Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Danger]

Thanks guys that was the problem, too long a gap so when I changed the second "stop" at LHR to less than 24 hours it worked.

So I have some more questions please before I continue.

1. As I have some choices of airline for some sectors, I just want to get people's feedback on Business class with BA, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, Qatar and Cathay Pacific.

2. I just used the classic rewards multi-flights tool which doesn't really let you easily switch or check dates for each flight. Is there something better?

3. If I am doing a smaller one to Japan and then one major trip out of Melbourne, I know I cannot come back to MEL in the middle but do I need an actual return flight from MEL?

So if the first one was MEL-NRT-SIN and I made my own way back to MEL and then the main trip was MEL- AMM-LHR-etc-MEL , would I only need to buy a one way ticket and count the mileage one way?

Qatar is definitely the pick for J with Cathay second. British Airways may be okay if you get new J but you'll need a mortgage to pay the fuel fines. There's nothing wrong with Royal Jordanian's 787 J hard product but the soft product isn't anything to get excited about. At the end of the day, if you can get QR and/or CX, I'd be very pleased.

 

[GaryLG]

Qatar is definitely the pick for J with Cathay second. British Airways may be okay if you get new J but you'll need a mortgage to pay the fuel fines. There's nothing wrong with Royal Jordanian's 787 J hard product but the soft product isn't anything to get excited about. At the end of the day, if you can get QR and/or CX, I'd be very pleased.

Thanks. I knew some of those but it is good to have a more complete idea.

 

[k_sheep]

Well QF is showing SYD-SCL flights again. I'll locked that in for the start of my aborted Antarctica trip .... very much not confident of it being a reality by then (Dec 2021) but well nothing to lose!

 

[DC3]

Well QF is showing SYD-SCL flights again. I'll locked that in for the start of my aborted Antarctica trip .... very much not confident of it being a reality by then (Dec 2021) but well nothing to lose!

We could always begin rolling out the COVID vax for those who agree to have it in Oz. International flights (both ways) could resume, but only for the vaccinated. Then, we can all move forward with our oneworld award bookings.

However, I’m seeing stories about us having to wait and watch the rest of the world (seen by some as guinea pigs) for possibly another 3 months. And that’s just for frontline workers and the most vulnerable?

 

[ozflier]

We could always begin rolling out the COVID vax for those who agree to have it in Oz. International flights (both ways) could resume, but only for the vaccinated. Then, we can all move forward with our oneworld award bookings.

However, I’m seeing stories about us having to wait and watch the rest of the world (seen by some as guinea pigs) for possibly another 3 months. And that’s just for frontline workers and the most vulnerable?

I just don't understand why the Australian government seems not to be in a rush for its population to have the vaccine .
The current Sydney outbreak should be a wake up call for Morrison to get off his bum and get the vaccinations going asap!

 

[Amanad78]

Hi, I'm wondering if there is a way to search in this thread to see different itineraries that people have successfully booked in the past?
Thanks

 

[Aussiejosh]

Hi, I'm wondering if there is a way to search in this thread to see different itineraries that people have successfully booked in the past?
Thanks

No easy way but to manual look through

Mine was:
PER-HKG-KIX Cathay
NRT-YVR Japan Airlines
YVR-JFK Cathay
JFK-MIA-GYE American
GRU-MAD Latam
PSA-LON-HKG-PER British Airways to HKG then Cathy to PER

Cost about $700 in taxes.

 

[ozflier]

No easy way but to manual look through

Mine was:
PER-HKG-KIX Cathay
NRT-YVR Japan Airlines
YVR-JFK Cathay
JFK-MIA-GYE American
GRU-MAD Latam
PSA-LON-HKG-PER British Airways to HKG then Cathy to PER

Cost about $700 in taxes.

note that Latam is no longer a Oneworld member.

 

[DC3]

And AS comes on-board on 31st March, for those who can use that as an option for flights (although not as a replacement for LA).

 

[Ric]

YVR-JFK Cathay is no longer available. Correct?

 

[Captain Halliday]

YVR-JFK Cathay is no longer available. Correct?

Correct. Sadly.

 

[Matt_01]

Hi, I'm wondering if there is a way to search in this thread to see different itineraries that people have successfully booked in the past?
Thanks

I would suggest a different approach, post your proposed (dream itinerary) dates and in what class Y, J or F and let others come back with will/not work. Airlines are always changing routes, aircraft types etc and as @ozflier and @DC3 detailed at times airline alliances change.

 

[ozflier]

I would suggest a different approach, post your proposed (dream itinerary) dates and in what class Y, J or F and let others come back with will/not work. Airlines are always changing routes, aircraft types etc and as @ozflier and @DC3 detailed at times airline alliances change.

good idea

 

[kingzac]

Hi everyone,

I've been piecing together a bit of an itinerary but know you will be able to make it loads better.

2x Pax in J
Late Feb/Early March 2022

Definite stops
Tokyo
Frankfurt
Dublin or Edinburgh
Glasgow
Reykjavik

Open to going via Calgary in one direction but must avoid the US (Visa issues, long story).

Currently I've been able to put together the following with avail for 2:

BNE>NRT
NRT>HKG>FRA
FRA>LHR>REY
REY>LHR>DUB
GLA>DOH>BNE

I imagine that the LHR transfers will add significant costs and might be best avoided. I did see some options via AMS but they've been harder to find in my playing around.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions or help.
Thanks

 

[ozflier]

A few quick thoughts.
Great you are planning ahead - pity that flight schedules are really not in concrete that far ahead even in normal times.
LHR transfers, if less than 24 hours will, at least, not involve Air Passenger Duty .
You are at the stopover limit but plenty of sectors available.
I know its early days but if I can avoid a stopover , I would eg why not just fly NRT non stop to FRA on JAL - usually plenty of J awards available.
Finnair do travel HEL-KEF return though getting J awards on those flights is not easy.
If you could avoid LHR for one transfer to/from KEF, this would open room for the DUB-GLA sector as other wise it comes out of your pocket.
Finnair also fly HEL- DUB but using their affiliate Nordic Regional Airways - not sure if that counts as part of a OWA. ie in the same way Comair , an affiliate of BA, does . I suspect that its not ! You may need to ring QFF to check but sadly , in my experience , they are not always aware of the complexities of OW affiliates.
Happy planning.

 

[kingzac]

LHR transfers, if less than 24 hours will, at least, not involve Air Passenger Duty .
I know its early days but if I can avoid a stopover , I would eg why not just fly NRT non stop to FRA on JAL - usually plenty of J awards available.
Finnair do travel HEL-KEF return though getting J awards on those flights is not easy.

Thank you!
Would be a straight transfer through LHR, we have no plans to stop there.

I saw NRT>FRA on the flight map but couldn't get it to pop up in planning, will definitely take that option.

Finnair would be handy, would stopping for a couple of days in Helsinki cause issues if we go FRA>HEL>KEF? Assuming the flights are even available.

 

[Guvner]

Hi, I'm wondering if there is a way to search in this thread to see different itineraries that people have successfully booked in the past?
Thanks

I was logging each itinerary and costs/taxes where mentioned (no usernames logged) in a word doc for 12 or so months but somehow its disappeared from my PC which is annoying. I was using it for ideas/planning. If I find it I'll update it, upload it and post a link.

 

[Nimo]

HI I am quite new never booked RTW ticket now the border restrictions are easing I would like top travel using classic reward flight but not sure how to book RWT ticket

Question: Do I have to booked each segment individual or call call centre & tell them cities & see what they suggest

I want to start journey either from Mel, Syd , Adelaide preferably Mel
Mel - HND - LHR
LHR- JFK
JFK- YYZ
YYZ - Mel or something similar to this

Any suggestions??

 

[Jacques Vert]

Firstly, you are looking to book a Oneworld Award, not an RTW. Despite your suggested itinerary actually going around the world, this is not a requirement for a Oneworld Award. You have up to 35,000 miles and can zig zag around without completing a lap of the planet provided you stick to the rules (which are mentioned numerous times in this thread).

The more common rules are:

• Maximum 35,000 miles (including surface segments)
• Maximum 16 segments;
• Two airlines other than Qantas (you don't need to include QF but can if you want to);
• Only include Oneworld airlines;
• Cannot return to your country or city of origin (once you do that's the end of your trip);
• Maximum two transits and one stopover per city.

Start with the five cities you want to visit and have a few alternatives in mind in case your first choices don't work.

You can book your trip all on-line in one go (provided all the flights are available for booking). To do so you go to the "multi-city tool" and start searching. Once you make your original booking/flights, any changes or additions need to be made over the phone and will cost you an additional 5,000 points per person change fee.

Above all: Be flexible.

 

[cjd600]

You can book your trip all on-line in one go (provided all the flights are available for booking). To do so you go to the "multi-city tool" and start searching. Once you make your original booking/flights, any changes or additions need to be made over the phone and will cost you an additional 6,000 points per person change fee.

Noting the change fee is 5,000 points per person (6,000 to cancel), and is currently waived up until 31 March 2021.