Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Aeryn]

Is there a date yet when FJ can be selected as part of a OWA?

I was doing some dummy bookings 2 weeks ago that started with FJ flights and was capping out at 318k no issue. They are a full member so should have been eligible since that date.

 

[bobcat]

I've heard and read mixed reports re this but also very interested to know the answer (assuming there is a concrete one!). Hoping to tack on to an existing OWA booking.

Meanwhile ... how alarmed should I be about the below?

I booked one leg a month ago (104,500 points per person). Called up last night and added a few different flights. Few false starts but all seemed to go relatively well.

Additional taxes were charged to my card (still sitting as pending now, as they normally would be the day after). Total points correctly capped at 954k for the booking (two adults, one child).

Additional points were deducted.

I could - and still can - see the added flights on the booking shell. Status is 'confirmed' for all of them. Can access the booking using reference number on JAL/Cathay's website too.

But the e-ticket hasn't been updated. And curiously my points balance is now what it was prior to last night's call .... plus two lots of 104,500:
CANCELLED - CLASSIC FLIGHT REWARD REWARD POINTS DEDUCTION 1 CHD +104,500
CANCELLED - CLASSIC FLIGHT REWARD REWARD POINTS DEDUCTION 1 ADT +104,500

All very odd. Especially given there were - and are - 3 pax on the booking.

Has anybody had a similar experience? Will likely call up on Monday if nothing's shifted by then ... but from memory it isn't that unusual for the e-ticket to take some time to be processed? Does the debiting of points ever match that timeline, or is this a major red flag?

Exceptionally happy to report I was stressed about nothing. Updated e-ticket was emailed approx 24 hours later. Points adjusted then too.

I've read plenty of horror stories. Saturday night was long but refreshingly pleasant. A few things were amiss but I could see those mistakes while looking at the booking on Qantas website (highly recommend!) and they were quickly and apologetically fixed when asked. Wouldn't have waited more than 5 minutes to speak to someone.

This OWA booking was definitely much harder and more time consuming than our first trip, 6 years ago. Partly because we're now a party of 3 ... partly because of the abomination that is Classic Plus

Thanks again, your help is much appreciated.

 

[Mr H]

Thinking WELL ahead we were thinking of flying BNE-JFK return in Oct 2027, and with the increase of points needed for OWA bookings post August I thought I'd see if I could book well ahead and maybe save the extra 80K points. I found Sale fares for May 2026 and managed to get 2 x Business BNE-SYD-AKL-JFK-AKL-SYD-BNE released and ticketed (I'm WP). My thoughts are that prior to May 2026 I change the date to April 2027, then prior to April 2027 change again to October 2027 (all the same PNR). I shouldnt have to pay any points to make the changes. The service desk in Hobart didnt know if it would work or not but said worth a try and at worst I'll have to pay the extra 80K points difference for the flights, which I would have to do in any case after August. Another advantage is I was able to book the exact route/award seats I wanted and avoid the lottery that getting award seats has become.
I have booked OWAs several times in the past but its becoming increasingly difficult. Most recently I managed to get 2 x business OWA booked for April next year (BNE-SYD-BKK-AMM-CAI-LHR-SIN-KUL-PER-BNE) and that was an experience I dont want to repeat. I hit P1 and LTG in August and am honestly at the stage of running down my points while I can still get award seats. With all the changes to the program and limited Classic Award seats its just not worth the effort any more to accumulate points that are near impossible to use.

The terms and conditions do not work in your favour:

13.3.4 Flight Reward tickets will be valid for one year from the original ticketed departure date and all travel must be completed within 12 months of first departure, unless otherwise specified.

Besides which, holding award flights that you don’t intend to fly is pretty sh*tty.

 

[Kerrodt]

I was aware of the Ts&Cs but I'm also aware of this approach working in the past. As I said its worth a try and I have nothing to lose. TAlso these werent award flights, they were sale fares and I have the option of using them or cancelling well ahead so nil guilt.

Your original post implies that you were seeking, and booked, a points based flight, specifically a OWA flight. I don’t know how a sale fare can also be a OWA points redemption fare, unless I’m missing something.

If it is a cash paid sale fare, do the T&C of that fare bucket allow multiple date changes, destination changes or cancellation with full refund as you plan to do?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Your original post implies that you were seeking, and booked, a points based flight, specifically a OWA flight. I don’t know how a sale fare can also be a OWA points redemption fare, unless I’m missing something.

If it is a cash paid sale fare, do the T&C of that fare bucket allow multiple date changes, destination changes or cancellation with full refund as you plan to do?

I think it was a release of seats by a platinum member? Sale fare availability, award seats released.

 

[Kerrodt]

I think it was a release of seats by a platinum member? Sale fare availability, award seats released.

I’ll probably never know the answer to my question as it seems that @QFFBNE has either blocked me or vaporised their profile as I can’t see their profile or posts (except for what I quoted).

 

[Mr H]

I’ll probably never know the answer to my question as it seems that @QFFBNE has either blocked me or vaporised their profile as I can’t see their profile or posts (except for what I quoted).

Same