Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[SNW1406]

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

Hello & thanks to all who give their time to educate people like me. I have had a few tries at this and am hopefully getting better
I am planning 2 x J 280K OWE trip in Sept next year so have just made the itinerary as close as I can to keep under 35K miles.
This is what I have
ISA-BNE-SYD-SCL-EZE STOP Then will catch Y flight EZE-IGR/IGU return (Iguazu Falls)
EZE-LIM STOP Then flight LIM-CUZ return in Y (Inca Trail & Macchu Picchu)
LIM-JFK-HEL STOP Then Y flight HEL-IVL return in Y (Northern Lights & look around in HEL)
HEL-LON-DXB STOP (To have a look in DXB & maybe DOH)
DXB-HKG-BNE-ISA STOP

It comes in at 32423 miles. If anyone would like to suggest better routing/ways to travel, I am open to all your experience. I would like to keep the taxes down as much as possible & try and sneak the normal just under 24 hr break when possible

Thank you
Brendan

 

[ejd711]

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

ISA-BNE-SYD-SCL-EZE STOP Then will catch Y flight EZE-IGR/IGU return (Iguazu Falls)
EZE-LIM STOP Then flight LIM-CUZ return in Y (Inca Trail & Macchu Picchu)
LIM-JFK-HEL STOP Then Y flight HEL-IVL return in Y (Northern Lights & look around in HEL)
HEL-LON-DXB STOP (To have a look in DXB & maybe DOH)
DXB-HKG-BNE-ISA STOP

It comes in at 32423 miles.

I assume all those Y legs are revenue/paid tickets. The last leg doesn't finish with a stopover - so as far as I can see you have only used four stops and still have one stopover left so could use it for one of the side trips, so long as you have the miles and you're happy to transfer on the return leg (I'd suggest you don't need a huge amount of time in Lima personally - and MAKE SURE you have a booked taxi/transfer from the airport, particularly if you're arriving at 2am - that airport can be crazy).

To get tickets to South America you'll have to be pretty sharp when bookings open! It looks like a great trip - good luck with it!

 

[Ultan Lankford]

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

Huge and interesting thread. Interested in using this award. Is there anyway at the moment to book a JNB to RIO flight? I hear TAM are beginning one in October of this year. Plan to travel next year but not sure if seats are available yet. Any ideas or info?

 

[ozflier]

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

ISA-BNE-SYD-SCL-EZE STOP Then will catch Y flight EZE-IGR/IGU return (Iguazu Falls)
EZE-LIM STOP Then flight LIM-CUZ return in Y (Inca Trail & Macchu Picchu)
LIM-JFK-HEL STOP Then Y flight HEL-IVL return in Y (Northern Lights & look around in HEL)
HEL-LON-DXB STOP (To have a look in DXB & maybe DOH)
DXB-HKG-BNE-ISA STOP

It comes in at 32423 miles.

I assume all those Y legs are revenue/paid tickets. The last leg doesn't finish with a stopover - so as far as I can see you have only used four stops and still have one stopover left so could use it for one of the side trips, so long as you have the miles and you're happy to transfer on the return leg (I'd suggest you don't need a huge amount of time in Lima personally - and MAKE SURE you have a booked taxi/transfer from the airport, particularly if you're arriving at 2am - that airport can be crazy).

To get tickets to South America you'll have to be pretty sharp when bookings open! It looks like a great trip - good luck with it!

LAN flights are the easier to get if you book long ways out .
TAM are available closer in.
Its a pity that Expertflyer are not allowed include the above airlines in their upgrade/award search engine. ( no problem with QF and AA though)
Good luck.

 

[flightobserver]

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

ISA-BNE-SYD-SCL-EZE STOP Then will catch Y flight EZE-IGR/IGU return (Iguazu Falls)
EZE-LIM STOP Then flight LIM-CUZ return in Y (Inca Trail & Macchu Picchu)
LIM-JFK-HEL STOP Then Y flight HEL-IVL return in Y (Northern Lights & look around in HEL)
HEL-LON-DXB STOP (To have a look in DXB & maybe DOH)
DXB-HKG-BNE-ISA STOP

It comes in at 32423 miles. If anyone would like to suggest better routing/ways to travel, I am open to all your experience. I would like to keep the taxes down as much as possible & try and sneak the normal just under 24 hr break when possible

Thank you
Brendan

Could also look at doing BNE-AKL-SCL on the first leg if you can't find availability on the direct SYD-SCL. Further to what others have posted above, you could also look at doing open jaw stopovers e.g. your 3rd leg finishes in HEL but your 4th leg starts in IVL. You may be able to save some $$$ by buying a one way fare instead of a return.

 

[kreuky]

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

anyone had this issue before? One leg keeps dropping off. I called QF, they fix it and two days later the flight drops off and the seats go back into inventory.

 

[travelislife]

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

anyone had this issue before? One leg keeps dropping off. I called QF, they fix it and two days later the flight drops off and the seats go back into inventory.

Get them to ticket it straight away. It shouldn't be able to drop off then. Out of interest is it an IB leg because I have heard of it happening before with IB if not ticketed instantly.

 

[kreuky]

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

yes IB leg. It has been ticketed. I even had ticket numbers. Dropped off, they fixed it, and dropped off again. On the phone again to them now to fix it.

 

[ozflier]

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

One issue I had was the time it took between the booking of an award seat with a OW carrier and the time it took for QFF to actually get it ticketed by that carrier. I was told that there can be a time lag between these two events and possibly worsened by the priority given by QF to pax with an itinerary coming up soon.( understandably)
If the lag takes more than a certain time ( varies according to airline) then the OW carrier may assume that the booked but not ticketed seat is not needed and removes the booking. This has happened several occasions to me with TAM and LAN.

 

[kreuky]

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

they fixed it (and did a ticket re-issue) but let's see what happens in a few days.

 

[Pablo]

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

Quick question: when booking on AA, is it "J" or "U" class seats we need to look for? I'm a bit confused on expert flyer.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

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

Quick question: when booking on AA, is it "J" or "U" class seats we need to look for? I'm a bit confused on expert flyer.

U but bear in mind there's only business class on trans-con flights and international, so only economy redemption classes available on a OWA.

And use the award availability feature rather than standard availability.

 

[Pablo]

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

U but bear in mind there's only business class on trans-con flights and international, so only economy redemption classes available on a OWA.

And use the award availability feature rather than standard availability.

thanks for the quick response.

I'm looking at GIG-MIA and LAX-SYD if I can get them. Flights haven't opened up yet, but I can't see any availability for Feb or March with GIG-MIA so not liking my chances for April departures when they open up.

 

[ablecookie]

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

A dumb question.

How do I start booking a 280k award?

Logged into Qantas site, selected Multi-city and then click "search classic flight awards". Don't seem to get anywhere.

 

[travelislife]

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

A dumb question.

How do I start booking a 280k award?

Logged into Qantas site, selected Multi-city and then click "search classic flight awards". Don't seem to get anywhere.

You just book award flights as normal. It will then 'cap' the price at 280k if you meet the conditions.

 

[Doctore1003]

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

A dumb question.

How do I start booking a 280k award?

Logged into Qantas site, selected Multi-city and then click "search classic flight awards". Don't seem to get anywhere.

If you'd like to post your planned itinerary and dates, we can provide some tailored advice.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

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

Hi Everybody,
I was wondering if I could get some advice please? I am planning a 140k 'Oneworld' award for later this year and I have a couple of questions that i was hoping you could help me out with.

Firstly, how does my itinerary look in terms of airlines chosen and taxes to be paid? Have I made an egregious errors? My proposed route is:

11/8: MEL-YVR via SYD: QF
20/8: YVR-JFK: CX
22/8: JFK-MAD via BOS: AA/IB
26/8: MAD-HEL: AY
30/8: HEL-LHR: AY
6/9: CPH-HKG via DUS: AB/CX
7/9: HKG-MEL: CX

Total Points: 140,000
Cost: $723.83

Is this a good deal? I must stop in MAD, HEL & LHR. Leaving out of CPH is best as i will visit a friend in Aarhus (are there any flights through Aarhus?)

Are there any particular downsides to redeeming a 140,000 award? I understand it is in Economy, but it seems to give me a much longer trip at about 40% of the price of doing a simpler MEL-HEL-MAD-LHR-CPH-MEL run.

Many thanks
Wanderlust_tim

 

[vetrade]

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

I think you have done your homework well, Wanderlust_tim and can't see any problems, egregious or otherwise, assuming that you have already checked that there is award availability for those flights on your chosen dates! I see you have avoided the LHR departure taxes and your cost of $723 seems modest by usual standards for a RTW reward fare - probably because most of the airlines you have chosen have modest taxes & surcharges.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

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

I think you have done your homework well, Wanderlust_tim and can't see any problems, egregious or otherwise, assuming that you have already checked that there is award availability for those flights on your chosen dates! I see you have avoided the LHR departure taxes and your cost of $723 seems modest by usual standards for a RTW reward fare - probably because most of the airlines you have chosen have modest taxes & surcharges.

Thanks vetrade, yes I have double checked my dates, they're all available at the moment.

Do you know if Aarhus or Billund are eligible destinations? They're not listed on Qantas' multi city search function.

 

[Boca68]

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

Thanks vetrade, yes I have double checked my dates, they're all available at the moment.

Do you know if Aarhus or Billund are eligible destinations? They're not listed on Qantas' multi city search function.

Tim, to see if they are One World destinations , check the One World website map https://www.oneworld.com/flights/where-we-fly then clickon the 'Interactive Map' link at the bottom. (it can take a little time to load). Just play around with the destinations you want.

They may not be available via QF website, but if you check with the Airline Website that flys the routes, most likely Air Berlin or British Airways and can see them available. Then call QF and book them. As its not available on the QF website, they should waive the service fee.

Good Luck!