Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[adelee]

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

Thanks for the reassurance. We arrive in terminal 4, then fly out of 4s - I gather there is a quick underground train we need to take. Interesting point you make about the bag checking - would make life much easier for us if they were checked straight through to BCN!

 

[Ken1]

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

For the first flights on our 280K J One World awards next year we are flying SYD-HKG on CX162 departing SYD at 1005. We then transfer to BA32 departing HKG at 2305. We have already selected the CX seats through the CX website but can't select BA seats until check in without paying now. If we do online check in on the CX website at 1005 the day before I wouldn't expect to be able to select the BA seats then although seats may have been allocated to us.

Has anyone had any experience with seat selection when flying CX and transferring to BA? Is it likely that if I wait until 24 hours before the 2305 BA flight from HKG, so 0105 SYD time, I would be able to check in and select seats for the BA flight, or may this not work because that flight is linked with the CX flight? I called BA and asked about this but the person I spoke to did not know.

We were both originally on the same PNR but are now on separate PNRs since after our time in Europe my wife is flying back to SYD and I fly to YYC to spend time in Canada and the US before returning home. Although I've asked QF to link the bookings I've found in the past that when we're on separate PNRs we may not be seated together if seating has already been allocated, even when the bookings have been linked.

 

[vetrade]

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

Do European ports do the Aussie/US/etc thing of inspecting baggage at the first port of entry into a country? I thought they were less fussy and that bags would be checked all the way through to BCN in this case without needing to be touched by the pax.

I agree with flychrisfly, adelee. If you miss a connection because your flight is delayed it's up to IB to get you on the next available, and they will automatically do that. There is definitely no chance the rest of your itinerary would be voided in those circumstances. From experience I can advise that your bags will be directly checked through to BCN, so that's something you don't have to worry about in MAD.

 

[vetrade]

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

For the first flights on our 280K J One World awards next year we are flying SYD-HKG on CX162 departing SYD at 1005. We then transfer to BA32 departing HKG at 2305. We have already selected the CX seats through the CX website but can't select BA seats until check in without paying now. If we do online check in on the CX website at 1005 the day before I wouldn't expect to be able to select the BA seats then although seats may have been allocated to us.

Has anyone had any experience with seat selection when flying CX and transferring to BA? Is it likely that if I wait until 24 hours before the 2305 BA flight from HKG, so 0105 SYD time, I would be able to check in and select seats for the BA flight, or may this not work because that flight is linked with the CX flight? I called BA and asked about this but the person I spoke to did not know.

We were both originally on the same PNR but are now on separate PNRs since after our time in Europe my wife is flying back to SYD and I fly to YYC to spend time in Canada and the US before returning home. Although I've asked QF to link the bookings I've found in the past that when we're on separate PNRs we may not be seated together if seating has already been allocated, even when the bookings have been linked.

BA check-in is not affected at all by your CX flight. You can do your BA check-in any time after T-24 and select your seats then. I think most people don't like paying to select seats on BA flights because there's usually plenty of seats unreserved at T-24, which means that the odds you will be able to get seats together should be quite good if you can do your check-in soon after it opens.

 

[hutch]

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

Hi all

I have just completed my 280k J booking and despite some booking dramas (which I ranted about in another thread ��), its worked out to about 95% of what I wanted.

Routing is:
SYD-HKG (stop) CX, A330
HKG - JFK (stop) CX, B777
JFK - LHR (stop) AA, B777
FRA - DOH (transit) QR, A350
DOH - JNB (stop) QR, B787
JNB-DOH (stop) QR, B787
DOH-SIN (whole day transit) QR, A350
SIN - SYD QF, A330-2

Now I'm hoping for my unrefurbished QF A330 to change to a refurbished model. My flight is not til next Nov... so fingers crossed.

Total taxes $930.

 

[flychrisfly]

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

Thanks for the reassurance. We arrive in terminal 4, then fly out of 4s - I gather there is a quick underground train we need to take. Interesting point you make about the bag checking - would make life much easier for us if they were checked straight through to BCN!

Have a look here too. Iberia reckon a 20-30 min transfer time.

 

[flychrisfly]

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

BA check-in is not affected at all by your CX flight. You can do your BA check-in any time after T-24 and select your seats then. I think most people don't like paying to select seats on BA flights because there's usually plenty of seats unreserved at T-24, which means that the odds you will be able to get seats together should be quite good if you can do your check-in soon after it opens.

I also think you can pick your seats on BA at T-24 without actually checking in.

 

[Ken1]

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

I also think you can pick your seats on BA at T-24 without actually checking in.

Thanks vetrade and flychrisfly. I've been thinking that because we are connecting from the CX flight to the BA flight and showing as SYD-LHR on the QF, CX and BA sites when I log in to Manage My Booking, that once I check in on the CX site I wouldn't be able to change anything for the BA flights.

Several years ago we were flying VCE-LHR on BA connecting to LHR-SYD on QF with us both on separate PNRs. When I checked in on the BA site it showed we had been allocated seats for the QF flights that were different to the ones we had selected online when we first booked the flights and we were no longer sitting together. I couldn't change them on the QF or BA sites, even before I finalised check in on the BA site. When we checked in with BA at VCE they couldn't change the seating on the QF flights. We had to go to a QF desk at LHR to have them changed.

 

[GC_Engineer]

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

Trying to book the following J award itinerary and have a lot of trouble with the CX legs and the HG / AY (Nikki / Finnair) legs.

BNE MEL (transit) - QF
MEL SIN (Overnight Transit) - QF
SIN HKG (transit) – CX (Supposedly illegal, cannot be point to point between CX transit legs)
HKG MXP (Stop) – CX (Supposedly illegal, cannot be point to point between CX transit legs)

CHQ VIE (transit) - HG (QANTAS cannot see availability – BA avios can)
VIE HEL (transit) – AY (QANTAS cannot see availability – BA avios can)
HEL JFK (Stop) - AY

YYZ JFK (Transit) - JJ
JFK YVR (Stop) - CX

YVR NRT (Transit) - JL
NRT SYD (Transit) – JL
SYD BNE (Home) - QF


First issue is supposedly an unwritten rule around transits (<24hrs) between Cathay flights booked point to point. They said that I can't book the SIN - HKG, HKG - MXP (Milan) with a transit as it needs to be booked as SIN - HKG - MXP (Milan). There is no availability for the latter so I need to have a stop over in HKG to break the journey. Has anyone had this issue?? Are there any ways around this?

I use BA avios to check availability on HG / AY (Nikki / Finnair) legs but QF cant see this. Does anyone have any suggestions?? Availability still shows.

I appreciate any help.

 

[hutch]

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

Trying to book the following J award itinerary and have a lot of trouble with the CX legs and the HG / AY (Nikki / Finnair) legs.

BNE MEL (transit) - QF
MEL SIN (Overnight Transit) - QF
SIN HKG (transit) – CX (Supposedly illegal, cannot be point to point between CX transit legs)
HKG MXP (Stop) – CX (Supposedly illegal, cannot be point to point between CX transit legs)

CHQ VIE (transit) - HG (QANTAS cannot see availability – BA avios can)
VIE HEL (transit) – AY (QANTAS cannot see availability – BA avios can)
HEL JFK (Stop) - AY

YYZ JFK (Transit) - JJ
JFK YVR (Stop) - CX

YVR NRT (Transit) - JL
NRT SYD (Transit) – JL
SYD BNE (Home) - QF


First issue is supposedly an unwritten rule around transits (<24hrs) between Cathay flights booked point to point. They said that I can't book the SIN - HKG, HKG - MXP (Milan) with a transit as it needs to be booked as SIN - HKG - MXP (Milan). There is no availability for the latter so I need to have a stop over in HKG to break the journey. Has anyone had this issue?? Are there any ways around this?

I use BA avios to check availability on HG / AY (Nikki / Finnair) legs but QF cant see this. Does anyone have any suggestions?? Availability still shows.

I appreciate any help.

Yes. My understanding is that CX 'marry' (sorry if not techincal term) their awards. So you may need to have at least 24 hrs in HKG to access these awards individually. Dont know a way around this if availability for SIN-MXP is not showing. Perhaps see if SIN-Europe is available and then tacking on a internal flight?

If QF can't see availability and you've already HUCA, I don't think much can be done. I would treat BA as a guide rather than a guarantee that the award is available.

 

[madrooster]

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

Thanks vetrade and flychrisfly. I've been thinking that because we are connecting from the CX flight to the BA flight and showing as SYD-LHR on the QF, CX and BA sites when I log in to Manage My Booking, that once I check in on the CX site I wouldn't be able to change anything for the BA flights.

I think what you suspect, will be what happens. Because both are in oneworld, an IATCI agreement exists so the BA system will auto assign you a seat when CX requests to check you in on the BA fight. You would need to get your seating changed at the transfer desks in HKG or at check in if you're going landside. CX won't be able to change your BA seating for you.

 

[GC_Engineer]

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

Yes. My understanding is that CX 'marry' (sorry if not techincal term) their awards. So you may need to have at least 24 hrs in HKG to access these awards individually. Dont know a way around this if availability for SIN-MXP is not showing. Perhaps see if SIN-Europe is available and then tacking on a internal flight?

If QF can't see availability and you've already HUCA, I don't think much can be done. I would treat BA as a guide rather than a guarantee that the award is available.

Thanks Hutch. Have tried HUCA twice, might give it another go! I feel for others, quite a frustrating process!
Have a couple more routing options, hopefully I have better luck this time.

Cheers
Ki

 

[Jacques Vert]

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

Trying to book the following J award itinerary and have a lot of trouble with the CX legs and the HG / AY (Nikki / Finnair) legs.

BNE MEL (transit) - QF
MEL SIN (Overnight Transit) - QF
SIN HKG (transit) – CX (Supposedly illegal, cannot be point to point between CX transit legs)
HKG MXP (Stop) – CX (Supposedly illegal, cannot be point to point between CX transit legs)

CHQ VIE (transit) - HG (QANTAS cannot see availability – BA avios can)
VIE HEL (transit) – AY (QANTAS cannot see availability – BA avios can)
HEL JFK (Stop) - AY

YYZ JFK (Transit) - JJ
JFK YVR (Stop) - CX

YVR NRT (Transit) - JL
NRT SYD (Transit) – JL
SYD BNE (Home) - QF


First issue is supposedly an unwritten rule around transits (<24hrs) between Cathay flights booked point to point. They said that I can't book the SIN - HKG, HKG - MXP (Milan) with a transit as it needs to be booked as SIN - HKG - MXP (Milan). There is no availability for the latter so I need to have a stop over in HKG to break the journey. Has anyone had this issue?? Are there any ways around this?

I use BA avios to check availability on HG / AY (Nikki / Finnair) legs but QF cant see this. Does anyone have any suggestions?? Availability still shows.

I appreciate any help.

Is there a reason why you want to overnight transit in SIN? If not, try MEL-HKG-MXP or SYD-HKG-MXP. I have successfully booked these with <24 hours in HKG.

For the HG legs, make sure you have the flight numbers and times when you ring up; I've found that the agents may be able to locate them if they have all the details.

Good Luck

JV

 

[Tonkatough]

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

Yes, had the same problem but in the opposite direction.
Was trying to go LHR-HGK-ADL. Available individually but not collectively due to the unwritten rule..
Eventually did a work-around as I has some time.
LHR-PVG (surface); HGK-ADL
This might not directly help you but could spark some ideas.

 

[ablecookie]

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

A simple query, planning our WTW trip.

Already have 5 stops in our plan, with last stop in Bali then home to Perth transit via HKG(only way back). We will have spare segments and distance, it is possible to add another stop by terminating in Bali?

Then pay separately for a direct flight home from Bali.

 

[vetrade]

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

A simple query, planning our WTW trip.

Already have 5 stops in our plan, with last stop in Bali then home to Perth transit via HKG(only way back). We will have spare segments and distance, it is possible to add another stop by terminating in Bali?

Then pay separately for a direct flight home from Bali.

The RTW rules require your itinerary to finish at your place of departure so the itinerary you book would have to include your return to PER. You could abandon your flights from Bali - HKG - PER without any problems but you wouldn't be able to just add another stopover earlier in your trip and finalise your itinerary in Bali.

 

[hutch]

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

The RTW rules require your itinerary to finish at your place of departure so the itinerary you book would have to include your return to PER. You could abandon your flights from Bali - HKG - PER without any problems but you wouldn't be able to just add another stopover earlier in your trip and finalise your itinerary in Bali.

Hmmm if this is a RTW booking then yes you are right. But if this a OW award booking, then the booking does not need to go back to the start... but the miles are counted as if it does. That's my understanding.

I guess the OP needs to clarify whether this is a OW Award booking?

 

[vetrade]

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

Hmmm if this is a RTW booking then yes you are right. But if this a OW award booking, then the booking does not need to go back to the start... but the miles are counted as if it does. That's my understanding.

I guess the OP needs to clarify whether this is a OW Award booking?

Once the trip has started the OP is at liberty to finish the trip anywhere he likes (at the risk of forfeiting the remainder of the itinerary) but my understanding is that a 140K, 280K or 420K RTW award itinerary needs to have a return to the city of origin included in the itinerary prior to the trip commencing. After commencement you can cut it short if you want to (obviously QF can't "take back" any part of the trip which has already been completed) but my understanding is that the OP wants to include another stopover somewhere before reaching Bali and terminate the award in Bali so that his stopover there isn't counted. I think that if he tries to do that QF will say "You have to include a return to PER for it to qualify as a OW RTW award - and Bali would therefore be the 5th stopover city, which means you can't have another one".

I guess it depends on how you interpret this rule:
Rule 14.5.3 A one way oneworld Award Itinerary will be charged as a return Itinerary. oneworld Award Itineraries finishing in a port other than the port of origin must include the distance to return directly to the port of origin when calculating the number of Points required to redeem the Flight Award and the maximum distance for the Itinerary.

I agree that it is clear from this rule that on a OW classic award you don't have to have a return to the city of origin, but my understanding is that if you don't then you forego the capped points benefit of the RTW award. The points required to do a "one way" award would be the sum of the points required for each individual flight segment, in which case it could easily cost you a lot more points than the 140K or 280K that a RTW award is capped at - in which case you're not booking a OW RTW award at all.

 

[hutch]

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

Once the trip has started the OP is at liberty to finish the trip anywhere he likes (at the risk of forfeiting the remainder of the itinerary) but my understanding is that a 140K, 280K or 420K RTW award itinerary needs to have a return to the city of origin included in the itinerary prior to the trip commencing. After commencement you can cut it short if you want to (obviously QF can't "take back" any part of the trip which has already been completed) but my understanding is that the OP wants to include another stopover somewhere before reaching Bali and terminate the award in Bali so that his stopover there isn't counted. I think that if he tries to do that QF will say "You have to include a return to PER for it to qualify as a OW RTW award - and Bali would therefore be the 5th stopover city, which means you can't have another one".

I guess it depends on how you interpret this rule:
Rule 14.5.3 A one way oneworld Award Itinerary will be charged as a return Itinerary. oneworld Award Itineraries finishing in a port other than the port of origin must include the distance to return directly to the port of origin when calculating the number of Points required to redeem the Flight Award and the maximum distance for the Itinerary.

I agree that it is clear from this rule that on a OW classic award you don't have to have a return to the city of origin, but my understanding is that if you don't then you forego the capped points benefit of the RTW award. The points required to do a "one way" award would be the sum of the points required for each individual flight segment, in which case it could easily cost you a lot more points than the 140K or 280K that a RTW award is capped at - in which case you're not booking a OW RTW award at all.

In my experience, as soon as I had the 2 one world airlines (non Qantas) and the total cost of the booking topped over 280000points, the booking was capped at 280,000... and I had still not made it anywhere near home. My booking was ticketed several times before I made a booking back to original port...

I interpret the above as "you can finish where-ever you want, but we'll include the distance back to where you started from and that needs to be under the 35000 miles"

 

[adelee]

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

As per Vetrade's advice, I can confirm that for my itinerary which starts in MEL (tomorrow! excited!), when I tried to finish up our itinerary in ADL I was informed I needed to physically book a return leg from ADL-MEL in order for it to comply with the rules (simply counting in the mileage wasn't enough). Hence we are now travelling DRW-ADL-MEL (with the QF call centre operator somewhat mystified as to why we wanted to transit to ADL rather than going straight from DRW-MEL . I told her we needed to pick something up in ADL first .)