Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[MEL_Traveller]

Syd-BKK is a surface sector which would (I think) count as a second stopover in SYD. Two transits and one stopover in the same port is allowed, but I think your idea would make two stopover in SYD.

SYD-BKK is included on the fare calculation, but not as a coupon on the ticket. The ticket terminates in SYD, so i don’t think it counts as a stopover?

 

[Cessna 180]

SYD-BKK is included on the fare calculation, but not as a coupon on the ticket. The ticket terminates in SYD, so i don’t think it counts as a stopover?

ok, That could be true. I have only ever started and finished at MEL for the three that I have done.

 

[Shipsong]

Syd-BKK is a surface sector which would (I think) count as a second stopover in SYD. Two transits and one stopover in the same port is allowed, but I think your idea would make two stopover in SYD.

I thought that, but this website (How to fly around the world in Business Class with Qantas Points) has an example of: Denpasar-Paris(1), Paris-Helsinki(2), Helsinki-Melbourne(3), Melbourne-Hong Kong(4), Hong Kong- Tokyo(5), Tokyo-Melbourne (finish) which is a similar thing.

 

[Cessna 180]

I thought that, but this website (How to fly around the world in Business Class with Qantas Points) has an example of: Denpasar-Paris(1), Paris-Helsinki(2), Helsinki-Melbourne(3), Melbourne-Hong Kong(4), Hong Kong- Tokyo(5), Tokyo-Melbourne (finish) which is a similar thing.

It is worth ringing and putting it together and seeing what the system comes up with. I got through pretty quick the other day.

 

[Shipsong]

It is worth ringing and putting it together and seeing what the system comes up with. I got through pretty quick the other d

It is worth ringing and putting it together and seeing what the system comes up with. I got through pretty quick the other day.

I'm having all sorts of trouble getting this booked. The Qantas guy I'm speaking to in the Philippines seems to have no idea how this works. First he told me I couldn't finish in a different city to where I started. Finally got him over that. Now he's saying I can't go back to a continent I've already been to. But he can't point me to a rule on this anywhere official. Aaaarrggghh.

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

I'm having all sorts of trouble getting this booked.. Aaaarrggghh.

Many of us here have performed the HUACA dance.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm having all sorts of trouble getting this booked. The Qantas guy I'm speaking to in the Philippines seems to have no idea how this works. First he told me I couldn't finish in a different city to where I started. Finally got him over that. Now he's saying I can't go back to a continent I've already been to. But he can't point me to a rule on this anywhere official. Aaaarrggghh.

And don’t mention you are booking a OWA.

Just say you want to book flights, and feed them the flights.

The system automatically caps if you follow the rules. If you don’t, it will price sectors individually. Then you need to look and see where you’ve gone wrong.

 

[Cessna 180]

And don’t mention you are booking a OWA.

Just say you want to book flights, and feed them the flights.

The system automatically caps if you follow the rules. If you don’t, it will price sectors individually. Then you need to look and see where you’ve gone wrong.

Agree 100% to this. If you get a smart agent they know what you are trying to achieve. And will try and help.

If not, as Mel sad above. Just feed it to them and the system will tell you the points.

 

[Shipsong]

Do you have to book everything at once? Could I book the first part of the trip now and the rest later (but before I start the first part)? So the cap would only be triggered when I booked the second part?

Even if I can, obviously this is a risk that I can't find the flights I need for the second part.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Do you have to book everything at once? Could I book the first part of the trip now and the rest later (but before I start the first part)? So the cap would only be triggered when I booked the second part?

Even if I can, obviously this is a risk that I can't find the flights I need for the second part.

In short yes. Book as much as can up front. Note there will likely be a change fee each time you add the rest of the flights.

 

[serfty]

Do you have to book everything at once? Could I book the first part of the trip now and the rest later (but before I start the first part)? So the cap would only be triggered when I booked the second part?

Even if I can, obviously this is a risk that I can't find the flights I need for the second part.

That's how I and many others do it.

The booking's last flight must depart no later than a year after the first flight, not when the booking is created.

In August I am traveling on a booking originally created last April. I already commenced travel in February. It is "parked" until then.

 

[Shipsong]

Frustrating process. Had the thing 90% done online and it worked as expected but at the very end came up with an error message. I then spent over an hour on the phone which looked like it was working and was almost done until the operator put me on hold and never came back.

Now when I try to do it online or over the phone I have to start all over again and all the flights I wanted (which have been available for weeks) are suddenly gone (I'm sure they're in my "basket" somewhere)

 

[elanshin]

Do you have to book everything at once? Could I book the first part of the trip now and the rest later (but before I start the first part)? So the cap would only be triggered when I booked the second part?

Even if I can, obviously this is a risk that I can't find the flights I need for the second part.

You can most certainly book it in stages. However do keep in mind that you can't continue booking once you start your journey so you have until the time of your first flight to alter it. Also for safety reasons - as Qantas needs to reissue tickets- don't leave it up to literally the last minute, showing up at the airport and realising that QF hasn't issued the new tickets yet so you don't have a e-ticketed flight.

Frustrating process. Had the thing 90% done online and it worked as expected but at the very end came up with an error message. I then spent over an hour on the phone which looked like it was working and was almost done until the operator put me on hold and never came back.

Now when I try to do it online or over the phone I have to start all over again and all the flights I wanted (which have been available for weeks) are suddenly gone (I'm sure they're in my "basket" somewhere)

And yes this is likely the case. If you call up and ask them they should be able to see what the previous operator was working on. There are alot of things that can go wrong in the call centre to try to book the flights and even senior experienced Hobart team members sometime have to wrestle with the systems to get your result, let alone less experienced offshore teams.

Once the operator has added all your flights - they then need to send it off to a different team to ticket the flight. Please note that this phase is still a monitor and keep on top of period of time. If ticketing takes too long, some airlines will drop from the itinerary (CX and MH are major culprits of this). If you have those airlines, you're hoping that they can transfer you to the ticketing (or they can do it themselves) and tell them you're happy to wait - it's worth waiting.

Every time you then make any changes to the ticket, you need to do the same thing and emphasize you want your e-ticket ASAP and you're happy to wait if they're able to ticket it without passing to a different team. Again flights can drop off and many months down the track it's harder to reinstate the lost flights.

 

[creedaventus]

Thank you. How on earth do I find an agent that understands how it works?? The Business Chat are adamant I have to book flights for travel before August 22 (12 months from original ticketing), then I can change the dates (paying another 5,000 points p.p change fee!) once I've taken the first flight on the ticket. How ridiculous. I was talking to a call centre agent yesterday, added all the flights, then she tells me "it's not permitted" and her advice from the support team is that 'once a classic rewards flight is booked, it can't then be turned into a classic rewards RTW ticket'. GAAAARRGHHHHH!!! I'm apparently getting a call back from a supervisor within 24 hours, if you believe that. I'm based in Hobart. If only I could speak to a local agent.

Post automatically merged: May 5, 2025

Thank you. May I ask what is HUACA?

Hi, did you end up able to add new flights that are more than 12 months from your original ticket issue date? I am on the same boat now, and would appreciate some guidance. Thanks a lot!

 

[elanshin]

Hi, did you end up able to add new flights that are more than 12 months from your original ticket issue date? I am on the same boat now, and would appreciate some guidance. Thanks a lot!

I have done this before. In fact my current OWA is in this category.

Original ticket booked in Mar 2025 with first flight in Feb 2026. Early Jan 2026, I completely changed the itinerary into a OWA.

 

[creedaventus]

I have done this before. In fact my current OWA is in this category.

Original ticket booked in Mar 2025 with first flight in Feb 2026. Early Jan 2026, I completely changed the itinerary into a OWA.

1. In this new ticket, when is your latest flight date? Is it after Apr 2026 (which would be > 12 months after Mar 2025)
2. If yes, how did you manage to go through this hurdle? cause the user above said the call centre operator said it's not doable due to the new flights > 12 months after the first ticket issue date

 

[elanshin]

1. In this new ticket, when is your latest flight date? Is it after Apr 2026 (which would be > 12 months after Mar 2025)
2. If yes, how did you manage to go through this hurdle? cause the user above said the call centre operator said it's not doable due to the new flights > 12 months after the first ticket issue date

Late August 2026.

No hurdle - basically you just need a call centre person that has an understanding of how things worked. Aka if they push back ask for supervisor or politely thank them for their time and try again.