Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Melka]

315,000 doesn't appear anywhere on the OWA table.

Quite right, now corrected to 318,000. Thanks!

 

[Mr H]

Quite right, now corrected to 318,000. Thanks!

Then it is possible you have discovered a loophole. If your trip has been ticketed then you should be good to go.

But it is seldom a wise strategy to post about a loophole you have discovered on a public forum asking whether it can possibly be true.

 

[Familyman1]

I need to cancel some sectors of a multi-sector One-world booking. Can I do that on-line or do I need to ring the call centre? Also, is the call centre as bad as it was last year? I haven't rung them for a while and I have some very bad memories of the experience.

 

[DC3]

I need to cancel some sectors of a multi-sector One-world booking. Can I do that on-line or do I need to ring the call centre?

All changes are still done by phone

 

[DC3]

Also, is the call centre as bad as it was last year?

YMMV

 

[Mr H]

Also, is the call centre as bad as it was last year? I haven't rung them for a while and I have some very bad memories of the experience.

The waiting times have been fixed. Some agents seem to be able to sort things out but there's still plenty who can't - but usually they seem to take less time to disappoint you than they did last year.

 

[MelbFlyer]

All changes are still done by phone

And this is part of the problem with Qantas - they really need to implement a system online within Manage My Booking where you can change reward itineraries.

Would save them and us so much time and frustration.

It took months and over a hundred phone calls (literally), for me to change my economy reward seats to business reward seats, when a few times during those months, new business reward seats popped up online, but the agent wasn't able to see it / claimed there was nothing when calling to attempt to grab those seats.

ie.

March - I can see new business reward seats online (which I want to book to replace my existing economy seats), I call up to attempt to change it, the agent(s) say they can't see it / there's nothing available / they're only for new bookings

May - New seats appear online again as per above, and the same responses from multiple Qantas consultants

June - Same thing as above

July - All of a sudden, it can be seen and changed (end result)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Oh dear. Rang a couple days ago to accept a minor schedule change. Can’t do it online because of previous changes to the ticket.

Agent said they’d process it manually, which they did, and the booking updated.

Today, noticed my account balance is high… the ticket has been ‘cancelled’ and refunded all 318k Call centre says it is all ok. But I dunno..l

 

[Mr H]

Oh dear. Rang a couple days ago to accept a minor schedule change. Can’t do it online because of previous changes to the ticket.

Agent said they’d process it manually, which they did, and the booking updated.

Today, noticed my account balance is high… the ticket has been ‘cancelled’ and refunded all 318k Call centre says it is all ok. But I dunno..l

This is normal in the case of reticketing. 99.999% of the time, the points will be taken back out of your account just when you have convinced yourself they have forgotten and you have scored a freebie!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This is normal in the case of reticketing. 99.999% of the time, the points will be taken back out of your account just when you have convinced yourself they have forgotten and you have scored a freebie!

Thanks. I’m surprised this needed reticketing for a 6 minute schedule change. I thought this would just be revalidated like the last one (yes, USA schedule change season! Seem to have a flight adjustment every few days)

 

[melbkate]

All changes are still done by phone

Actually I have made changes to OWA on both Twitter and Messenger with private messaging to Qantas. It often takes a while for them to reply but I found it easier than trying to do it verbally due to language and knowledge issues. The online team seem a bit more switched on and they will seek advice if they don't know something. The messages also stay there so you can come and go while they take time to reply.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Actually I have made changes to OWA on both Twitter and Messenger with private messaging to Qantas. It often takes a while for them to reply but I found it easier than trying to do it verbally due to language and knowledge issues. The online team seem a bit more switched on and they will seek advice if they don't know something. The messages also stay there so you can come and go while they take time to reply.

I also tried to use this method as well especially when I was getting nowhere with phone consultants telling me that there's no business reward seats on the flight / day I wanted (when I could see them online at that very moment!), but when there's limited reward seats available, often when they get back to you, the seat(s) are gone / sold out.

I guess for a leg cancellation it's okay, but if adding, it will take a while.

 

[The Bison]

Hi Team
Looking for some advice regarding a booking.
Travelling from Brisbane to Malaga next May. The only possible way has been to book two separate flights so they aren't in the same flight segment of the ticket. Both flights occur on the same day

Flight 1 - QF BNE - NRT - dep 0935 arr 1755
Flight 2 - AY NRT - HEL - dep 23:05 (then on to Malaga from Helsinki)

Would I have to collect bags and clear customs because they aren't the same flight or is the OWA considered the same ticket and interline baggage rules would apply and I can check through all the way?

Any other issues with this, outside the risk of a massive delay screwing the second flight?

I've working at it for a solid 48 hours and only looking for Y seats. Feels like I've been throwing mud at the wall and hoping anything sticks. Well done to all you veterans getting the premium seats. It has certainly been a lesson in patience

 

[Mr H]

Hi Team
Looking for some advice regarding a booking.
Travelling from Brisbane to Malaga next May. The only possible way has been to book two separate flights so they aren't in the same flight segment of the ticket. Both flights occur on the same day

Flight 1 - QF BNE - NRT - dep 0935 arr 1755
Flight 2 - AY NRT - HEL - dep 23:05 (then on to Malaga from Helsinki)

Would I have to collect bags and clear customs because they aren't the same flight or is the OWA considered the same ticket and interline baggage rules would apply and I can check through all the way?

Any other issues with this, outside the risk of a massive delay screwing the second flight?

I've working at it for a solid 48 hours and only looking for Y seats. Feels like I've been throwing mud at the wall and hoping anything sticks. Well done to all you veterans getting the premium seats. It has certainly been a lesson in patience

Why can't you get them on the same ticket?

 

[The Bison]

Why can't you get them on the same ticket?

Excuse my ignorance with the topic. This is me trying to book it through the multi city feature on the qantas website. The flights aren't married up, I can only select them as individual flights.

Is this a matter of making a call to the call centre and providing the flights and they will do it?
Can it be done after the fact. I secure this flights now and call later to join them?

I am a little confused with the terminology. Is the OWA considered the one ticket or are each individual flight segments separate tickets?

 

[DC3]

This is me trying to book it through the multi city feature on the qantas website. The flights aren't married up, I can only select them as individual flights.

So, you have made a booking, which includes a number of flights? You have only 1 x QF booking reference number for all of those flights? It’s in the format of six letters and numbers. Then that’s good.

Sounds quite okay so far.

Edited

 

[The Bison]

So, you made a booking, which includes a number of flights? You have 1 x QF booking reference number for all flights? It’s in the format of six letters and numbers. Then that’s good.

Sounds quite okay so far.

Edited

Six flights in the booking with one reference number. My initial question was that two of the flight segments occur on the same day and whether baggage can be checked all the way through across two flight segments

 

[DC3]

Six flights in the booking with one reference number. My initial question was that two of the flight segments occur on the same day and whether baggage can be checked all the way through across two flight segments

Oh, just about the interlining? Normally, okay, on the same ticket. At check-in, you can confirm this.

I probably got a bit distracted by “.. The only possible way has been to book two separate flights so they aren't in the same flight segment of the ticket ..” Just needed to seperate the wheat from the chaff

 

[MelbFlyer]

My initial question was that two of the flight segments occur on the same day and whether baggage can be checked all the way through across two flight segments

I've also got a flight on AY - HKG to CDG via HEL.

Everything is booked on the one ticket / PNR (the above is 1 leg of the journey).

I have a similar question - I believe my luggage should be checked all the way to CDG from HKG, but when I arrive at HEL, I will have to go from the non-Schengen area to the Schengen area via Passport control to "enter the EU".

From there, my flight to CDG is effectively "domestic / with the EU", even though it's still technically international if taking countries into account.

Is this correct? I clear immigration in HEL only, and then just walk out with my luggage at CDG / don't have to go through 2nd immigration?

Sorry for the silly question The last time I went to Europe was in 2012 (it was my first overseas trip) and I was on a Topdeck tour - Italy > Switzerland > France > England.

The only airports / ports I went through at that time were FCO (entry), Calais / Dover and LHR (coming back). All the rest was via bus / ferry.

I just remember at the time when entering Switzerland from Italy (EU to non-EU), our passports were taken by the tour guide and given to passport control. The same thing must have occurred when entering France from Switzerland (going back into the EU) but I can't quite remember it now as it's been that long.

I assume though, when landing at HEL, I will need to transfer to the Schengen area to get through to my connecting flight to CDG.

I hope a 2hr layover will be enough time for that.

 

[Mr H]

Is this correct? I clear immigration in HEL only, and then just walk out with my luggage at CDG / don't have to go through 2nd immigration?

Correct. Vantaa Airport is long and the furthest half from the exit is non-Schengen and the closest half to the exit is Schengen. The non-Schengen half is less crowded and has better shops/cafes IMO.