Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Stego]

Thank you for welcoming me ! Some Qantas rep did not even know about the cut-off date on the 18th. This is crazy

 

[Captain Halliday]

The saga has ended. Without going into too much detail, another few hours on the phone resulted in the NZ call centre also insisting on similar ($400 per person) increase in taxes. As it's cheaper for me just to book those flights in cash, I'll do so.

As this has now happened via live chat and the NZ call centre (and the pricing team who calculated it again 'manually' in both cases), I am feeling more like the error is mine, or something is happening that I don't understand. I don't like my chances/don't have the time to pay the $400pp and argue to get it back, so I left the itinerary as is.

So do watch out - when making changes (in particular adding segments) to a booking that originates in MNL (which you probably did to avoid fuel fines), you may end up having those fines added on later if the entire itinerary needs to be re-calculated manually.

Interesting outcome.

It makes me wonder about my last 280k booking with SIN as the origin where taxes came in at ~600 per pax. I was amazed.

I later wanted to add a very short sector HEL-OSL IIRC via the AU call centre and taxes were recalculated at ~1,100 per pax. The agent was very helpful and spent ~35 mins trying to figure out why the massive difference.

The final explanation was that taxes were calculated incorrectly on the initial booking. But I wasn’t convinced.

Naturally I booked the extra sector as a revenue fare.

 

[exceladdict]

Interesting outcome.

It makes me wonder about my last 280k booking with SIN as the origin where taxes came in at ~600 per pax. I was amazed.

I later wanted to add a very short sector HEL-OSL IIRC via the AU call centre and taxes were recalculated at ~1,100 per pax. The agent was very helpful and spent ~35 mins trying to figure out why the massive difference.

The final explanation was that taxes were calculated incorrectly on the initial booking. But I wasn’t convinced.

Naturally I booked the extra sector as a revenue fare.

That's very interesting. IME SIN is cheaper than AU but not significantly.

The one thing the agent could tell me is "There's over $400 of fuel surcharges plus all the taxes that make up that new price" - which is the reason I suspect it's not being calculated correctly using Philippines rules.

 

[pottsy]

Just want to say thankyou to all who took the time to reply to posts regarding my recent saga seeking to plan/book a OWA, J class. Mission accomplished. Two separate trips planned.....by me!

Great Circle Mapper:- Mel-Adl-Doh-Amm (stop)-Tlv-Fco-Cmn (stop)-Fco-Hkg (long stop) Lhr (stop)-Hnd-Nrt-Mel

I am probably paying significant taxes etc, compared to those of you who have a more thorough understanding but my head couldn't cope with factoring that in as well
Have also discovered paying for flights from/to Hkg/Mel will be pricey!
(Regardless, small price to pay for the pointy end, I am happy!)

Also, a big thankyou to James, at Award Flight Assist, who took the time to reply to my email even though he was inundated with requests for assistance and couldn't guarantee a booking plan prior to 18th September.
(Next time I think I'll leave it to you but with plenty of notice.)

regards,
Jane

 

[dsotm]

I know I've left it too late, but I'm going to try this afternoon for a 2 x RTW Oneworld J redemption. I'm thinking of sticking to the well-traveled stops; MEL - LAX - NYC - LHR - SIN - MEL. Are there tips I can have as to a smooth telephone booking? Geez I wish I had done this last month.

 

[pottsy]

I know I've left it too late, but I'm going to try this afternoon for a 2 x RTW Oneworld J redemption. I'm thinking of sticking to the well-traveled stops; MEL - LAX - NYC - LHR - SIN - MEL. Are there tips I can have as to a smooth telephone booking? Geez I wish I had done this last month.

Could you perhaps look at it online yourself?
If not, I actually found SMS good but perhaps only for relatively straight forward things?
Call asap, as I waited (bronze member) over 24hrs for a return phone call and then it never happened!
Have dates (flexible?) and all info at hand for when you speak to someone and be sure your trip fits the rules, to avoid as much pain as you can.
Good Luck!

 

[dsotm]

Could you perhaps look at it online yourself?
If not, I actually found SMS good but perhaps only for relatively straight forward things?
Call asap, as I waited (bronze member) over 24hrs for a return phone call and then it never happened!
Have dates (flexible?) and all info at hand for when you speak to someone and be sure your trip fits the rules, to avoid as much pain as you can.
Good Luck!

That's great. Many thanks. Will get onto it now.

 

[pmdg7444]

pleased with the service from the Cape Town contact centre: 34.92K miles

DFW-DOH-MAD-HEL-NRT-HKG-SYD-NRT-LAX-LAS

 

[Danger]

I dare anyone to top these taxes:

MEL-xHKG-BRU CX
BRU-xLHR-HEL BA
HEL-LJU (Slovenia) AY
GLA-xLHR-SFO BA
SFO-xHKG-MEL CX

Taxes came to almost $1900 for one.

 

[LA10]

I dare anyone to top these taxes:

MEL-xHKG-BRU CX
BRU-xLHR-HEL BA
HEL-LJU (Slovenia) AY
GLA-xLHR-SFO BA
SFO-xHKG-MEL CX

Taxes came to almost $1900 for one.

Wow mine came to $1600. I had only one short BA flight. The rest were QF, JAL and QR. No adp from LHR either

 

[DC3]

… Taxes came to almost $1900 for one.

Probably LHR was the culprit? Otherwise that would be enough to cover two passengers.

 

[Danger]

Probably LHR was the culprit? Otherwise that would be enough to cover two passengers.

Only one long-haul BA, though. And only four BA flights in total. No QF. And really not many sectors.

 

[Ktan89]

I dare anyone to top these taxes:

Taxes came to almost $1900 for one.

Still cheaper than paying cash for the J seats

 

[cjd600]

SYD-xDOH-CDG QR
LHR-PMI BA
PMI-xLHR-JFK BA
LAX-xNRT-SYD JL

To add JFK-LAS/LAX when released in a week or so (will test the 17 September thing for better or worse)
4 J = AUD4666 (2 Adult/2 Kids)
1 Adult = AUD1200
Pretty happy with that given QR (choice) and BA (no choice)
JL LAX-NRT-SYD added only AUD380 for 4 of us

 

[dsotm]

Nope. Giving up. There's no avaibility to UK (unless long side trip via China) in August next year. None via LAX either. Will have to take the points hike later.

 

[pottsy]

I dare anyone to top these taxes:

MEL-xHKG-BRU CX
BRU-xLHR-HEL BA
HEL-LJU (Slovenia) AY
GLA-xLHR-SFO BA
SFO-xHKG-MEL CX

Taxes came to almost $1900 for one.

MEL-ADL-DOH-AMM QR
TLV-AMM-FCO RJ
FCO-HKG BA
HKG-LHR QR
LHR-HND-NRT-MEL JL

Taxes $1935.........for one....................I win, unfortunately............

 

[Princess Fiona]

I dare anyone to top these taxes:

MEL-xHKG-BRU CX
BRU-xLHR-HEL BA
HEL-LJU (Slovenia) AY
GLA-xLHR-SFO BA
SFO-xHKG-MEL CX

Taxes came to almost $1900 for one.

$2074.48 per person
SYD-LHR QF
LHR-CDG BA
LHR-EWR BA
JFK-LAX AA
LAX-NRT JL
HND-xHKG-SIN CX
SIN-MEL-SYD QF

 

[pye1201]

Thanks so much for the reply, most helpful (Hope you enjoyed China).
Just a thought, when you say can't change route or carrier does that mean if one wants to alter a couple of flights on a OWA that the same carrier has to be used? (Or you have said that because any change of route would impact on your mileage total and also the carrier is the only one available for that route?)

Really enjoyed China thanks - just got back - quite an eye-opener to compare it to the last time I was there 20 years ago... Re my bookings, I am under the impression that I cannot change route OR carrier once the itinerary has commenced - only the date. Thus my decision to use major airports/carriers for the initial dummy bookings. Perhaps someone with superior knowledge will correct me on this? And reading some more recent posts re the variable answers from Qantas on whether we will actually be charged the full 318K points for changes made (even after the first couple of segments are flown) I guess I will just have to wait and see what happens! Fingers crossed.

 

[pye1201]

Unfortunately not. October 2020 is 13 months after September 2019, your ticketing date. If you book your first flight in September 2019 (for whatever date in the future), you have until September 2020 to complete your itinerary.

Can you clarify this for me please? I have just booked my flights on a Qantas Oneworld award for a trip commencing June 2020, using dummy dates for the latter half of my flights as I am not intending to return to Australia until March 2021. I am operating under the assumption that I have 12 months to complete my itinerary from the date of my first flight. So as long as I leave on the "ticketed departure date" then I have 12 months to complete my itinerary? Is this correct?

 

[Pleb Status]

Time to change the thread title to (132.4k/249.6k/318k/455k)....