Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Captain Halliday]

I think the question was that in addition to the actual costs, how much should be requested for the stress and disruption… ie ‘compensation’.

I think that’s a different issue.

I’d focus on actual costs first, then ask for compensation. I fear the latter may fail.

Correct.

I expect not to be out of pockets I will be very firm on that.

But Q2 is really… for the hassle, having to make a multitude of changes, more than six weeks of uncertainty about the trip, cutting short our time in Canada, having to travel Christmas Day rather than spend quality time with family, what might be a reasonable level of compensation to propose.

 

[elanshin]

Correct.

I expect not to be out of pockets I will be very firm on that.

But Q2 is really… for the hassle, having to make a multitude of changes, more than six weeks of uncertainty about the trip, cutting short our time in Canada, having to travel Christmas Day rather than spend quality time with family, what might be a reasonable level of compensation to propose.

Have you tried calling and asking directly for supervisors just out of curiosity? I know you have someone on the rewards escalation team, but this sounds very much like someone that's authority stuck as well.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Have you tried calling and asking directly for supervisors just out of curiosity? I know you have someone on the rewards escalation team, but this sounds very much like someone that's authority stuck as well.

No. I assumed it would be supervisors handling the award ticket escalations.

Might be worth a shot.

Good thought. Thanks.

 

[05flyer]

Correct.

I expect not to be out of pockets I will be very firm on that.

But Q2 is really… for the hassle, having to make a multitude of changes, more than six weeks of uncertainty about the trip, cutting short our time in Canada, having to travel Christmas Day rather than spend quality time with family, what might be a reasonable level of compensation to propose.

AFFers (myself included) have received 10,000 points as compensation for far less hassle and inconvenience in the past, so would treat that as an absolute baseline.

But from what you've been through with customer support, that amount probably doesn't come even close to what's actually reasonable here.

FWIW, I think you'll have an easier time getting points-based compensation rather than monetary compensation. But if you are after monetary comp, it'd be important to reiterate that this situation has arisen entirely due to their agent's error, and that your travel insurance (I assume?) doesn't cover that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Correct.

I expect not to be out of pockets I will be very firm on that.

But Q2 is really… for the hassle, having to make a multitude of changes, more than six weeks of uncertainty about the trip, cutting short our time in Canada, having to travel Christmas Day rather than spend quality time with family, what might be a reasonable level of compensation to propose.

i would focus on the actual out of pocket first. The loss of enjoyment comes later. If you tie the two together you may delay both.

Some have also had success using social media channels to get a resolution.

There’s the call centre, then the award escalations email address, and also the messenger or facebook or whichever it is.

There should be no issue for QF to create award seats on their own aircraft for you to help fix the problem. Getting BA to release the seats again is out of QF’s control, but they have offered to recompense those?

I guess the final step is to file a case with NCAT/VCAT or equivalent in your state. You could pick the flights you want to fix the reticket, avoiding travel on christmas day for example. But there’s always a chamce you may not be successful at the tribunal.

 

[atulhumane]

I'm trying to get 2 reward seat availability from HND/NRT/KIX to Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane but seems like there is no availability at all in Feb,whereas Mar April may has so many of them.

Any reason why, is Feb a peak session which I'm not aware of?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm trying to get 2 reward seat availability from HND/NRT/KIX to Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane but seems like there is no availability at all in Feb,whereas Mar April may has so many of them.

Any reason why, is Feb a peak session which I'm not aware of?

End of school holidays in early Feb, start of the university year late Feb. For the latter flights can be absolutely packed in all classes.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Any reason why, is Feb a peak session which I'm not aware of?

And in addition to the response from @MEL_Traveller it’s also still very popular with skiers who aren’t bound by school holidays.

Plus it’s only three months away. Any inventory that was available would likely be taken very quickly.

 

[madrooster]

Any reason why, is Feb a peak session which I'm not aware of?

Lunar new year.

 

[xxC_M_Mxx2026]

Hi all,

With the help of this amazing forum, I was able to successfully book my OWCLFS before the point devalued in August at 318k per person (business).

I had booked:

PER>CAN (via KL)
HKG>NRT
NRT>SFO
SCL>LHR (via Madrid).

I booked the SCL>LHR on the wrong dates (June) when I needed to fly in October due to the timing of the booking.

However, at the time I was unable to find any flights for the Europe to Aus flight and didn't book this.

I contacted Qantas yesterday to make a change to my current itinerary yesterday. I was advised by the operator after requesting to change my final flight (e.g. SCL > LHR)on an October date but it was with a different airline to what was initially booked.
I was advised from her that in order to book the new flight, I'd have to pay 60k per person in QFF points + 7700 (service fee) +5k (change booking) per person.

I didn't want to pay this, so she was able to change the current June booking (same flight but different date) with just the 7700 + 5000 per person QFF points. After hanging up the phone, everything seemed normal. I checked the app and my flight date had changed, and all my previous flights were still on the booking.

However, today when I logged on to Qantas, I noticed +318k points had been added to my QFF balance and 2 of my 4 flights had disappeared.

I have since called again, and they advised that they will need to "re-request" the flights which will require re-ticketing. I'm feeling quite worried and wanted to share my experience and see if anyone has had a similar experience or help me understand what might have happened?

PS. does anyone know if I add on more flight whether the 318k QFF will be capped even after the de-valuation?

 

[flapper]

Hi all,

With the help of this amazing forum, I was able to successfully book my OWCLFS before the point devalued in August at 318k per person (business).

I had booked:

PER>CAN (via KL)
HKG>NRT
NRT>SFO
SCL>LHR (via Madrid).

I booked the SCL>LHR on the wrong dates (June) when I needed to fly in October due to the timing of the booking.

However, at the time I was unable to find any flights for the Europe to Aus flight and didn't book this.

I contacted Qantas yesterday to make a change to my current itinerary yesterday. I was advised by the operator after requesting to change my final flight (e.g. SCL > LHR)on an October date but it was with a different airline to what was initially booked.
I was advised from her that in order to book the new flight, I'd have to pay 60k per person in QFF points + 7700 (service fee) +5k (change booking) per person.

I didn't want to pay this, so she was able to change the current June booking (same flight but different date) with just the 7700 + 5000 per person QFF points. After hanging up the phone, everything seemed normal. I checked the app and my flight date had changed, and all my previous flights were still on the booking.

However, today when I logged on to Qantas, I noticed +318k points had been added to my QFF balance and 2 of my 4 flights had disappeared.

I have since called again, and they advised that they will need to "re-request" the flights which will require re-ticketing. I'm feeling quite worried and wanted to share my experience and see if anyone has had a similar experience or help me understand what might have happened?

PS. does anyone know if I add on more flight whether the 318k QFF will be capped even after the de-valuation?

It is likely QF took too long to reticket. Some airlines like CX require reticketing within 24hrs, with MH it is 8hrs. When making a change you need to tell them this and request reticketing straight away.
With J bookings the 7,700 service fee should not be charged and if they insist on charging it then asked for it to be waived as the changes cannot be made online. I would email rewards escalations to sort this out, as they are far more knowledgable than the outsourced call centres.

 

[DC3]

However, today when I logged on to Qantas, I noticed +318k points had been added to my QFF balance and 2 of my 4 flights had disappeared.

I have since called again, and they advised that they will need to "re-request" the flights which will require re-ticketing. I'm feeling quite worried and wanted to share my experience and see if anyone has had a similar experience or help me understand what might have happened?

It happens more often than many would realise. There are a number of posts upthread about this. Ticketing needs to be actively monitored. Until ticketed you have nothing.

 

[xxC_M_Mxx2026]

Thank you I am waiting anxiously to hear back from the call centre who advised they will confirm my missing flights re-ticketing once they hear back from the airlines. Can you help me understand what real "confirmation" looks like? I can see it's in my app now after calling the call centre, but my understanding is that they will send me a PDF document?

 

[justinbrett]

It’s normal that they’ll credit you for the points and re-deduct them when making a change. They never (in my experience) just deduct the difference.

I’m confused why there is a service fee, this is something you can’t do online. Should just be the change fee.

If you can see flights in your app you can relax. It’s when they disappear you need to be concerned.

 

[algae]

If you can see flights in your app you can relax. It’s when they disappear you need to be concerned.

Unfortunately, i disagree with this statement.
The phone staff will add changes to your booking and it'll immediately show in your app. They'll usually point that out to get you off the phone, but you have to persist as that doesnt mean anything unfortunately. Only once it's ticketed and you get the proper eticket email are those flights actually added to your booking.

I've also had them multiple times say they'll call me back. Only 1 person ever did. I usually give them an hour and call again.

 

[levelnine]

I can see it's in my app now after calling the call centre, but my understanding is that they will send me a PDF document?

algae is correct. justinbrett is not.

Real confirmation comes in the form of an email from Qantas containing an 'E-TICKET NO' starting with 081.

It may be in an attached PDF, or it may be in a plain text email.

 

[justinbrett]

algae is correct. justinbrett is not.

Real confirmation comes in the form of an email from Qantas containing an 'E-TICKET NO' starting with 081.

It may be in an attached PDF, or it may be in a plain text email.

I never said it meant it was ticketed. But it does mean you still hold the seat.

For as long as its in your app with the status confirmed, it can still be ticketed. Once it’s gone, you’re in a world of hurt.

It is completely normal for changes to take up to a week to ticket, especially if it’s months into the future.

 

[levelnine]

I never said it meant it was ticketed. But it does mean you still hold the seat.

For as long as its in your app with the status confirmed, it can still be ticketed. Once it’s gone, you’re in a world of hurt.

Re-read the question you were answering. You incorrectly answered it.

 

[justinbrett]

Re-read the question you were answering. You incorrectly answered it.

Nope, I’m advising OP not to worry because what is happening is completely normal.

 

[levelnine]

Nope, I’m advising OP not to worry because what is happening is completely normal.

Doubling down on your incorrectness in an effort to save face doesn't help anyone.

The OP asked 'Can you help me understand what real "confirmation" looks like?'

No where in your answer did you mention the correct response. Real confirmation is an e-ticket number.