Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[nickfromeastryde]

Hi everyone,

Is the Great Circle Mapper (Great Circle Mapper) site 100% accurate in regards to what QFF and other airlines use to calculate distances?

I've finalised a 280K award today but notice on the GCM that it is just over 35K. Qantas completed the booking though not ticketed at this point so am a bit worried

 

[madrooster]

IATA publishes the mileages and these can be checked in the GDS. The GDS mileage is what matters.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Thanks madrooster,

I had a look online and these charts - seems only available for those working in the industry. Is there anyway for me to be able to check?

 

[madrooster]

Thanks madrooster,

I had a look online and these charts - seems only available for those working in the industry. Is there anyway for me to be able to check?

Just call QF and ask for the mileage.

 

[leer30]

Can anyone with status see any AA Business class on any routes next year?

I am only a mere Bronze, and can see Business class availability with BA, JL, CX, Finnair etc, however every flight that involves an AA flight, is economy only.

Is it purely me being a bronze level, or is AA notorious at not giving Qantas any Business class seats? Or is it that Qantas only want redemptions with the high fuel surcharge airlines?

Also, I am looking at USA to Europe flights (I understand across the pacific is near impossible)

 

[Aussiejosh]

Can anyone with status see any AA Business class on any routes next year?

I am only a mere Bronze, and can see Business class availability with BA, JL, CX, Finnair etc, however every flight that involves an AA flight, is economy only.

Is it purely me being a bronze level, or is AA notorious at not giving Qantas any Business class seats? Or is it that Qantas only want redemptions with the high fuel surcharge airlines?

Also, I am looking at USA to Europe flights (I understand across the pacific is near impossible)

You will have to call qantas for any AA flights. Availability is not showing on the website.

Plenty of availability from New York to either Madrid or London. Pretty much only 2 days in first half of the year in 2019 that has no availability. Could be different if your looking at flying out from somewhere else.

 

[leer30]

You will have to call qantas for any AA flights. Availability is not showing on the website.

Plenty of availability from New York to either Madrid or London. Pretty much only 2 days in first half of the year in 2019 that has no availability. Could be different if your looking at flying out from somewhere else.

Thanks Josh, just wondering when you say plenty of availability on NY to Madrid and London, are you seeing this on BA or AA's site?

I will be looking for ORD to CDG, mid next year.

 

[Aussiejosh]

Thanks Josh, just wondering when you say plenty of availability on NY to Madrid and London, are you seeing this on BA or AA's site?

I will be looking for ORD to CDG, mid next year.

This was on the Qantas website. With BA and Iberia as carriers.

Availability is less on ORD - CDG but still plenty around on BA

 

[Saurs82]

Is this a doable itinerary?
ADL - JNB
JNB - VFA
VFA -CPT
PLZ- MQP
JNB - DOH
DOH - ADL
Its the PLZ to MQP or any other kruger airport that im having trouble finding if BA service? Would this be a worth while use of points in Y or am I better of using for multiple continents?

 

[Saurs82]

Actuallly I think BA may service Hoedspruit?

 

[Aussiejosh]

Actuallly I think BA may service Hoedspruit?

Use this tool to help find flights oneworld Online Timetable

If you start from where you want to go you can work backwards to figure out who flys and look at the timetable

 

[Aussiejosh]

Is this a doable itinerary?
ADL - JNB
JNB - VFA
VFA -CPT
PLZ- MQP
JNB - DOH
DOH - ADL
Its the PLZ to MQP or any other kruger airport that im having trouble finding if BA service? Would this be a worth while use of points in Y or am I better of using for multiple continents?

From what I can see Oneworld only goes to the following airports:



Another option you have is to do:
ADL-SYD
SYD-JNB (Do other flights separately)
JNB- DOH
DOH-DPS

Then fly back on your own to Adelaide, then at another stage within the 12 months (as long as you book it before you take your first flight). You could then fly on your own back to Bali then continue on for another holiday with 2 more stopovers to get value for money.

 

[madrooster]

Is this a doable itinerary?
ADL - JNB
JNB - VFA
VFA -CPT
PLZ- MQP
JNB - DOH
DOH - ADL
Its the PLZ to MQP or any other kruger airport that im having trouble finding if BA service? Would this be a worth while use of points in Y or am I better of using for multiple continents?

BA fuel fines within Africa are quite steep relative to the cash price. You're better off just buying Y fares outright and save the mileage for use elsewhere.

 

[knobbs]

Hey Guys,

Bit of a novice at RTW bookings but trying my best. I initially started planning it on the oneworld RTW site and was delighted with my flights selected. Only more researched made me realise award flights would only be a sub-section of what I had available and so it isn't looking great.

I am planning a trip from 15th July-28th June 2019 in J class:

BNE-NRT
NRT-BGO (6d)
BGO-CDG (12d)
CDG-(LHR <24hr)-JFK (8d)
JFK-CUZ (6d)
CUZ-LAX (6d)
LAX-BNE (<24hr)

Note: Reason to not fly JFK-LAX-CUZ-BNE was there didn't seem to be any LATAM flights on the oneworld RTW planner from CUZ.

I know the end portion of flights have been released but I am trying to see what options I have using the Qantas multi-city search. It however errors out when doing so. Exploring each flight individually it is fine up until JFK-CUZ (26th June), it errors out with #9200 but doesn't give me any inclination as to why. Then searching for the flight CUZ-LAX I can't even input CUZ as the starting location for a one-way flight. I have read a bit back into the thread and have seen some issues with LATAM flight availability, this also showed up in my oneworld RTW site searching where there were no flights at all from CUZ-BNE for any bookable time (even economy).

I have tried calling Qantas several times but 2x have been hung up on and the other time was told I would get a call back which didn't happen. All three have had heavy accents which I was struggling to understand.

Anyone have any ideas or just general helpful tips on my routing/taxes/booking?

 

[Aussiejosh]

Hey Guys,

Bit of a novice at RTW bookings but trying my best. I initially started planning it on the oneworld RTW site and was delighted with my flights selected. Only more researched made me realise award flights would only be a sub-section of what I had available and so it isn't looking great.

I am planning a trip from 15th July-28th June 2019 in J class:

BNE-NRT
NRT-BGO (6d)
BGO-CDG (12d)
CDG-(LHR <24hr)-JFK (8d)
JFK-CUZ (6d)
CUZ-LAX (6d)
LAX-BNE (<24hr)

Note: Reason to not fly JFK-LAX-CUZ-BNE was there didn't seem to be any LATAM flights on the oneworld RTW planner from CUZ.

I know the end portion of flights have been released but I am trying to see what options I have using the Qantas multi-city search. It however errors out when doing so. Exploring each flight individually it is fine up until JFK-CUZ (26th June), it errors out with #9200 but doesn't give me any inclination as to why. Then searching for the flight CUZ-LAX I can't even input CUZ as the starting location for a one-way flight. I have read a bit back into the thread and have seen some issues with LATAM flight availability, this also showed up in my oneworld RTW site searching where there were no flights at all from CUZ-BNE for any bookable time (even economy).

I have tried calling Qantas several times but 2x have been hung up on and the other time was told I would get a call back which didn't happen. All three have had heavy accents which I was struggling to understand.

Anyone have any ideas or just general helpful tips on my routing/taxes/booking?

You would have to go LAX-LIM-CUZ-SCL-SYD-BNE (Other option is LAX-DFW-LIM-CUZ) if you wanted to return that way. I have heard flights from SCL-SYD can be quite hard to find. A lot of LATAM flights are not showing on the Qantas site - plus they are also causing errors when you select ones you find.

Best to ring up if you are trying to book them and get the phone booking fee wavied. Might have to call a couple of times to get a good operator that knows what they are doing.

 

[knobbs]

You would have to go LAX-LIM-CUZ-SCL-SYD-BNE (Other option is LAX-DFW-LIM-CUZ) if you wanted to return that way. I have heard flights from SCL-SYD can be quite hard to find. A lot of LATAM flights are not showing on the Qantas site - plus they are also causing errors when you select ones you find.

Best to ring up if you are trying to book them and get the phone booking fee wavied. Might have to call a couple of times to get a good operator that knows what they are doing.

Thanks for the tips on other options, this whole booking portion is hard to get my head around.

If I am calling Qantas can they book flights further in advance of the online portal? Or I just wait until my last travel date comes up for selection online and then brave the 1hr hold times to hopefully find a decent operator?

 

[Aussiejosh]

Thanks for the tips on other options, this whole booking portion is hard to get my head around.

If I am calling Qantas can they book flights further in advance of the online portal? Or I just wait until my last travel date comes up for selection online and then brave the 1hr hold times to hopefully find a decent operator?

Below is the max number of days ahead you can book for each airline. You can book part of your trip to start with, then call up at a later day to add in further flights (Each adjustment will cost an addition 5000 frequent flyer points). So you could book the first part of your trip online, then ring up to add the last part and it will only be 285000 points total. This way you lock in earlier flights before they get booked by someone else. For my trip I will be booking it in 4 lots (as mine is over 3 months)

Award Seats - Number of Days Ahead

QF - 353 days
CX - 360 days
BA - 354 days
AA - 330 days
QR - 361 days
JL - 330 days
IB - 361 days
MH - 354 days
RJ - 362 days
AY - 361 days
LA - 330 days
JJ - 331 days
UL - 361 days
S7 - 330 days

 

[knobbs]

Last night I was able to get a very helpful Qantas operator this time (thank god). She was able to partly book my itinerary so far with some award flights I was not able to find on the Qantas search engine. It looks like this

BNE NRT via HKG
NRT - BGO via HEL
BGO - CDG via STO and 23hr stopover in LHR for reliatives

When more flights are available I am hoping to get a direct flight from CDG to JFK, JFK - CUZ via LIM, CUZ - LAX via LIM, LAX - BNE (hopefully direct flight). The LAX is only a day layover to check out the new Star Wars section in Disneyland. Although I would be keen to checkout another layover in the US as we are going to Disneyland this year already. I think the only direct flight is from LAX though and I am getting dangerously close to our 16 segment limit.

I read that for us lowly bronze members, we only get access to Qantas award long haul flights 45 days after Gold + members. So I don't have too much hope of getting those other direct flights :S Any tips?

The operator was kind enough to waive the phone booking as the Qantas site had an error while searching and added a note to not charge me for the change of itinerary when I call up next to finalise.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Hi everyone,

Is the Great Circle Mapper (Great Circle Mapper) site 100% accurate in regards to what QFF and other airlines use to calculate distances?

I've finalised a 280K award today but notice on the GCM that it is just over 35K. Qantas completed the booking though not ticketed at this point so am a bit worried

Finally success, something I have worried about since July 8

eTicket received today after much chasing up so all good to go. It appears QF uses a different mileage calculator to GCM though I was too scared to act on the advise of madrooster and ring QF up to ask them

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

It appears QF uses a different mileage calculator to GCM though I was too scared to act on the advise of madrooster and ring QF up to ask them

I had a similar experience with the distance calculations today.
I was trying to get the last couple of sectors of a OWA booked, knowing that I was running very close to the bone on remaining mileage.
I couldn’t get the exact sectors I wanted, but was offered an acceptable alternative. As I’ve been trying to complete this Itinerary for about 3 weeks (waiting for @#$&*% Cathay to release some award seats...) I decided to grab the plan B on offer.
The csa finished off her tasks, took the credit card details, etc., and we finished the call.
Then I thought: Oh Dear (or words to that effect), that different routing might have taken me over the mileage - I hope this goes through OK.
I have calculated out all the sectors, including a few land sectors, using the distances (in Km) provided by both GCM and OneWorld. Both methods gave me totals about 500Km (~1%) too many.

But I hope I’m right in believing that the Itinerary is OK:
* I’ve received an updated itinerary, including the new sectors, with a brand new e-ticket number;
* The Points have been deducted from my QFF account (including the change fee points); and
* The fines & taxes have hit my credit card account.

Am I OK, or do I need to worry a bit more?