Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[MelbFlyer]

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

My booking isn't a "OWA" (ie. the 318k business class capped fare), sorry I didn't mention that.

My itinerary is a combination of economy, premium economy and business (as that's all I was able to find at the time of the booking). Altogether it was 228k points.

Logging on now though, I can see more availability for business seats which previously either weren't available at all, or only economy / premium economy was available.

Slightly annoying to be honest - because I can definitely see the reward seats on my end, but the consultants see something else / don't see them at all - and the only way to make changes to a reward booking is via phone or Twitter / Facebook.

Would make it so much easier for everyone if reward bookings were able to be amended online.

 

[Lynda2475]

Would make it so much easier for everyone if reward bookings were able to be amended online.

That is the dream

 

[Lynda2475]

My revised e-ticket has arrived but they havent taken the extra points or charged my card for the extra fees ande-ticket still down the earlier fees from the shorter itinerary.

 

[Warragul]

I have a ticketed OWA for September booked several months ago, flying on 4 carriers and am thinking of adding an addtional short hop to it. Given the apparent improvement in the abilities of call centre staff since then and the escalation point, interested in views on whether to try to add the extra flights and the potential stress over ticketing etc or just spend the 20K points on a separate booking. The next flight after these extra flights is 10 days so missed connections is not an issue.

Thanks.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Okay just got through to another consultant who could see the exact flight that I wanted, but said that it wasn't available to be taken up by existing bookings - only new bookings.

I guess each call is a step in the right direction - HUACA, it's luck of the draw.

 

[Lynda2475]

wasn't available to be taken up by existing bookings - only new bookings

That seems to be an excuse some of the useless ones trott out, basically what first guy told me today whilst also mentioning that I should just book it myslef online - if only!

 

[yaksha98]

I have a ticketed OWA for September booked several months ago, flying on 4 carriers and am thinking of adding an addtional short hop to it. Given the apparent improvement in the abilities of call centre staff since then and the escalation point, interested in views on whether to try to add the extra flights and the potential stress over ticketing etc or just spend the 20K points on a separate booking. The next flight after these extra flights is 10 days so missed connections is not an issue.

Thanks.

For a short hop and 20k I would just book a separate ticket.

 

[MelbFlyer]

That seems to be an excuse some of the useless ones trott out, basically what first guy told me today whilst also mentioning that I should just book it myslef online - if only!

I know!

Okay so now I've got a consultant who has re-checked and actually appears to have contacted the alternative airline (Cathay) about the existing / new booking and has actually emailed a new itinerary with the existing flight I wish to change, plus the new flight I wish to replace it with.

I can even see it in my Qantas manage booking (both the flight I want to change / my existing flight, and the new replacement flight that I want).

They're currently checking how many points required to change the flight.

Persistence does pay off I guess, but it shouldn't take 7 calls to get a simple change done!

Each and every call I had a different response ranging from:
- We are unable to see the flight you can see online
- We can see other flights which are unavailable online
- We can see the flight you're looking at online, but only 1 adult can take that flight (I searched for 2 adults)
- As per above, but the flight you see online is only available for new bookings and not existing / changing existing bookings

I just hope at the end, it'll be ticketed correctly and I get a formal e-ticket with all the flights that I've booked. I'm only changing 1 flight so I think that should be okay.

 

[snabbu]

searchability of AA awards via QF seems back up and running.

 

[PointsTraveller!]

Finally fully booked the last leg of my OWA now that AA flights are showing up again!

Multiple issues with O/S agents not having the last leg ticketed. Emailed Reward Escalations Help email and received a call from John in Hobart around 30mins later. Hearing the Aussie voice made me relax instantly. Paid relevant taxes (correct taxes as opposed to what the O/S agents were trying to charge - almost 4 x's correct rate) Then was ticketed within 5 mins of the phone call!

Interestingly to note I did receive emails from John previously but some 48 hours after I emailed the escalation team and sorted ticketing via multiple calls.

Thanks to everyone on this thread for assistance along the way. Here's to hoping no flight changes or if there are I can deal with John again.

Big thumbs up to the escalations team though.

 

[Mr H]

Added in final flights today to create my second ever OWA.

I am quite proud of it as it is almost a holiday and a half. Returning from Pakistan to Melbourne later this year. Then a trip from Melbourne to Dubai in January 2024 and a trip from Male to Melbourne in February 2024. So basically an open jaw return in 2024. The line up, all in Business class:

LHE-CMB-MEL (stop) with UL
MEL-SYD-HKG (stop) with QF and CX - the stop is just over 24 hours to enable a connection to be made
HKG-DXB (stop) with CX
MLE-CMB-KUL-NRT-MEL (end) with UL and JL.

Including the open jaw and the return mileage to Lahore it is 34,504 miles.
I am using four airlines and nine flights.
I am actually flying 26,040 miles and using only three of the permitted stops, so there is some redundancy.

I have some gaps that I will have to fill in with other redemptions:

• DXB-MCT on Etihad using Velocity
• MCT-JED overland
• JED-DXB-CMB-MLE in Emirates First Class using QF points

 

[ozflier]

Mr H, this itinerary is really impressive !
Well done.

 

[Lynda2475]

searchability of AA awards via QF seems back up and running.

And unfortunately nothing suitable in J to get me from JFK to LAX on the dates I need, so I will buying a ticket (will consider it a SC earning opportunity to kick start my new FF year).

Hoping to replace
LHR-HEL (AY)
with
LCY-BHD (BA)+ DUB-HEL (AY)

Dont fancy chances of getting a HBA agent tonight will try tomorrow morning or monday morning.

 

[Mr H]

And unfortunately nothing suitable in J to get me from JFK to LAX on the dates I need, so I will buying a ticket (will consider it a SC earning opportunity to kick start my new FF year).

Hoping to replace
LHR-HEL (AY)
with
LHR-BHD (BA)+ DUB-HEL (AY)

Dont fancy chances of getting a HBA agent tonight will try tomorrow morning or monday morning.

You have probably thought of all this already - an alternative to LHR-BHD is to fly from LCY. There is no lounge there but the planes are arguably more comfortable and the airport may be easier to get to (depending on where you are starting).

If you are trying to fly ex DUB to avoid APD, I think you could get there direct LON-DUB provided you either have a 24 hour layover or do it on different tix. I am not an expert so others may be able to clarify, but I suspect that even LON-BHD/DUB-HEL on the same ticket would attract APD unless there is a layover of more than 24 hours. It's fiendishly complicated.

 

[Lynda2475]

You have probably thought of all this already - an alternative to LHR-BHD is to fly from LCY. There is no lounge there but the planes are arguably more comfortable and the airport may be easier to get to (depending on where you are starting).

Good pick-up it was a typo on my part, it is LCY-BHD Im looking at - will fix it.

If you are trying to fly ex DUB to avoid APD

No looking at DUB-HEL because decided to do a tour of Ireland and that is where it finsihes, and because of dates cant get back to LHR to make original flight.

If I cant get DUB-HEL then I may also need to move other flights or buy one.

I would think departure tax from DUB would be lower than LHR, but I am also no expert on that. Ireland being EU flying to another EU, vs UK to EU.

 

[Mr H]

No looking at DUB-HEL because decided to do a tour of Ireland and that is where it finsihes, and because of dates cant get back to LHR to make original flight.

If I cant get DUB-HEL then I may also need to move other flights or buy one.

I would think departure teax from DUB would be lower than LHR, but I am also no expert.

Enjoy Ireland. Belfast is my happy place. Pack an umbrella.

I doubt there would be much competition for seats on DUB-HEL - failing that you could go via LHR and there is/was plentiful availability on LHR-HEL last time I checked.

I think the UK is unique in its approach to APD so there would be no equivalent charge ex DUB.

By the way, for flights LCY-BHD there is almost no difference between Y and J. The only points of difference are seating near the front of the cabin, moire luggage allowance and better on-board catering. There is no lounge, same seating as Y and no blocked off seats. But the seats are pretty comfortable.

 

[Lynda2475]

Enjoy Ireland. Belfast is my happy place. Pack an umbrella.

Thanks, that is the plan. Will be a flying visit, a couple of days then I'll take the train to Dublin for my wee tour.

Will reach out for some recomendations when it gets closer.

I doubt there would be much competition for seats on DUB-HEL

I hope you are correct (as there is no Y availablity, but J was showing).

moire luggage allowance

Im wanting to ensure 2 checked bags for the whole trip, and since its a J OWA seems a waste to pick Y even on one leg if it can be avoided.

 

[gfraser]

We have a OWA in Sept originating in Mel and terminating in Sin - on our way back from Europe we have a few days in Cmb.
Next July 2024 we want to go back to Cmb, hopefully using the same PNR And therefore part of the same OWA.
Our miles etc are ok but I don’t think we can have 2 stopovers - is this correct?
Or alternatively can we make our own way to Cmb and book Cmb to Mel on the same PNR?

 

[Mr H]

We have a OWA in Sept originating in Mel and terminating in Sin - on our way back from Europe we have a few days in Cmb.
Next July 2024 we want to go back to Cmb, hopefully using the same PNR And therefore part of the same OWA.
Our miles etc are ok but I don’t think we can have 2 stopovers - is this correct?
Or alternatively can we make our own way to Cmb and book Cmb to Mel on the same PNR?

If your OWA starts in Australia, you cannot leave Australia a second time. You also cannot have a second stopover in CMB. But you are right that you could use the OWA to fly home from CMB provided you book the flight before you commence your travel on your OWA.

 

[gfraser]

If your OWA starts in Australia, you cannot leave Australia a second time. You also cannot have a second stopover in CMB. But you are right that you could use the OWA to fly home from CMB provided you book the flight before you commence your travel on your OWA.

So if we make our own way to CMB ( another PNR or paid ticket ) we can use the previous SIN as a stopover or open-jaw to CMB and then continue with the original OWA to get from CMB to MEL?