Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[travelislife]

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

Hi team!

I am reading backwards through the thread and am down to only page 317! It might take me a while to get through the whole thing. I am only planning to read back a year or so in anycase at this stage. I don't want to read back to 2006 if that information is no longer true. I have also purchased and read the AFF Guide on Award Points last year which was a great read.

Can I quickly just ask a couple of questions I haven't found the answer to yet?

280k v 420k - How does it work with mixing business, economy and first flights? If I am aiming for the business 280k, can I still throw in a token first class leg or two? If I book in first can I fly a leg or two in economy and or business, especially considering there aren't that many legs that even offer a first cabin.

Someone mentioned somewhere in the last 40 odd pages setting up a wiki. I think that would be an awesome idea

Thanks in advance.

Matt

As soon as you have one leg in a higher class of travel the whole award prices at that level. This can be an issue with domestic legs in the US as AA doesn't have many flights with business class. So if you are on a business class award you will often have to take economy seats. If you want first (which is actually like business) the whole award will price at 420k.

 

[Inuniform]

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

Rather than asking what the options are (for example re WAW - JFK) I prefer to search for availability on the specific flights & airlines I want and then ring to say "I've seen availability for X, Y, Z, can you book it for me?" Or at least narrow it down to a specific route. The more they can see that you're organised and made an effort yourself the more effort they make to work out solutions to any problems, I think.

Will those changes bring you under the 35K mile cap?

By changing my WAW to JFK routing through LHR instead of DOH I've managed to shave off a massive chunk of miles and am comfortably under the 35,000 mile mark. I had a look on the world map to put it into perspective and the diversion to Doha was quite a big one as opposed to a much more direct route through London.

 

[Daver6]

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

A couple of questions about the UK departure tax if I may.

1) Roughly, how much is it actually for a J flight (or does it depend on destination/cost of flight?)
2) Can it be avoided by say flying in to LHR and then making ones way to say Paris on the Euro Star and departing from CDG? Or will it just be slugged on the Euro Star ticket price?

 

[vetrade]

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

A couple of questions about the UK departure tax if I may.

1) Roughly, how much is it actually for a J flight (or does it depend on destination/cost of flight?)
2) Can it be avoided by say flying in to LHR and then making ones way to say Paris on the Euro Star and departing from CDG? Or will it just be slugged on the Euro Star ticket price?

We routinely route our travels to avoid this tax so I don't have an accurate up-to-date figure but I believe it's $AUD 350-450 for flights to Oz. The cost isn't actually just directly related to the distance of the flight - it's calculated on the distance from London to the capital city of the destination country. The actual amount they come up with can be confusing for some destinations.
It is only a departure tax so there's nothing to pay if you fly into London and you only pay the APD if your travel originates in the UK. If transiting LHR (as per your CGD example) you don't pay it.

 

[travelislife]

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Passenger_Duty

146 Pounds ($285) to Australia down from 194 Pounds prior to April 1 this year. That is for any class of travel other than economy.

 

[Daver6]

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

We routinely route our travels to avoid this tax so I don't have an accurate up-to-date figure but I believe it's $AUD 350-450 for flights to Oz. The cost isn't actually just directly related to the distance of the flight - it's calculated on the distance from London to the capital city of the destination country. The actual amount they come up with can be confusing for some destinations.
It is only a departure tax so there's nothing to pay if you fly into London and you only pay the APD if your travel originates in the UK. If transiting LHR (as per your CGD example) you don't pay it.

Ouch!

Just to clarify my example. It would be fly into LHR and stay in London a couple of nights. Ie not transit. Then Eurostar to Paris.

Next destination after London would be US east coast. The more I think about it, the more I think I'd be better off doing what I suggest and then looking at EY to the US from CDG.

 

[travelislife]

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

We routinely route our travels to avoid this tax so I don't have an accurate up-to-date figure but I believe it's $AUD 350-450 for flights to Oz. The cost isn't actually just directly related to the distance of the flight - it's calculated on the distance from London to the capital city of the destination country. The actual amount they come up with can be confusing for some destinations.
It is only a departure tax so there's nothing to pay if you fly into London and you only pay the APD if your travel originates in the UK. If transiting LHR (as per your CGD example) you don't pay it.

It has been simplified to 2 bands now. Greater than or less than 2,000 miles. And reduced cost for the ultra long haul destinations.

 

[vetrade]

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

Ouch!

Just to clarify my example. It would be fly into LHR and stay in London a couple of nights. Ie not transit. Then Eurostar to Paris.

Next destination after London would be US east coast. The more I think about it, the more I think I'd be better off doing what I suggest and then looking at EY to the US from CDG.

Yes I did understand your example and it is a good option - but EY isn't a OW airline. To avoid BA, which isn't very good for J, IB is a good option e.g. CDG - MAD - JFK but don't book too tight a transit time.

 

[vetrade]

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

It has been simplified to 2 bands now. Greater than or less than 2,000 miles. And reduced cost for the ultra long haul destinations.

Thanks for clarifying

 

[Daver6]

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

Yes I did understand your example and it is a good option - but EY isn't a OW airline. To avoid BA, which isn't very good for J, IB is a good option e.g. CDG - MAD - JFK but don't book too tight a transit time.

Ooops. I meant AY of course

 

[Daver6]

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

Actually now thinking of QR via DOH to get from CDG to US east coast.

Am I crazy doing this? Is QR worth it over AY in J? I am kind of keen to try the QR J A380. Will make it the highest bar I've been to, knocking 1-Altitude in Singapore of the top rung

 

[vetrade]

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

QR vs AY is comparable to Mercedes vs push bike. DOH J lounge is fabulous too. If you're not worried about the much longer distance I would fly QR any day.

 

[hossein_au]

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

QR vs AY is comparable to Mercedes vs push bike. DOH J lounge is fabulous too. If you're not worried about the much longer distance I would fly QR any day.

I have not flown either of those, are they really THAT different? Are you comparing the old AY J (angle lie flat) versus QR's offerings (lie flat)?

 

[travelislife]

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

I have not flown either of those, are they really THAT different? Are you comparing the old AY J (angle lie flat) versus QR's offerings (lie flat)?

QR (and maybe Etihad) are probably the best business class product in the world. Their soft product is as good as many first class products.

 

[hossein_au]

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

QR (and maybe Etihad) are probably the best business class product in the world. Their soft product is as good as many first class products.

Good to know; thanks for that. On a different note, EY is out of consideration for me now that VA has introduced extraordinary fuel surcharges on their redemption :-(

Back to the topic of OneWorld, I think QR can have some hefty fuel surcharges.

 

[Daver6]

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

QR vs AY is comparable to Mercedes vs push bike. DOH J lounge is fabulous too. If you're not worried about the much longer distance I would fly QR any day.

Settled. I'm not insane (at least on this account). Agree, I've experienced the DOH J lounge and it is amazing!

QR (and maybe Etihad) are probably the best business class product in the world. Their soft product is as good as many first class products.

I've never flown F, but have flown both EY and QR in J and agree with you in the sense they are by far the best J products I've been lucky enough to experience.

 

[vetrade]

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

Back to the topic of OneWorld, I think QR can have some hefty fuel surcharges.

Comparatively they are in the higher bracket but still significantly lower than BA and QF. For what you get they're not excessive.

 

[EestiTiger]

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

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.

Far out - the things you learn on here!

 

[Doctore1003]

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

Hi all, I just finished my first OWA booking and just wanted to say a BIG thanks for all the great info and help, and to let you know what my +1 and I are doing.

We're starting the OWA in Singapore so we can squeeze two trips on the one ticket, with a stopover in Melbourne in between.

This September we're heading to the USA with a two-week road trip around California, beginning in San Fran and including Napa Valley, Yosemite, Death Valley, Vegas, LA and then up the coast to San Fran. Then a few days in Dallas, Austin and surrounds before flying home.

Then next April we're heading to Japan to catch a bit of the cherry blossom festival. I've been getting into photography lately so am looking forward to practicing my skills!

Here's the itinerary:

MEL-SIN EK J (separate ticket)
SIN-HKG-SFO CX J
SFO-LAX-DFW (AA paid cheap 1st class fare to earn the SCs to requalify for QF gold)
DFW-SYD-MEL QF J
MEL-SYD QF J
SYD-NRT JL J
NRT-SYD-OOL JL/QF J

We're finishing at the Gold Coast for some warm weather as Japan will still be a bit chilly in April. But we're making the most of the Easter and Anzac Day holidays and had to finish somewhere other than MEL for the itinerary to be valid - first world problem!

Less than 3 months to go til the trip begins. It's our first time flying proper international J ... so bloody excited!

 

[Cardinal]

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

First world problems - loving my J class One World Award:

CBR-BRI-SIN-KL-NRT
NRT-BKK-DOH-MUC
MUC-LHR-KEF
KEF-LHR-MAD
MAD-DOH-ICN
ICN-HKG-BRI-CBR

But trying to reconcile myself to Qatar Airway QR837 BKK to DOH changing from a A380 to B777. Hotels and stopovers are now fixed.

If I can find an alternative A380 route within my now fixed parameters (other than a 10 hour overnight lay over in Bangkok) I'll share the story. As always, it's the co-terminal NRT/HAN segment issue that's proving a challenge. Hilarious in that my routing would have been different had I known that the UK APD could be avoided with a less than 24 hour transit.