Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[N860CR]

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

WOW! What an epic event booking one of these was! An hour on the phone with a very very helpful Qantas staff member who bent over backward to make it work for me. She was so good I couldn't bring myself to ask for the over-the-phone fee to be waived!

I booked a J award for 2 pax for August/September next year. The final route:

ROK-BNE-SYD (QF <24 Hrs)
SYD-SIN (QF <24 Hrs)
SIN-BKK (CX stop 1)
BKK-HKG (CX <24 Hrs)
HKG-CDG (CX stop 2)
CDG-BUD-SKP (MA stop 3)
SKP-BUD (MA <24 Hrs)
BUD-LHR-JFK (BA/BA stop 4)
JFK-LAX (AA stop 5)
LAX-MEL-SYD (QF <24 Hrs)
SYD-BNE-ROK (QF final)

All in J, bar the QFLink legs obviously. There was an issue as I was planning to use MA/IB to go BUD-MAD-JFK as was shown in the online booking engine, however after 15 minutes of work they realised that IB haven't actually released any seats (even for early to mid next year) and it's just the "shadow" showing in the booking engine. Worth noting if you're planning to head to MAD/BCN etc. Wasn't too hard to find the BA option (had to move a few days around).

To cap it off, I had expected to be stuck doing the LAX-AKL-SYD leg on the less than comfortable A330, however a quick WP request saw two J seats released on QF94 direct LAX-MEL, the only A380 leg on the whole ticket.

It hasn't come through yet... But I've been assured all is well (and it's showing in my bookings). Hats off to the very helpful Qantas lady. Is the Platinum team there at 8pm on a Sunday? Or did I get someone from the standard section?

All up, 16 sectors, 14 J and 30130 miles. I think I did ok!

 

[flychrisfly]

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

WOW! What an epic event booking one of these was! An hour on the phone with a very very helpful Qantas staff member who bent over backward to make it work for me. She was so good I couldn't bring myself to ask for the over-the-phone fee to be waived!

I booked a J award for 2 pax for August/September next year. The final route:

ROK-BNE-SYD (QF <24 Hrs)
SYD-SIN (QF <24 Hrs)
SIN-BKK (CX stop 1)
BKK-HKG (CX <24 Hrs)
HKG-CDG (CX stop 2)
CDG-BUD-SKP (MA stop 3)
SKP-BUD (MA <24 Hrs)
BUD-LHR-JFK (BA/BA stop 4)
JFK-LAX (AA stop 5)
LAX-MEL-SYD (QF <24 Hrs)
SYD-BNE-ROK (QF final)

All in J, bar the QFLink legs obviously. There was an issue as I was planning to use MA/IB to go BUD-MAD-JFK as was shown in the online booking engine, however after 15 minutes of work they realised that IB haven't actually released any seats (even for early to mid next year) and it's just the "shadow" showing in the booking engine. Worth noting if you're planning to head to MAD/BCN etc. Wasn't too hard to find the BA option (had to move a few days around).

To cap it off, I had expected to be stuck doing the LAX-AKL-SYD leg on the less than comfortable A330, however a quick WP request saw two J seats released on QF94 direct LAX-MEL, the only A380 leg on the whole ticket.

It hasn't come through yet... But I've been assured all is well (and it's showing in my bookings). Hats off to the very helpful Qantas lady. Is the Platinum team there at 8pm on a Sunday? Or did I get someone from the standard section?

All up, 16 sectors, 14 J and 30130 miles. I think I did ok!

Nice one! Very envious it's all (mostly) in J too. My RTW is in Y and my Gold Qantas membership will be silver by then leaving out of most of the lounges despite my QC membership, as most of the flights are not AA, QF or BA

 

[N860CR]

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

Ouch, that's unfortunate I don't think I could do it without lounge access. Will be my first grand tour of the worlds F lounges (and probably my last trip as WP )

 

[Jacques Vert]

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

Well done; enjoy.

I have to add that I also find the QF call centre very helpfull (especially those in Hobart). I think that a RTW is probably a nice change from the run of the mill enquiry/booking; so that helps as well (something different to break the boredom?).

Don't forget the trip report with lots of photos so we can all share the experience!!!!!

JV

 

[JohnK]

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

Finally got my daughter to commit to an itinerary so booked in Y MXP-MAD-Stop ORY Stop YYZ Stop-LAX-Stop BNE Stop-HKG-Stop FRA Stop-LHR
I thought it would automatically include the flight back to Milan but the points bounced up from 140k to 209k when I added it.

As mentioned you will have too many stopovers to include the last leg to MXP although 2 of the above may well be treated as transits in your current routing even though they are >24 hours.

 

[sarvowinner]

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

"As mentioned you will have too many stopovers to include the last leg to MXP although 2 of the above may well be treated as transits in your current routing even though they are >24 hours. "


MXP Start
ORY Stopover 1
YYZ Stopover 2
BNE Stopover 3
HKG Stopover 4
FRA Stopover 5
LHR Finish

JohnK You are right on MXP, I had assumed that if the mileage to return to MXP had to be included, LHR would have to be a stopover, but reading the rules, that's not the case. 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.

The HKG stopover was inadvertant, however LHr-MXP was probably going end up as a no-show so it works for her.
BTW she has just facebooked me and has been upgraded to J on ORY-LHR LHR-YYZ Grrr we just flew back from Italy and the upgrade fairy must have been saving her magic dust for her.

 

[wafliron]

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

I've just been playing around with the QF booking engine, experimenting with a OW Explorer fare in J using points.

For some (most?) of the multi-segment flights the booking engine is selecting a Y seat for one (or more) segments and a J seat for the other(s), despite the search being for J seats and me selecting a "Business" seat in the flight selector (the big table listing specific flights in rows and "Economy", "Business", "First" radiobuttons in columns). For example, in one search that involves a MEL-HKG, I see MEL-(QF)-SYD-(CX)-HKG in the flight selector and select the radiobutton for "Business" next to this flight, but I end up with MEL-SYD in J and SYD-HKG in Y.

Is this a bug in the booking engine? Or just indicative that there is J award seating on MEL-SYD but only Y award seating on SYD-HKG?

If the latter, is there any way to force the booking engine to only show potential flights where J award seats are available for ALL segments? Or at least to tell whether all segments are in J before selecting the flight and proceeding (where it's confirmed on the next page, after hitting Next)?

Thanks!

 

[sarvowinner]

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

I've just been playing around with the QF booking engine, experimenting with a OW Explorer fare in J using points.

For some (most?) of the multi-segment flights the booking engine is selecting a Y seat for one (or more) segments and a J seat for the other(s), despite the search being for J seats and me selecting a "Business" seat in the flight selector (the big table listing specific flights in rows and "Economy", "Business", "First" radiobuttons in columns). For example, in one search that involves a MEL-HKG, I see MEL-(QF)-SYD-(CX)-HKG in the flight selector and select the radiobutton for "Business" next to this flight, but I end up with MEL-SYD in J and SYD-HKG in Y.

Is this a bug in the booking engine? Or just indicative that there is J award seating on MEL-SYD but only Y award seating on SYD-HKG?

If the latter, is there any way to force the booking engine to only show potential flights where J award seats are available for ALL segments? Or at least to tell whether all segments are in J before selecting the flight and proceeding (where it's confirmed on the next page, after hitting Next)?

Thanks!

Other than calling and getting advice, I don't think there is anyway to force the engine to show potential seats - have you tried MEL-BNE BNE-HKG?

 

[Alanslegal]

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

I am looking to book one of these for the first time ... in economy :shock:

So my plan is something along the lines of starting and ending in Asia .... let's say BKK-SYD(1)-SCL(2)-xLIM-HAV(3)-xMAD-IBZ(4)-xLHR(5)-HKG. I assume this is valid, 5 stops, less than 35K miles incl. the final HKG-BKK calculation.

Let's say I interchange the LHR stop with JNB It becomes something like this BKK-SYD(1)-SCL(2)-xLIM-HAV(3)-xMAD-IBZ(4)-xMAD-xLHR-JNB(5)-HKG. This one just scrapes in at 34,969 miles (per GCM).

Can someone reassure me that the above plan appears correct?

 

[wilco]

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

WOW! What an epic event booking one of these was! An hour on the phone with a very very helpful Qantas staff member who bent over backward to make it work for me. She was so good I couldn't bring myself to ask for the over-the-phone fee to be waived!

I booked a J award for 2 pax for August/September next year. The final route:

ROK-BNE-SYD (QF <24 Hrs)
SYD-SIN (QF <24 Hrs)
SIN-BKK (CX stop 1)
BKK-HKG (CX <24 Hrs)
HKG-CDG (CX stop 2)
CDG-BUD-SKP (MA stop 3)
SKP-BUD (MA <24 Hrs)
BUD-LHR-JFK (BA/BA stop 4)
JFK-LAX (AA stop 5)
LAX-MEL-SYD (QF <24 Hrs)
SYD-BNE-ROK (QF final)

All in J, bar the QFLink legs obviously. There was an issue as I was planning to use MA/IB to go BUD-MAD-JFK as was shown in the online booking engine, however after 15 minutes of work they realised that IB haven't actually released any seats (even for early to mid next year) and it's just the "shadow" showing in the booking engine. Worth noting if you're planning to head to MAD/BCN etc. Wasn't too hard to find the BA option (had to move a few days around).

To cap it off, I had expected to be stuck doing the LAX-AKL-SYD leg on the less than comfortable A330, however a quick WP request saw two J seats released on QF94 direct LAX-MEL, the only A380 leg on the whole ticket.

It hasn't come through yet... But I've been assured all is well (and it's showing in my bookings). Hats off to the very helpful Qantas lady. Is the Platinum team there at 8pm on a Sunday? Or did I get someone from the standard section?

All up, 16 sectors, 14 J and 30130 miles. I think I did ok!

SKP is a bit of an odd choice, but I loved my time there and hope you will too.

I booked one of these several years ago with the same 16 sector, 5 stop, 35,000 mile restriction but the points required was only 300,000 in F. Once booked and ticketed, AA downgraded the GIG-JFK flight so that F was no longer available. I successfully got QF to extend the 35,000 mile restriction to route me on LA via GRU/SCL/LIM to JFK. Turned out to be one of the best flights as the GIG-GRU-SCL flight had the new (at the time) business class and the the SCL-LIM-JFK had the old and very comfy F. I was naturally in 1A and next to me in 1B was no other than the Chilean Ambassador to the USA! The LAX-SYD flight was one of the last QF8 daylight services where the captain stayed low and fast to beat the SYD curfew. Had a blast and with 600k burning a hole in my pocket, its time to get planning again!!

I am looking to book one of these for the first time ... in economy :shock:

So my plan is something along the lines of starting and ending in Asia .... let's say BKK-SYD(1)-SCL(2)-xLIM-HAV(3)-xMAD-IBZ(4)-xLHR(5)-HKG. I assume this is valid, 5 stops, less than 35K miles incl. the final HKG-BKK calculation.

Let's say I interchange the LHR stop with JNB It becomes something like this BKK-SYD(1)-SCL(2)-xLIM-HAV(3)-xMAD-IBZ(4)-xMAD-xLHR-JNB(5)-HKG. This one just scrapes in at 34,969 miles (per GCM).

Can someone reassure me that the above plan appears correct?

Given the "tight" 31 miles you have, the only way to really tell is to call QF and check with them because for some reason, their mileage calculator calculates like no other. You'll have a great time in HAV but not so much on IB getting to IBZ as they are muy horrible!!

 

[N860CR]

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

SKP is a bit of an odd choice, but I loved my time there and hope you will too.

It is... but my very distant heritage is Macedonian and I've always wanted to go and see "the old country" (funnily enough, I'll be the first in my family to actually go over there!). It can be painfully expensive to get to, so I figured it was a good chance to go on a FF paid ticket (even if the MA short-haul product isn't great).

 

[casanovawa]

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

Alanslegal, if you aren't desperate to either go to LHR or fly BA to JNB, IB has flights from Madrid and from Barcelona (transiting through Madrid) down to JNB so that might save you a few miles going back up to LHR if QF says you are over the mileage limit??

Although the IB plane was a bit of a coughpy old A340... No individual IFE and there weren't even individual air vents above the seats and when i boarded the plane it was pretty warm but just had to suck it up as nothing i could do to get any cool air etc...

There is also the requirement to fly at least 3 OW airlines isn't there on these 140k awards i think, but you should have that covered...

 

[N860CR]

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

I believe it's only 2 OneWorld airlines (other than QF). I've always thought it was odd, but you can have QF + 2 others or just 2 others, but not QF + 1 other.

I had issues with getting seats on IB flights (even though they were showing online), so I'd call to double-check the seats actually exist before planning around it too much.

 

[Alanslegal]

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

Given the "tight" 31 miles you have, the only way to really tell is to call QF and check with them because for some reason, their mileage calculator calculates like no other. You'll have a great time in HAV but not so much on IB getting to IBZ as they are muy horrible!!

Alanslegal, if you aren't desperate to either go to LHR or fly BA to JNB, IB has flights from Madrid and from Barcelona (transiting through Madrid) down to JNB so that might save you a few miles going back up to LHR if QF says you are over the mileage limit??

Although the IB plane was a bit of a coughpy old A340... No individual IFE and there weren't even individual air vents above the seats and when i boarded the plane it was pretty warm but just had to suck it up as nothing i could do to get any cool air etc...

There is also the requirement to fly at least 3 OW airlines isn't there on these 140k awards i think, but you should have that covered...

Thank you for your kind suggestions.

I am not fussed with non-IFE as I always bring my own entertainment on board eg. iPad anyway. I might skip the LHR then I'll give QF Premium a call later this week or next, once the volumes of calls reduce.

 

[Norris]

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

May have been asked before, but what are the typical taxes/surcharges associated with a OWA Y or J fare?

Also is there an option to bump to Y+ where possible?

 

[serfty]

I've just been playing around with the QF booking engine, experimenting with a OW Explorer fare in J using points.

For some (most?) of the multi-segment flights the booking engine is selecting a Y seat for one (or more) segments and a J seat for the other(s), despite the search being for J seats and me selecting a "Business" seat in the flight selector (the big table listing specific flights in rows and "Economy", "Business", "First" radiobuttons in columns). For example, in one search that involves a MEL-HKG, I see MEL-(QF)-SYD-(CX)-HKG in the flight selector and select the radiobutton for "Business" next to this flight, but I end up with MEL-SYD in J and SYD-HKG in Y.

Is this a bug in the booking engine? Or just indicative that there is J award seating on MEL-SYD but only Y award seating on SYD-HKG?

If the latter, is there any way to force the booking engine to only show potential flights where J award seats are available for ALL segments? Or at least to tell whether all segments are in J before selecting the flight and proceeding (where it's confirmed on the next page, after hitting Next)?

Thanks!

That a known 'feature' of the Qantas FF online award booking engine ... and it's certainly a trap for the unwary.:-| There's a whole thread on it here.

Really the only way to avoid this is try the individual sectors themselves, select only single segment options and otherwise be very vigilant.

 

[wilco]

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

That a known 'feature' of the Qantas FF online award booking engine ... and it's certainly a trap for the unwary.:-| There's a whole thread on it here.

Really the only way to avoid this is try the individual sectors themselves, select only single segment options and otherwise be very vigilant.

I would hope that QF would do the right thing and allow a pax to cancel with no penalty if/when they realise they have been duped into paying J/F miles for a Y seat!
Its beyond comprehension that any sane person would do such a thing unless absolutely needing to be on that flight, in which case they should be given the option to downgrade the entire booking to Y for Y points. Charging J points for an itinerary that only has potentially 1 J sector out of 16 is incomprehensible and I think QF need to provide better warning of the downgraded sector.

I find the whole situation very unfair, especially given that the person in question is searching for J and the system spits back J/Y combinations. Why the system doesn't spit back J/F for J miles??, I think we all know the answer to THAT question.

 

[N860CR]

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

May have been asked before, but what are the typical taxes/surcharges associated with a OWA Y or J fare?

Also is there an option to bump to Y+ where possible?

About $1150 for mine, however the agent remarked that they were very low. Having LHR as a stop adds about $300 alone I believe, however that doesn't apply if you just transit.

Y+ is available for 210K points, however on any flight without Y+ you will travel Y. It limits you a little... but if you stick to BA/QF you can manage it for the longer legs (with the shorter side trips in Y).

 

[Danger]

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

Could somebody please remind me how far out AA award seats become available and the fare bucket I need availability in for an AA coach seat (using QF points). Thank you.

 

[Danger]

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

Could somebody please remind me how far out AA award seats become available and the fare bucket I need availability in for an AA coach seat (using QF points). Thank you.

I believe it's 331 days.