Advice on RTW booking

[BazzaCoffs]

I am planning a RTW trip booking using Classic Reward points. I want to start the booking process for next year in April. I plan to be away for 2 months. Can I book the first couple of segments and wait until the latter flights become available. Do I have to book all at once?
Thanks,

 

[ronlon]

this is a very good question for which I would also like to know the answers. Can anyone provide an insight please?

 

[Lynda2475]

"oneworld" award (132.4K/249.6K/318K/455K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Yes you can, but best discussed on above thread

 

[BazzaCoffs]

Thank you for that.

Post automatically merged: Jun 23, 2023

Sadly, I have searched for a while and cannot find out how to post on that thread.

 

[Kerrodt]

Thank you for that.

Post automatically merged: Jun 23, 2023

Sadly, I have searched for a while and cannot find out how to post on that thread.

@BazzaCoffs If you go to the very last page in that (very long) thread you should see a comments box at the very bottom below the last comment - something like this pic I have attached if you are on a laptop/desktop - this is where you can post your question.

Additionally, the answer to your question would have been answered a number of times previously in that thread. It would pay to read through the last dozen or so pages to see if the same question pops up.

Additionally, it is best to NOT call a "Oneworld Award booking" that is booked using points as a "RTW trip booking using Classic Reward points" as you have as you are mixing up your terminology and describinig one product (A RTW ticket) with a completely separate product (OneWorld Award Booking). They are two very different beasts. That thread deals exclusively with OneWorld Award Bookings.

 

[Lynda2475]

Sadly, I have searched for a while and cannot find out how to post on that thread.

I tagged you at the end of the thread so hopefully you can find it now, by @Kerrodt 's advice above is spot on.

FYI RTW is a paid ticket in which you have to fly around the world in one direction with no back-tracking.

One World Award is a type of Classic Award points ticket with capped points. You don't actually have to fly around the world in one direction, you can back-track provided you comply with the rules re total miles and not stopping over int he same city twice.

 

[ronlon]

BazzaCoffs may not necessarily be pursuing a Oneworld booking but a route that does in fact go around the world utilising reward seats that may not include Oneworld partners. Having said that, the answer to the 'adding segments' question would be the same.

 

[BazzaCoffs]

Thank you all for your help, I understand much more clearly now. Great.

 

[smckay]

Yes you can. I booked 2 legs on a OWE a few weeks back to secure the seats and then Thursday added in an additional 4 flights to make it a OWE for 318,000.
There is a change fee of 5,000 per person, per change so you should do it once only to reduce this.
I don't know about a RTW, I have only ever booked OWE and have changed itinerary many times on many trips.

 

[BazzaCoffs]

Yes you can. I booked 2 legs on a OWE a few weeks back to secure the seats and then Thursday added in an additional 4 flights to make it a OWE for 318,000.
There is a change fee of 5,000 per person, per change so you should do it once only to reduce this.
I don't know about a RTW, I have only ever booked OWE and have changed itinerary many times on many trips.

Thank you for your reply.
Do I understand that I can book say 3 sectors out of 5 now and book the last 2 sectors in a months time when the seats are released? And providing I do not exceed the miles/sector/stopover rules can I assume that the points charged will be within the 318,000 cap? Thanks,

 

[BazzaCoffs]

If I am right in my assumption above, are the change points charged when I add the last 2 sectors?

 

[Lynda2475]

If you book 3 sectors now you will be charged for those sectors (points and taxes) now - just do it online; then when you call back later to add remaining legs you will be charged the difference between the 318k points and what you have already paid plus the extra taxes and the change fee (in points) provided the flights you are adding along with those already booked meet the OWA requirements.

When you call back don't mention OWA just say you need to add some flights to any existing booking and quote the PNR/Ref, the computer will take care of the calculation for the difference.

 

[BazzaCoffs]

If you book 3 sectors now you will be charged for those sectors (points and taxes) now - just do it online; then when you call back later to add remaining legs you will be charged the difference between the 318k points and what you have already paid plus the extra taxes and the change fee (in points) provided the flights you are adding along with those already booked meet the OWA requirements.

When you call back don't mention OWA just say you need to add some flights to any existing booking and quote the PNR/Ref, the computer will take care of the calculation for the difference.

Thank you Lynda2475, you have been very helpful.

 

[BazzaCoffs]

What fun,

I am trying to book 3 sectors via One World awards. I can search and get 1 adult CFS-SYD-SIN in Business but when I try 2 adults I can only get Premium Economy. Can anyone think of a reason why I should not make 2 completely separate bookings for myself and my wife. I realise that I might get 1 Business and 1 Premium Economy. I would be happier with that than 2 Premium Economy seats.

 

[Kerrodt]

What fun,

I am trying to book 3 sectors via One World awards. I can search and get 1 adult CFS-SYD-SIN in Business but when I try 2 adults I can only get Premium Economy. Can anyone think of a reason why I should not make 2 completely separate bookings for myself and my wife. I realise that I might get 1 Business and 1 Premium Economy. I would be happier with that than 2 Premium Economy seats.

With separate booking you can’t guarantee that you won’t be forced to separate itineraries at a later point when you add another flight e.g. you try to book 2 pax on flight AB1234 on J reward seats and there is only 1 J reward seat available on the flight.

This is probably what you’re encountering now. Only 1 J reward seat available on the flight where you’re trying to find and book 2 J reward seats.

 

[smckay]

My approach to this, as it is basically impossible to get out of the country in J;

• Start looking at dates you want to fly +/- 3-4 days
• Take note of days with J class
• Then try to match connecting flights
• Look at multiple ports; HKG, SIN, HND

Plan on a couple of hours work on this.

One thing that may work in your favour, if you call up and add flights you may only be charged the 5,000 penalty for adding and not the 7,000 manual booking fee. So if you get a decent operator they can search for flights faster than we can. They don't see any more than we do but I think they can view multiple available flights at once.

 

[Lynda2475]

and not the 7,000 manual booking fee.

Only applies to Economy and Premium Economy, always waived for Business and First