Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Kangol]

Hello all,
This is my first post and I wish to begin by saying thank you to all the above posters for combined knowledge/wisdom and hacks. Ive used the knowledge to become WP (and soon P1) and book a few classic rewards in J. Thank you

A Question.

if I start a CR trip in CHC-MEL-SYD-JFK and on... would the AKL stop on QF3 mean that I cant complete it as Id enter the country I start in... I have a SYD-DFW-EWR (last leg in Y) but prefer (obv) QF3.

With thanks in advance
H

QF3 SYD-JFK is one flight number and is considered to depart Australia and arrive in the USA, regardless of where the plane physically lands.
You would be fine.
I'd be really surprised if that wasn't the case!

 

[DejaBrew]

A very warm welcome aboard AFF @Hector99

 

[tpor5488]

Hi,
Apologies if this has been pointed out before. Just added 5 flights to next years economy OWA. The first 4 flights were booked on 5 July this year and cost 80,200 points. I was worried adding the 5 flights would cap at the new limit of 152,200. Thankfully the booking capped at the old 132,400. The first 4 flights were on QF, MH and BA. Need to wait a month to book the final flights. Hopefully FJ are included by then.

 

[algae]

Hi,
Apologies if this has been pointed out before. Just added 5 flights to next years economy OWA. The first 4 flights were booked on 5 July this year and cost 80,200 points. I was worried adding the 5 flights would cap at the new limit of 152,200. Thankfully the booking capped at the old 132,400. The first 4 flights were on QF, MH and BA. Need to wait a month to book the final flights. Hopefully FJ are included by then.

I don't think I'd seen anyone actually confirm this, so that's great to hear! Cheers!

 

[nickfromeastryde]

I don't think I'd seen anyone actually confirm this, so that's great to hear! Cheers!

I don't think I'd seen anyone actually confirm this, so that's great to hear! Cheers!

Yep, I was interested as well. I only booked one positioning flight KUL-MEL for June 26 prior to the points change and want to build a proper itinerary on that for later 2026/early 2027.

Still not convinced they will price my bookings under the old rates but we will have to wait and see.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't think I'd seen anyone actually confirm this, so that's great to hear! Cheers!


Yep, I was interested as well. I only booked one positioning flight KUL-MEL for June 26 prior to the points change and want to build a proper itinerary on that for later 2026/early 2027.

Still not convinced they will price my bookings under the old rates but we will have to wait and see.

If you are starting or finishing in Australia, I would have added a holding segment in Australia as the first flight, so it prices in AUD rather than ringgits. Will make it easier for your changes down the track to have it in AUD.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

If you are starting or finishing in Australia, I would have added a holding segment in Australia as the first flight, so it prices in AUD rather than ringgits. Will make it easier for your changes down the track to have it in AUD.

It doesn't really worry me, the exchange rate on my CBA Ultimate is pretty good and as a bonus I get extra points for overseas transactions. I made a couple of hundred dollars AUD on my last OWA priced in HKD as new flights and changes were added.

I don't really like complicating things anymore than I have to with OWA's

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It doesn't really worry me, the exchange rate on my CBA Ultimate is pretty good and as a bonus I get extra points for overseas transactions. I made a couple of hundred dollars AUD on my last OWA priced in HKD as new flights and changes were added.

I don't really like complicating things anymore than I have to with OWA's

The exchange rate is not the issue.

It’s with ticketing.

Once you add legs they will have to price it in MYR, or change the currency, and that leads to complications and they often have to send it off do the calculations.

This can lead to ticketing delays, and depending on the airlines, auto cancellation.

The inclusion of an aussie flight as a place holder is to reduce complications and ticketing problems down the track.

 

[pyramidforce]

The exchange rate is not the issue.

It’s with ticketing.

Once you add legs they will have to price it in MYR, or change the currency, and that leads to complications and they often have to send it off do the calculations.

This can lead to ticketing delays, and depending on the airlines, auto cancellation.

The inclusion of an aussie flight as a place holder is to reduce complications and ticketing problems down the track.

I just want to be helpful and offer a counter DP

My relatively complex OWA was priced in Euros. I am a nothing bronze. Everytime I call, I get put through to the "platinum line" (per the robo voice greeting) and once I even got Hobart.

I guess it was so complex the system just nopes me into the platinum line because they know that normal agents would have no idea

 

[nomadscientist]

Does anyone have experience with changing an OWA ticket due to extreme circumstances? I know that normally changes are not permitted after starting the ticket. We already took our first flights, but have a leg (with surface sector) in Jamaica in a few days:

1. AA: MIA-KIN
2. AA: MBJ-ORD-LAX
3. CX: LAX-HKG
4. CX:HKG-MEL

Due to the hurricane, airports are now open but roads are still closed, there’s no electricity, and our hotel cancelled our reservation.

Would we be better off trying to change our ticket with Qantas over the phone, or perhaps skipping the flights 1. and 2. (making our own arrangements to get to LAX) and noting something like an IRROPS on the ticket?

Obviously, keeping/reticketing the CX flights is paramount…

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Does anyone have experience with changing an OWA ticket due to extreme circumstances? I know that normally changes are not permitted after starting the ticket. We already took our first flights, but have a leg (with surface sector) in Jamaica in a few days:

1. AA: MIA-KIN
2. AA: MBJ-ORD-LAX
3. CX: LAX-HKG
4. CX:HKG-MEL

Due to the hurricane, airports are now open but roads are still closed, there’s no electricity, and our hotel cancelled our reservation.

Would we be better off trying to change our ticket with Qantas over the phone, or perhaps skipping the flights 1. and 2. (making our own arrangements to get to LAX) and noting something like an IRROPS on the ticket?

Obviously, keeping/reticketing the CX flights is paramount…

Yes any changes will need to be made by phone.

I think you’ll need to call and see what they can do.

This is where your insurance may need to get involved. If Qantas can’t offer an acceptable outcome (for example cancelling the whole rest of the ticket) you should hold off doing anything until you have spoken to your insurance company.

I’m sure qantas will have some sort of commercial policy for this, or will apply the policy set out by AA.

 

[DC3]

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

Exactly. E-ticket, e-ticket, e-ticket …….

 

[elanshin]

Have they fixed AKL to not count as an Australian city yet?

aka can I start in AKL to stop in Australia?

 

[nickfromeastryde]

The exchange rate is not the issue.

It’s with ticketing.

Once you add legs they will have to price it in MYR, or change the currency, and that leads to complications and they often have to send it off do the calculations.

This can lead to ticketing delays, and depending on the airlines, auto cancellation.

The inclusion of an aussie flight as a place holder is to reduce complications and ticketing problems down the track.

I know that gets said on here often but in my experience doesn't appear to be an issue.. I made three changes to my 2025 / 2026 OWA priced in HKD, e-ticket arrived once when still on phone and twice within minutes. I think I even commented on this board how it appears that Qantas had really improved their e-ticket process.

 

[elanshin]

I know that gets said on here often but in my experience doesn't appear to be an issue.. I made three changes to my 2025 / 2026 OWA priced in HKD, e-ticket arrived once when still on phone and twice within minutes. I think I even commented on this board how it appears that Qantas had really improved their e-ticket process.

I was told when I ticketed in IDR that there are certain currencies that are easy to handle such as SGD, USD, HKD, AUD, NZD, GBP for instance. If it's not one of the major currencies it becomes a mighty big struggle to get it reticketed as non of the regular call centres can do it and it's just HBA/AKL i believe.

 

[frequentflier]

Long-time lurker, first time poster.
Aiming to book my first OWA in J for 3 pax.
Rough itinerary is:
SYD-CMB-FRA-CMN-YUL-YVR ... then back home somehow avoiding USA. Timing late-August. There was a good option YVR-TPE but only 2 seats. Also only 2 seats on SCL-SYD.
Happy to fly into any Aus airport. Looking for advice on creative solutions (3 pax makes it tricky)
Thanks in advance!

 

[elanshin]

Long-time lurker, first time poster.
Aiming to book my first OWA in J for 3 pax.
Rough itinerary is:
SYD-CMB-FRA-CMN-YUL-YVR ... then back home somehow avoiding USA. Timing late-August. There was a good option YVR-TPE but only 2 seats. Also only 2 seats on SCL-SYD.
Happy to fly into any Aus airport. Looking for advice on creative solutions (3 pax makes it tricky)
Thanks in advance!

Welcome to AFF

Consider splitting 2 +1 which would make it a bit easier. YVR - TPE sound like China Airline (CI) which is NOT a OW carrier (skyteam) so becareful on the Qantas search engine.
HKG/NRT/HND come to mind for YVR as the main hubs to fly to. QF also does fly there from SYD but exceptionally limited seats.
FJ also has a flight to NAN but I'm not sure if FJ is part of the OWA yet.
Otherwise you could consider backtracking via Europe - you should have enough miles to be able to go that direction too.


Also how are you doing YUL - YVR. There's no OW carrier in Canada (unless that's a surface segment).

 

[frequentflier]

Welcome to AFF

Consider splitting 2 +1 which would make it a bit easier. YVR - TPE sound like China Airline (CI) which is NOT a OW carrier (skyteam) so becareful on the Qantas search engine.
HKG/NRT/HND come to mind for YVR as the main hubs to fly to. QF also does fly there from SYD but exceptionally limited seats.
FJ also has a flight to NAN but I'm not sure if FJ is part of the OWA yet.
Otherwise you could consider backtracking via Europe - you should have enough miles to be able to go that direction too.


Also how are you doing YUL - YVR. There's no OW carrier in Canada (unless that's a surface segment).

Excellent point re CI, hadn't realised that. Thanks. Yes surfact sector in Canada, I should've clarified.

The 2+1 split is a good idea. You mean so that we can do 2x J and 1x Y on certain sectors if needed?

Hypothetically, if I booked YVR-NRT-Aus and then YVR-SYD magically popped up later, could I call and switch out the NRT leg for the direct YVR-SYD flight? Believe so, but haven't booked OWA before. I have seats.aero subscription for alerts, but still seems very unlikely.

 

[elanshin]

Excellent point re CI, hadn't realised that. Thanks. Yes surfact sector in Canada, I should've clarified.

The 2+1 split is a good idea. You mean so that we can do 2x J and 1x Y on certain sectors if needed?

Either in that split or one person travels in a different route / timing.

Hypothetically, if I booked YVR-NRT-Aus and then YVR-SYD magically popped up later, could I call and switch out the NRT leg for the direct YVR-SYD flight? Believe so, but haven't booked OWA before. I have seats.aero subscription for alerts, but still seems very unlikely.

Yes that is possible. But I'd say that it's even harder to find a flight to NRT/HND as it's NA summer and Japan is still super popular.

Honestly your chances of going across the pacific are very slim with YVR without touching US Mainland. You may want to consider expanding to include YYZ (Toronto). But your most realistic option is back tracking across Europe.

Edit: I can see 2J and 1 W (Premium economy) for QF SCL - SYD on Aug 20 and Sep 1 - not sure if this needs higher status to see though.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If you can get to Asia from YVR, you can consider an extra stop on the way home for better availability. For example QF flights from Manila or Jakarta might be available. So you could do tokyo-mnl/cgk-Australia, or HKG-mnl/cgk-Au etc.