Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[madrooster]

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

I will be in Europe for ~3 weeks, in and out from London (i prefer not having to go back to LHR to leave, but can't afford the mileage from another open jaw in europe?)
I would like to make it to Santorini (JTR), but its 1600mi from LHR & that's only 1 way.

You have sufficient mileage to originate leg 3 from CDG routing CDG-LHR-NYC. It'd save you $300.

 

[kimnkk]

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

You have sufficient mileage to originate leg 3 from CDG routing CDG-LHR-NYC. It'd save you $300.

Thanks, that's a good idea madrooster!
I called up just then to try that and there was availability for CDG-LHR (then connect with my LHR-NYC). Both would be with BA.

However! Something must have made it invalid as my itinerary went from 280k to like 500k. He put my on hold to find out what was wrong and I was on hold for 25+ minutes before it got cut off, so no answer
He said mileage would be 34,500mi or so with CDG-LHR in. I would be at 4 stopovers, 1 open jaw (between KIX & ICN).

Can't think of anything that would throw it off! Any ideas?
Will that be a problem with BA if i booked two separate BA and connected them instead of their 'official' CDG-LHR-NYC? The operator didn't seem too sure, he said he would try put it through to find out!

 

[Coley]

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

What can i do with 1 stopover and 800 miles left on my 280k RTW?

1. MEL-HKG-KIX (Stopover 1)
2. ICN-LHR (Openjaw from KIX-ICN, & Stopover 2 in LHR)
3. LHR-NYC (Stopover 3)
4. NYC-DOH-JRO (Stopover 4)
5. JRO-DOH-PER-MEL (End)
TOTAL: 34,218mi

..............................

Feel free to chop and change the segments, maybe some are better off bought seperately?

Your mention of Santorini gave me some beach break ideas. Was a quick look so check for errors


A simple option would be an open jaw in JRO, take land/boat transport from JRO to Zanzibar (ZNZ) and fly back to DOH from there.

If you have spare QFF points, another option would be to have a stopover in DOH and fly using another QFF award flight on Emirates to Seychelles (SEZ) and back to DOH to continue on. Fairly low point cost from memory.

Not sure if you need to do your stopovers in that order but changing it up a little and coming home via the pacific will get you another 1000 miles spare. Just need to be on the ball to get the right award flight.
MEL-HKG-KIX-ICN-HKG-DOH-JRO-DOH-LHR-NYC-LAX-MEL - 33,366mi

You could then add in something like the Maldives (MLE).
MEL-HKG-KIX-ICN-HKG-MLE-DOH-JRO-DOH-LHR-NYC-LAX-MEL - 34,482 mi

If you are going during summer, BA have flights to Santorini (JTR). You could fly to ATH from DOH and get a ferry straight to Santorini, have a stopover and then fly out to London.
MEL-HKG-KIX-ICN-HKG-DOH-JRO-DOH-ATH-JTR-LHR-NYC-LAX-MEL - 33,723 mi

You could check out Miami (MIA). Or you could always buy separate flights to anywhere in the Caribbean for pretty cheap from MIA.
MEL-HKG-KIX-ICN-HKG-DOH-JRO-DOH-LHR-NYC-MIA-LAX-MEL - 34,338 mi

Or check out Cancun (CUN).
MEL-HKG-KIX-ICN-HKG-DOH-JRO-DOH-LHR-NYC-MIA-CUN-DFW-LAX-MEL - 34,790 mi

or fly home on an A380.
MEL-HKG-KIX-ICN-HKG-DOH-JRO-DOH-LHR-NYC-MIA-CUN-DFW-SYD-MEL - 34,650 mi

 

[kimnkk]

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

Oh man, that's awesome Coley, thanks a lot!

Unfortunately i have to keep NYC on the same dates as i'm there for some business. But other than that, flights are just dependent on availability!

Good idea with Zanzibar!
If i have an open jaw there, that still means i have 1 stopover left?
Feels like a bit of a waste but i just don't have any spare miles unfortunately!

Or if if want to go to Seychelles (SEZ) then would i be able to get a DOH-DXB flight on this itinerary? Only 200mi away!
Only problem is, my JRO-DOH is already QR, so if i book a connecting DOH-DXB (and then return) will QR reject that?

I've heard CX are picky with people booking their own connecting into HKG (under 24 hours) but i didn't know other airlines care? Unless it was a recent change?

Any experiences with airlines and that?

 

[madrooster]

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

Thanks, that's a good idea madrooster!
I called up just then to try that and there was availability for CDG-LHR (then connect with my LHR-NYC). Both would be with BA.

However! Something must have made it invalid as my itinerary went from 280k to like 500k. He put my on hold to find out what was wrong and I was on hold for 25+ minutes before it got cut off, so no answer
He said mileage would be 34,500mi or so with CDG-LHR in. I would be at 4 stopovers, 1 open jaw (between KIX & ICN).

Can't think of anything that would throw it off! Any ideas?
Will that be a problem with BA if i booked two separate BA and connected them instead of their 'official' CDG-LHR-NYC? The operator didn't seem too sure, he said he would try put it through to find out!

Your routing is fine with CDG thrown in. There's no reason why it shouldn't quote up as 280k. BA do not use married segment control so yes you can book CDG-LHR then LHR-NYC, but it MUST be on the one ticket and one PNR.

 

[kimnkk]

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

Your routing is fine with CDG thrown in. There's no reason why it shouldn't quote up as 280k. BA do not use married segment control so yes you can book CDG-LHR then LHR-NYC, but it MUST be on the one ticket and one PNR.

Hmm that is strange, the operators are a hit and miss, sometimes they know their stuff but sometimes not!

If i go KIX-LHR (stop) then CDG-LHR-NYC, that is an open jaw from LHR to CDG right?
So that means they will count the miles between LHR-CDG for the open jaw, and then again when i fly from CDG-LHR.

Is that correct? Maybe i don't have enough miles to account for the open jaw and then return flight?

Also, do you know if Qatar use married segment control?

 

[madrooster]

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

Hmm that is strange, the operators are a hit and miss, sometimes they know their stuff but sometimes not!

If i go KIX-LHR (stop) then CDG-LHR-NYC, that is an open jaw from LHR to CDG right?
So that means they will count the miles between LHR-CDG for the open jaw, and then again when i fly from CDG-LHR.

Is that correct? Maybe i don't have enough miles to account for the open jaw and then return flight?

Also, do you know if Qatar use married segment control?

QR and CX both use MSC.

I checked your mileage in Amadeus which is the most accurate method to check mileage for the purposes of a QF award ticket, before I posted saying that you could originate from CDG. LHR-CDG is a required surface segment, yes.

 

[kimnkk]

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

Thanks for the check and advice Madrooster.
Not a bad way to save $300pp, thats a quick $600 for 2 pax.

However, i decided to use my miles for a little more Asia.
Probably do SIN and SGN as its an open jaw from SIN-HKG (no availability).
MEL-SIN-HKG-KIX-ICN-LHR-NYC-DOH-JRO-DOH-PER-MEL.
Miles: 34,938

Wow, talk about cutting it fine.
I'm still trying to squeeze in your advice and avoid LHR for arrival/departure, but its getting pretty hard.
HEL is a little too far out of western europe for me, and doesn't seem to be better for miles.
No oneworld does ICN-CDG (maybe Finnair?), otherwise i could fly from CDG to NYC pretty easily.

What do you think? Stump up the $600 (or more if i don't arrive into LHR) or find another way?
Thanks, this itinerary is looking pretty tight now!

 

[hutch]

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

Thanks for the check and advice Madrooster.
Not a bad way to save $300pp, thats a quick $600 for 2 pax.

However, i decided to use my miles for a little more Asia.
Probably do SIN and SGN as its an open jaw from SIN-HKG (no availability).
MEL-SIN-HKG-KIX-ICN-LHR-NYC-DOH-JRO-DOH-PER-MEL.
Miles: 34,938

Wow, talk about cutting it fine.
I'm still trying to squeeze in your advice and avoid LHR for arrival/departure, but its getting pretty hard.
HEL is a little too far out of western europe for me, and doesn't seem to be better for miles.
No oneworld does ICN-CDG (maybe Finnair?), otherwise i could fly from CDG to NYC pretty easily.

What do you think? Stump up the $600 (or more if i don't arrive into LHR) or find another way?
Thanks, this itinerary is looking pretty tight now!

Personally, I value the $600 more than maximizing miles.... but the best award ticket, is the one taking you where you want to go. YMMV of course.

Another thing to consider though, is you may not always get your preferred routing and then end up using more miles you hadn't budgeted for.

 

[kimnkk]

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

Personally, I value the $600 more than maximizing miles.... but the best award ticket, is the one taking you where you want to go. YMMV of course.

Another thing to consider though, is you may not always get your preferred routing and then end up using more miles you hadn't budgeted for.

That's true and I entirely agree the best one is the one you want to make. If i had a few more miles it would be perfect because i could save some of the $1300pp tax i'm paying for this itinerary!

If i can avoid LHR by making other changes that would be perfect!
Just looking for other ways to make the cut is the trouble...

Maybe take out HKG-KIX, and then use that for CDG-LHR?
But then flights from HKG-KIX would be $600 for 2 pax and that's not J!

Any ideas, or am i scraping the bottom of the barrel here?

 

[hutch]

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

That's true and I entirely agree the best one is the one you want to make. If i had a few more miles it would be perfect because i could save some of the $1300pp tax i'm paying for this itinerary!

If i can avoid LHR by making other changes that would be perfect!
Just looking for other ways to make the cut is the trouble...

Maybe take out HKG-KIX, and then use that for CDG-LHR?
But then flights from HKG-KIX would be $600 for 2 pax and that's not J!

Any ideas, or am i scraping the bottom of the barrel here?

It's hard to say... I just suggest that your primary aim should be picking the places you want to go and not worrying about getting as close to the 35,000 mile mark as possible (as long as you're under 35,000). Sometimes you can just make things more complicated. With an itinerary at 34,938 miles before anything is booked, you are reliant on getting the flights you want and in my experience, that is not always possible.

Also, I note that originally you were talking about starting off with a MEL-HKG-KIX, which has now changed to a MEL-SIN start? Sometimes getting 2 x J seats on QF can be hard and then you'll be paying more in tax for the privilege over CX.

 

[hutch]

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

Your routing is fine with CDG thrown in. There's no reason why it shouldn't quote up as 280k. BA do not use married segment control so yes you can book CDG-LHR then LHR-NYC, but it MUST be on the one ticket and one PNR.

Could it have something to do with the QR flight from JRO doing JRO-ZNZ-DOH and those miles being added in?

 

[hutch]

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

Could it have something to do with the QR flight from JRO doing JRO-ZNZ-DOH and those miles being added in?

In answer to my own question, MEL-HKG-KIX-ICN-LHR-JFK-DOH-JRO-ZNZ-DOH-PER-MEL would still have been under miles.

 

[madrooster]

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

Could it have something to do with the QR flight from JRO doing JRO-ZNZ-DOH and those miles being added in?

No, flights that are direct but not non stop, only count as JRO/DOH for ticketed mileage purposes.

 

[flychrisfly]

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

2. ICN-LHR (Openjaw from KIX-ICN, & Stopover 2 in LHR)

I hate to be "that" person but this is a surface sector, not an open jaw. An open jaw is a return flight where you fly out from one port and then return to your original port but from a 3rd port Such as Melbourne to Singapore - then own arrangements - then Hong Kong to Melbourne. The drawn paths make a < shape (with Melbourne at the point in this example) or open jaw.

 

[kimnkk]

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

Hey guys,
So yesterday Qantas managed to get the flights i wanted but in the process of putting it through for ticketing there was some problems.
It wouldn't go through and was saying i needed another 200k points, so they thought my itinerary was bad. But they took like 20 minutes to confirm the rules and everything was OK, so they just said because there have been so many changes its getting slow to put through.

It was the same Monday too, they originally thought it was not good but then it "fixed itself" and went through after about 15 minutes on hold.

Has anyone encountered that before too? I hope it will ticket okay... i haven't got the ticket yet but it hasn't quite been 24 hours?

It's hard to say... I just suggest that your primary aim should be picking the places you want to go and not worrying about getting as close to the 35,000 mile mark as possible (as long as you're under 35,000). Sometimes you can just make things more complicated. With an itinerary at 34,938 miles before anything is booked, you are reliant on getting the flights you want and in my experience, that is not always possible.

Also, I note that originally you were talking about starting off with a MEL-HKG-KIX, which has now changed to a MEL-SIN start? Sometimes getting 2 x J seats on QF can be hard and then you'll be paying more in tax for the privilege over CX.

I totally get what you mean, but definitely the places i want to go are priority #1, just not enough miles and too many places!
I wouldn't think the mile cap would be a problem at the start, i was thinking stopover limit would get me first but i think using surface sectors really allowed me to get where i want without adding to the stops.

2x J is definitely getting scarce, i made the original booking about 330 days in and just finalising with the changes you guys are suggesting now.
I managed to secure 2x J in MEL->SIN and yesterday also got 2x SGN - HKG - KIX.
Had to fly out a day later from SGN but i don't expect to get a OW Award all done without small compromises like that! But agreed, i wouldn't go to a continent that i didn't want to go to, for the sake of stops.

I hate to be "that" person but this is a surface sector, not an open jaw. An open jaw is a return flight where you fly out from one port and then return to your original port but from a 3rd port Such as Melbourne to Singapore - then own arrangements - then Hong Kong to Melbourne. The drawn paths make a < shape (with Melbourne at the point in this example) or open jaw.

Haha, well "that" person is quite helpful too. Thanks, i didn't know!

 

[hutch]

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

Congrats on getting your booking through and the flights you want! An awesome achievement I think.

 

[kimnkk]

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

Thanks!
A lot of lurking here and learning from you guys!
i had most of it ticketed by 330 days out but then found more time so changed up a lot of the itinerary more recently!
Luckily i wasn't after popular legs like LAX or LHR from our east coast so it worked out OK!

 

[flychrisfly]

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

Has anyone encountered that before too? I hope it will ticket okay... i haven't got the ticket yet but it hasn't quite been 24 hours?

If it's a change to an already ticketed flight then it can take longer than a day, if it's a change to a previously changed booking then you may need to wait for up to a week. Keep checking the booking online though and call them if sectors disappear before it's re-ticketed.

 

[Tonkatough]

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

After two weeks I had not received my ticket so I phoned QANTAS and was advised it was stuck in their Outbox.....then received the ticket within the hour.