Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Ktan89]

First I'ld check the number of pax on the e-ticket!

I did. Still says 2 and I can select seats for 2 people on the JAL site too.

 

[knightfall88]

Is anyone else finding that reward JAL flights are just not available FROM Tokyo to Sydney any time?

 

[SYD]

Is anyone else finding that reward JAL flights are just not available FROM Tokyo to Sydney any time?

I saw some yesterday looking at dummy J bookings SYD-LON (Ret). I was looking at couple of random days in Apr/May and saw good connecting options through HND on the return.

 

[knightfall88]

thanks mate, thought there might be some issue there but guess not

I saw some yesterday looking at dummy J bookings SYD-LON (Ret). I was looking at couple of random days in Apr/May and saw good connecting options through HND on the return

 

[vetrade]

Is anyone else finding that reward JAL flights are just not available FROM Tokyo to Sydney any time?

Rather than looking for just HND - SYD, try looking for a combination of flights using the multi city search option, such as LHR - HND - SYD or
HEL - HND - SYD. I've seen J availability for JL51 HND - SYD in combo with another flight that wasn't showing for the same date using a search for the HND - SYD leg only.

My "thought bubble" is that it's a QF thing because they have QF26 in direct competition with JL51 so they avoid showing availability on the opposition's flight when trying to book just the single flight (even though QF never seem to have any J availability on QF26 anyway - maybe availability does show up for status holders though)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Could also be married segments - that JL isn't willing to give up an award seat Japan-Australia, but is willing to make one available from Europe.

 

[SYD]

Could also be married segments - that JL isn't willing to give up an award seat Japan-Australia, but is willing to make one available from Europe.

I can see HND-SYD J awards on AA.com.

 

[vetrade]

Could also be married segments - that JL isn't willing to give up an award seat Japan-Australia, but is willing to make one available from Europe.

Your comment got me thinking about the definition of "married segments". I was under the impression that married segments worked in essentially the opposite way to what you suggest and are disadvantageous because some airlines show availability for flights through their home city if you search for them separately but will block a combination of inbound and outbound flights (with the same carrier) if you try to book them as a transit. The only work-around being to have a stopover rather than a transit. Examples are some CX combinations through HKG or QR combos through DOH. Notably, it's the operating airline which blocks the married segments rather than the partner airline you're booking the award through.

In the case under discussion of HND - SYD flights it seems that QF only shows JL award availability for that sector if you search for it in combination with an HND inbound flight as well.

Maybe someone can clarify this conundrum or maybe "married segments" should be redefined as "divorced segmants".

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Your comment got me thinking about the definition of "married segments". I was under the impression that married segments worked in essentially the opposite way to what you suggest and are disadvantageous because some airlines show availability for flights through their home city if you search for them separately but will block a combination of inbound and outbound flights (with the same carrier) if you try to book them as a transit. The only work-around being to have a stopover rather than a transit. Examples are some CX combinations through HKG or QR combos through DOH. Notably, it's the operating airline which blocks the married segments rather than the partner airline you're booking the award through.

In the case under discussion of HND - SYD flights it seems that QF only shows JL award availability for that sector if you search for it in combination with an HND inbound flight as well.

Maybe someone can clarify this conundrum or maybe "married segments" should be redefined as "divorced segmants".

Married segments mean that they have to be 'married' - joined - in order for them to be available. Married segments look at the origin and destination and the flights between the two, rather than individual flights. For example SQ may show SIN-SYD as 0, but LHR-SYD as available (via SIN). The sectors are 'married' to achieve LHR-SYD.

It is common for cathay pacific through hong kong. CX can sell HKG-LAX on its own for lots of money. So awards ex HKG may not be available by themselves, but may be available for other journeys like TPE-LAX, PVG-LAX or BKK-LAX (etc)

It is possible for airlines to block all sorts of seats and combinations of seats, particularly if they can make more money by selling seats rather than giving them away.

 

[GaryLG]

A couple of questions for you.

1. I have this thread watched but I don't get notified of new posts any more. Tried unwatching and redoing it but difference. Any ideas?

2. Just testing some flights on the Qantas website with the vain hope of finding first class availability and I find that when I first do the search it finds seats but then I have to flip the switch to classic rewards and they are not there any more. Again any ideas why?

Thanks

 

[JohnM]

2. Just testing some flights on the Qantas website with the vain hope of finding first class availability and I find that when I first do the search it finds seats but then I have to flip the switch to classic rewards and they are not there any more. Again any ideas why?

Presumably no P bucket availability.

QF F has three First buckets: F, (full First) A (discounted First - as used in AONEx) and P (awards and upgrades).

 

[GaryLG]

Presumably no P bucket availability.

QF F has three First buckets: F, (full First) A (discounted First - as used in AONEx) and P (awards and upgrades).

I guess that covers it as there were full and flex on the first screen, thanks. Shame.

 

[SYD]

I guess that covers it as there were full and flex on the first screen, thanks. Shame.

If you’re logged in to your QFF account and search flexible dates it should indicate if there are classic rewards options with with the white and red reward symbol. Although, it can be misleading, especially the junk options that show long haul sectors in whY but a short sector in F/J etc….

 

[knightfall88]

A couple of questions for you.

1. I have this thread watched but I don't get notified of new posts any more. Tried unwatching and redoing it but difference. Any ideas?

2. Just testing some flights on the Qantas website with the vain hope of finding first class availability and I find that when I first do the search it finds seats but then I have to flip the switch to classic rewards and they are not there any more. Again any ideas why?

Thanks

Just my experience on looking at my typical japan routes but yes to me, F availability is not a thing. Qantas, JAL or otherwise. Guessing its a difficult situation right now with rewards in general for most airlines

 

[GaryLG]

Thanks again. I was just doing a quick and dirty search in about 11 months time for MEL-LHR which I guess is not surprising in some ways. Some went via SYD, though when I changed it to SYD-LHR it decided to give me results via MEL!!
Mind you even the business seats were getting flagged as selling fast so that's a worry.

 

[ChrisMars]

Is an itinerary considered ticketed once we receive the itinerary via email?
If so, how long is it reasonable to wait before calling back for an OWA made over the phone? I van see the bookings in the app, pick the seats, but no email after 30h, granted it's the week end.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is an itinerary considered ticketed once we receive the itinerary via email?
If so, how long is it reasonable to wait before calling back for an OWA made over the phone? I van see the bookings in the app, pick the seats, but no email after 30h, granted it's the week end.

It is ticketed once you have a ticket number.

If your itinerary only involves QF flights this doesn't really matter because any mistakes QF can fix themselves by turning paid seats into award seats. If there are partner airlines involved QF can't always fix problems, and the ticket number is key.

A ticket number can exist in the booking and can often be checked through the manage booking function.

 

[ChrisMars]

It is ticketed once you have a ticket number.

If your itinerary only involves QF flights this doesn't really matter because any mistakes QF can fix themselves by turning paid seats into award seats. If there are partner airlines involved QF can't always fix problems, and the ticket number is key.

A ticket number can exist in the booking and can often be checked through the manage booking function.

I ended up calling back. The ticket was not issued as reward bookings with QR (and apparently Emirates too) involve an extra step that the agent forget to follow yesterday. If I understood correctly, they need to confirm directly with the airline.
All sorted out now.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I ended up calling back. The ticket was not issued as reward bookings with QR (and apparently Emirates too) involve an extra step that the agent forget to follow yesterday. If I understood correctly, they need to confirm directly with the airline.
All sorted out now.

Good pick up then. QR has been known to autocancel itineraries that haven't been ticketed by their deadline. You really need to see the ticket number to have confidence your QR bookings will be confirmed.

 

[madrooster]

I ended up calling back. The ticket was not issued as reward bookings with QR (and apparently Emirates too) involve an extra step that the agent forget to follow yesterday. If I understood correctly, they need to confirm directly with the airline.
All sorted out now.

That extra step is calling a supervisor and getting the ticket issued immediately...