Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[cjd600]

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?

You will have earlier access to QF metal J awards than she

 

[Welshie]

You will have earlier access to QF metal J awards than she

So if her intended travel is <353 days away then there's not much reason to do it on my account?

 

[Jacques Vert]

So if her intended travel is <353 days away then there's not much reason to do it on my account?

Actually, <297!

Also on QF metal, if the seat she wants is not available, you can ask for them to be opened up; she can't

 

[cjd600]

So if her intended travel is <353 days away then there's not much reason to do it on my account?

If its between 353 and 290-odd there is, if less than 290-odd, then not so much......although your WP status will allow you to request release of a J QF metal award where there is none available....which may or may not be successful...but as less than WP you can't even lodge the request

 

[Aus ATC]

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.

Option 3 sounds much better. Option 2 should allow through checking of the bags (if on the one PNR). Either (apparently) beats 9 abreast in the B787 - I have not flown it, but read plenty of reviews. Even BA15 would probably be better (9 abreast in the B777).

 

[wentworthmeister]

Some more newbie questions, this time about our USA to Chile sector in November:

1. Would you choose LAX-xMIA-SCL or SFO-xDFW-SCL (both with AA)? I've been warned about trying to get domestic flights from LAX.
2. In either of the above scenarios, would we clear immigration/customs on departure at LAX/SFO, or during the layover at MIA/DFW?
3. How long should we allow for the layover/connection between the domestic leg and the international leg? The QF multi-city tool lets me choose options with as little as a 50min layover, but I'm assuming that's not a smart move.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Some more newbie questions, this time about our USA to Chile sector in November:

1. Would you choose LAX-xMIA-SCL or SFO-xDFW-SCL (both with AA)? I've been warned about trying to get domestic flights from LAX.
2. In either of the above scenarios, would we clear immigration/customs on departure at LAX/SFO, or during the layover at MIA/DFW?
3. How long should we allow for the layover/connection between the domestic leg and the international leg? The QF multi-city tool lets me choose options with as little as a 50min layover, but I'm assuming that's not a smart move.

1. LAXxMIA-SCL would give you some chance of a widebody on the LAX-MIA sector. In other words a better hard product IMHO.

2. Not sure. Others will know.

3. If it’s available to book and it’s all on the one PNR you’ll be protected. In other words, if you miss a connection they’ll book you on other flights.

But only you will know how this will affect your other plans. For example if you miss a flight due at 2200 and they rebook you the next day, you might lose $ on a hotel booking. Depends on your other plans really.

And of course, if a 50min connection is going to have you stressing, that’s no way to spend a holiday.

 

[mrsterryn]

Reward 1st class booked
SYD HND Qantas
HND CDG JAL

LHR SIN BA
SIN MEL Qantas
MEL SYD Qantas

Now going to LAX straight after this trip.
Have checked reward flights and they are available from LHR via LAX to Syd
Can I change my return flight ?
How am I best to do it?
I don't want to cancel the whole thing as I have a JAL 1st class that I want to try lol
I do have enough points to do the new LHR leg autonomously
Thanks
Just edited in case the carrier makes a difference

 

[Aussiejosh]

Reward 1st class booked
SYD HND
HND CDG

LHR MEL
MEL SYD

Now going to LAX straight after this trip.
Have checked reward flights and they are available from LHR via LAX to Syd
Can I change my return flight ?
How am I best to do it?
I don't want to cancel the whole thing as I have a JAL 1st class that I want to try lol
I do have enough points to do the new LHR leg autonomously
Thanks

Check on the qantas website. Then ring up Qantas. Will cost 5000 points to change existing booking. Just has to be availability on the dates you want

 

[mrsterryn]

Check on the qantas website. Then ring up Qantas. Will cost 5000 points to change existing booking. Just has to be availability on the dates you want

There is surprisingly quite a bit for the dates I want.
Would be much easier than flying home from LHR to Syd and then flying out to LAX

 

[Beano]

I don't know if my question has been raised before? I am planning a trip with my wife to Europe and have enough points for one of us to use them for the round trip. I'm QP but my wife has no status. I thought to transfer my points to her so she can get the points travel and I would pay so I get the status credits. Doe that sound OK? My wife does not fly much so status is not mportant to her.

 

[rock86]

I don't know if my question has been raised before? I am planning a trip with my wife to Europe and have enough points for one of us to use them for the round trip. I'm QP but my wife has no status. I thought to transfer my points to her so she can get the points travel and I would pay so I get the status credits. Doe that sound OK? My wife does not fly much so status is not mportant to her.

You should just book the award travel from your account (unless for some reason she would personally need to make any changes to the booking if required). This way you also get access to QF awards from day of release, or if none are available can request for an award seat to be released as you're platinum.

 

[Beano]

You should just book the award travel from your account (unless for some reason she would personally need to make any changes to the booking if required). This way you also get access to QF awards from day of release, or if none are available can request for an award seat to be released as you're platinum.

Thanks. So I can book my wife's flight on my account with my points. That soulds a good idea and much simpler.

 

[rock86]

Thanks. So I can book my wife's flight on my account with my points. That soulds a good idea and much simpler.

You most certainly can.

 

[flychrisfly]

Some more newbie questions, this time about our USA to Chile sector in November:

1. Would you choose LAX-xMIA-SCL or SFO-xDFW-SCL (both with AA)? I've been warned about trying to get domestic flights from LAX.
2. In either of the above scenarios, would we clear immigration/customs on departure at LAX/SFO, or during the layover at MIA/DFW?
3. How long should we allow for the layover/connection between the domestic leg and the international leg? The QF multi-city tool lets me choose options with as little as a 50min layover, but I'm assuming that's not a smart move.

2. How would you clear immigration at the start of a domestic flight? Think about it. Also, in the US there is no immigration to clear - just securtity then board. International and domestic flights often leave from adjacent gates.

 

[wentworthmeister]

2. How would you clear immigration at the start of a domestic flight? Think about it.

I know what you mean, but some carriers are doing this now e.g. QF9 from MEL-xPER-LHR where you can clear customs/immigrations in MEL before the domestic leg.

 

[wentworthmeister]

1. LAXxMIA-SCL would give you some chance of a widebody on the LAX-MIA sector. In other words a better hard product IMHO.

Both domestic options (LAX-MIA and SFO-DFW) are on a A321, so no difference there. MIA-SCL is a B777-200 whereas DFW-SCL is a B787.

 

[knightfall88]

Reward 1st class booked
SYD HND Qantas
HND CDG JAL

LHR SIN BA
SIN MEL Qantas
MEL SYD Qantas

Now going to LAX straight after this trip.
Have checked reward flights and they are available from LHR via LAX to Syd
Can I change my return flight ?
How am I best to do it?
I don't want to cancel the whole thing as I have a JAL 1st class that I want to try lol
I do have enough points to do the new LHR leg autonomously
Thanks
Just edited in case the carrier makes a difference

Hi, looking to book a First myself.

Isn't your itinerary only 4 stopovers? Can't you have 5?

 

[knightfall88]

What do you guys think of my F itinerary?

1. Sydney to Paris (Qatar First)
2. Paris to Hong Kong (Cathay First)
3. Hong Kong to Tokyo (JAL First)
4. Tokyo to New York (JAL First)
5. New York to LA (AA First) - hopefully there is First for domestic
LA to Sydney (Qantas First)

 

[mrsterryn]

Hi, looking to book a First myself.

Isn't your itinerary only 4 stopovers? Can't you have 5?

Actually ended up being
SYD to HND business Qantas
HND CDG first JAL
LHR LAX business BA (I am going to watch out for a first for that leg
LAX SYD first Qantas

I know I could have had CDG to LHR however we prefer the Eurostar and it is ten mins walk to where we stay in London

So far I have had one itinerary change which was very easy to do via the phone. As I was already at the 420,000 points cost it only cost 5000 points for the change