Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[fastferret]

Thanks. That's great. I didn't want it to be a stopover as I want to spend a couple of days in Singapore.

 

[motef]

Does anybody have any experience about reward availability from SIN to MLE in J?

I cant find any J availability on UL for SIN to CMB and only one seat in J on CMB to MLE.

Are there any other routes possible or is UL availability released at different times?

Thanks

 

[Daver6]

Does anybody have any experience about reward availability from SIN to MLE in J?

I cant find any J availability on UL for SIN to CMB and only one seat in J on CMB to MLE.

Are there any other routes possible or is UL availability released at different times?

Thanks

CX flies between HKG and MLE, but I don't think it is daily. Another option is QR via DOH.

I landed up booking MLE - CMB in Y and then CX J CMB - HKG - PER.

 

[Kangol]

The rules are that if you haven't flown the first segment the whole thing gets repriced as of the date you make the change. Now whilst it is true that many staff take the lazy route and don't reprice it - you can't exactly guarantee that you would get someone who doesn't reprice it.

Once a ticket is partially flown, you always backdate to historical pricing. This is an industry wide rule and it applies to all tickets. It protects you as far as fuel fines, taxes and even exchange rate.

Oh! So helpful, thanks.

 

[Familyman1]

Thanks Blacknwhite. I rang Qantas again and they told me that the only other option besides cancelling all flights and trying to re-book them is for me to contact each airline on the booking and tell them to make a note about the typo in the name. So I rang BA and was told that this is not a big problem and that Qantas just have to tell the OneWorld office about the problem so that they can then contact all 6 airlines on my booking to get them to correct the typo. My problem now is going to be getting Qantas to do that (given that none of the Qantas reps I have spoken to have considered that option). I'm on hold now to qantas so I'm just hoping I get a competent rep.

The latest on this issue is that I finally got lucky and was put through to the Australian Qantas office and was told that they can't do a "name correction" on my booking because certain airlines that I am using (Qatar & Malaysian) don't allow it. The only "solution" is for me to cancel the booking and re-book. This is obviously not a viable option because the seats probably would not be available after cancelling so I asked to talk to the call centre supervisor. She confirmed this.
So we now have to decide if we cancel our entire trip and cop the loss of $11000 in pre-booked holiday arrangements that can't be cancelled, or take the chance that we will get on the flights with the extra letter in my wife's first name on her eticket.
At least if we cancel now, we would save the 600,000 points and $4000 in taxes and fees from our flight bookings. If we are refused boarding during our trip we would lose that, plus have to pay for our flights home.
So there is a lot at stake here but I think we will start our OWA on Monday and hope logic prevails and a one-letter typo in an eticket doesn't cost us $20000 and 600,000 points. Wish us luck.
The message here for people with OWA bookings: check your eTickets carefully and early.

 

[flapper]

I'm quickly throwing together a 280k to Europe next June/July to beat the program changes.
This morning I've booked ;-
SYD-HKG-BKK CX
BKK-DOH-MLA QR
MLA-LGW & LHR-CFU BA

Late July I hope to book
CFU-LHR BA
MXP-DOH-SIN QR
SIN-SYD QF, CX or other alternatives

LGW-LHR is less than 24 hours so I understand this counts as a transfer. Can anyone confirm this?

Flying MLA to CFU via LGW & LHR with I assume an overnight stop at LHR seems a contrived way to get to CFU. Wouldn't it be easier to take a more direct route by buying a ticket? It will certainly save time, hassle and no overnight accommodation at LHR to pay for. I find it easier not to obsess and only take flights on the OWA if it is too much hassle to fly between the destinations I want to go to. Either that or I only go to destinations that are easy to get to on OW airlines.

 

[fastferret]

Flying MLA to CFU via LGW & LHR with I assume an overnight stop at LHR seems a contrived way to get to CFU. Wouldn't it be easier to take a more direct route by buying a ticket? It will certainly save time, hassle and no overnight accommodation at LHR to pay for. I find it easier not to obsess and only take flights on the OWA if it is too much hassle to fly between the destinations I want to go to. Either that or I only go to destinations that are easy to get to on OW airlines.

You're quite right, but there are no direct flights MLA-CFU so the most direct route would still have required a transfer in Athens. Some hassle, but we'll still enjoy a night in London.

 

[blacknwhite]

The latest on this issue is that I finally got lucky and was put through to the Australian Qantas office and was told that they can't do a "name correction" on my booking because certain airlines that I am using (Qatar & Malaysian) don't allow it. The only "solution" is for me to cancel the booking and re-book. This is obviously not a viable option because the seats probably would not be available after cancelling so I asked to talk to the call centre supervisor. She confirmed this.
So we now have to decide if we cancel our entire trip and cop the loss of $11000 in pre-booked holiday arrangements that can't be cancelled, or take the chance that we will get on the flights with the extra letter in my wife's first name on her eticket.
At least if we cancel now, we would save the 600,000 points and $4000 in taxes and fees from our flight bookings. If we are refused boarding during our trip we would lose that, plus have to pay for our flights home.
So there is a lot at stake here but I think we will start our OWA on Monday and hope logic prevails and a one-letter typo in an eticket doesn't cost us $20000 and 600,000 points. Wish us luck.
The message here for people with OWA bookings: check your eTickets carefully and early.

Hi Familyman,
What a dilemma!Yes indeed,everyone please please check your names are correct on any e-tickets issued.It is paramount that names must match what is on your passport.No abbreviating names either.Also if you have a second name,please put it on your booking.
Familyman,I wish you and your family the very best of luck and have a great holiday!

 

[ellen10]

Hi @FamilyMan,
I am hoping your trip goes smoothly and no drama from the name spelling. What a dilemma! Best wishes.

p.s. do you always have to have your middle name in the booking as well?

 

[Danger]

The latest on this issue is that I finally got lucky and was put through to the Australian Qantas office and was told that they can't do a "name correction" on my booking because certain airlines that I am using (Qatar & Malaysian) don't allow it. The only "solution" is for me to cancel the booking and re-book. This is obviously not a viable option because the seats probably would not be available after cancelling so I asked to talk to the call centre supervisor. She confirmed this.
So we now have to decide if we cancel our entire trip and cop the loss of $11000 in pre-booked holiday arrangements that can't be cancelled, or take the chance that we will get on the flights with the extra letter in my wife's first name on her eticket.
At least if we cancel now, we would save the 600,000 points and $4000 in taxes and fees from our flight bookings. If we are refused boarding during our trip we would lose that, plus have to pay for our flights home.
So there is a lot at stake here but I think we will start our OWA on Monday and hope logic prevails and a one-letter typo in an eticket doesn't cost us $20000 and 600,000 points. Wish us luck.
The message here for people with OWA bookings: check your eTickets carefully and early.

Try reaching out to QR and MH directly. Start by asking theoretically (i.e. don't give your PNR or say you already have a ticket) about name changes or minor mis-spellings. See what their policies are. Record names and times of the advice given to you (and probably record the call, too). Basically, suss them out. Make further calls and provide your PNR. Obviously, the airline will refer you back to Qantas but if one or the other advises (either in this call or a previous one) that name changes or mis-spellings are easily corrected, ask them to send an email to QF directly or the oneworld help desk. Or even conference QF into the call. It can't hurt to try.

 

[madrooster]

Try reaching out to QR and MH directly. Start by asking theoretically (i.e. don't give your PNR or say you already have a ticket) about name changes or minor mis-spellings. See what their policies are. Record names and times of the advice given to you (and probably record the call, too). Basically, suss them out. Make further calls and provide your PNR. Obviously, the airline will refer you back to Qantas but if one or the other advises (either in this call or a previous one) that name changes or mis-spellings are easily corrected, ask them to send an email to QF directly or the oneworld help desk. Or even conference QF into the call. It can't hurt to try.

There's two issues at play.

QR and MH's name change policy only applies to QR and MH issued ticket respectively so that's not applicable here.

For other carrier's ticket stock (QF in this case), what happens is the moment you mess with the name on the PNR the other airlines (that is, the ones that do auto cancel for PNR name changes) will auto cancel their seats. That then starts a big mess and the rest is history at that point.

 

[Danger]

There's two issues at play.

QR and MH's name change policy only applies to QR and MH issued ticket respectively so that's not applicable here.

For other carrier's ticket stock (QF in this case), what happens is the moment you mess with the name on the PNR the other airlines (that is, the ones that do auto cancel for PNR name changes) will auto cancel their seats. That then starts a big mess and the rest is history at that point.

Well there goes the bulk of that idea. Familyman1, perhaps still try calling MH and QR and asking about mis-spellings, specifically an additional letter. Madrooster obviously knows more than I do but you may possibly get lucky and get an agent at MH and QR that would annotate your booking to say the mis-spelling is okay.

 

[madrooster]

Well there goes the bulk of that idea. Familyman1, perhaps still try calling MH and QR and asking about mis-spellings, specifically an additional letter. Madrooster obviously knows more than I do but you may possibly get lucky and get an agent at MH and QR that would annotate your booking to say the mis-spelling is okay.

Probably best done as a "check in SSR" or "check in remark" if they are going to do that.

 

[melbkate]

Hello could experts give my 280k J itinerary a quick check? I have booked the first part to Italy for May 2020. By the way taxes were $525pp. I think it looks ok but the IB / Vueling isn't visible on Qantas site non-stop Rome to Bilbao.

MEL-HKG-ICN on CX STOP
ICN-HEL on AY STOP
HEL-FCO on AY STOP

Waiting to book return for late June and early July 2020 - hope blackout period do not apply.

FCO-BIO on IB (VUELING) STOP

Surface to Paris July 2020

CDG-HEL-NRT on AY NRT-MEL on JL

Thanks Kate

 

[ozflier]

Virtually all changes will trigger a re-price unless you've flown the first segment.

It's not necessarily the best thing to do to deliberately try and avoid the points rise if you aren't strapped for points.

For example if you can't get the date that you want for a given flight, you're then up for lost time / hotel costs etc. if your intention was to be elsewhere. This is especially true for smaller routes - you could be waiting a week or more.

I can understand a situation where someone has virtually cleaned their account out to get the 280k award - you don't have much choice there.

So,if changes are made now to a OWA, you have to balance the increase in points against the number of flights on QF metal.
The greater the number of QF sectors, the better the balance is in your favour.

 

[flapper]

Hello could experts give my 280k J itinerary a quick check? I have booked the first part to Italy for May 2020. By the way taxes were $525pp. I think it looks ok but the IB / Vueling isn't visible on Qantas site non-stop Rome to Bilbao.

MEL-HKG-ICN on CX STOP
ICN-HEL on AY STOP
HEL-FCO on AY STOP

Waiting to book return for late June and early July 2020 - hope blackout period do not apply.

FCO-BIO on IB (VUELING) STOP

Surface to Paris July 2020

CDG-HEL-NRT on AY NRT-MEL on JL

Thanks Kate

Vueling is not a OW airline so you can’t use on your OWA booking. I find some IB flights don’t appear on QF website. They appear on BA website though and can be booked over the phone.

 

[Familyman1]

Probably best done as a "check in SSR" or "check in remark" if they are going to do that.

So far so good with our flights. We got onto our BNE to HKG QF flight. No one mentioned the typo in my wife’s name on eTicket.

 

[ellen10]

Thats great news @Familyman1 Thanks for reporting back, I was wondering how you went.
I hope all the other flights go just as well, safe travels.

 

[blacknwhite]

So far so good with our flights. We got onto our BNE to HKG QF flight. No one mentioned the typo in my wife’s name on eTicket.

So happy to hear-happy travels!!!!!

 

[madrooster]

So,if changes are made now to a OWA, you have to balance the increase in points against the number of flights on QF metal.
The greater the number of QF sectors, the better the balance is in your favour.

That is correct.