Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Braymac]

Call again, usually get a different answer each time, roll the dice

Got it, cheers. All sorted!

 

[DC3]

... quoted roughly $72 refund in taxes and 5,000 points change fee per passenger.

I called Qantas yesterday after deciding to go ahead and cancel that leg. I was then told i was only be receiving back $52 in taxes.l ...

You could HUCA until you get the answer that you want. With luck you may avoid the ZAF and PHL Call Centres.

Edit: I value QF points at about one cent each, although can be more or less, depending on the redemption. For me, the change fee of 5,000 points = $50.

 

[Economy_Gold]

My question is, are these taxes subject to change? Eg if i call back in 1-2 weeks, could the refund amount go higher/lower again? I don't understand how i could be quoted $72 refund in the first call, then $52 in the second call.

My understanding is that the co-payment (taxes and fuel surcharges) vary daily due to currency movements and due to changes in other items such as the fuel surcharges and sometimes also the airport fees.

In my case they worked in my favor: Changing within a Oneworld Reward ticket from one direct flight to two flights (and they even go through LHR) and I got about $50 back (but of course had to pay the 5000 points change fee).

 

[zoom&boom]

Looking to book my next couple of flights on my “RTW” award. Searching for CPH-LHR-EDI flights. There is very little availability when searching the QF site but lots available when searching the BA site. Does anyone know if QF agents can see this “BA” availability or can they only see what we can see?

Thanks in advance
Zoom

 

[travellerqff]

There is very little availability when searching the QF site but lots available when searching the BA site. Does anyone know if QF agents can see this “BA” availability or can they only see what we can see?

I have the same question. I can see AA availability that won't show on QF.com so I called to ask and the answer was "no sorry, I can't see that particular flight in the system."

 

[DC3]

I have the same question. I can see AA availability that won't show on QF.com so I called to ask and the answer was "no sorry, I can't see that particular flight in the system."

Would that be Business/First MileSAAver that you can see on AA.com, but doesn't show on QF?

Edit: I'm waiting for AA availability to show up, but it's still a bit too early for my trip as yet

 

[travellerqff]

Would that be Business/First MileSAAver that you can see on AA.com, but doesn't show on QF?

I wish I knew -_- It just says Business.

 

[DC3]

I wish I knew -_- It just says Business.

What I means is when when checking Business Award availability on AA.com, and you go from here (redeem miles):



to here:



Edited to delete multiple images

 

[travellerqff]

View attachment 185225

to here:

View attachment 185226

Oh I've never seen that calendar display before. But yes, has to be Business/First MileSAAver

 

[DC3]

Oh I've never seen that calendar display before. But yes, has to be Business/First MileSAAver

.. and the QF site shows this, for corresponding Business award availability:



Edit: In my example, AA.com and QF both indicate the same Business award availability

 

[travellerqff]

.. and the QF site shows this, for corresponding Business award availability:

Ok so I am now on the same page for searching... except the flight is certainly not on QF.com but it is a MileSSaver on AA.com
Please help DM

 

[DC3]

When looking for available dates, I find it easier to open "Show Full Calendar" in order to view four weeks at a time:

 

[DC3]

Ok so I am now on the same page for searching... except the flight is certainly not on QF.com but it is a MileSSaver on AA.com
Please help DM

There may be reasons why a carrier does not release award seats to other airlines, or releases them later.

However, is it a direct point-to-point flight? Has the award only just been released by AA? (i.e., at 3.00pm, today). Otherwise, I'm not sure.

 

[travellerqff]

There may be reasons why a carrier does not release award seats to other airlines, or releases them later.

It's VCE PHL MIA in J. PHL MIA leg shows up on QF but not VCE PHL. I'm looking across the whole month with no luck.

 

[DC3]

I looked at May, June and July 2020, just as examples, on AA.com, but none were showing Business/First MileSAAver availability VCE-PHL that I could see.

For example, Business/First MileSAAver is greyed-out, in the attachment:



You may be looking at closer dates. What month are you looking at?

Edit: For content, at 10.15pm

 

[travellerqff]

I looked at May, June and July 2020, just as examples, on AA.com, but none were showing Business/First MileSAAver availability VCE-PHL that I could see.

For example, Business/First MileSAAver is greyed-out, in the attachment:

View attachment 185233

You may be looking at closer dates. What month are you looking at?

Edit: For content, at 10.15pm

I now see what you mean, didn't realize MileSAAver had been greyed out... So what is the difference and why isn't 'Anytime' bookable through QF?

 

[DC3]

I now see what you mean, didn't realize MileSAAver had been greyed out... So what is the difference and why isn't 'Anytime' bookable through QF?

I'm no expert on the rules. However, what is shown on AA.com is availability for booking with AA miles. For Business awards on the OneWorld Award you will need MileSAAver availability. AA hasn't released award availability for those periods (May/June/July) for your routing as yet. The availability on that screen is for other AA booking classes. It is after all, an AA award tool.

Even when they show up on AA.com, there is no guarantee that you will get them via the QF site. I noticed that for some earlier dates, VCE-PHL-MIA, the QF site seems to heavily favour BA, IB and QR for VCE-xx_-PHL, even though AA award seats are bookable on AA.com (using AA miles).

I haven't looked into the MIA bit, but you get the drift? You may need to be quite flexible on your routing, and using other OneWorld carriers.

 

[travellerqff]

I'm no expert on the rules. However, what is shown on AA.com is availability for booking with AA miles. For Business awards on the OneWorld Award you will need MileSAAver availability. AA hasn't released award availability for those periods (May/June/July) for your routing as yet. The availability on that screen is for other AA booking classes. It is after all, an AA award tool.

Even when they show up on AA.com, there is no guarantee that you will get them via the QF site. I noticed that for some earlier dates, VCE-PHL-MIA, the QF site seems to heavily favour BA, IB and QR for VCE-xx_-PHL, even though AA award seats are bookable on AA.com (using AA miles).

I haven't looked into the MIA bit, but you get the drift? You may need to be quite flexible on your routing, and using other OneWorld carriers.

Yes I understand. I feel the seats may never be released for July travel until at least last minute. I'm fairly flexible except would like to avoid BA due to London taxes ($750~) total to pass through LON?! And there is no IB J across the Atlantic that I can see. I'll look into back tracking with QR.

 

[zoom&boom]

Looking to book my next couple of flights on my “RTW” award. Searching for CPH-LHR-EDI flights. There is very little availability when searching the QF site but lots available when searching the BA site. Does anyone know if QF agents can see this “BA” availability or can they only see what we can see?

Thanks in advance
Zoom

So is the general consensus that even when availability is available on other sites, BA CX AA for example, then if we can’t see it on QF then the QF agents can’t see it either?

Zoom

 

[Danger]

Yes I understand. I feel the seats may never be released for July travel until at least last minute. I'm fairly flexible except would like to avoid BA due to London taxes ($750~) total to pass through LON?! And there is no IB J across the Atlantic that I can see. I'll look into back tracking with QR.

Iberia flies some TATL routes. Chicago, New York and Miami are just some. Also, don't forget AY.

So is the general consensus that even when availability is available on other sites, BA CX AA for example, then if we can’t see it on QF then the QF agents can’t see it either?

Zoom

American's award engine is notorious for showing phantom QF availability (and maybe for other carriers too). Equally, though, award seats are not uniform across carriers. It's definitely worth phoning QF to see what the agents can see and I'm sure there's reports in this thread of people being successful this way where otherwise unsuccessful with the QF engine. That said, telling a QF agent 'But BA's site shows seats so they must be available' or similar won't help.