Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[sumthinfornuthin]

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

thanks...............................

 

[Jacques Vert]

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

How does 16 segments and 5 destinations work ?

Does that mean only 5 STOPOVERS ??

16 segments is a lot of transiting ?

thanks, must look into these fares

It also includes unlimited "transits": that is a stop of less than 24 hours. As I have posted before, it is surprising what you can fit into those 24 hours if you really try.

JV

 

[NM]

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

Note that if you arrive into one city and next departure is from a different city (also called a surface segment), it counts as one of the five stop-over and the surface segment counts as one of the 16 segments. When I redeemed a OneWorld award three of the stopovers involved surface segments where we flew into LAX and out from LAS, flew into MCO and out from YYZ, flew into NCL and out from TXL. The other two stopovers were in KBP and HEL. We also timed a transit at DFW to be 23hr50min.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

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

I can see that this could be nearly as addictive as getting ASA bookings !!!

 

[Danger]

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

Note that if you arrive into one city and next departure is from a different city (also called a surface segment), it counts as one of the five stop-over and the surface segment counts as one of the 16 segments. When I redeemed a OneWorld award three of the stopovers involved surface segments where we flew into LAX and out from LAS, flew into MCO and out from YYZ, flew into NCL and out from TXL. The other two stopovers were in KBP and HEL. We also timed a transit at DFW to be 23hr50min.

This is interesting.

I always thought this was the case, too. However, earlier this year I booked my parents on a oneworld award with QF. The routing was:

MEL-xHKG-YVR
YVR-JFK
LGA-xORD-MSY
MSY-xDFW-LAX
LAX-HNL
HNL-xSYD-MEL​

The 'surface sector between JFK and LGA didn't count as a separate stop. Maybe they got lucky.

 

[NM]

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

The 'surface sector between JFK and LGA didn't count as a separate stop. Maybe they got lucky.

They are not a separate stop. But if a surface sector then it counts as a sector in the max of 16.

JFK/LGA may be treated different since they are considered co-located airports in the same city.

In my case, the routing was:
BNE-LAX (stops=1, sectors=1) [transited AKL, but issued as BNE-LAX single segment, single flight number]
surface segment (stops=1, sectors=2)
LAS-xDFW-MCO (stops=2, sectors=4)
surface segment (stops=2, sectors=5)
YYZ-xLHR-KBP (stops=3, sectors=7)
KBP-xLHR-NCL (stops=4, sectors=9)
surface segment (stops=4, sectors=10)
TXL-HEL (stops=5, sectors=11) [transited HAN but issued as TXL-HEL as single segment, single flight number]
HEL-xFRA-xSIN-xSYD-BNE (stops=5, sectors=15)

There were some changes a few years back to how surface sectors were treated. But its best to include them in the count unless told otherwise by the issuing agency.

 

[JohnK]

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

The 'surface sector between JFK and LGA didn't count as a separate stop. Maybe they got lucky.

Generally cities with multiple airports count as a normal transit/stopover not a surface sector.

 

[Ken1]

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

We're planning to book two One World Awards in J (280K) for travel in January/February 2014 so will be starting to book flights as soon as they become available from January. We'll book the initial flight from Australia and will then add flights, paying the 3500 point penalty for changes. We've booked a 14 night cruise from Buenos Aires that departs on February 2 so will need to be there a couple of days before then.

While in South America we'd like to visit Machu Pichu, Iguazu Falls and Rio De Janeiro. For flights within South America that we can't book with the One World Award we can buy a LAN South American Airpass.

We're considering travelling via Europe, either before or after the cruise and so far are considering:
SYD-LHR via HKG, SIN or BKK
Surface
ZRH-JFK
JFK- ?

From JFK we could fly to Rio, Lima or Buenos Aires. I've been using the One World website Interactive Planner to get an idea where I can fly using One World airlines. One problem I see is that a lot of flights travel via Santiago eg GIG-SCL-LIM and one combination I looked at showed us transitting through Santiago three times, which wouldn't be allowed under the conditions of the One World Award, unless we actually made Santiago one of our stopovers.

Looking at the LAN Airlines website the South American Airpass shows travel from Lima to Cuzco (for Macchu Picchu) for $A144 each way and for travel from Lima to Iguazu Falls for $A356 one way and $A393 for the return giving a total of $A1037 for the 4 flights. Iguazu Falls is actually a lot closer to Rio than to Lima and looking at Expedia they show Tam Airlines offering return flights from Rio for between $A130 and $A226. If I try to select Rio to Iguazu Falls with the South American Airpass it shows travel Rio to Santiago, Santiago to Lima and Lima to Iguazu Falls for a total of $A891 one way so the TAM flights from Rio would be the option to go for rather than using the Airpass.

I would appreciate suggestions from anyone who has done a similar trip to South America, with choices of which cities to fly to with our One World Award and the maximum 5 stopovers, and since we will be making London/Zurich as one and New York as the second that leaves us three stops in South America with one having to be Buenos Aires. Although we have been planning to travel via Europe first I'm thinking it may be better to travel to South America first so we could visit Rio, Macchu Pichu and Iguazu Falls before the cruise since we would only have the Y luggage allowance on the LAN and TAM flights that aren't part of our award flights and if we buy things along the way we'll have the J allowance for the later parts of the trip once we leave South America. (I'll be doing this trip with my Son and we both have a lot of photography equipment, including tripods, so that uses a lot of our allowance).

If we fly via SA first we could possibly go:
SYD-SCL-GIG
GIG-SCL-LIM
LIM-EZE (I only see a few direct flights, with most travelling via SCL, so if award flights aren't available on the direct flight we wouldn't be able to do this)

From EZE we could then fly to JFK and on to Europe.

Is there usually award flight availability on these South American flights if you're ready to book as soon as they become available?

Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions that you can offer.

 

[fersea]

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

Ken just be aware Micchu Picchu trek is closed during February. I too am looking at a RTW trip starting in south America in Feb 2014 (probably in Y rather than J) so would be keen to share notes about internal flights etc. I am not sure that the LAN pass is the cheapest option.

 

[Formal Hall]

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

I have spent a lot of time playing around with routes for quite specific locations in July-September next year, I have found a routing that has availability for my dates (all in Y). I can book all but the first two legs on the online booking engine and can see availablilty for all legs either on qantas.com or expert flyer. Great circle mapper calculates it as 34,169 miles. My understanding is that backtracking is allowed and you don't have to cross both the Pacific and Atlantic (unlike a revenue fare) so I can't see any rules I am breaking. Am I missing anything?

GIG-xLHR-xHEL-DEL
DEL-xBKK-SIN
SIN-CMB
CMB-xLHR-xMAD-LOS
(Surface, areo nigeria)
ACC-xMAD-JFK
JFK-GIG

I understand if I need to make date changes I pay a 3500 point fee, but do I have to pay the $80 telephone change fee as well? The conditions state there is no service fee for online changes but I am unsure of I'd be able to make changes to such an itinerary online. Looking forward to advice from the experts.

 

[Ken1]

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

Ken just be aware Micchu Picchu trek is closed during February. I too am looking at a RTW trip starting in south America in Feb 2014 (probably in Y rather than J) so would be keen to share notes about internal flights etc. I am not sure that the LAN pass is the cheapest option.

Thanks fersea, I hadn't realised that the Machu Pichu trek is closed in February. I've now decided that we will definitely fly to South America first and then onto the U.S. and Europe after the cruise. Since the cruise starts on February 2 we'll leave Sydney in early to mid January and do all the South America touring before then. Once I work out the best combination of flights in South America I'll decide how many days we'd like in each place and then be ready to book the flight from Sydney as soon as it's available 355 days out. Yes I would be keen to share notes about internal flights etc thanks. I'll send you a PM.

 

[Scarlett]

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

Follow-up from my questions of a couple of weeks ago:

I've been successful in booking a two RTW tickets for the most part together - one was a 280K award ticket and the other a DONE4. As the details are related to both I'll start a new thread about the combination, but for the award specifics the final booked journey looks like this:

CPT - LHR (11 hr transit which is perfect to catch up with some friends in London) - AMM
AMM - AMS - HEL
HEL - MAN
MAN - LHR - YYZ (stopover for 22 hrs which is enough time to get to / from Niagra Falls) - MIA
(ground segment)
LAS - LAX - NRT
NRT - HKG - JNB

This is booked for Sept / Oct next year and was made through the QF premium desk as I just couldn't get it to work fully correctly or to get the exact flights using the online tool. But $60 is small fry compared to the whopping $1500 in fees and taxes. Then add in another $600 in taxes and fees for an infant travelling on the booking. The taxes / fees had to be worked out in South Africa and charged in ZAR, which was again no hassle. At least the infant doesn't cost anything in terms of points. The OF phone staff I spoke to were excellent, knew the necessary rules and ticketed easily.

Another point to note is that some of the AA domestic US legs were going to have to be in 'coach' due to the lack of business class. Fortunately the YYZ-MIA is an international flight so that flight has Business / Coach. The only coach flight on the entire itinerary ended up being the LAX - LAS leg. The online booking tool couldn't book into Business (U) on the AY flights and only offered Economy availability, but the consultant could see and book them.

Now just need to sort out the Aus to Sth Africa positioning / return flights (and the bonus pre and post holiday plans in CPT and JNB) and a couple of side trips and all will be good.

 

[Jacques Vert]

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

Well done; enjoy the journey and don't forget the trip report!

By the way, do you mind sharing the price you paid for the DONE4 ex SA?

JV

 

[Scarlett]

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

Well done; enjoy the journey and don't forget the trip report!

By the way, do you mind sharing the price you paid for the DONE4 ex SA?

JV

Will do when I have the figures with me. Will put it in the new thread when I have the time to write that!

 

[Grooba]

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

I've been toying with the idea of a 280k J award for quite some time and last night I was quite bored, so I began playing with the QF engine. I've also never been literally around the world.

About 90 minutes later I had the following booked, and today officially ticketed.

SYD-PVG-HKG-DXB-AMM-LHR-PHL/ORD-HKG-BKK-SIN-ADL-SYD

Now to work out the right time to tell the wife...

 

[straitman]

I've been toying with the idea of a 280k J award for quite some time and last night I was quite bored, so I began playing with the QF engine. I've also never been literally around the world.

About 90 minutes later I had the following booked, and today officially ticketed.

SYD-PVG-HKG-DXB-AMM-LHR-PHL/ORD-HKG-BKK-SIN-ADL-SYD

Now to work out the right time to tell the wife...

Let's hope you don't end up like the guy in post #2346 of the 'A Bit of Humour' thread :!:

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

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

Did you try for 2 seats ?? or are YOU going to end up staying home and SWMBO going by herself instead !

I'm going fishing with my brother for a fortnight in the gulf next July and I'm trying to find a good moment to impart that as well.
Maybe we could both end end up sharing a rented house to cut costs if it all goes badly !

 

[Grooba]

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

Did you try for 2 seats ?? or are YOU going to end up staying home and SWMBO going by herself instead !

I'm going fishing with my brother for a fortnight in the gulf next July and I'm trying to find a good moment to impart that as well.
Maybe we could both end end up sharing a rented house to cut costs if it all goes badly !

That could be a plan!

No way she will come with me. Will be doing it solo and ticking off a few things I've got on my list (Maglev, Burj Al Arab, CX premium cabin, etc). Will also spend a cpl days running in LOTFAP so will be a bumper 2 weeks.

 

[fersea]

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

You are doing all that in two weeks???

 

[Grooba]

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

16 days total. Still need to book a few AA F sectors during the 5 days I have in LOTFAP.
Can't wait!