Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Danger]

No. Just the one.

IIRC there was a member who was being told both cities count but the CSA couldn’t identify which of the award rules applied.

The member used the HUCA method and the itinerary was correctly calculated and priced by a different CSA.

That'd be what I was thinking of. Good to know.

Hi guys, getting set for booking my first 280k award booking for my partner and myself.

A few questions? If we both have enough points in each of our accounts, do we need to pool our points into one of the accounts to be able to make a booking over the phone? Presume it would be safer to pool them if booking online to ensure we both get our flights together. Any thoughts?

If we use the call back function, is it thought that to be better quality of service? Also is there a good time of day to call?

If we book the first half of our trip (online), then the second half (by phone).

We are looking at PER-HKG-VAN-ORD or JFK, then a few weeks before heading to Europe, are we best to try and sort the PER to USA flights, then book the remainer when they become available?

I can only assist with the last query. I think all would agree that the best approach is to lock in the seats as soon as they become available. Paying the 5k change fee is a bugger but it's not as bad as flying in Y (Economy) when you should be flying in J (Business). (And, for reference, Vancouver is YVR.)

Can you use the BA affiliate Openskies as part of an award booking? One popped up as the second leg of a MIA-EWR-ORY route under a BA flight number?

I'm thinking it is not a valid airline for a 280k OneWorld award, but hope I'm wrong.

Open Skies is a oneworld affiliate, much like QantasLink and JetConnect are affiliates of Qantas. Open Skies is valid for the paid oneworld Explorer fare so you should have no issue using it here.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Hi guys, getting set for booking my first 280k award booking for my partner and myself.

A few questions? If we both have enough points in each of our accounts, do we need to pool our points into one of the accounts to be able to make a booking over the phone? Presume it would be safer to pool them if booking online to ensure we both get our flights together. Any thoughts?

I've been in the same position in the past and the agent asked me to transfer the points into the one account. Not sure if this is the only way they can do it or it is just easier for them.

Come to think of it, I've always taken the points out of one account.

Either way, I would transfer the points to the one account as I think it will be easier when making any changes over the phone.

JV

 

[benjy]

So the time has come where I have to call to add a segment (NRT > HNL on JL) to my one world award, which I booked online. Should I expect any difficulty adding the segment? How do I word my request?
Sorry for such a dumb question, my first one world award and want it to go as smooth as possible.

Cheers

Called up today and it was the easiest 6min 43sec ever - the change has already been ticketed, hopefully the next time I call is just as easy.

 

[cjd600]

Open Skies is a oneworld affiliate, much like QantasLink and JetConnect are affiliates of Qantas. Open Skies is valid for the paid oneworld Explorer fare so you should have no issue using it here.

Not for long......
OpenSkies to Cease Operations in 2018

 

[geoffshaw]

I just got off the phone from Qantas for the second time because I wanted to check what I was told by the first agent. We've been charged $626.80 per person for fuel surcharges on a BA JFK-LHR flight. $634.20 in total taxes, just for that one flight. Is that right?? Seems ridiculous to me. And they want ~$130 each to choose seats on top of that!

 

[yld200]

I just got off the phone from Qantas for the second time because I wanted to check what I was told by the first agent. We've been charged $626.80 per person for fuel surcharges on a BA JFK-LHR flight. $634.20 in total taxes, just for that one flight. Is that right?? Seems ridiculous to me. And they want ~$130 each to choose seats on top of that!

Sounds a bit steep.

Can you change to an AA flight rather than BA?

 

[Limewood]

I as using a multi city.

 

[geoffshaw]

Sounds a bit steep.

Can you change to an AA flight rather than BA?

Searching now, I knew that BA would be expensive, but no way was I expecting that much!

 

[leer30]

I can only assist with the last query. I think all would agree that the best approach is to lock in the seats as soon as they become available. Paying the 5k change fee is a bugger but it's not as bad as flying in Y (Economy) when you should be flying in J (Business). (And, for reference, Vancouver is YVR.)

Thanks for that Danger - thought that was the best process from what I have read here.

 

[madrooster]

I just got off the phone from Qantas for the second time because I wanted to check what I was told by the first agent. We've been charged $626.80 per person for fuel surcharges on a BA JFK-LHR flight. $634.20 in total taxes, just for that one flight. Is that right?? Seems ridiculous to me. And they want ~$130 each to choose seats on top of that!

Are you originating in London or transiting? Half of that will be UK air passenger duty if you are originating in London. $300 or so for the BA fuel fines is correct for JFK-LHR, but not $600.

See the wiki at the top of this thread. The correct charges are listed.

 

[Mumanddad]

Not for long......
OpenSkies to Cease Operations in 2018

Yes, I saw that this morning. Due to cease in September 2018 and our booking is for late October. They are still selling our flight EWR-ORY on the BA website.

Do I wait now for someone to contact me so I don't have to pay change fees? Pretty well cleaned out our points doing the bookings, just have enough left for the change to add in the last leg when the flights open next month, I suppose I can take care of the trans-Atlantic flight then.

 

[flychrisfly]

I as using a multi city.

View attachment 112168

How many points did that cost you?

 

[Limewood]

Not booked yet around 650K for two. But be a lot less if ending HKG.

 

[madrooster]

Not booked yet around 650K for two. But be a lot less if ending HKG.

You'd pay a lot less points too if you didn't use EK for DXB-BNE...

 

[geoffshaw]

Are you originating in London or transiting? Half of that will be UK air passenger duty if you are originating in London. $300 or so for the BA fuel fines is correct for JFK-LHR, but not $600.

See the wiki at the top of this thread. The correct charges are listed.

Just called and spoke to a third agent. They confirmed $626.80 as the YQ for JFK-LHR when booked from Australia. When I search my exact flight on the ITA Matrix it shows the same number. I argued it should be US$188 for about 10 minutes, no dice. Not sure what to do apart from trying to get an AA flight.

 

[madrooster]

Just called and spoke to a third agent. They confirmed $626.80 as the YQ for JFK-LHR when booked from Australia. When I search my exact flight on the ITA Matrix it shows the same number. I argued it should be US$188 for about 10 minutes, no dice. Not sure what to do apart from trying to get an AA flight.

So, are you originating in London as per my last post?

 

[geoffshaw]

No

BA JFK-LHR flight.

EDIT:

Full ticket is MEL-xSYD-LAX (SURFACE) PHX-xORD-BUF (SURFACE) JFK-xLHR-KEF-xLHR-JMK (SURFACE) ATH-LHR (SURFACE) HEL-xNRT-MEL

 

[Danger]

I as using a multi city.

What is this referring to?

Yes, I saw that this morning. Due to cease in September 2018 and our booking is for late October. They are still selling our flight EWR-ORY on the BA website.

Do I wait now for someone to contact me so I don't have to pay change fees? Pretty well cleaned out our points doing the bookings, just have enough left for the change to add in the last leg when the flights open next month, I suppose I can take care of the trans-Atlantic flight then.

If you've got the Open Skies locked in and ticketed, I'd leave it. If BA doesn't pick up their routes you'll be re-accommodated, probably on something like JFK/EWR-LHR/LCY-CDG/ORY or JFK-CDG. The chances are Qantas won't help you at this stage anyway as the flights are still available for sale and showing in the GDS.

You won't be up for a change fee for an involuntary re-route.

 

[madrooster]

No

EDIT:

Full ticket is MEL-xSYD-LAX (SURFACE) PHX-xORD-BUF (SURFACE) JFK-xLHR-KEF-xLHR-JMK (SURFACE) ATH-LHR (SURFACE) HEL-xNRT-MEL

Was your booking initially created over the phone or on the QF website? If it was created over the phone message me the booking reference and I'll see if I can figure out where the $600 came from, from the ticketing data.

 

[geoffshaw]

No it was started online.