Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[flapper]

Can anyone kindly sum up on the 'rules' for the changing of flights on the old 280K fare?

I called in early May to change my 280K change to later date in the year as a dummy booking and the rep said the entire trip must be completed before 1 year from the booking date (we booked on the final day of the 280K in September 2019). Is this in fact true?

What I am reading from the posts here is that booking date has no bearing on anything and that the fare just needs to be completed 1 year from the initial departure date of the first leg?

On top of that I just checked and they have just randomly cancelled my ticket against my wishes! It was due to depart on 2nd June 2020, but it was cancelled early May when I first called them and told them NOT to cancel it. Waiting for a callback from them...

Here is the rule:
14.6.1 Classic Flight Rewards will be valid for one year from the original ticketed departure date, unless otherwise specified.
Some on here have been told they will be able have one year from amended ticketed departure date. I tried with 3 agents and couldn't get any to agree to this. You can try if you like. No one has reported that they have actually been able to change flights to be 12 months after the original ticketed departure date.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Can anyone kindly sum up on the 'rules' for the changing of flights on the old 280K fare?

I called in early May to change my 280K change to later date in the year as a dummy booking and the rep said the entire trip must be completed before 1 year from the booking date (we booked on the final day of the 280K in September 2019). Is this in fact true?

What I am reading from the posts here is that booking date has no bearing on anything and that the fare just needs to be completed 1 year from the initial departure date of the first leg?

On top of that I just checked and they have just randomly cancelled my ticket against my wishes! It was due to depart on 2nd June 2020, but it was cancelled early May when I first called them and told them NOT to cancel it. Waiting for a callback from them...

The rule book says:

14.6.1 Classic Flight Rewards will be valid for one year from the original ticketed departure date, unless otherwise specified.​

There are (at least) 3 significant dates in play here:

A. The date the itinerary is first established (Booking Date);​

B. The date of the first flight in the itinerary on Booking Date (First Booked Flight);&​

C. The date of the first flight in the itinerary after the last itinerary change has been made (First Actual Flight).​

Date A is clearly NOT the relevant start date. Given that we need to book our award seats about 11 months in advance, if this was the start date then all OWCA itineraries would need to finish within about 1month. We know that is not the case.

I think that date B is the most likely relevant start date - it most closely matches with “original ticketed departure date”.

But... I’m *hoping* that date C is the start date. I’ve got an itinerary in play that I’ve recently changed (trying to keep an old 280k cap alive). The itinerary’s First Booked Flight date is late Aug this year, so will probably not happen (sad face). When I cancel those flights, I’ll be trying (later in the year) to add flights that might stretch into Sept next year. Only time will tell - hopefully computer says Yes...

 

[davel]

HI guys - not sure if you'll find this helpful, but I've managed to move my itinerary from Jun/Jul 2020 to Mar/Apr 2021 via Twitter. Was a joy not having to talk to the call centre.

Snagged:

MEL-HKG-DOH-JNB-DOH-AMM-JFK-NRT-MEL (business), came in 180KM under the distance limit. They even refunded me $30 in taxes from my old itinerary, which was slightly different. Now includes 3 QSuite sectors - And done entirely over Twitter!

I can confirm there were no additional fees of any kind charged. If we still can't fly in Mar next year, I will repeat the dose.

Note: I originally booked @ 280k per pax.

I'm not understanding how you are able to be departing in 2021? I've been told by 2 different reps now that you cannot begin your journey more than 1 year from your original booking date. Given that September 2019 was the month that the 280K J award increased, it only gives you till September 2020 to fly?

Am I being told lies by Qantas?

 

[davel]

There are (at least) 3 significant dates in play here:

A. The date the itinerary is first established (Booking Date);​

B. The date of the first flight in the itinerary on Booking Date (First Booked Flight);&​

C. The date of the first flight in the itinerary after the last itinerary change has been made (First Actual Flight).​

In regards to A, I'm being told on the phone by Qantas that 1 year from A is when First Leg must commence. I don't think this is correct at all. Anyone able to shed light?

I think that C is a bit of a stretch as it means that you can perhaps have infinite validity (if you want to keep paying the change fee). Those that got away with this I would say they just got lucky.

 

[knightfall88]

I called and got points back the next day.

Some I manage to be able to do on the Qantas Site but others I had to call up. The ones I could do online, got the refund in points within a week. The ones I called up, I had to wait 2 months for one of them and the other still waiting, I think its been 2 months+. Anyone else experience the same?

 

[ozflier]

Qatar was said to be starting up Brisbane to Doha flights late last month

Qatar Airways to resume flights to Brisbane – Business Traveller

The three times weekly service will relaunch on May 20, using a two-class A350-1000 aircraft…

www.businesstraveller.com

Qatar Airways returns to Brisbane!

Friday 15 May 2020: Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has welcomed news of Qatar Airways returning to Queensland with three weekly scheduled services between Doha and Brisbane Airport (BNE) commencing from 20 May (21 May BNE). The services will operate under existing bilateral rights until 30...

newsroom.bne.com.au

This would have been great news for Queenslanders even if only 3 flights per week.
Unfortunately, they don't show up anywhere on the Qatar website or Expert Flyer.
Have I missed something in the media or has Qatar just decided it is all too hard at this time ?

 

[PineappleSkip]

Looks like there are a couple of cancellations. Don’t think demand would be right up there ATM.



Next scheduled flight out of BNE is tomorrow


cheers skip

 

[ozflier]

Looks like there are a couple of cancellations. Don’t think demand would be right up there ATM.
View attachment 219317


Next scheduled flight out of BNE is tomorrow
View attachment 219316

cheers skip

Ta for that - I was looking in early 2021 for possible dates - probably too far ahead in the current circumstances.

 

[jfl]

I'm seeing absolutely no availability with BA from JNB-LHR in April 2021 (Y or J). Is this normal? I can go JNB-DOH-LHR but I'm trying to get as much distance out of the award as possible...

 

[ozflier]

I'm seeing absolutely no availability with BA from JNB-LHR in April 2021 (Y or J). Is this normal? I can go JNB-DOH-LHR but I'm trying to get as much distance out of the award as possible...

Have you tried JNB-CPT-LHR ?
First sector would be on Comair a BA subsidiary.

 

[jfl]

Have you tried JNB-CPT-LHR ?
First sector would be on Comair a BA subsidiary.

Thanks. A little more availability but not around the dates we were hoping. JNB-DOH-LHR it is!

Just booked:
- SYD-JNB Y
- JNB-DOH-LHR J
- LHR-HND J

Later on we will be booking:

- HND-HEL
- HEL-CPH-HEL (surface segment)
- HEL-HND-SYD

Total is 34,545 miles. Any flaw in my plan?

 

[ozflier]

Thanks. A little more availability but not around the dates we were hoping. JNB-DOH-LHR it is!

Just booked:
- SYD-JNB Y
- JNB-DOH-LHR J
- LHR-HND J

Later on we will be booking:

- HND-HEL
- HEL-CPH-HEL (surface segment)
- HEL-HND-SYD

Any flaw in my plan?

Looks ok.
Where are your stopovers ?
I'm guessing that you dont want to fly on Finnair to from Stockholm.

 

[jfl]

Looks ok.
Where are your stopovers ?
I'm guessing that you dont want to fly on Finnair to from Stockholm.

Stopovers are JNB, LHR, HND (the stopover in the middle - flying back to AU on another award) and HEL. HEL-CPH-HEL will be with SAS (or even AAR if I get a good enough deal - closer to where we need to be).

 

[ozflier]

Stopovers are JNB, LHR, HND (the stopover in the middle - flying back to AU on another award) and HEL. HEL-CPH-HEL will be with SAS (or even AAR if I get a good enough deal - closer to where we need to be).

If the other award you are talking about is not related to the one under discussion , your itinerary looks ok to me.
If it is part of the same truncated OWA, then we would need to see the whole itinerary to confirm it is ok.

 

[jfl]

If the other award you are talking about is not related to the one under discussion , your itinerary looks ok to me.
If it is part of the same truncated OWA, then we would need to see the whole itinerary to confirm it is ok.

Correct, not related. Separate booking.

The entire booking for this will be:

SYD-JNB (stopover in JNB)
JNB-DOH-LHR (stopover in LHR)
LHR-HND (stopover in HND)
HND-HEL (stopover in HEL)
HEL-HND-SYD (trip completion)

 

[ozflier]

Correct, not related. Separate booking.

The entire booking for this will be:

SYD-JNB (stopover in JNB)
JNB-DOH-LHR (stopover in LHR)
LHR-HND (stopover in HND)
HND-HEL (stopover in HEL)
HEL-HND-SYD (trip completion)

Looks good to me - enjoy your trip.

 

[Danger]

With Qantas's latest round of change and cancel policies, is it correct to assume that one of these classic awards could be changed free of charge an unlimited number of times up to 31 October?

 

[Captain Halliday]

I think it’s one free change.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

I’ve made 2 separate changes in the last few weeks, both just adding flights to an existing itinerary. In both instances, no change fee points were charged.

 

[stoney]

Some I manage to be able to do on the Qantas Site but others I had to call up. The ones I could do online, got the refund in points within a week. The ones I called up, I had to wait 2 months for one of them and the other still waiting, I think its been 2 months+. Anyone else experience the same?

I had one lot of points returned reasonably quickly but it is now more than the 8 weeks stated by Qantas and still waiting on the taxes and surcharges of over $3k to be refunded. Cheap money for Qantas.