Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[zackary]

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

I would agree with some of the other posts using 140k for a RTW may not be the best value. Looking for 4 award spaces in July is going to be tough. I think you will need to be a little be more creative and simplify your routes. Using ba.com award search you can pull up JAL award space which doesn't show up on qantas. You will need to book it over the phone with qantas for JAL flights + booking fee.

I have done a quick search and found the following with 4 award spaces open with Japan Airlines, BA, Iberia & Qantas

28 Jun SYD-NRT 0815 --> 1705 JL0772
29 Jun NRT-CDG 1140 --> 1710 JL0415
Spend time in Paris then take the train to London
xx Jul LHR-FCO lots of times & dates to choose from ~80AUD in Taxes pp
Train from Rome to Venice (3.5hrs). Venice to Milan (3.5hrs)
15 Jul MIL-MAD-JFK 1300-1905 (1h20m stopover) IB3251 & IB6253
20 Jul JFK-SYD QF12

Best of luck!

 

[vosadrian]

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

Sorry, but the last few responses have confused me. I have 655,000 points as required for 4X RTW flights (560,000). If I were to attempt to book all flights on a multi-city booking, the 655,000 points would not be enough to do it unless it was a RTW booking which I believe you cannot do online. This being the case, what is my "cheapest points" option for the booking? Should I make a multi-city booking online for as much as I can given the points I have and then ring to have the booking amended? Or will the act of making changes cost as much as just doing the whole booking online?

All flights in my itenerary are available using the one way classic reward booking system. I assumed this would mean they are available for a RTW flight booking. People say it is risky to get the flights. Am I wrong in assuming that they are available since I can book them as a one way classic reward (today)? My assumption is that if a flight is available for classic reward booking, it would be available for RTW booking on a 140000 RTW booking. I know I am cutting it fine on time... maybe I am doing this wrong?

If my original assumption is correct (these flights are available for booking by me on FF RTW), my next action would be to see if I can identify alternative airlines for the legs with lots of tax, and then attempt to make an online booking if it is cheaper than initiating booking over phone. Then adjust the booking to RTW over the phone?

Cheers,

Adrian

 

[travelislife]

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

Sorry, but the last few responses have confused me. I have 655,000 points as required for 4X RTW flights (560,000). If I were to attempt to book all flights on a multi-city booking, the 655,000 points would not be enough to do it unless it was a RTW booking which I believe you cannot do online. This being the case, what is my "cheapest points" option for the booking? Should I make a multi-city booking online for as much as I can given the points I have and then ring to have the booking amended? Or will the act of making changes cost as much as just doing the whole booking online?

All flights in my itenerary are available using the one way classic reward booking system. I assumed this would mean they are available for a RTW flight booking. People say it is risky to get the flights. Am I wrong in assuming that they are available since I can book them as a one way classic reward (today)? My assumption is that if a flight is available for classic reward booking, it would be available for RTW booking on a 140000 RTW booking. I know I am cutting it fine on time... maybe I am doing this wrong?

If my original assumption is correct (these flights are available for booking by me on FF RTW), my next action would be to see if I can identify alternative airlines for the legs with lots of tax, and then attempt to make an online booking if it is cheaper than initiating booking over phone. Then adjust the booking to RTW over the phone?

Cheers,

Adrian

You can do it online, the whole booking in one go, if the flights are available which is sounds like they are. Just use the multicity tool. It should price at 140k per person.

 

[hutch]

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

I would agree with some of the other posts using 140k for a RTW may not be the best value. Looking for 4 award spaces in July is going to be tough. I think you will need to be a little be more creative and simplify your routes. Using ba.com award search you can pull up JAL award space which doesn't show up on qantas. You will need to book it over the phone with qantas for JAL flights + booking fee.

I have done a quick search and found the following with 4 award spaces open with Japan Airlines, BA, Iberia & Qantas

28 Jun SYD-NRT 0815 --> 1705 JL0772
29 Jun NRT-CDG 1140 --> 1710 JL0415
Spend time in Paris then take the train to London
xx Jul LHR-FCO lots of times & dates to choose from ~80AUD in Taxes pp
Train from Rome to Venice (3.5hrs). Venice to Milan (3.5hrs)
15 Jul MIL-MAD-JFK 1300-1905 (1h20m stopover) IB3251 & IB6253
20 Jul JFK-SYD QF12

Best of luck!

Sorry, but the last few responses have confused me. I have 655,000 points as required for 4X RTW flights (560,000). If I were to attempt to book all flights on a multi-city booking, the 655,000 points would not be enough to do it unless it was a RTW booking which I believe you cannot do online. This being the case, what is my "cheapest points" option for the booking? Should I make a multi-city booking online for as much as I can given the points I have and then ring to have the booking amended? Or will the act of making changes cost as much as just doing the whole booking online?

All flights in my itenerary are available using the one way classic reward booking system. I assumed this would mean they are available for a RTW flight booking. People say it is risky to get the flights. Am I wrong in assuming that they are available since I can book them as a one way classic reward (today)? My assumption is that if a flight is available for classic reward booking, it would be available for RTW booking on a 140000 RTW booking. I know I am cutting it fine on time... maybe I am doing this wrong?

If my original assumption is correct (these flights are available for booking by me on FF RTW), my next action would be to see if I can identify alternative airlines for the legs with lots of tax, and then attempt to make an online booking if it is cheaper than initiating booking over phone. Then adjust the booking to RTW over the phone?

Cheers,

Adrian

I think you may have confused people to think that you don't have enough points. What you are trying to book is a Oneworld partner award - it is not a RTW ticket - it is an award that allows you to fly 35,000 miles (which you can use to fly around the world) with a number of stops as long as you meet certain conditions all for 140,000 points (for Y). A RTW requires other rules, like needing to cross oceans etc. It is useful to think of it this way, because when you think RTW, you head to the RTW link on the QF page which is not what you want to do.

The cheapest way of doing the itinerary you have planned is to book it all online with the QF multi-city tool.

If you can't book it all online, you book as many as you can online and then call up and add the rest to the same PNR.

However, even with fees, it might be worthwhile ringing up QF and getting a price on @zackary's suggested itinerary.

 

[travelislife]

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

If you can't book it all online, you book as many as you can online and then call up and add the rest to the same PNR.

Just clarifying this point. It needs to be as many sectors as you can in one booking. In saying that if you do all the changes/additions in one call there will only be one fee so doesn't matter too much, will just make the call shorter the more sectors you can get done online.

 

[hutch]

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

Just clarifying this point. It needs to be as many sectors as you can in one booking. In saying that if you do all the changes/additions in one call there will only be one fee so doesn't matter too much, will just make the call shorter the more sectors you can get done online.

Very true.

Thinking about it though, fees for economy changes are 3500 plus 8,000 service fee p/person.

Where as, the fee for an award assistance booking in Y is 6000 points p/person

So, it's probably just better to book it all on the phone if you can't do it all online?

 

[Familyman1]

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

It needs to be as many sectors as you can in one booking.

All the sectors will need to be under the one booking. You can modify this booking later if you want (by phoning and paying the fees), but you may not have to.

Use the QF multi-city tool and it should all become clear to you.

Just to illustrate the point that these 140,000 rewards do not need to be RTW: I have managed to book two Europe holidays out of the one 140,000 reward: one in the July school hols and one in January - by paying for cheap flights from and to Singapore at the end of the July holiday and the beginning of the January holiday.

 

[zackary]

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

I agree with hutch, book over the phone. I have dealt with a number of agents who super willing to help out and get the best possible outcome for you. Just have all your flight numbers ready to go. I don't think JFK-SYD leg is going to last long with 4 awards of availability .

 

[vosadrian]

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

I think you may have confused people to think that you don't have enough points. What you are trying to book is a Oneworld partner award - it is not a RTW ticket - it is an award that allows you to fly 35,000 miles (which you can use to fly around the world) with a number of stops as long as you meet certain conditions all for 140,000 points (for Y). A RTW requires other rules, like needing to cross oceans etc. It is useful to think of it this way, because when you think RTW, you head to the RTW link on the QF page which is not what you want to do.

The cheapest way of doing the itinerary you have planned is to book it all online with the QF multi-city tool.

If you can't book it all online, you book as many as you can online and then call up and add the rest to the same PNR.

However, even with fees, it might be worthwhile ringing up QF and getting a price on @zackary's suggested itinerary.

Ok I got it now.... this post was very helpful thanks very much. I was under the impression it was a Round The World flight. I just put my previous itenerary in as a multicity, and it comes up as all flights available and 560,000 points with taxes of AUD$4619. That is fantastic.

SO now the question comes.... can I do better without the 140000 oneworld option?

Using Zachary's itenerary (Thanks!!), the NY->Syd Leg is 240,000 points and US$1538 tax (almost half the total from above)

I want to look up the JAL and IB flight awards. Do I need to join the BA awards program to be able to search that? Is seems like it may be marginal unless there is significant savings on the tax. I suspect the points will be similar or worse?

 

[travelislife]

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

That's good stuff. Just be careful with your terminology. The taxes will remain the same regardless of the carrier as these are government and airport based. It is the fuel surcharges which change based on the carrier. The big win you could have here is seeing if there is AA availability to remove the BA leg where possible. Otherwise I would go ahead and book what you have got as availability can disappear quick. You can always call up and make changes and get a refund on the charges if there is a difference with the new flights.

 

[Familyman1]

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

Yes I agree. Just book your itinerary now and it can be modified later if necessary. That is a peak time for travelling so I'm sure you are saving big-tie compared to paying for all the flights without frequent flyer points.
I just checked on the Qantas site and the suggested Madrid to New York seats don't seem to be available on the 15th July anyway.

 

[hutch]

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

Ok I got it now.... this post was very helpful thanks very much. I was under the impression it was a Round The World flight. I just put my previous itenerary in as a multicity, and it comes up as all flights available and 560,000 points with taxes of AUD$4619. That is fantastic.

SO now the question comes.... can I do better without the 140000 oneworld option?

Using Zachary's itenerary (Thanks!!), the NY->Syd Leg is 240,000 points and US$1538 tax (almost half the total from above)

I want to look up the JAL and IB flight awards. Do I need to join the BA awards program to be able to search that? Is seems like it may be marginal unless there is significant savings on the tax. I suspect the points will be similar or worse?

I think you ring up QF with the dates and see what they can do for you. Total cost will be 24,000points in fees and it'll be done.

If what they offer is worse than your multi-city you typed in, then you can just book it online.

Either way, I agree with the sentiment of just getting it booked

 

[zackary]

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

This is what I see after doing a search on BA. Qantas should have access to this award inventory.

 

[Familyman1]

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

It looks like the SYD to Paris flights with Japan Airlines would cost you about A$825 in fees and taxes (according to the British Airways site) so you would not save much compared to your original itinerary via Melbourne (A$1000). Stick with the quicker option via Melbourne - and this leaves you with the option of booking it all on line.

 

[vosadrian]

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

I just registered with british airways FF. I have no points obviously. I try to use the awards booking system and keep getting:

[h=1]Sorry[/h]Unfortunately our systems are not responding, so we are unable to process your request at the moment.
We apologise for this inconvenience and suggest you try again later.

I notice that Zachary is using the system currently. Is this because i have no points or some other reason?

 

[Familyman1]

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

Hi Zackary

I just checked on the British Airways site and I can't see those flights (only MAD-LHR-JFK). You must have higher status than me.

 

[vosadrian]

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

Thanks so much to everyone for your help. I will verify everything with my wife and book tonight online. I will later call to see if there are better flight options and only make the changes if there are. I will try to get access to BA so I can check flights myself with JAL and CX etc. You have been a great help. I wish Qantas made this all clearer on their website. It almost seems as if they are trying to avoid people knowing about it.

 

[zackary]

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

@vosadrian - I've had this message before. I usually use another browser and it seems to work
@Familyman1 - Not sure. I don't have any status with BA. Are you searching from LIN or MAD to JFK?

 

[Radio8tiv]

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

Very interesting last couple of pages, I'm looking at doing a similar trip next year and have started planning and reading but just noticed a flaw in my plan, I was looking at going EK205 Milan to New York, but have just read here that you can't book on Emirates for a reward, is that in all classes or only in Y I was looking at going in J

 

[hutch]

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

Very interesting last couple of pages, I'm looking at doing a similar trip next year and have started planning and reading but just noticed a flaw in my plan, I was looking at going EK205 Milan to New York, but have just read here that you can't book on Emirates for a reward, is that in all classes or only in Y I was looking at going in J

You can't book Emirates as part of a Oneworld award (140k/280/420k), which is what this thread is about. Simply because they are not part of Oneworld.

You can book Emirates for normal award tickets.