Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[snabbu]

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

Has anybody managed to book a 420k trip in F for two people? Having a quick look it seems virtually impossible to do.

Not so easy to maximize the segments in F for even one person, let alone 2.

It is however on my to-do list.

 

[Chesty]

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

Not so easy to maximize the segments in F for even one person, let alone 2.

It is however on my to-do list.

Seems getting in and out of Australia is the main issue. If you could include EK it might be possible but alas no.

 

[3decks]

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

Handy to know there is an issue with 2 x F getting out of Au. That info will change up my plans a bit.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

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

Handy to know there is an issue with 2 x F getting out of Au. That info will change up my plans a bit.

If you are WP+ (maybe even SG?) you can request seats.

 

[hutch]

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

Hello there

Hoping someone can help me out!

If a NB was looking to book 2 x 280J OW awards, would it be best to book the first leg online (as far out as possible) and then ring up QF each time to add the extra legs (and wear the booking fee)? Are you allowed to do it this way?

Looking to do:
CBR>SYD>NRT/HND
NRT/HND>LHR/MAD/ZRH
LHR/MAD>MIA (preferably Madrid to avoid LHR charges etc)
Make own way to DFW
DFW>ANC (in Y)
ANC>DFW>LAX (in Y)- don't think AA fly ANC>LAX
LAX>SYD/BNE/MEL>CBR

Would appreciate any advice!

Hutch

 

[travelislife]

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

Hello there

Hoping someone can help me out!

If a NB was looking to book 2 x 280J OW awards, would it be best to book the first leg online (as far out as possible) and then ring up QF each time to add the extra legs (and wear the booking fee)? Are you allowed to do it this way?

Looking to do:
CBR>SYD>NRT/HND
NRT/HND>LHR/MAD/ZRH
LHR/MAD>MIA (preferably Madrid to avoid LHR charges etc)
Make own way to DFW
DFW>ANC (in Y)
ANC>DFW>LAX (in Y)- don't think AA fly ANC>LAX
LAX>SYD/BNE/MEL>CBR

Would appreciate any advice!

Hutch

Absolutely aloud to do it that way. I have done just that adding all the legs at different times. Still hoping to make a few changes.

 

[gbetox]

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

Hello there

Hoping someone can help me out!

If a NB was looking to book 2 x 280J OW awards, would it be best to book the first leg online (as far out as possible) and then ring up QF each time to add the extra legs (and wear the booking fee)? Are you allowed to do it this way?


Hutch

Be aware that each airline releases seats at different times.

QF: 353 days
BA: 355 days
JL and AA: 330 days
CX: 360 days

The BA award search engine is very helpful to see when award seats are released/available. Also, an excel spreadsheet has made my life much easier... I've created one such as below using formulae to automatically calculate flight duration, stopover duration, and when to book. It also helps to keep track of the number of segments, number of stopovers, and miles flown.

From To Flight # Plane Date/Time Departure Date/Time Arrival Flight Duration Miles Stopover When to book Taxes
CBR BNE QFxx_ B717 DD/MM/YYYY 00:00 DD/MM/YYYY 00:00 1:45:00 593 =F2-E2 =E2-353 $

 

[Sumnerned]

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

Hello there

Hoping someone can help me out!

If a NB was looking to book 2 x 280J OW awards, would it be best to book the first leg online (as far out as possible) and then ring up QF each time to add the extra legs (and wear the booking fee)? Are you allowed to do it this way?

Looking to do:
CBR>SYD>NRT/HND
NRT/HND>LHR/MAD/ZRH
LHR/MAD>MIA (preferably Madrid to avoid LHR charges etc)
Make own way to DFW
DFW>ANC (in Y)
ANC>DFW>LAX (in Y)- don't think AA fly ANC>LAX
LAX>SYD/BNE/MEL>CBR

Would appreciate any advice!

Hutch

Yes, unless you are doing a very quick trip, it makes sense to book a bit at a time.
Some of your legs give you a choice of carrier. BA, QF and to some extent AA are said to be expensive wrt fees. IB and CX are said to be cheap. My recent booking MAD-MIA for two in Y on IB was about A$250 in fees. If you do go to London, paid flights to MAD are not so pricey, even on BA when you consider baggage allowances (23kg carry on), and many flights use LGW which is an OK airport. LCY is a fun option.
In spite of the DFW-ANC-DFW detour it looks as though you are within the mileage allowance, but it would pay to check as you will be 'charged' for any land distance in Europe and for MIA-DFW. Be careful to avoid some of the obscure routing that is offered when booking your early legs so that you don't run out of miles.
Happy travels
Ned

 

[Sumnerned]

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

Hi experts,

I've read most of the pages on this thread (skip some early one as it might not be applicable coz its back in 2006)
Planning for the trip in 2017 (ya its a long way and time for me to accumulate points for me and my mom to be in J) i wont be able to take 3months leave, so im planning to break the trip into 2 and i came up with the following, not sure its doable, appreciate some critique

1st Part (Europe + Rusia) March 2017
MEL - KUL
KUL - CDG (or other europe country)
HEL - SIN (coz i cant go back to KUL again)
SIN - KUL - MEL (own expenses)

2nd Part (USA & Canada) Dec 2017
MEL - KUL - HKG (own expense)
HKG - LAX
JFK - YVR
YVR - MEL

I've calculated its about 34300 miles (give or take)

Thanks

I am a big fan of these two part trips, plenty of time at base to recharge the batteries, and the opportunity to make at least two stopovers in a favoured city, in your case KUL. Small downside is that they are spread out over a long period so most of the bookings will need to be done a piece at a time with consequent costs to avoid disappointment.

In your case it looks as though you may actually want to make three visits to KUL. If not, you might consider starting your award trip from there. But in any case, if you have a stopover in SIN it's just a short hop over. You have probably already thought of that.

If you do decide on spending time in HEL, there are lots of cruiseferries around the Baltic. Some visit St Petersburg on a visa-free scheme, though that may depend on nationality.

You may want to check your proposed routing from YVR to MEL; there are some restrictions about returning to stopover points. Can't remember them ottomh.

Happy travels!

Ned

 

[hutch]

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

Thanks for the advice thus far. Confirms what I have been thinking and read!

Following on from that, I personally (the NB is a friend) am looking to book a 280,000 J OW award, with the first leg around Sep2016. I am only PS and will be booking a bit at a time as award availability comes online. However, I am looking to take/treat a couple of relatives on the first leg in J - most likely SYD>SIN or HND or HKG (whatever I can get 3 x J seats on).

Should I book all 3 J tickets at once (on the same booking reference) and can I add the remainder of my flights to this booking reference? Or would it be easier to book 2 J tickets on one reference and then book my J flight on a separate reference?

Hutch

 

[Sumnerned]

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

Here's another one for the experts! If you finish in a different city from where you start, is it a stopover? e.g. Start in MEL and finish up in SYD. Is SYD a stopover? There doesn't seem to be anything about it in the rules.
Thanks for any guidance.
Ned

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

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

Here's another one for the experts! If you finish in a different city from where you start, is it a stopover? e.g. Start in MEL and finish up in SYD. Is SYD a stopover? There doesn't seem to be anything about it in the rules.
Thanks for any guidance.
Ned

As long as your itinerary isn't maxed out for total miles, then this shouldn't cause you any grief Summerned.
The rule is that if you end up in a different city from your start city, then the miles between those two cities are added to your total.
So, in your case, as long as your itinerary is currently less than 34600 (rounded), you should be fine.

Refer rule 14.5.3

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

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

An itinerary change experience:
I have an existing 280k OneWorld award itinerary which I finished putting together (over a couple of stages) in early Oct14. It's due to start mid Jun15.I discovered today that I needed to change one leg in early Aug15 - a fairly inconsequential internal domestic flight, just changing the destination city (for the detail fiends - was Madrid-San Sebastian, now Madrid-Pamplona).
So I phoned the call centre, hoping that there might still be 2 award seats to Pamplona at the desired date / time:
* The call got through to a human in about 5 min - Happiness = 1
* The CSA quickly understood what I wanted to do and set to work seeing what could be done - Happiness = 2
* The CSA found *perfect* Madrid-Pamplona flight, with 2 award seats available - Happiness = 3 (even though only whY seats - it's only a 50min flight in a tiny plane...)
* CSA then said "That's going to be a 7,000 points Assistance fee (3,500 x 2), AND 16,000 points Change fee (8,000 x 2)" - Happiness = 2
* I said "Hang on, my understanding is that the Change fee doesn't apply for a Business fare". CSA says "Please hold while I check", then "You're right sir, Change fees don't apply here" - Happiness = 3 (arguably 3.25 for the easy success of the fee challenge...
* And then came the change to the Taxes...CSA says "Oh, that all means a REFUND of $460^ in taxes. I'll put that through to the original credit card." Happiness = 10 (or should that be 'Priceless'?)

It's nice when things just go right.

^ For the detail minded - Original Taxes = $1,916 (already reasonable for a 12 sector itinerary), so new Taxes now = $1,456 (a reduction of 24%). I had expected that they'd go up given the AUD depreciation since Oct14.

 

[prozac]

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

Only a "10". I'd say that CSA rates at least an "11".
Thanks for the education btw.

 

[hutch]

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

Hello all,

With the Qantas contact centre assistance fees... if you are booking a 280J OW award one leg at a time (assuming the first leg is booked online); are you charged the "Award Assistance Fee – Reward Flight Bookings" of 6,000pts for each additional leg added to original booking, or the 3500pt "Change Fee" for each additional leg.

Hutch

 

[sergeyvzn]

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

Hello all,

With the Qantas contact centre assistance fees... if you are booking a 280J OW award one leg at a time (assuming the first leg is booked online); are you charged the "Award Assistance Fee – Reward Flight Bookings" of 6,000pts for each additional leg added to original booking, or the 3500pt "Change Fee" for each additional leg.

Hutch

Only 3.5K fee
The 6K fee is waived for business and first class bookings

 

[Sale]

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

I would appreciate some of the wisdom of the AFFers.

We finally have the points for the two 280J flights to Europe next year (for a cruise) and want to fly into Istanbul late June and out of Lisbon late July. We have about a week free for stopovers if needs be. I'm not so worried about the return from LIS but getting into IST is perplexing. The main problem seems to be the final leg into IST which I am just getting myself into a muddle trying to work out. And because I am going round & round in circles I'll try and spell it clearly for you guys at least

The main problem that I see is the final leg into Istanbul because

a) Trying to get from DXB to IST direct business class involves Emirates (mucks up the 280J) or RJ which I gather is a bit of an iffy quality service (QR does not seem to have a business class leg from Doha to Istanbul)

b) or we may need to go via LHR - adds a heap to the travelling time


The options as I see it are:

1. Try and book a 'direct' HBA - IST at the 353 days. The problems here are that there are always only a couple of seats and I might not be lucky or fast enough. Also that goes through LHR which is a lot more time travelling

2. Book a HBA - BKK when the CX bookings open up 360 days prior (there seem to be more seats) and worry about BKK - IST a bit later - but that also seems to drag us through LHR

Reading back through that I suppose my question is that is there another option but LHR or DXB that will get us to Istanbul?? Or should I book what I can (avoiding Emirates) and try to tweak it during the year?

many thanks!

 

[gbetox]

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

I would appreciate some of the wisdom of the AFFers.

We finally have the points for the two 280J flights to Europe next year (for a cruise) and want to fly into Istanbul late June and out of Lisbon late July. We have about a week free for stopovers if needs be. I'm not so worried about the return from LIS but getting into IST is perplexing. The main problem seems to be the final leg into IST which I am just getting myself into a muddle trying to work out. And because I am going round & round in circles I'll try and spell it clearly for you guys at least

The main problem that I see is the final leg into Istanbul because

a) Trying to get from DXB to IST direct business class involves Emirates (mucks up the 280J) or RJ which I gather is a bit of an iffy quality service (QR does not seem to have a business class leg from Doha to Istanbul)

b) or we may need to go via LHR - adds a heap to the travelling time


The options as I see it are:

1. Try and book a 'direct' HBA - IST at the 353 days. The problems here are that there are always only a couple of seats and I might not be lucky or fast enough. Also that goes through LHR which is a lot more time travelling

2. Book a HBA - BKK when the CX bookings open up 360 days prior (there seem to be more seats) and worry about BKK - IST a bit later - but that also seems to drag us through LHR

Reading back through that I suppose my question is that is there another option but LHR or DXB that will get us to Istanbul?? Or should I book what I can (avoiding Emirates) and try to tweak it during the year?

many thanks!

What about SYD-KUL-IST on MH?

 

[Tommm]

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

I currently have 2 seats on a CX / QR mix as part of a 280k J award.

MEL - HKG - DOH - SAW

It's a bit of a round about way of doing it but we are going to spend some time in Hong Kong in the transit.

 

[Sale]

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

I currently have 2 seats on a CX / QR mix as part of a 280k J award.

MEL - HKG - DOH - SAW

It's a bit of a round about way of doing it but we are going to spend some time in Hong Kong in the transit.

I'd be really happy with that but can't find the DOH - SAW leg in business for any date - or is that my problem, I need to keep looking? QR seems to have plenty of economy seats DOW -IST/SAW. I'll have another look tonight

many thanks