Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[jeza]

Nothing at all. Both my OWCAs have been done this way,

Thank you

 

[exceladdict]

Is there anything in the T&C's that prevent you from doing something like Singapore -> Europe -> Australia & stopping for 10 months, then finishing the award itinerary by going back to Europe -> Singapore?

Understand I'd have to do it all in 12 months & would have to pay the change fee in points when booking the 2nd part of the itinerary, also that I'd have to be mindful of keeping the miles below 35K.

This is what I'm planning ATM. Difficulty is finding short term availability for the first leg as it's only being booked 2 months out, and then needing to book the rest of it before departing on the first leg of the itinerary as after that point it's only date/flight number changes allowed.

 

[brett-au]

Hi all - questions.
* Is there anyway I can download this thread and make a PDF/searchable document. It seems questions like those below have been answered somewhere in the previous 288 pages.

* When flying from say LAX to HNL or PHX to ANC on an award costing 280k (all J) am I going to fly in first class domestically or business class. It seems some AA flights have first class, business class, extra space and regular economy or some combo. I'd like to sit in the first 10 seats on their inter continential A321 for example.

* When flying from HNL to SYD are you better off to fly via NRT or LAX and enjoy the J experience as I hear (and see) direct redemption tickets being hard to come by.

* Perhaps the wiki can be updated with difficult routing options or tips for each carrier, rather than just the fuel fines.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Hi all - questions.
* Is there anyway I can download this thread and make a PDF/searchable document. It seems questions like those below have been answered somewhere in the previous 288 pages.

* When flying from say LAX to HNL or PHX to ANC on an award costing 280k (all J) am I going to fly in first class domestically or business class. It seems some AA flights have first class, business class, extra space and regular economy or some combo. I'd like to sit in the first 10 seats on their inter continential A321 for example.

* When flying from HNL to SYD are you better off to fly via NRT or LAX and enjoy the J experience as I hear (and see) direct redemption tickets being hard to come by.

* Perhaps the wiki can be updated with difficult routing options or tips for each carrier, rather than just the fuel fines.

1. Not that I’m aware of.
2. This award books into J on AA where they operate a three class aircraft. In other words, selected domestic trans-con services. In a two class configuration it will book into Y.
3. Comes down to personal preference, availability, and potentially available miles.

 

[muppet]

2. This award books into J on AA where they operate a three class aircraft. In other words, selected domestic trans-con services. In a two class configuration it will book into Y.

Not any more. Awards book into U class which is Business on 3-class aircraft and First on 2-class aircraft.

Subject to availability of course.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Not any more. Awards book into U class which is Business on 3-class aircraft and First on 2-class aircraft.

Subject to availability of course.

Oh. When did that change?

I did one of these 8 months ago and it booked into Y.

But that’s excellent news.

 

[muppet]

Oh. When did that change?

I did one of these 8 months ago and it booked into Y.

But that’s excellent news.

According to this thread - 11 January 2017. So not sure what happened with yours 8months ago. My trip in June was all dometic First on a Business 280k award.

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/threads/the-end-of-cheap-status.78527/

 

[Kantankerous]

Hi guys, long-time lurker. Previously posted about my trip 4 years ago but did not come to fruition due to some personal circumstances. Looking to resume this now and wanted to clarify a few things if anyone can assist. I've trawled through the majority of the thread but did not get any major clarification.

Context:
I am looking to go on a RTW trip for up to 12 months for myself and my partner. Our dates and rates are very flexible due to not being so time-poor as we are both taking career breaks. However, I'm wary of both limited J availability as well as potential changes we'd like to make because we find ourselves enjoying a certain place too much.

My questions:
1. I understand that you can add onto your original booking number as availability becomes released, however can I confirm that it is definitely not possible to add once you have departed on your very first flight? i.e. you can't make bookings on the fly whilst on your trip to hit the 5 stops and therefore, the 280k cap?

2. Assuming the entire itinerary has to be booked prior to departure. What exactly can be changed whilst you are on your trip? i.e. change of flight number; change of date. What are the exact limitations if someone can point me to the T&Cs.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jacques Vert]

Once you take your first flight your itinerary routing is locked in.

You can change the date and time of subsequent flights but that's it. You must fly the same route, same airline and same class; and you have to be able to find availability on the new date/time.

 

[tricky1337]

Calling all advisors - looking for feedback on a variant of the below, in particular if there's a routing I could try to cut taxes down from. Looking at 2 people in J:
SIN-NRT(JL)/HND-SYD-PER(QF)/PER-HKG-HND(tf)NRT-HEL(CX/JL/AY)/HEL-HKG-PER(AY/CX) comes to $1850 approx
SIN-NRT(JL)/HND-SYD-PER(QF)/PER-ADL-DOH-HEL(QF/QR)/HEL-HKG-PER(AY/CX) comes to $2100AUD approx
SIN-NRT(JL)/HND-SYD-PER(QF)/PER-ADL-DOH-HEL(QF/QR)/LGW-DOH-ADL (QR) comes to $2K AUD approx (surprisingly lower)

As mentioned above, isolating the second half of the ticket (PER-HEL ret) as per the first itinerary still results in taxes of $1700 so I'm a bit stumped as originally thought it might be the QF segment causing the trouble.

Another fun fact - booking BA HKG-LHR by itself only has taxes of around $100AUD but adding it to the itinerary blows it out by $800.

Could you start in HKG (and don't transit through HKG)? That might reduce taxes significantly.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Could you start in HKG (and don't transit through HKG)? That might reduce taxes significantly.

Or start from MNL?

 

[exceladdict]

Could you start in HKG (and don't transit through HKG)? That might reduce taxes significantly.

Or start from MNL?

Will try MNL. I had previously priced Ex HKG for HKG-NRT/NRT-SYD-PER/PER-SYD-DOH-HEL at $1081 ($540pp). Will need to check what adding the return on from DOH would come to & try ex MNL.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Will try MNL. I had previously priced Ex HKG for HKG-NRT/NRT-SYD-PER/PER-SYD-DOH-HEL at $1081 ($540pp). Will need to check what adding the return on from DOH would come to & try ex MNL.

My understanding is that fuel fines are restricted ex HKG while fully regulated ex MNL.

I booked my last Oneworld award ex MNL and taxes were $A531 for MNL-SYD-CFS/CFS-SYD-ADL-DOH-ATH/ATH-LHR-GVA/ZRH-AMM-HKG-MNL including two flights with QR.

 

[rock86]

My understanding is that fuel fines are restricted ex HKG while fully regulated ex MNL.

I booked my last Oneworld award ex MNL and taxes were $A531 for MNL-SYD-CFS/CFS-SYD-ADL-DOH-ATH/ATH-LHR-GVA/ZRH-AMM-HKG-MNL including two flights with QR.

Yep, MNL as a starting point is by far cheaper for fuel fines - but you have to factor in whether you want to visit, and if not the price of the positioning flight.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Yep, MNL as a starting point is by far cheaper for fuel fines - but you have to factor in whether you want to visit, and if not the price of the positioning flight.

Indeed you do; but on this occasion we end up in that part of the world returning from India to HKG on a separate ticket anyway. Plus at relatively short notice, QF20 from MNL was the only flight with J availability around our desired dates. Add the fact that the taxes are less than half what my previous couple of awards cost and it made sense to continue from HKG to MNL on the other ticket and start the new one from MNL (works for us on this occasion).

 

[exceladdict]

Have just priced ex MNL for basically the same trip previously departing Singapore, taxes at 42858PHP or $1100 AUD give or take. However as mentioned, one ways to MNL not cheap. Will see if a seperate award into MNL might do the trick.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Have just priced ex MNL for basically the same trip previously departing Singapore, taxes at 42858PHP or $1100 AUD give or take. However as mentioned, one ways to MNL not cheap. Will see if a seperate award into MNL might do the trick.

Does that include the flights with QR? And what were the taxes ex SIN?

 

[Sale]

Can someone please advise me on my 'rights' with my current booking issue?

We have a J award booking JFK-HKG-ADL next year. I received yesterday a change of flights email from Qantas - which has us arriving in HKG at 14:00 and leaving again at 09:30 (same day). I can't find any other flights from HKG to anywhere in Australia within that 24 hour block.

Speaking with one CSA I told her that my actual origin was MIA and I wanted to end up in HBA and was happy to not leave from JFK. She was quite unhelpful and said I need to haver the same origin and end airport. One of my problems is that I can find a flight from MIA to HBA but dont have enough points to book it then cancel the original flight. I'm on hold again with QF at the moment.

My queries (I think)

1. Because I have a confirmed flight JFK-ADL is Qantas required to honour this within a reasonable time frame?
2. If there are NO suitable flights what are m]y options?

many thanks
Hilary

 

[Sale]

Can someone please advise me on my 'rights' with my current booking issue?

We have a J award booking JFK-HKG-ADL next year. I received yesterday a change of flights email from Qantas - which has us arriving in HKG at 14:00 and leaving again at 09:30 (same day). I can't find any other flights from HKG to anywhere in Australia within that 24 hour block.

Speaking with one CSA I told her that my actual origin was MIA and I wanted to end up in HBA and was happy to not leave from JFK. She was quite unhelpful and said I need to haver the same origin and end airport. One of my problems is that I can find a flight from MIA to HBA but dont have enough points to book it then cancel the original flight. I'm on hold again with QF at the moment.

My queries (I think)

1. Because I have a confirmed flight JFK-ADL is Qantas required to honour this within a reasonable time frame?
2. If there are NO suitable flights what are m]y options?

many thanks
Hilary

Its now sorted - a suitable flight found by this CSA via BNE
cheers

 

[exceladdict]

Does that include the flights with QR? And what were the taxes ex SIN?

MNL-NRT/NRT-MEL-SYD-PER/PER-SYD-DOH-HEL/HEL-HKG-PER with the SYD-DOH-HEL on QR was the 42858PHP
SIN-NRT/NRT-SYD-PER/PER-SYD-DOH-HEL/HEL-HKG-PER with one less QF leg, same otherwise, $2063SGD.

Edit: fun fact, a similar run ex DPS comes to about $2700 AUD for 2pax:
DPS-HKG-NRT/HND-SYD-PER/PER-SYD-DOH-HEL/HEL-HKG-PER at 28323400IDR.