Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[jetset]

You can make the first piece of the booking online (in most cases).
Any subsequent change/addition/amendment must be over the phone, or by online chat. I you give booking reference, name, date and destination of first flight etc identification questions, you should be able to do it via chat. But WP might be able to have more 'access' to especially QF award seats than you have doing it yourself. Partner airlines shouldnt be any different

Interesting. So if the first flight is booked for me by my WP family member, would I be able to make the amendments or would it have to be my WP family member?

 

[madrooster]

Interesting. So if the first flight is booked for me by my WP family member, would I be able to make the amendments or would it have to be my WP family member?

The person who is supplying the points needs to do it.

 

[cjd600]

Interesting. So if the first flight is booked for me by my WP family member, would I be able to make the amendments or would it have to be my WP family member?

havent tried it....not sure if they'll make changes for the person in the booking, or if it needs to be made by the person who made the booking. Not sure how'd they'd know either way if you can answer their questions. Pretty sure they only ask Names of people travelling, booking ref and first flight to/from + date of departure

 

[Jacques Vert]

The reason I ask is because I'm getting a WP family member to book for me and they're not going to spend hours on the phone arguing with Qantas.

As a WP, at least they shouldn't have to wait hours for the phone to be answered

havent tried it....not sure if they'll make changes for the person in the booking, or if it needs to be made by the person who made the booking. Not sure how'd they'd know either way if you can answer their questions. Pretty sure they only ask Names of people travelling, booking ref and first flight to/from + date of departure

As the (additional) points will be coming from the WP's account, the QF agent will want to know their QFF number and PIN; if doing it by chat you'll need to know those details and the names, etc., as cjd600 as stated above.

If calling (probably the easier way), get the WP to make the initial call and then advise the agent s/he is handing the phone over to you (and that they are happy for you to handle things from there). I've done this before on a couple of occasions without issue.

 

[cjd600]

As a WP, at least they shouldn't have to wait hours for the phone to be answered



As the (additional) points will be coming from the WP's account, the QF agent will want to know their QFF number and PIN; if doing it by chat you'll need to know those details and the names, etc., as cjd600 as stated above.

If calling (probably the easier way), get the WP to make the initial call and then advise the agent s/he is handing the phone over to you (and that they are happy for you to handle things from there). I've done this before on a couple of occasions without issue.

Good point....just dug out an old chat transcript, and they provide secure online form for you to hand over your PIN )ie the WP pin)

 

[jetset]

Thanks for the tips guys, will probably just use online chat!

 

[jetset]

Hey guys, got another question:

If some of the returning flights I want to book aren't available yet (>330 days), would I be better off to:

a) only book the first part of my trip and add the later flights as they become available
b) book the entire trip at earlier dates then change the flight dates as later flights become available

 

[jeza]

I’ll qualify this by saying I’m no expert but I believe option a) would be the way to go. That way you are not reducing an already limited supply of award flights by booking flights which you do not intend to use.

 

[jetset]

I’ll qualify this by saying I’m no expert but I believe option a) would be the way to go. That way you are not reducing an already limited supply of award flights by booking flights which you do not intend to use.

I agree but if the later flights do not materialise for some reason then I would take the trip at the earlier date booked.

Also if I cancel the flights then they should return to the award pool, no?

 

[cambriamarsh]

I agree but if the later flights do not materialise for some reason then I would take the trip at the earlier date booked.

Also if I cancel the flights then they should return to the award pool, no?

Unfortunately cancelled award flights dont necessarily go back into an award pool. Revenue management will be constantly reviewing likely demand and adjusting fair buckets, including award availability, to maximise profitability.

I expect Tripping the Rift could, or maybe did, write a PhD dissertation on that topic.

 

[11sjw]

Interesting data point. Looking to make an award booking KRK-LHR. The QF website won't let me search for Krakow, or KRK, in the "From" or "To" fields. I've found a BA flight that works and tried to book it via the SMS service. They wouldn't relent on the Booking Fee (7k points pp). A quick phone call, with surprisingly little wait time, and all was sorted with a "Because you couldn't do it online we won't charge a Booking Fee." Happy me!

 

[Guvner]

Did you try multi city search?

 

[11sjw]

No I didn't as I was just after the One Way flight. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[wentworthmeister]

I could use some advice on the first leg of our OWA booking - what are the best flights to do MEL-LHR in Economy?

• Option 1: QF9 MEL-xPER-LHR on the 787. Advantages are the new plane, new IFE, decent legroom (I'm 189cm). Disadvantages are the narrower seat and the 17hr flight which could be hell in Economy.
• Option 2: QF35 MEL-SIN then BA12 SIN-LHR (both on an A380). Advantages are the small & quiet upper deck section in Economy, slightly wider seats, better breakup of flight times. Disadvantages - would we have to collect our bags at SIN and re-check them through to LHR with BA?
• Option 3: QF MEL-SYD then QF1 SYD-xSIN-LHR on the A380. Same A380 advantages. Disadvantages are the domestic leg MEL-SYD first, but I guess we could chill in the SYD QF international lounge and our bags would be checked all the way through.

For some reason I don't get any QR flights showing up on the multi-city tool, but from all accounts long-haul Economy in the A350 isn't anything to write home about either.

 

[Daver6]

I could use some advice on the first leg of our OWA booking - what are the best flights to do MEL-LHR in Economy?

• Option 1: QF9 MEL-xPER-LHR on the 787. Advantages are the new plane, new IFE, decent legroom (I'm 189cm). Disadvantages are the narrower seat and the 17hr flight which could be hell in Economy.
• Option 2: QF35 MEL-SIN then BA12 SIN-LHR (both on an A380). Advantages are the small & quiet upper deck section in Economy, slightly wider seats, better breakup of flight times. Disadvantages - would we have to collect our bags at SIN and re-check them through to LHR with BA?
• Option 3: QF MEL-SYD then QF1 SYD-xSIN-LHR on the A380. Same A380 advantages. Disadvantages are the domestic leg MEL-SYD first, but I guess we could chill in the SYD QF international lounge and our bags would be checked all the way through.

For some reason I don't get any QR flights showing up on the multi-city tool, but from all accounts long-haul Economy in the A350 isn't anything to write home about either.

I'd avoid BA Y at all costs. QF is significantly better.

For QR, search MEL to LHR rather than breaking it down into stops.

 

[wentworthmeister]

For QR, search MEL to LHR rather than breaking it down into stops.

Yeah that's what I'm doing in the multi-city tool, but they never appear in the results.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Yeah that's what I'm doing in the multi-city tool, but they never appear in the results.

When are you travelling?

 

[Welshie]

Question about booking for someone else:

Does my (WP) status confer any benefit when booking a RTW oneworld award for my partner (NB) or should I just transfer her the 280k points?

 

[wentworthmeister]

When are you travelling?

Somewhere around 4-5 August this year.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Somewhere around 4-5 August this year.

As you say, nothing showing at present ex Aus; but plenty of availability ex AKL...not sure where you are situated but maybe you need to head east to go west