Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Auski]

Hi all, apologies that I’m going to be quite vague as I’m planning a 280p J 35K trip for May-June 2018.
I’m planning on spending 1 week in the UK and the flights on either side are primarily just to get me there with some interesting flights on either side of the trip to and from the UK. My initial thinking is as follows:
SYD to either BKK or HKG (either QF or CX metal) where I hope to catch the AY A350 to HEL. From there I hope to catch the A350 again down to LHR.
From LHR I essentially need to get to North America and then back to Sydney. I’m keen to try AA’s 787 J product and CX’s 77W J product, or the QF A380 J product since I haven’t tried that for a while.
Are there any particular American cities where award availability (from Europe and to Australia) is better?

I have booked BA1 the all business flight from LCY to JFK keen to try this one, am transiting from DUB and will avoid the LHR departure tax. BA1 also clears US customs in Shannon where it tops up with fuel, (cant take off from LCY with a full load). I found BA had best availability but their J generally not rated highly. From JFK to Syd CX had by far the best availability in777. Also flying with them SYD FRA.

 

[hutch]

I was having trouble with

EDI-LHR stop
LHR-ARN
ARN-LHR-DUB
DUB-LHR-NRT

CSA ended up dropping EDI-LHR and it worked.
Although it now appears total charges are wrong.

Is this a 140Y or 280J award? I would have thought you might have issues with:

14.3.5 A Classic Flight Reward Itinerary must contain no more than one departure from the city or country of first departure on that Itinerary.

 

[hutch]

Hi all, apologies that I’m going to be quite vague as I’m planning a 280p J 35K trip for May-June 2018.
I’m planning on spending 1 week in the UK and the flights on either side are primarily just to get me there with some interesting flights on either side of the trip to and from the UK. My initial thinking is as follows:
SYD to either BKK or HKG (either QF or CX metal) where I hope to catch the AY A350 to HEL. From there I hope to catch the A350 again down to LHR.
From LHR I essentially need to get to North America and then back to Sydney. I’m keen to try AA’s 787 J product and CX’s 77W J product, or the QF A380 J product since I haven’t tried that for a while.
Are there any particular American cities where award availability (from Europe and to Australia) is better?

If looking for AY350, you might want to avoid BKK as last time I checked they were still using A330's on that route. HKG seemed pretty good for AY availability when I was booking... or if you are looking at trying products, you could try and get on JAL's 787 to HEL and then AY350 to LHR. Or backtrack from LHR back to HEL to head to North America.

As for the final leg, trying to get direct USA to Australia flights is tough. Not impossible, but tough. I've had luck through LAX before to book QFA380. Otherwise, CX has good availability to HKG from most N.A ports barring YVR (well at least I always had issues finding seats direct from there).

With the AA787... if I am not mistaken the 787-9 is reverse herringbone (good!) and the 787-8 has a front seat/back seat configuration which I wouldn't find appealing. I flew AA777-300 J which is basically the CX seat. I liked it (particularly as you have individual air vents unlike on CX.

 

[PaulST]

I have booked BA1 the all business flight from LCY to JFK keen to try this one, am transiting from DUB and will avoid the LHR departure tax. BA1 also clears US customs in Shannon where it tops up with fuel, (cant take off from LCY with a full load). I found BA had best availability but their J generally not rated highly. From JFK to Syd CX had by far the best availability in777. Also flying with them SYD FRA.

Ah yes I see there's some availability on BA1 and BA2 but I'd rather fly in a wide body. Having said that, there would be some novelty in flying in an all-J flight.
Yeah I'm finding heaps of BA flights, both J and F, but their offering isn't great. I've flown with them in J (787-9) and it was OK but nothing special.
After I removed the SYD-HKG leg, I noticed a lot of HKG-JFK opening up too, both in J and F! It's tempting as I haven't tried CX F yet!

If looking for AY350, you might want to avoid BKK as last time I checked they were still using A330's on that route. HKG seemed pretty good for AY availability when I was booking... or if you are looking at trying products, you could try and get on JAL's 787 to HEL and then AY350 to LHR. Or backtrack from LHR back to HEL to head to North America.

As for the final leg, trying to get direct USA to Australia flights is tough. Not impossible, but tough. I've had luck through LAX before to book QFA380. Otherwise, CX has good availability to HKG from most N.A ports barring YVR (well at least I always had issues finding seats direct from there).

With the AA787... if I am not mistaken the 787-9 is reverse herringbone (good!) and the 787-8 has a front seat/back seat configuration which I wouldn't find appealing. I flew AA777-300 J which is basically the CX seat. I liked it (particularly as you have individual air vents unlike on CX.

I think AY fly the A350 to BKK now, but I'd rather fly via HKG for the QF lounge and The Pier (business class, as I will have lost OWE by then). I've already tried JAL's 788 J and is was reasonable. I understand I'll need to ring QF to get JAL awards?

Thanks, a good tip about AA's 788 J product. I just assumed it was the reverse herringbone. I'll have to aim for 77Ws or 789s.
Are there any European ports that seem to have more availability into the USA? Again, I'm seeing heaps of BA availability but not even J or F AA availability across the Atlantic.

 

[hutch]

Ah yes I see there's some availability on BA1 and BA2 but I'd rather fly in a wide body. Having said that, there would be some novelty in flying in an all-J flight.
Yeah I'm finding heaps of BA flights, both J and F, but their offering isn't great. I've flown with them in J (787-9) and it was OK but nothing special.
After I removed the SYD-HKG leg, I noticed a lot of HKG-JFK opening up too, both in J and F! It's tempting as I haven't tried CX F yet!


I think AY fly the A350 to BKK now, but I'd rather fly via HKG for the QF lounge and The Pier (business class, as I will have lost OWE by then). I've already tried JAL's 788 J and is was reasonable. I understand I'll need to ring QF to get JAL awards?

Thanks, a good tip about AA's 788 J product. I just assumed it was the reverse herringbone. I'll have to aim for 77Ws or 789s.
Are there any European ports that seem to have more availability into the USA? Again, I'm seeing heaps of BA availability but not even J or F AA availability across the Atlantic.

When I was booking AY for March next year, BKK was still coming up A330. Might be different now. Good choice on HKG with great lounges and no need to go via Japan if you've already tried it out!

When I did AA 777 it was JFK to LHR. But looking at forums suggest award seat availability on American has basically dried up... maybe Madrid is an option? If you can't get AA availability you can fall back on Iberia (who also have pretty cheap taxes)

 

[PaulST]

When I was booking AY for March next year, BKK was still coming up A330. Might be different now. Good choice on HKG with great lounges and no need to go via Japan if you've already tried it out!

When I did AA 777 it was JFK to LHR. But looking at forums suggest award seat availability on American has basically dried up... maybe Madrid is an option? If you can't get AA availability you can fall back on Iberia (who also have pretty cheap taxes)

Hmmm you may be right about BKK. Eitherway, I'd prefer to stop in HKG.
Yeah I've been trying to find AA from Chicago, JFK, DFW and LAX and can't find a single J award ticket. I might have to give up on trying AA...


My current thinking is:
SYD-MEL
MEL-LAX - QF 789 (there's some availability, otherwise I'll ask for a WP release)
LAX-LHR - BA A388 or 747. The A380 is a better aircraft but there's a sentimental attraction towards the 747.
LHR-HEL - AY A350
HEL-HKG - AY A350
HKG - BNE or MEL - CX A359 or 77W
BNE/MEL- SYD.

Seem reasonable?

 

[hutch]

Hmmm you may be right about BKK. Eitherway, I'd prefer to stop in HKG.
Yeah I've been trying to find AA from Chicago, JFK, DFW and LAX and can't find a single J award ticket. I might have to give up on trying AA...


My current thinking is:
SYD-MEL
MEL-LAX - QF 789 (there's some availability, otherwise I'll ask for a WP release)
LAX-LHR - BA A388 or 747. The A380 is a better aircraft but there's a sentimental attraction towards the 747.
LHR-HEL - AY A350
HEL-HKG - AY A350
HKG - BNE or MEL - CX A359 or 77W
BNE/MEL- SYD.

Seem reasonable?

Seems pretty good. Can't go too wrong in J! Obviously QF and BA will add some dollars to the 'tax' portion, but what can you do.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Reading all these posts with interest as need to book 2 x J award seats arriving in Manchester 22/4/18....there is the outward bound flight available now with CX via HK...should I book that and then build the rest of the itinerary as the flights become available and would I pay the 5000 point penalty each time for adding a flight?, I don't want to lose the flights to Manchester so in a bit of a quandary. Thought is from Manchester a week later to either fly to Europe for a week or so and then on to Washington or go straight to Washington and then fly out of Dallas on LA around the 27th May. Should I wait and do all together ..what are the chances of losing the Mel-Manchester flights ?

 

[PaulST]

Seems pretty good. Can't go too wrong in J! Obviously QF and BA will add some dollars to the 'tax' portion, but what can you do.

Yeah you're right, although there aren't many options trans Atlantic (since AA have no availability) and I must admit I have some nostalgic attraction towards things British (probably since I grew on up Top Gear?)

My latest brain fart is to wait until December this year where I'll have earnt 100K QF points (from flying) and look consider organising an 420p F trip for late 2018 (something like SYD-HKG-LHR-JFK-NRT-SUD), although I'm not sure I have the self control to not book something before then?!?!

 

[fairbasa]

Reading all these posts with interest as need to book 2 x J award seats arriving in Manchester 22/4/18....there is the outward bound flight available now with CX via HK...should I book that and then build the rest of the itinerary as the flights become available and would I pay the 5000 point penalty each time for adding a flight?, I don't want to lose the flights to Manchester so in a bit of a quandary. Thought is from Manchester a week later to either fly to Europe for a week or so and then on to Washington or go straight to Washington and then fly out of Dallas on LA around the 27th May. Should I wait and do all together ..what are the chances of losing the Mel-Manchester flights ?

You pay 5k points per pax per call. If you change 1 flight in the one call, you pay 5k points per pax. If you change 10 flights in the one call, you pay 5k points per pax. Aim of the game is to group the addition of flights into as few calls as possible.

It's anyone's guess as to how long those particular seats will take to be claimed. If you need flights on that specific date, better to get them now than be sorry later.

 

[madrooster]

I am currently investigating high fuel fines on awards and are looking for more data points...

I'm interested in 140k/210k/280k/420k awards that meet the following criteria:

1. Partially or fully built itineraries containing any TWO or more of the following carriers: IB, BA, QF, AY, CX, QR, RJ, UL, MH
2. Your ticket must NOT have been reissued on an involuntary basis due to a schedule change (voluntary is fine)
3. Your total taxes exceeds $1000 AUD (this is the key requirement)
4. Your itinerary does NOT contain any AA flights

If you meet the above criteria and are interested in knowing why your taxes are so high, please PM me your PNR record locator. No changes will be made to your PNR whatsoever.

Thanks to anyone who wishes to participate in the above

 

[CaptJCool]

I was wondering if this hack related to the RTW.

The ultimate Qantas Points hack: get two international business class trips for the price of one - The High Life


ie fly to USA Via Middle East, then backski to Australia before heading to Japan and then back again ?

 

[Captain Halliday]

I was wondering if this hack related to the RTW.

The ultimate Qantas Points hack: get two international business class trips for the price of one - The High Life


ie fly to USA Via Middle East, then backski to Australia before heading to Japan and then back again ?

I'm not a subscriber to the high life e-newsletter, so don't know what the "hack" actually is.

But the author claims it to be something unpublished.

So it's either something genuinely new, or the author hadn't done his/her research because the 280k award is on many sites, not just AFF.

Curious to know if it is something new.

 

[madrooster]

I am currently investigating high fuel fines on awards and are looking for more data points...

I'm interested in 140k/210k/280k/420k awards that meet the following criteria:

1. Partially or fully built itineraries containing any TWO or more of the following carriers: IB, BA, QF, AY, CX, QR, RJ, UL, MH
2. Your ticket must NOT have been reissued on an involuntary basis due to a schedule change (voluntary is fine)
3. Your total taxes exceeds $1000 AUD (this is the key requirement)
4. Your itinerary does NOT contain any AA flights

If you meet the above criteria and are interested in knowing why your taxes are so high, please PM me your PNR record locator. No changes will be made to your PNR whatsoever.

Thanks to anyone who wishes to participate in the above

Now extending this to everyone else...

The only remaining condition is that the ticket has not been reissued on an involuntary basis. If you aren't sure, I can check easily enough.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I was wondering if this hack related to the RTW.

The ultimate Qantas Points hack: get two international business class trips for the price of one - The High Life


ie fly to USA Via Middle East, then backski to Australia before heading to Japan and then back again ?

I'm not a subscriber to the high life e-newsletter, so don't know what the "hack" actually is.

But the author claims it to be something unpublished.

So it's either something genuinely new, or the author hadn't done his/her research because the 280k award is on many sites, not just AFF.

Curious to know if it is something new.

I can report that this this amazing hack to get two international business class trips for the price of one which hasn't been published on any website before is...

Wait for it...

Really, why aren't you holding your breath already?

This remarkable tip is to book a OW Classic Award but to originate overseas.

Nothin' new on the internet eh?

 

[yld200]

question time... T-129 days...

My trip starts with MEL>ADL>DOH and I'm currently booked on QF693 for my MEL>ADL leg which arrives at 18:30. The ADL>DOH flight departs at 22:25 leaving me with a 4 hour stopover. I can see QF701 has availability which comes into ADL at 21:25 giving me a much shorter 1 hour transit time. Any delays out of MEL will probably hurt me as well.

I've never flown international out of ADL and note that they have a small international terminal so have no idea how long it would normally take getting through security and customs for this flight.

Does anyone know what the MCT is and if I should bother going for the shorter transit? Happy to chill and kill time with QF pub but 4 hours is a bit annoying given we will have a 14 hour plane trip ahead of us.

It will be just me and the wife.

Will QF check our bags through or will we need to collect at ADL?

 

[toasty]

Does anyone know what the MCT is

Don't bother. MCT is 1:20 for dom<->intl.

 

[yld200]

Thanks toasty

Don't bother. MCT is 1:20 for dom<->intl.

 

[blu]

I am currently investigating high fuel fines on awards ...

I recorded these off the QF website recently as QF CSA charged me significantly more (have sent email):
SYD-SIN QF5 324AUD
SIN-DOH-MAN QR943 QR23 248SGD
LHR-ARN BA780 50GBP
ARN-LHR-DUB BA781 BA823 376SEK
DUB-LHR-NRT BA845 BA05 215Euro
HND-SYD QF26 15,640JPY

 

[madrooster]

I recorded these off the website recently as QF charged me significantly more (have sent email):
SYD-SIN QF5 324AUD
SIN-DOH-MAN QR943 QR23 248SGD
LHR-ARN BA780 50GBP
ARN-LHR-DUB BA781 BA823 376SEK
DUB-LHR-NRT BA845 BA05 215Euro
HND-SYD QF26 15,640JPY

The difference you are seeing is probably to do with point of sale differences in fuel fines. Please feel free to send me your record locator and I can see if I can pull out why you got charged significantly more.