Classic Reward Seats - a thing of the past?

[kangarooflyer88]

If it makes you feel any better about the taxes, you wouldn’t be able to include EK sectors into a OWA anyway (given EK is not OW, which I think is what you suggest when you say the points are not capped).

In fairness to OP there is a lot of confusion here.

So let me take the opportunity to set the record straight. Qantas has something called classic awards which let you book award flights in economy, premium economy, business and first class at a (arguably reasonable) fixed number of points. Of course you can book these classic awards with Qantas and JetStar, but also all OneWorld partners like British Airways and American Airlines. Aside from these partners Qantas also has additional classic award partners that are either not in an alliance or worse part of a competing alliance. For instance there are Qantas classic awards with Air France, KLM, Emirates, China Airlines and WestJet to name but a few.

Now a OneWorld award as its name suggests is actually more strict than a classic award. Yes people will talk about the flexibility in routing but in terms of airlines you can book, it's crystal clear: you cannot book anything other than OneWorld airlines. So Emirates is off the table and Air France is most certainly off the table too (they're on a competing alliance for god's sake!). So yes you can book British Airways, Qantas, FinnAir, Iberia or Qatar to Europe, or maybe American Airlines to the US but again it the entire ticket must consist of OneWorld partners. Not even JetStar qualifies here!

-RooFlyer88

 

[MrJetset]

Nothing is as predictable as it was pre Covid. The ME3 and BA used to offer seats set times closer to departure but this is no longer a rule.

Conversely, QF was not known to release seats closer to departure, however this appears to be more common, especially for routes like QF11/12 where a large amount of inventory will be loaded two or a month prior.

 

[MelbFlyer]

I'm wondering if you tried HEL to SIN on AY? Yes I understand that will break up the journey a bit but on the flip side you'll avoid a hefty APD fee and there might be a chance that AY has some availability.

Yep, I'm flying into CDG via HEL on AY from HKG (all in business) and have looked at a possible flight route on AY coming back to Singapore - there's business availability from LHR to HEL (but not on the A350s, only on the narrow bodies), but then from HEL to SIN there's only economy.

Looking to avoid economy at all costs, especially given it's a business OWA and that leg of the flight will be 12hrs+.

Furthermore, it's flying literally out of the way to get to SIN.

I'd still take / prefer my current flight on BA - LHR to SIN direct in PE, over business to HEL / economy to SIN.

Looked at a whole lot of other possible cities as well - there's no business reward seats (the entire way back to SIN) that will fall under the OWA.

If it makes you feel any better about the taxes, you wouldn’t be able to include EK sectors into a OWA anyway (given EK is not OW, which I think is what you suggest when you say the points are not capped).

Yes, fully aware of this. Same goes for CI award flights not being able to be included as part of a OWA.

At least the taxes via Taipei aren't as exorbitant as Dubai!