Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[sydney]

I'd be worried too.
Have you emailed as per @Captain Halliday post a few above?
That is your best chance of getting it sorted....they have helped me previously, and know what they're doing...

I called first. Didn't relish sitting there waiting for an email reply that could take a week or more and lose the seats in the meantime anyway. At this point, might be best to cancel and rebook itinerary to remove the currency issue, but there is a chance we'll lose the seats.

*Does anyone know what's going on with recalculating taxes and currency?

 

[mt1552]

Hi. I made changes to our Qantas One World Business award yesterday afternoon to evening through a lovely Manilla based agent, who unfortunately was unable to calculate the taxes, in any currency. She said it should be in Thai Baht, however, no currencies worked. She and I were on hold waiting for her to receive help.

Because I ended up deleting 3 unnecessary transit flights, I should in fact receive a refund, but we didn't even get that far as she or the system could not calculate fees and taxes.

After a long call and her even calling me back and another long call, she was unable to get help, but assured me that all flights are on hold, so not to worry, and they will sort out today after getting help sorting out the currency for fees/taxes.

I could see all flights on my account before hanging up. Should I worry? Suggestions please?

Hello! First Post.

I recently made my OWA booking and then added a few flights a week later, I got the exact same issue when I called up to add those flights. There was a currency issue between CNY and AUD, my OWA starts in Shanghai.

With the first Lady I talked to she had to put me on a hold for a bit and told me she'd call back, surprise surprise there was no call back but she had saved my flights so I didn't lose the availability (shows up on the Qantas app) . So I called the next day and got another lady, same issue again, got put on hold and told me she would call me back. This time I did get the call back and she was able to charge my taxes, however it was in CNY which I was fine with because I had an international card.

Like others suggested HUACA, but this currency issue seems to be a common problem that needs escalation from the call centre. For now, just get those additional flights 'saved' so you don't lose the availability, and keep calling, not sure how long it stays saved.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hello! First Post.

I recently made my OWA booking and then added a few flights a week later, I got the exact same issue when I called up to add those flights. There was a currency issue between CNY and AUD, my OWA starts in Shanghai.

With the first Lady I talked to she had to put me on a hold for a bit and told me she'd call back, surprise surprise there was no call back but she had saved my flights so I didn't lose the availability (shows up on the Qantas app) . So I called the next day and got another lady, same issue again, got put on hold and told me she would call me back. This time I did get the call back and she was able to charge my taxes, however it was in CNY which I was fine with because I had an international card.

Like others suggested HUACA, but this currency issue seems to be a common problem that needs escalation from the call centre. For now, just get those additional flights 'saved' so you don't lose the availability, and keep calling, not sure how long it stays saved.

Some of these ‘saved’ flights can be less than 24 hours. And if there are any other flights already in the booking, depending on which airlines, those could *also* be at risk of cancellation. Your whole ticket could disappear while payment is pending.This doesn’t affect Qantas flights, just some partner airlines.

The key is to make sure all flights are ticketed within 24 hours, but preferably instantly.

 

[J-P]

Does anyone know if Nordic Reg counts as part on Oneworld in the context of a leg that is mostly with Finnair and then has a short regional segment "operated by Nordic Reg For Finnair"?

I assume this may be the same as when Jetstar "operates" a flight for Qantas but has a QF flight number, just as this still has an AY flight number

 

[RB001]

Does anyone know if Nordic Reg counts as part on Oneworld in the context of a leg that is mostly with Finnair and then has a short regional segment "operated by Nordic Reg For Finnair"?

I assume this may be the same as when Jetstar "operates" a flight for Qantas but has a QF flight number, just as this still has an AY flight number

Nordic Regional/Norra is more like the QantasLink scenario - they are listed and recognised by oneworld as affiliates, so with an AY flight number, you should be good.

 

[pyramidforce]

Yes, some is them are only 2hrs I was told.

Yes, some lasted only 2 hrs I was told. Have lost all flights now. Got too complicated and after the 5th agent could not work out the fees/taxes currency error, we tried a different itinerary to cancel the first and had trouble with the second itinerary too. So now have lost all flights and original eticket, including the second attempt that had not been ticketed. Will try again when life is less busy. *I've had the One World Business Class reward ticketed for months.

At the risk of rubbing salt in the wound, did you try emailing the ticketing escalations email address?

 

[sydney]

At the risk of rubbing salt in the wound, did you try emailing the ticketing escalations email address?

No, because that would have taken too long. I did go to email about it but read that previous posters had said that it could take over a week and others said it did not help.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

No, because that would have taken too long. I did go to email about it but read that previous posters had said that it could take over a week and others said it did not help.

Yes but it seems they can help. Twice over the last couple of years we have needed their assistance, both times took a few days but also was fully resolved. Your choice I suppose but you are certainly not helping yourself.

 

[cjd600]

No, because that would have taken too long. I did go to email about it but read that previous posters had said that it could take over a week and others said it did not help.

Used twice and always informed response and assistance in a couple of hours.
Much better than the call centre lottery lol

 

[QuietOrbit]

Hi all,

I'd greatly appreciate if people can advise me if the following idea is implausible or if it is plausible (with difficulty!), where I can learn strategies to make it work.

I can be flexible around route, but start and end dates are unfortunately not too flexible working around school holidays. I understand I've picked some popular routes, but could adjust to make it work. I have heard strategies such as booking award flights the moment released for the first leg(s) then combining them into a OWA - but I have not found anything clear on whether this is possible.

4x Y OWA something like:
~13 Dec 26: SYD > ICN or NRT or HND
ICN or NRT or HND > BER (or nearish)
WAW or VIE or KRK > MAD
MAD > MIA or MCO
MCO or MIA > HNL
~16 Jan 27: HNL > SYD

I really appreciate any opinions / suggestions, thanks.

 

[mt1552]

Some of these ‘saved’ flights can be less than 24 hours. And if there are any other flights already in the booking, depending on which airlines, those could *also* be at risk of cancellation. Your whole ticket could disappear while payment is pending.This doesn’t affect Qantas flights, just some partner airlines.

The key is to make sure all flights are ticketed within 24 hours, but preferably instantly.

Thank YOU! For this info, I called up again, telling them I haven't got the reticketing email and I thought it was strange that my points balance hasn't changed. Alas, got my reticketed email now.

Advice for others, it's not finalised until you get that email from [email protected]. Keep hassling them until you get it!

 

[sydney]

Used twice and always informed response and assistance in a couple of hours.
Much better than the call centre lottery lol

Yes but it seems they can help. Twice over the last couple of years we have needed their assistance, both times took a few days but also was fully resolved. Your choice I suppose but you are certainly not helping yourself.

Have emailed them now. Thanks.

 

[djkelly69]

Hi all,

I'd greatly appreciate if people can advise me if the following idea is implausible or if it is plausible (with difficulty!), where I can learn strategies to make it work.

I can be flexible around route, but start and end dates are unfortunately not too flexible working around school holidays. I understand I've picked some popular routes, but could adjust to make it work. I have heard strategies such as booking award flights the moment released for the first leg(s) then combining them into a OWA - but I have not found anything clear on whether this is possible.

4x Y OWA something like:
~13 Dec 26: SYD > ICN or NRT or HND
ICN or NRT or HND > BER (or nearish)
WAW or VIE or KRK > MAD
MAD > MIA or MCO
MCO or MIA > HNL
~16 Jan 27: HNL > SYD

I really appreciate any opinions / suggestions, thanks.

I realise it is only economy, but I think your chances of finding 4 seats on that route to some of the most popular holiday destinations in the world at peak holiday season is very, very slim. Even if split into two groups of 2, it seems like a longshot.

You have the basic strategy correct - book as many of the flights as you can at release (or as close as you can) in one initial online booking, and then call to add the additional flights until the system recognises it as an OWA. But you should probably take into account that you will be paying 4x change fees plus maybe services fees for each change/addition you make, which is a pretty big chunk out on a Y OWA.

This biggest issue is that times have changed in the last few years for reward seats, and less and less airlines are releasing seats with regularity at the magic ~360 days, particularly over peak times.

 

[Scottt]

Hi all,

Newbie in the process of booking my 1st rtw itinerary.

Just had a quick question regarding the sectors/stop overs etc. Is there any limitation from travelling within just 1 country e.g. from Tokyo to Osaka or from LA to San Fran? I understand it adds to the milage but I'm just a little confused regarding the stop overs etc.

Atm I am hoping my itinerary will look something like:
Syd > HND
HND > LAX
LAX > JFK
JFK > CDG
CDG > ATH
ATH > SYD

Can someone please assist me and let me know if this is a viable route?

Thanks,

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all,

Newbie in the process of booking my 1st rtw itinerary.

Just had a quick question regarding the sectors/stop overs etc. Is there any limitation from travelling within just 1 country e.g. from Tokyo to Osaka? I understand it adds to the milage but I'm just a little confused regarding the stop overs etc.

Atm I am hoping my itinerary will look something like:
Syd > HND
HND > LAX
LAX > JFK
JFK > CDG
CDG > ATH
ATH > SYD

Can someone please assist me and let me know if this is a viable route?

Thanks,

Hi and welcome to AFF!

You can travel within a country no worries, just you can’t have a transit of more than 24 hours, or else it becomes a stopover, and you can only have 5.

But connections are just fine, as are surface sectors. So you could stop in HND, travel around Japan ending in Osaka, then fly KIX-TYO-LAX

 

[DC3]

Hi all,

Newbie in the process of booking my 1st rtw itinerary.

Just had a quick question regarding the sectors/stop overs etc. Is there any limitation from travelling within just 1 country e.g. from Tokyo to Osaka? I understand it adds to the milage but I'm just a little confused regarding the stop overs etc.

Atm I am hoping my itinerary will look something like:
Syd > HND
HND > LAX
LAX > JFK
JFK > CDG
CDG > ATH
ATH > SYD

Can someone please assist me and let me know if this is a viable route?

Thanks,

Multiple flights within a country is fine.

Regarding CDG-ATH and ATH-SYD, which oneworld partner(s) are you looking at? I’m not aware of any that fly direct on those segments, but maybe I’ve missed something. Are you looking at these as being direct flights?

Up to five stop-overs are permitted. Returning to SYD will not be counted as a stop-over by the way, as the itinerary will have ended.

And welcome to AFF.

 

[Scottt]

Hi

Multiple flights within a country is fine.

Regarding CDG-ATH and ATH-SYD, which oneworld partner(s) are you looking at? I’m not aware of any that fly direct on those segments, but maybe I’ve missed something. Are you looking at these as being direct flights?

Up to five stop-overs are permitted. Returning to SYD will not be counted as a stop-over by the way, as the itinerary will have ended.

And welcome to AFF.

My bad - if ATH is unavailable I will just look to finish from CDG or do LHR instead of ATH

 

[DC3]

My bad - if ATH is unavailable I will just look to finish from CDG or do LHR instead of ATH

BA will get you LHR-ATH, and vv.

 

[Scottt]

BA will get you LHR-ATH, and vv.

But nothing from ATH to back home in Aus? D:

 

[aversion]

But nothing from ATH to back home in Aus? D:

Something like this might work:
SYD > HND - 1st stopover
HND > LAX - 2nd stopover
LAX > JFK - 3rd stopover
JFK > CDG - 4th stopover
CDG > ATH - Surface sector
ATH > LON > Asia > SYD
with a 5th stopover somewhere in that last routing