Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[AndyGoodyear]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Just my 2cents in - booking an economy award is NEVER a good value regardless whether it's one way or return or round the world.

in your case you can get a Star Alliance (Lufthansa) RTW ticket for about $2500 all in all including taxes and this will take you to the same places you want to go but will give you more flexibility and you will get some points (credit all your flights to Avianca Lifemiles, buy some more LM points when they are on sale and you'll have a first class ticket SYD-BKK as a result as a bonus).

if you're particularly attached to OneWorld you can start your trip in South Africa and this will save you quite a bit $$$ as well

I would personally never use 140K for a RTW ticket unless I'm desperate to use the points

Hey, thanks for that info. I had already priced up a Star Alliance RTW ticket for this itinerary and it came in at around $5000 using the star alliance tool online.

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Hey, thanks for that info. I had already priced up a Star Alliance RTW ticket for this itinerary and it came in at around $5000 using the star alliance tool online.

The Star Alliance tool won't give you the fare, you'll need to buy it from a travel agent. I've done two of these 5 stop RTW Lufthansa fares in the past, one was $2200 and the other $2400

I bought mine from bestflights.com.au that is now helloworld.com.au but there are other agents there like roundabouttravel.com.au

 

[snabbu]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

4/10 SFO - SYD (Qantas) $530 AUD tax

To drop the tax component even further you should look at heading home via HKG on CX. For example on 4/10/15

SFO-LAX-SYD on AA/QF vs SFO-HKG-SYD on CX

CX YR surcharge (YR) $55.20
QF YQ surcharge (YQ) $340.00

LAX-SYD on QF is almost $300 more than SFO-HKG-SYD on CX.

 

[AndyGoodyear]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

To drop the tax component even further you should look at heading home via HKG on CX. For example on 4/10/15

SFO-LAX-SYD on AA/QF vs SFO-HKG-SYD on CX



LAX-SYD on QF is almost $300 more than SFO-HKG-SYD on CX.

Wow. Looks like I have moer tricks to learn with these fares. Although I thought that the rules of this fare state that one flight has to be with Qantas?

 

[snabbu]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Wow. Looks like I have moer tricks to learn with these fares. Although I thought that the rules of this fare state that one flight has to be with Qantas?

Nope. You just need to have 2 carriers other than QF, meaning you could construct an itin with say CX/AA/BA only.

 

[AndyGoodyear]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

The Star Alliance tool won't give you the fare, you'll need to buy it from a travel agent. I've done two of these 5 stop RTW Lufthansa fares in the past, one was $2200 and the other $2400

I bought mine from bestflights.com.au that is now helloworld.com.au but there are other agents there like roundabouttravel.com.au

Thanks, I'll definitely check that out. Although so far using the other suggestions here, I've got the cash component of the oneworld fare down to 650 aud which is very good value.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Thanks, I'll definitely check that out. Although so far using the other suggestions here, I've got the cash component of the oneworld fare down to 650 aud which is very good value.

Just beware that taxes on the cash fares are not necessarily the same as taxes on the award fares. There are other charges that get lumped in also.

QF should not have an issue doing a fare quote for you based on your desired itinerary without booking it.

 

[adelee]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

A good suggestion re switching to CX for your US to Aus leg. However, one thing to bear in mind with SFO-HKG-SYD on CX, is that it will add another 10 hours on to your journey. Not so pleasant when travelling in Y as opposed to J or F!

 

[Jacques Vert]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Interesting points made. Judging by your comments snabbu and adelee, I'm now thinking it may be that CX allows multi segment transits through HKG if one of the cities either side of HKG is a "lower level" destination where demand for award seats is not very competitive. In adelee's case AMS could fit that category. I'd be interested in the details of your CX connecting flight segments snabbu to test my theory further.

Admittedly, the CX transits via HKG I've tried to book in the past have been from/to prominent cities (LHR, JFK, LAX, YVR, JNB, NRT etc) and into/out of SYD, BNE or MEL combined with info about non-availability through HKG directly from QF staff. Unfortunately, as others have mentioned, QF staff regularly provide inaccurate or misleading info - which is why thrashing out the specifics on forums like this is so informative.

FWIW I was told that even if you do happen to be able to book a transit through HKG (via a call to QF), CX will block it within 2-3 days maximum; in which case if the connecting flights have been ticketed for some time there should be very little risk of losing those bookings.

If it helps with your theory, we had no problems booking SYD-HKG-MXP in October last year. Not sure whether you would class Milan as a "higher level" or "lower level".

JV

 

[AndyGoodyear]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

A good suggestion re switching to CX for your US to Aus leg. However, one thing to bear in mind with SFO-HKG-SYD on CX, is that it will add another 10 hours on to your journey. Not so pleasant when travelling in Y as opposed to J or F!

Eeek, in my excitement I didn't even think of that. However it is now making me think that I might cut out one of the internal USA flights (and pay for this myself) and either stop in HK for a few days, or fly Fijian and stop in Fiji. So this trip could grow even bigger! I checked out cash fares at that time with a few agents - one found all the same flights that I had (one way segments) and it came in at $3600 (again same price I found). Another agent found a Swiss RTW fare at $3200, but this didn't include FCO-AGP-LON flights, or the JFK-ORD-SFO flights.

So booking this award I would be burning 140K, but saving around $3000 (ish). To me that puts the value of a point to about 2.1c, and from what I've read here, that's a pretty good monetary equivalent. If I had another 60k points (only have 220k right now) then I'd be going for the business class - next time!

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

So booking this award I would be burning 140K, but saving around $3000 (ish). To me that puts the value of a point to about 2.1c, and from what I've read here, that's a pretty good monetary equivalent. If I had another 60k points (only have 220k right now) then I'd be going for the business class - next time!

if you get a Citibank Signature Visa until 20/04 you get 70K QFF after your first spend - here's your 280K trip

 

[snabbu]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

... or fly Fijian and stop in Fiji.

Just to keep this thread in context you can't use FJ as part of a 140/280k award as they are not part of the One World Alliance.

 

[gbetox]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Has anybody had any luck booking a J ticket on Finnair? I need to fly from BOS to HEL, trying to avoid BA and LHR because of the high taxes (BOS-LHR-HEL). I'd fly BOS-JFK-HEL, but only economy tickets are available on the BA website, 355 days from today.

Another option would be BOS-JFK-MAD-HEL. Any thoughts on the transatlantic J product on BA (B747), IB (A340) and HEL (A330 plane)?

Cheers.

 

[AndyGoodyear]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

if you get a Citibank Signature Visa until 20/04 you get 70K QFF after your first spend - here's your 280K trip

Wouldn't come through in time as I'm leaving early July Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[Jacques Vert]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Has anybody had any luck booking a J ticket on Finnair? I need to fly from BOS to HEL, trying to avoid BA and LHR because of the high taxes (BOS-LHR-HEL). I'd fly BOS-JFK-HEL, but only economy tickets are available on the BA website, 355 days from today.

I have 4 x J rewards on Finnair in June; so they are available in/from Europe (PRG-HEL; HEL-BKK). Not sure about from LOTFAP: keep looking?

JV

 

[AndyGoodyear]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

\And who are you travelling SYD - Berlin with? If Air Berlin, that's a good move. Otherwise, try Cathay, who also have really low fuel fines (though not sure if they fly direct to Berlin - you may need to fly in to Dusseldorf or Frankfurt).

Unfortunately this didn't work out too well. The Air Berlin flights from SYD - TXL with only $100 tax, are operated (for SYD-AUH) by Etihad. Not eligible for the reward fares

 

[gbetox]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I have 4 x J rewards on Finnair in June; so they are available in/from Europe (PRG-HEL; HEL-BKK). Not sure about from LOTFAP: keep looking?

JV

It looks like only Y seats are available on AY JFK-HEL.

I've just rang QF; comparing BA vs IB awards tickets, the tax difference is not huge (~$390 BOS-LHR-HEL on BA, vs ~$270 JFK-MAD-HEL on IB), so I guess connecting in LHR is not such a bad idea.

 

[Sumnerned]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Fijian is not a OneWorld airline so cannot be used on this award. Like you I am pondering the best way home, to NZ in Y, from SFO. Certainly QF via Sydney is not attractive, and I have been avoiding LAX for years.

 

[mrdctau]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Has anybody had any luck booking a J ticket on Finnair? I need to fly from BOS to HEL, trying to avoid BA and LHR because of the high taxes (BOS-LHR-HEL). I'd fly BOS-JFK-HEL, but only economy tickets are available on the BA website, 355 days from today.

Another option would be BOS-JFK-MAD-HEL. Any thoughts on the transatlantic J product on BA (B747), IB (A340) and HEL (A330 plane)?

Cheers.

I flew IB MAD-JFK in February on the A340 and it was all good. Fully-flat seat, meals & drinks OK but not spectacular, IFE pretty good, Wi-Fi a complete rip-off though.

 

[gbetox]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I flew IB MAD-JFK in February on the A340 and it was all good. Fully-flat seat, meals & drinks OK but not spectacular, IFE pretty good, Wi-Fi a complete rip-off though.

Sounds good, but I've ended up booking BOS-LHR on BA, then LHR-HEL on AY. It should be interesting to fly facing backwards on BA's 747...

So far, CBR-BNE-xNRT//HKG-xBOS-LHR-xHEL is booked, ~$900 in taxes... I cannot book the rest yet (including NRT-HKG on JAL) because they are >355 days ahead (>330 days for JAL). I cannot book a CX flight to HKG because the HKG-BOS flight is on CX, requiring a stopover in HKG if arriving there on CX.

I'm planning some self-funded flights intra-Europe, then PRG-ATH-DOH-BKK-SYD-CBR. So far, everything has been going smoothly...