Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[elanshin]

On another note how do people force agents to search by flight number? They always ask for departure and arrival locations even when I provide flight number only (insisting they can’t search this way

I've always just given the departure airport, arrival airport (in their airport code) then date then the specific flight.

 

[icecream]

Transit time is 24hours so as long as you book both segments at the same time within a 24h transit window, it should be fine.

Sorry if I am misunderstanding. But I don't think I can use Hamole's method as currently the times are SFO-HND 12:50-17:20, HND-SYD 18:25-6:20. Which the agent can't book. If I try to book HND-SYD for the next day it would be over the 24h transit window and since I would have already stopped at HND it would break the OWA rules

 

[elanshin]

Sorry if I am misunderstanding. But I don't think I can use Hamole's method as currently the times are SFO-HND 12:50-17:20, HND-SYD 18:25-6:20. Which the agent can't book. If I try to book HND-SYD for the next day it would be over the 24h transit window and since I would have already stopped at HND it would break the OWA rules

Perhaps it's not meeting Minimum connection time (65mins connection with your timing) which is why it's not showing?

 

[djkelly69]

Can married/divorced sector logic affect business class only?

Yes - I had the exact same issue with QR when trying to book flights home via DOH as part of my OWA last year.

Back when plebs like me could occasionally reach Hobart, it was explained to me by a helpful and knowledgeable agent as a 'through fare' issue (after a number of O/S call centre agents couldn't articulate what the actual issue was). They advised this is basically when the subject city/airport (usually the airline's home airport - eg. QR/DOH, CX/HKG, JA/HND) doesn't want to release J award seats to just be a transit point for someone's through journey, so they restrict the flights that can be booked together on a transit. Essentially the opposite of a married sector, so sometimes called a divorced sector.

I should note that not all airlines do this. For your SFO-SYD flight for example, FJ through NAN might be an option, and they don't restrict flights in this fashion IME.

Post automatically merged: Dec 5, 2023

Perhaps it's not meeting Minimum connection time (65mins connection with your timing) which is why it's not showing?

Not certain on what MCT is for HND, but I had a 60min transit ticketed as part of my OWA.

 

[icecream]

Perhaps it's not meeting Minimum connection time (65mins connection with your timing) which is why it's not showing?

It definitely meets MCT as it used to be offered 'directly' as SFO-HND-SYD (found by searching SFO-SYD). I have seen another one from somewhere in USA (sorry forgot where)-HND-SYD with only 55 mins connecting time (although PE only)

I should note that not all airlines do this. For your SFO-SYD flight for example, FJ through NAN might be an option, and they don't restrict flights in this fashion IME.

Sadly can't use FJ for OWA

 

[MXEagles]

Thanks largely to the information shared in this community and the wider Australian rewards community, I've successfully booked economy RTW tickets for my partner and I in early 2024. Our main stops are CUN, MSY, DCA, JFK and FCO. I plan to resign from my current role and expect the trip to take about two months.

I wouldn't recommend the process to the average flyer. Being a bronze status frequent flyer, getting this booking across the line required several multi-hour calls to Qantas and hounding support. It also requires a lot of patience to find the available rewards flights that get you where you want to go, and you need to be able to stomach not flying anywhere in a hurry.

I haven't booked an itinerary as complex as this before but it shocks me that Qantas, a company that's main purpose is offering flights, makes it so difficult to book them online. The booking tool seems to max out at 5 flights and additional legs need to be added via an agent, each at an additional points cost. I guess I just thought that, given Qantas promotes this ticket type, they and their agents would be better equipped to handle one.

In terms of positives, I'm fairly happy with the availability of overseas rewards flights, specifically in the US. Europe is a different story, however I did find it easier to route that way rather than back over the Pacific. Plus a week in Rome will be nice I'm sure

 

[MToTheFrame]

I can't for the life of me get a repositioning flight to work in the tool?
I've tried every combination to try match it, anyone have a suggestion please?

The way I read it is:
BNE -> SIN -> HEL -> COP -> HEL -> HKG -> AKL -> LAX -> BNE

Any advice much appreciated, thank you.

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/fly-around-world-using-qantas-oneworld-award/#

"

Another example of a possible Oneworld Classic Flight Reward routing. This trip starts in Brisbane, with 5 stopovers in Singapore, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Auckland and Los Angeles. You could use a positioning flight on a separate ticket to return from Auckland to Brisbane mid-trip, then return later to Auckland to pick up the next flight to Los Angeles."

 

[Mr H]

I can't for the life of me get a repositioning flight to work in the tool?
I've tried every combination to try match it, anyone have a suggestion please?

The way I read it is:
BNE -> SIN -> HEL -> COP -> HEL -> HKG -> AKL -> LAX -> BNE

Any advice much appreciated, thank you.

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/fly-around-world-using-qantas-oneworld-award/#

"

Another example of a possible Oneworld Classic Flight Reward routing. This trip starts in Brisbane, with 5 stopovers in Singapore, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Auckland and Los Angeles. You could use a positioning flight on a separate ticket to return from Auckland to Brisbane mid-trip, then return later to Auckland to pick up the next flight to Los Angeles."

I don’t know whether it has been fixed but NZ used to count as Australia in the Qantas booking system - so hitting Auckland would count as a return to the starting country.

 

[MToTheFrame]

I don’t know whether it has been fixed but NZ used to count as Australia in the Qantas booking system - so hitting Auckland would count as a return to the starting country.

It's not just that, it won't allow Europe to Asia even?

 

[Mr H]

It's not just that, it won't allow Europe to Asia even? View attachment 356783

You appear to be trying to do a RTW booking but commenting on a OWA thread. That might be the source of your confusion.

 

[MToTheFrame]

You appear to be trying to do a RTW booking but commenting on a OWA thread. That might be the source of your confusion.

My mistake, will try the award route!

 

[Cardinal]

Am I correct that Oneworld never ever properly replaced their excellent interactive point to point route map from years ago which showed both destinations, direct and indirect airline and routing options, departure and arrival times and associated miles ?


It was similar to flightconnections.com but better.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Am I correct that Oneworld never ever properly replaced their excellent interactive point to point route map from years ago which showed both destinations, direct and indirect airline and routing options, departure and arrival times and associated miles ?


It was similar to flightconnections.com but better.

Correct.

 

[FlyingFiona]

It's been over 10 years since I last booked a OWA with QF points and things have changed a lot since then. I've been slowly getting my head around the differences but am unclear on one major point, availability of seats.

Back in the day if there was a reward seat available on any of the OW partners' website then it was up for grabs. Is this still the case?

For example, I can see flights on BA's website that I cannot see on QF. Can I include those as part of my OWA and book my itinerary by ringing QF? Or has this changed?

 

[Mr H]

Back in the day if there was a reward seat available on any of the OW partners' website then it was up for grabs. Is this still the case?

No, they have to be available on the QF website. There may be exceptions where a seat is available but not showing, but there will be plenty of seats showing on partner websites that are not available through QF.

 

[FlyingFiona]

No, they have to be available on the QF website. There may be exceptions where a seat is analizable but not showing, but there will be plenty of seats showing on partner websites that are not available through QF.

I thought that might be the answer. Thanks.

 

[elanshin]

I thought that might be the answer. Thanks.

You can always try requesting for them sometimes it's hard to tell whats available for partners. (definitely not QR though).

 

[flapper]

It's been over 10 years since I last booked a OWA with QF points and things have changed a lot since then. I've been slowly getting my head around the differences but am unclear on one major point, availability of seats.

Back in the day if there was a reward seat available on any of the OW partners' website then it was up for grabs. Is this still the case?

For example, I can see flights on BA's website that I cannot see on QF. Can I include those as part of my OWA and book my itinerary by ringing QF? Or has this changed?

BA have just recently restricted the rewards flights available to non-Avios airlines like QF. Some routes seems to have some availability and others none at all.

 

[JPod]

Recently returned from a fantastic Qantas OneWorld RTW Business Class trip on points. 318,000 points per person. Booking similar trip this year, no one seems to know anything about such an arrangement and my latest return flight, after tracking and finding the out going then return trip cost me 365,000 points. Anyone know what changed?

 

[Kerrodt]

It most likely doesn’t meet the rules of a Oneworld Classic Award.

There is an entire separate thread on these awards that is very informative and educational. You should seek it out and review what’s in that thread as your answer may lie within it.