Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Dudditz]

Booked my first 280k J Award only 3.5 months out from commencement (Beginning late July and finishing in Feb 2018). To complicate matters more I had to coordinate seats with my partner who is using Avios to mirror my itinerary and is located in the states.

MEL>SYD>SIN QF J
SIN>DOH>JNB QR J
JNB>DOH>SOF QR J
CAI>DOH>KUL QR F/J (Revenue fare)
BKK>DOH>CAI QR J/F (Revenue fare)
TLV>AMM>IST RJ J
IST>LHR>ORD BA J
ORD>LAX>MEL AA/QF Y/J

$1130 taxes 34951 miles total

Opportunity to fly QR A350 and A380 as well as the QF787 in feb next year! Weeks of work looking at BA, QF and making multiple phone calls. WP came in handy requesting a J seat in Feb from LAX>MEL although unfortunately no availability in AA J class for any flights and I didn't have the miles left to consider JAL or CX home. This would have been possible if I was able to find two J seats on the SYD>JNB flight in July but I could only request one for myself. Not many options getting to across the atlantic to ORD besides BA, RJ and IB especially just before xmas. Three visits to the Al Mourjan Business lounge and one visit to the Al Safwa first will beat the sad excuse of a OWE lounge I have visited in the past. Very excited for my partner to experience J class for the first time also, she's been incredible in supporting my addiction

The end will also mark her moving to Melbourne to be with me after over a year of long distance. I fought the battle and won but let's face it we do live on a special patch of Earth

 

[Inuniform]

I have a RTW award coming up in July. On my QF booking page there is only the option to select seat preferences as aisle or window. Is there any time beforehand that seats can be selected on the award booking?

 

[ozflier]

My experience is that sometimes

you can enter that airlines booking ref ( not the QF one) into their website and request seats online
or
ring the airlines local office and request
and
for those airlines with no presence in Australia, email or fax the request thru to their USA office.

Most times this works out and seat selection can be made as early as you like.

I have a RTW award coming up in July. On my QF booking page there is only the option to select seat preferences as aisle or window. Is there any time beforehand that seats can be selected on the award booking?

 

[fairbasa]

What airlines are you trying to choose seats on? It varies airline to airline.

As ozflier said, you can either do it through each respective airline's website or call them. Generally, once selected the seat requests will show on your QF MMB page.

To access your booking on each airline's page, you need to know THEIR PNR for your booking. Some airlines will use the same PNR as QF, some you will need to find using CheckMyTrip.

 

[Inuniform]

Thanks to both of you. I have already booked seats for 4 flights with QR with the information provided. I have most of my other flights with CX and one flight apiece with BA and AA. Will try and get some more seats locked in. Thanks again to both of you.

What airlines are you trying to choose seats on? It varies airline to airline.

As ozflier said, you can either do it through each respective airline's website or call them. Generally, once selected the seat requests will show on your QF MMB page.

To access your booking on each airline's page, you need to know THEIR PNR for your booking. Some airlines will use the same PNR as QF, some you will need to find using CheckMyTrip.

 

[yld200]

Qatar airlines is usually the best to select seats on, just enter you QF booking code and all flights should appear.

For some AA and JL flights you'll need to log in through the specific site and enter their specific Booking reference which is different from the QF one. You can get this by downloading the My Flights app and loading your flight with the QF booking code, then at the bottom of your summary it'll display all of the individual booking references for each airline on the booking.

There's also a site that'll do this, cant remember the name now but its in this thread somewhere.

I'd highly recommend getting the app because it'll notify you of any changes to your booking - time, aircraft, status, etc.

 

[cambriamarsh]

A trans-atlantic leg on IB, back in USDM days, added similar taxes to BA (~$500 off memory, this was a marathon call centre call). Perhaps check that leg in isolation to check what the taxes on that are and maybe look for an AA or AY alternative

My experience is that IB taxes are a lot less than BA

 

[nat000]

I'm looking for award seats on QATAR from per to doh, QR901. No matter what date I put in, it doesn't bring up that flight. Can anyone shed some light on this.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I have read in this thread that sometimes when there's a schedule or equipment change, people are rebooked and end up in a different fare bucket as a result. And at times this has meant SC earn when OW Award would normally not earn.

I've had a schedule change by AA and I'm now booked in T bucket. Am I right in thinking that fare class would normally earn at discount economy rate?

 

[madrooster]

I have read in this thread that sometimes when there's a schedule or equipment change, people are rebooked and end up in a different fare bucket as a result. And at times this has meant SC earn when OW Award would normally not earn.

I've had a schedule change by AA and I'm now booked in T bucket. Am I right in thinking that fare class would normally earn at discount economy rate?

T class is AA's economy award class. AA do not use X class for economy awards.

 

[Battymum]

Can anyone tell me if Qantaslink flights can be included in a OWA?

Looking to start my trip in Canberra - and most flights connect to Sydney on a Qantaslink flight.

Thanks

 

[flychrisfly]

Can anyone tell me if Qantaslink flights can be included in a OWA?

Looking to start my trip in Canberra - and most flights connect to Sydney on a Qantaslink flight.

Thanks

Yes, they can.

 

[appaz]

I see most ppl in this thread opt for the 280k J award, is this because first availability is too scarce to be able to make a decent trip?

420k F looks like good value to me providing you can maximise your long haul flights - and find dates that work together.

If anyone could post an example of their 420k F award I'd love to have a look at it

 

[coyote25]

I see most ppl in this thread opt for the 280k J award, is this because first availability is too scarce to be able to make a decent trip?

420k F looks like good value to me providing you can maximise your long haul flights - and find dates that work together.

If anyone could post an example of their 420k F award I'd love to have a look at it

I think it's because getting enough F flights is difficult and limits your flight options plus J is getting very good on most airlines.

Add in that 420k points might be a bit out of reach for a lot of people and it's not as active a planning discussion. I remember planning my first 280k J award after three enjoyable 140k Y awards, however I can't go back to 140k product now!

Personally I want to do a 420k F Award even if it means flying to a lot of places of visited. I think it would be awesome.

I think I saw a good ITN a few days ago in this thread.

 

[blu]

I'm looking for award seats on QATAR from per to doh, QR901. No matter what date I put in, it doesn't bring up that flight. Can anyone shed some light on this.

Are you looking when released, about 360 days before travel? There's Y & J availability on QR901 on 6 April 2018.

 

[wokstar]

I did call again to query the taxes, and neither the latest consultant nor supervisor could make heads or tails of it so I have been asked to provide evidence of what I have been charged as they couldn't find it in their system...

So I have emailed that off and will be awaiting their response.

Following this up, the email was bounced back. [postmaster undeliverable – email address not found]

Called up again.
Me: I’d like to check the email that I need to sent these proof of payments to.
Qantas: oh yes I can see in the notes here, email is abc_xyz
Me: Can’t be, it got bounced.
Qantas: oh ok, let me check with my supervisor *hold* please send it to xyz_abc

So I sent the email to the revised address.
[postmaster undeliverable – email address not found]

FFS. Back on the phone. However this time, it went to the Hobart call centre…
Me: I would like to check this email address again please.
Qantas: That sounds strange, you shouldn’t have to email anything to anyone
Me: IKR!!!
Qantas: Let me read through the notes here *short hold* Ok there’s a lot to go through here on your booking so rather than you wait I’ll call you back once I check through this.
*A few hours later*
Qantas: Yes, the refund amount is correct and we will process this immediately. Should take a few days to process.

A few days later, the refund amount arrived. Strangely the refund appeared in the missus’ Amex account, on a new card barely 2 months old, had not been used with Qantas before and is not linked to mine (different bank!). It was my understanding that the refund was to be sent to the initial card that was used , but that card was closed but should have still gone to the replacement card at the same bank…

How the refund got to the missus card is a bit of a mystery, but I’m not going to complain about that. The only thing worth complaining about is that the New Zealand call centre has no idea what they’re doing.

Now completed, my itinerary is:
BNE > HKG (CX) Transit
HKG > JFK (CX) Stop 1
JFK > MAD (IB) Stop 2
MAD > MUC (IB) Transit
MUC > TXL (AB) Stop 3 (economy)
TXL > ARN [Surface/own means]
ARN > HEL (AY) Transit
HEL > HKG (AY) Transit
HKG > SGN (CX) Stop 4
SGN > NRT (JL) Transit
HND > CTS (JL) Stop 5 (economy)
CTS > HND (JL) Transit (economy)
NRT > SYD (JL) Transit
SYD > BNE (QF) Home

Total taxes paid is: $490 each ($980 for 2!)

 

[fairbasa]

Pretty horrible to think if not for your persistence you'd be $1300 out of pocket.

 

[N860CR]

Following this up, the email was bounced back. [postmaster undeliverable – email address not found]

Called up again.
Me: I’d like to check the email that I need to sent these proof of payments to.
Qantas: oh yes I can see in the notes here, email is abc_xyz
Me: Can’t be, it got bounced.
Qantas: oh ok, let me check with my supervisor *hold* please send it to xyz_abc

So I sent the email to the revised address.
[postmaster undeliverable – email address not found]

FFS. Back on the phone. However this time, it went to the Hobart call centre…
Me: I would like to check this email address again please.
Qantas: That sounds strange, you shouldn’t have to email anything to anyone
Me: IKR!!!
Qantas: Let me read through the notes here *short hold* Ok there’s a lot to go through here on your booking so rather than you wait I’ll call you back once I check through this.
*A few hours later*
Qantas: Yes, the refund amount is correct and we will process this immediately. Should take a few days to process.

A few days later, the refund amount arrived. Strangely the refund appeared in the missus’ Amex account, on a new card barely 2 months old, had not been used with Qantas before and is not linked to mine (different bank!). It was my understanding that the refund was to be sent to the initial card that was used , but that card was closed but should have still gone to the replacement card at the same bank…

How the refund got to the missus card is a bit of a mystery, but I’m not going to complain about that. The only thing worth complaining about is that the New Zealand call centre has no idea what they’re doing.

Now completed, my itinerary is:
BNE > HKG (CX) Transit
HKG > JFK (CX) Stop 1
JFK > MAD (IB) Stop 2
MAD > MUC (IB) Transit
MUC > TXL (AB) Stop 3 (economy)
TXL > ARN [Surface/own means]
ARN > HEL (AY) Transit
HEL > HKG (AY) Transit
HKG > SGN (CX) Stop 4
SGN > NRT (JL) Transit
HND > CTS (JL) Stop 5 (economy)
CTS > HND (JL) Transit (economy)
NRT > SYD (JL) Transit
SYD > BNE (QF) Home

Total taxes paid is: $490 each ($980 for 2!)

I honestly think nobody knows how these taxes are calculated. I booked a oneworld award that came to about $1200 each in taxes.

One leg was ARN-DOH-EBB. I tried to make that HEL-ARN-DOH-EBB. When adding that one 1 hour sector, t

 

[wokstar]

Yeah, all the earlier calls went through to the New Zealand call centre which I've now learnt are hopeless.

One of the previous calls ended up with the consultant saying that Qantas had made a mistake in issuing the e-ticket (when taxes were at $1100 each) and that it should have charged an extra $200 each. I was given the option to leave the booking as is with taxes at $1100 each, or they could re-issue the ticket and charge the extra $200 each.
Obviously, I declined their offer to re-issue tickets and pay more

Another time before that when I wanted to add some flights, I was told to make a new booking for new the flights and to get them to join the two bookings together. Having read on these forums that that is not how it works, I asked to speak to a supervisor to check if that was the correct method as that was not what I've had to do previously when adding flights. The consultant rudely said "ok sure, but they'll tell you the same thing that I just told you!" and then instantly put me on hold, only to come back on a few minutes later to apologize and admit that she was wrong.

FWIW, I did manage to almost recreate the exact flight and date booking using google matrix and the taxes calculated through that were pretty close. So that's one thing I learned.

 

[Daver6]

Pretty horrible to think if not for your persistence you'd be $1300 out of pocket.

Exactly my experience too.