Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[AndyGoodyear]

Definitely.

Thanks Jeff, I love Paris anyway so good excuse to stop there.

My suggestion would be to substitute LHR for PAR and take the Eurostar between Paris and London. It would also allow you to fly CDG-xJFK-EZE on AA. Another option would be ZRH instead of LHR and take a separate flight. Even a separate flight to LHR from HEL might work.

Thanks Danger - I'm purposely stopping in Lima as I'm off to do the Inca Trail

 

[AndyGoodyear]

Definitely.

To be honest, using the OWE tool online, when substituting London for Paris so going BER-CDG (via LON) and then CDG-LIM - it only saved around $50 AUD on taxes and surcharges. If the OWE is the one to be trusted and not ITA?

 

[Danger]

Thanks Danger - I'm purposely stopping in Lima as I'm off to do the Inca Trail

Sorry. I wasn't suggesting you don't stop in LIM. I was just using the SCL-xLIM-EZE as an example of the "Peru sales tax" not being applicable when the ticket isn't purchased in Peru to suggest that maybe you won't get slugged that sales tax because the fare you're purchasing isn't actually being sold in Peru.

 

[jetpack]

Why not fly IB from MAD-LIM? There's availability for your dates and a dummy booking shows QFF charging only €118 for that sector.

 

[geoffshaw]

UK Air Passenger Duty is £150, you save at least that. You can't get award charges by looking at revenue fare surcharges, they are totally different

 

[landl]

Have read lots about the different fuel surcharges and have been doing dummy bookings to check out the fees and charges for the first part of a RTW trip BNE-LHR. However, total charges are not showing a lot of variation. I did BNE-HKG-LHR with CX ($305 with "other carrier charges" - which I'm thinking are the fuel surcharges - of $176). BNE-SYD-LHR with QF ($313 with "other carrier charges" of $194) and BNE-SIN-LHR with QF/BA ($337 and other carrier charges of $240). This is based on 1 x Y fare (although I'm actually planning to book J). Just on this leg alone in Y for 2 people would cost $600 odd. However, I did a J RTW in December/January using all of the 35K miles and it only cost $1200 for 2 people. I've done some googling but can't find anything that explains how it works. Can someone help? Thanks in advance

 

[rock86]

Have read lots about the different fuel surcharges and have been doing dummy bookings to check out the fees and charges for the first part of a RTW trip BNE-LHR. However, total charges are not showing a lot of variation. I did BNE-HKG-LHR with CX ($305 with "other carrier charges" - which I'm thinking are the fuel surcharges - of $176). BNE-SYD-LHR with QF ($313 with "other carrier charges" of $194) and BNE-SIN-LHR with QF/BA ($337 and other carrier charges of $240). This is based on 1 x Y fare (although I'm actually planning to book J). Just on this leg alone in Y for 2 people would cost $600 odd. However, I did a J RTW in December/January using all of the 35K miles and it only cost $1200 for 2 people. I've done some googling but can't find anything that explains how it works. Can someone help? Thanks in advance

BA & QF surcharges differ by what class you're travelling, so those same legs in J will cost you even more.

One thing to remember as well, in your last OWE it may have only cost you $1,200 for 2 people but it totally depends on the airline's you're travelling on and the airports you're travelling through. From what I understand (and someone with more knowledge can please correct me), SIN taxes and airport charges are a bit higher then most..?..

 

[hanrahs]

SIN taxes and airport charges are a bit higher then most..?..

Speaking of SIN, I know starting the trip in Hong Kong or Manila significantly reduces the overall fees and charges, Is this also the case with Singapore?

 

[rock86]

Speaking of SIN, I know starting the trip in Hong Kong or Manila significantly reduces the overall fees and charges, Is this also the case with Singapore?

No.

 

[ellen10]

Now trying to get my head around booking flights.

If I book the first J leg on line when flights first become available, when I want to add the next flights I phone to get them added to my original booking and they charge 6000 points per person. Do they also charge a booking fee?

If I add several flights at once after the initial flight I booked online, is it still just 6000 points per person?

 

[Jacques Vert]

The change fee is 5,000 points per person (NOT 6,000 - that's for cancellations).

Booking fee should not be charged for J, but is charged for Y. (Although that doesn't mean they wont try it on.)

You can make as many changes as you like at the same time for the one change fee; think of it as 5,000 points per person, per phone call (assuming you actually go ahead and make some changes).

 

[ellen10]

The change fee is 5,000 points per person (NOT 6,000 - that's for cancellations).

Booking fee should not be charged for J, but is charged for Y. (Although that doesn't mean they wont try it on.)

You can make as many changes as you like at the same time for the one change fee; think of it as 5,000 points per person, per phone call (assuming you actually go ahead and make some changes).

Thanks Jacques Vert.

Another question, if I may. We keep adding flights and the points get deducted until it reaches the 280K mark? And then subsequent flights added does not cost any more points?

 

[Jacques Vert]

Thanks Jacques Vert.

Another question, if I may. We keep adding flights and the points get deducted until it reaches the 280K mark? And then subsequent flights added does not cost any more points?

You may have to "close out" the route by including a "dummy" return leg to your country of origin. Maybe not. I've seen it work both ways.

To put it another way, add the flights you want and, assuming your itinerary meets all the rules, it should max out at 280k per person. If it doesn't, add a flight that returns you to "home" and it should recalculate to 280k. You can always change this dummy flight later when the flights you want open up. If you have completed your itinerary and it doesn't top out at 280k, then it means you are in breach of one of the rules (usually because you are over the 35,000 miles, have included a flight with a non-OneWorld airline such as Emirates, too many stopovers, etc.).

 

[ellen10]

Thanks for your reply Jacques and explanations. I will be starting this process in a couple of months for next years flying. Having never done an award this way I am just trying to get my head around all the ins and outs before I start the booking process.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Why not try a test run or two using your preferred route(s) but on dates that are curently available; you will learn a lot by doing this and gain confidence. Make sure you are aware of the different times that various airlines open their award bookings (as per the wiki at the top of the page). Above all, try to be flexible with dates and routings. Good luck.

 

[rock86]

Why not try a test run or two using your preferred route(s) but on dates that are curently available; you will learn a lot by doing this and gain confidence. Make sure you are aware of the different times that various airlines open their award bookings (as per the wiki at the top of the page). Above all, try to be flexible with dates and routings. Good luck.

I'd back this suggestion as well.

I haven't actually booked my OWE as yet, but have many many hours doing dummy bookings on the multi-city, investigating routes etc. going right to the payment/confirmation page and then cancelling.

The tool and whole OWE online booking 'experience' becomes much less daunting with time.

 

[ellen10]

Thanks Jacques and rock86 for the suggestion. I will have a play and try and piece the jigsaw together.

 

[SelfFundedWP]

So thanks to this site I now have about %80 of a 420K First class RTW booked and ticketed!

But I need some advice-
Today I got an email from Qantas saying that my LHR-YYZ First class flight with BA on a 777 has had a plane change to a 788. Looking at various seat maps it looks like there is no first class cabin, just business class. As I'm paying for a first class RTW fare I naturally want every flight to be first class.
What are peoples thoughts on this? If I ring Qantas do I have any leg to stand on as far as I paid for a first class seat on that plane and have now been downgraded to business?

 

[cjd600]

If you find F availability on a surrounding flight/day you might be able to get them to waive the 5k points pp change fee, but that's about it

 

[geoffshaw]

So thanks to this site I now have about %80 of a 420K First class RTW booked and ticketed!

But I need some advice-
Today I got an email from Qantas saying that my LHR-YYZ First class flight with BA on a 777 has had a plane change to a 788. Looking at various seat maps it looks like there is no first class cabin, just business class. As I'm paying for a first class RTW fare I naturally want every flight to be first class.
What are peoples thoughts on this? If I ring Qantas do I have any leg to stand on as far as I paid for a first class seat on that plane and have now been downgraded to business?

I had a flight booked in J and the plane was changed to one with only Y. I called and was rebooked into business on another flight even though there was no award availability. Call them and see what they will do. If you can get the Australian call centre that will make it a lot easier...