Mum spoke to Travel Agent. Said she can book Syd to London Return Business for 280k points. How?!

[RooFlyer]

My parents have used the exact same lady for the past ~20yrs (and probably 20+ trips!) so we do trust her.

OK, that's good to know. A good travel agent is a great resource. 280K is a round-the-world fare which is in excess of what you are after - a total of 16 sectors! Ask the TA why they are suggesting that routing, rather than a 'simple' Australia - London return, which is fewer points. Very, very difficult to get business class to London at this stage - would almost certainly involve some creative routing.

 

[JohnM]

OK, that's good to know. A good travel agent is a great resource. 280K is a round-the-world fare which is in excess of what you are after - a total of 16 sectors! Ask the TA why they are suggesting that routing, rather than a 'simple' Australia - London return, which is fewer points. Very, very difficult to get business class to London at this stage - would almost certainly involve some creative routing.

Often-used shorthand for the 280K OneWorld Award is 'RTW' - but it can be misleading as there is no need to go around the globe and can become confused with a paid OneWorld Explorer which also has maximum of 16 sectors but no distance limit.

It seems strange that an experienced TA is suggesting a full OneWorld Award which will need more points than a straight-up return. Unless, given the short notice, the TA is suggesting an indirect routing that would, on the face of it in sum, exceed 280K points whereby the 280K capped OneWorld Award could be invoked. Clarification needed on that I think.

 

[serfty]

I honestly can't find the class selection at all! I've searched everywhere.

So, are the "Qantas Oneworld Classic Reward" flights that people are talking about simply the "Use Points Only" option when searching on the Qantas website? Clicking this then brings up the Qantas Classic Rewards options....

Although I'm not sure if Qantas Oneworld Classic Reward is the same as Qantas Classic Reward?

They are different in the point required and the construct of a 'trip'.

You must have missed my post #3 & #5.

 

[serfty]

Ask the TA why they are suggesting that routing, rather than a 'simple' Australia - London return

I suspect it's based on what is available.

A classic award via HKG for example would be at least three 'trips' and cost at least 280K (60K+92K+128K).

 

[RichardMEL]

Seems to me the least this TA has been a bt misleading and at the most promising something that's difficult to deliver. Why on earth would a TA even suggest award tickets, where they would get no commission out of it, and can't even book it? It doesn't really make a lot of sense.. Unless they were acting as a "friend" of 20+ years standing.

However either way the impression that it can be done for 280k points (or even a bit less if direct) while correct that it is POSSIUBLE doesn't mean it's actually BOOKABLE (available) on the exact dates required - specially with only 3 months notice? Specially without a lot of status? That's really pushing it in my book.

So yes POSSIBLE as discussed already... PROBABLE? Well.. good luck!