAX AA ?? (couldn find anythign via QF)+
LAX-SYD QF 12 (Keep exising J booking).

According to cirlce this fits within OWA mileage.

Manila based agent said no prob to changing SYD-LAX to SYD-DFW and adding DFW-LHR but states that cant add LHR-HEL or HEL-JFK even though I can see plenty of award availablity online through QF

He keeps telling me to book online which I cant because I dont have enough points unless I amend the existing booking (you cant add flights online) and also because the LAX-SYD isnt available anymore.

Not to mention impossible to search for JFK-LAX with the current web issues.

When I asked him check with a supervisor he hung up and now im on hold trying to HUACA.

Any ideas how to get them to add available flights when they say they are only availabel for new bookings?

 

[Lynda2475]

Second call better, the lovely Sala in Fiji was able to find all quoted flight numbers, revised points quoted capped at 318k extra $500 in taxes (as expected)

She was unable to find me anything from JFK to LAX, but i will keep checking over the coming months in the hope the US domestic award problem gets sorted.

Received an itinerary (and can see same online) SYD-DFW + DFW-LHR + LHR-HEL + HEL-JFK + LAX-SYD but no additional points deducted yet.

Now have to hold my breath that payment is processed correctly and itinerary ticketed - i need something to look forward to.

 

[yaksha98]

Amongst all the 'suboptimal' experiences here, I had an excellent experience booking a OneWorld J ticket for 2, departing Adelaide in June 2023. After a few weeks of online researching, I spent an hour on the phone working through the process with a very helpful and knowledgeable Hobart agent. Ticketed by the end of the day.

There was one missing segment that I could only get Y seats that I wanted to see if anyone here could help with: does anyone know of any J availability form London (any airport) to Hong Kong (any connection) departing on Wednesday 5 July, noting all Qatar availability at the time was either phantom or could not actually be booked?

Thanks in advance.

The magic word here is "Hobart" ... you'll find that majority if not all of the suboptimal experiences are as a result of the offshore call centre agents (not all) not properly trained in what to do.

 

[djkelly69]

noting all Qatar availability at the time was either phantom or could not actually be booked?

Likely a through-fare issue. Have you got room in your OWA for a night or 2 in DOH?

 

[Lynda2475]

Based on my cancellation there should be a QF SYD-LAX in J on 1st August going back into the reward pool.

I also noticed there is still some SYD-DFW and DFW-MEL J availability on random days in August if anyone is looking.

 

[Kangol]

Based on my cancellation there should be a QF SYD-SYD in J on 1st August going back into the reward pool.

You can forecast an aircraft turnback?

 

[Lynda2475]

oops fixed that

 

[snabbu]

Based on my cancellation there should be a QF SYD-LAX in J on 1st August going back into the reward pool.

I also noticed there is still some SYD-DFW and DFW-MEL J availability on random days in August if anyone is looking.

There was a stack of SYD/MEL-DFW J awards dropped by QF for the whole of July/August a couple of days ago, still quite a few available amazingly.

 

[Lynda2475]

There was a stack of SYD/MEL-DFW J awards dropped by QF for the whole of July/August a couple of days ago, still quite a few available amazingly.

If these had dropped at the same time as the LAX ones did last week, I could have booked all my international legs myself, and no be stressing right now about a ticket.

The schedule for QF12 has already changed since i booked it 9 days or so ago.

 

[MelbFlyer]

I agree with this, I had an issue with a cancelled UL flight in a OWCA (see previous post). I emailed the new escalation team and also called qantas few times over the last 8 days nothing happened. Yesterday I sent a message via twitter and few hours later I was booked on the replacement UL flight (in J) and e-ticket generated for 3 pax. Everything is showing ok on CMT. Hope this will help others in a similar situation.

I also just called up to try to change a flight and the consultant wasn't able to see the classic rewards business flight that I was able to see online.

I will now try Twitter - it makes it easier that I can send screenshots of what I can see on my end too.

 

[Lynda2475]

I also just called up to try to change a flight and the consultant wasn't able to see the classic rewards business flight that I was able to see online.

HUACA - i had same issue today, but second agent could see them, so was obviously a lazy/undertrained agent the first time.

 

[MelbFlyer]

HUACA - i had same issue today, but second agent could see them, so was obviously a lazy/undertrained agent the first time.

Sorry, but are you able to advise on "HUACA"?

 

[MelbFlyer]

Oh, I think I've deciphered it - Hang Up and Call Again?

 

[Lynda2475]

Oh, I think I've deciphered it - Hang Up and Call Again?

Yep that is it

 

[MelbFlyer]

Okay so I've called again and thankfully got a much more helpful consultant - they were able to see the rewards flight that I was able to see on my end!

Problem was, even despite me selecting 2 adults online and being able to select the flight in business for 2 adults, they said they could only see availability for 1 business seat on the 1st leg.

The 2nd leg they said was no issues though.

Seems very inconsistent that:
- Consultant 1 wasn't able to see the rewards flight that I see online
- Consultant 2 can see the rewards flight I can see (and overall was a lot more switched on), but says that there's only 1 business reward seat for the 1st leg remaining (even though I can see it for 2 adults online)

Anyway, calling again and hoping its 3rd time lucky!

Alternatively, as I can see the business reward seats flight online for 2 adults, would I be able to book it (I've got enough points left), then ask them to cancel the flight that it will replace from my original booking, then "apply" the 2nd booking to the 1st? Or would that open up another can of worms?

Of course otherwise I'd cancel my original / 1st booking, then re-book, but the problem is - one of my business legs is no longer available as I bought the last 2. If I could see more business seats for that one leg, I'd cancel and re-book immediately after I get my points back.

 

[Lynda2475]

Unfortunately, you can't merge separate bookings into a OWA.