Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[zdb97]

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

16 flights? 15 flights is the maximum to my understanding. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[vetrade]

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

16 flights? 15 flights is the maximum to my understanding. Correct me if I am wrong.

16 flights is correct for a OW award booking

 

[Franky]

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

You're not crazy, I think you would find that from Perth to New York is almost the same distance whether you fly east or west. And you don't have to hub thru Sydney, LA, SFO or DFW either. (Sorry, thought you were flying from PER rather than CDG!)

 

[Lennuk]

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

Has anyone else struggling to search flights using BA?

Every time I try to do this the last week, it says the mapping tool isnt working? Just trying to find flights with AY to helsinki in June

 

[Cardinal]

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

16 flights is correct for a OW award booking

Might be the way it reads but it's 16 segments. Oh to fly into Narita and and out of Haneda or to have a later arrival into Singapore. It almost seems a waste to fly to KL in J for a day. But going to KL for a day one way or the other is a non-negotiable.

 

[madrooster]

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

Oh to fly into Narita and and out of Haneda or to have a later arrival into Singapore.

You won't be able to fly into NRT and out of HND. That would take you up to 17 segments. An 'open jaw' within a city with colocated airports such as Tokyo, New York, Paris, London, Milan, Rome, Washington DC, Chicago etc. will count as a surface segment in the ticket.

 

[Cardinal]

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

You won't be able to fly into NRT and out of HND. That would take you up to 17 segments. An 'open jaw' within a city with colocated airports such as Tokyo, New York, Paris, London, Milan, Rome, Washington DC, Chicago etc. will count as a surface segment in the ticket.

Precisely, when you like global city day trips and a convoluted itinerary as much me, it becomes the bane of your award booking existence.

 

[vetrade]

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

Might be the way it reads but it's 16 segments. Oh to fly into Narita and and out of Haneda or to have a later arrival into Singapore. It almost seems a waste to fly to KL in J for a day. But going to KL for a day one way or the other is a non-negotiable.

From the QF Ts & Cs:
13.2.4 A Reward Flight Itinerary must contain no more than 16 Segments (including any Surface Segments).

I presume you're pointing out the difference between "flights" and "segments", so, 16 flights if there's no surface segments but each surface segment counts towards the total 16 allowed.

 

[EestiTiger]

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

Wow – I have just finished today reading this thread going back over a year and am now up to date! I still have a lot to absorb but I have learnt sooooo much more than just going through the T&C’s on the QF website. I think seeing the same questions asked over and over again, reaffirms the content of the message J I can’t believe how patient you all are!

I do have a question though after all the reading…

It seems that most people go for the business ticket over the first class ticket. Is this related to chances of getting multiple seats (ie for you and a partner) or just better value for business ticket? I understand that I some of my proposed legs don’t offer F but I guess it is just the chance to fly F around the world whilst I still can for the experience (both flights and specific lounges).

I am still pulling together a plan through researching via all the awesome tips on here. One thing I did notice is the complete lack of F tickets on say QF1 and QF9 looking via QF website. I am actually looking at CX now instead and think I will be aiming for this anyway.

I don’t want to waste anyone’s time so have some more research to do for now, but will get a proposal together in the next couple of weeks for people to make suggestions on.

Thanks in advance.

 

[vetrade]

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

Ozmatt, overall it's difficult to find enough routes that have F to justify the extra points of F compared to J, when a lot of the flights will probably end up in J (or maybe some even in Y). And that's before you even contend with the F award availability issue.

 

[snabbu]

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

Hey Ozmatt,

It's quite difficult to take advantage of the rules and utilize the 16 segments allowed and fly in F. Realistically the F segments are dwindling in today's market so the 420K option isn't thay east to maximize, depending on your starting point.

Good luck to you if you can get value out of your 420k points however in my situation I'll always go for the 280k option as availability is greater and after my first proper long haul F flight I don't see the value.

 

[JohnK]

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

It has been 7 years since last Oneworld award booking. Far too long.

I am in the early stages of planning another trip next March/April. Trying to keep it simple. The multi-trip award booking engine is not as user friendly as I remember. One mistake and you have to select all flights again.

Should be having some fun over the next month or so.

 

[Cardinal]

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

I'm not the first to say it but it's so much easier to use the British Airways site, find your flights, and then phone QANTAS (they might even waive/not charge the operator assist fee). You'll also have the benefit of picking up flights the QANTAS site can't, such as Malaysian Airlines.

 

[flychrisfly]

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

Might be the way it reads but it's 16 segments. Oh to fly into Narita and and out of Haneda or to have a later arrival into Singapore. It almost seems a waste to fly to KL in J for a day. But going to KL for a day one way or the other is a non-negotiable.

Why not do it on a separate ticket? I assume there are plenty of cheap flights available (SIN-KUL-SIN) making your SIN stop a transit and removing a segment from your itin allowing you to use it elsewhere. Assuming you can time it right...

 

[aussiel]

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

It has been 7 years since last Oneworld award booking. Far too long.

I am in the early stages of planning another trip next March/April. Trying to keep it simple. The multi-trip award booking engine is not as user friendly as I remember. One mistake and you have to select all flights again.

Should be having some fun over the next month or so.

I searched all the flights as separate one way bookings, so I had a bit more flexibility with dates and minor changes. Once I was happy, dumped it all into the multi-city tool and made the booking.

BA site was also useful at times, however my itinerary didn't involve any carriers that QF didn't show.

 

[Cardinal]

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

Why not do it on a separate ticket? I assume there are plenty of cheap flights available (SIN-KUL-SIN) making your SIN stop a transit and removing a segment from your itin allowing you to use it elsewhere. Assuming you can time it right...

It's the timing it all right. 35,000 miles in J and my partner let's me do all the planning with only one stipulation: haircut at her hairdresser in KL. But just can't get a clear run of available times &/or J seats i.e. from arriving in Sin from Aus, getting to KL, and back to Sin within 24 hours and then off to Tokyo.

 

[Delta32]

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

Hi all!

First time poster, not so long time lurker either (but certainly longer than I've been posting!)! I've tried to search through this thread to find out as much wisdom as I can before throwing this out there, please go easy!

I'm intending on utilising my QFF points to take advantage of the oneworld 240K RTW J fare to use as the basis of a one year RTW trip, with the RTW fare being used to get from one key regional hub to the next with some surface sectors (I understand these are allowed, although the equivalent miles do count towards the 35K miles). I'm happy to make my own way around surface sectors (in some parts this is actually part of the journey) and to pay separately for smaller flights if it helps me get somewhere that will more easily fit into the broader journey. I'm actually pretty flexible as to airlines and airports, so long as I hit the broad below itinerary over the year:

Leaving Sydney (around December)
South East Asia
Africa
Eastern Europe
Central America/Carribean (likely out of the USA)
South America (mainly for the return, ideally out of Santiago, although this is negotiable)
Return to Sydney

I'm trying to utilise as much of the 35K miles as possible (not sure if its statute or nautical, I wish nautical, but I think it's the former!). I'm also trying to keep the taxes and surcharges as minimal as possible. Noting that I might have to change the later flights with change fees because I'll be booking them relatively early (but not so late that the earlier flights become unavailable!).

At the moment, I've hit the below - and just exceeding the mile count by 312 miles or so. I need your collective wisdom, creativity and ideas, you amazing FFrs!

1) SYD-BKK - use BKK as the regional hub for SE asia (e.g Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc) - depending on miles, and money, I'd prefer to go Cathay through HKG to get there as I avoid QANTAS' surcharges, but I know this might not be possible with the miles, so I might have to cough up the $ and fly direct with QANTAS.

2) HKG-JNB - then surface segment to NBO, basically, I want to head north up from South Africa to Kenya, overland. Using Cathay.

3) NBO-DOH-ATH then surface segment to DUB - In doing this, I'm trying to avoid London and BA. I'm open to getting to another airport instead that might save me miles, so long as I can then avoid London and BA taxes/fees. This was the cheapest and most direct route I was able to find/think of. The aim of the surface segment is to do Eastern Europe (e.g. Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Lithuatnia, Latvia... eventually getting to Dublin). Likely using QATAR to get to Athens.

4) DUB-PHL-MIA - the aim of this leg is to get to Central America/Caribbean/Northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela etc). Likely using AA.

5) MIA to SCL Overland (or booking my own flights etc). then fly to -SYD - likely using LAN. I know this last bit might not be possible but I'm really open to ideas.

The way I figure it the above is within the stops limits, the cheapest is and comes in at: 35, 213 miles and about 1,400 AUD in taxes, although I can get it down to $1,008.64 AUD in taxes/surcharges. if I add the extra flight to HKK on the outbound journey - although it adds another amount of miles I don't have!


So... any ideas or help appreciated! Sorry I feel totally novice!

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[flychrisfly]

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

1) SYD-BKK - use BKK as the regional hub for SE asia (e.g Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc) - depending on miles, and money, I'd prefer to go Cathay through HKG to get there as I avoid QANTAS' surcharges, but I know this might not be possible with the miles, so I might have to cough up the $ and fly direct with QANTAS.

2) HKG-JNB - then surface segment to NBO, basically, I want to head north up from South Africa to Kenya, overland. Using Cathay.

So... any ideas or help appreciated! Sorry I feel totally novice!

Thanks in advance!!!

one quick suggestion is to fly to HKG with your first leg then commence your region travels (to BKK if required) from there. Frees up some miles which you may need to secure the other legs.

 

[cjd600]

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

Hi all!

First time poster, not so long time lurker either (but certainly longer than I've been posting!)! I've tried to search through this thread to find out as much wisdom as I can before throwing this out there, please go easy!

I'm intending on utilising my QFF points to take advantage of the oneworld 240K RTW J fare to use as the basis of a one year RTW trip,

Assume typo, and you know it's 280k for J

 

[Delta32]

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

one quick suggestion is to fly to HKG with your first leg then commence your region travels (to BKK if required) from there. Frees up some miles which you may need to secure the other legs.

OMG - staring right in front of my eyes. Saved me just enough! Perfect! 34,182!!! Woods from the trees! Thanks so much! Now to find flights!

Any other improvements welcome. Seems the total taxes and fees will cost me $980...