Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[cambriamarsh]

If you go over 35,000 miles, you could always do SYD-CNS as a seperate booking (paid or award) which would reduce the oneworld award itinerary distance by 1222 miles.

Edited

Doesn't the mileage count return to the start point is if the flights don't?

 

[ozflier]

Doesn't the mileage count return to the start point is if the flights don't?

I have always assumed that you did not need to go back to your city of origin only the country of origin - happy to be corrected.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have always assumed that you did not need to go back to your city of origin only the country of origin - happy to be corrected.

The terms and conditions from QFFF are:

14.5.3 A one way oneworld Classic Flight Reward Itinerary will be charged as a return Itinerary. oneworld Classic Flight Reward Itineraries finishing in a port other than the port of origin must include the distance to return directly to the port of origin when calculating the number of Qantas Points required to redeem the Flight Reward and the maximum distance for the Itinerary.

I guess in many instances the calculation back to the port of origin is probably negligible in the grand scheme of things? For example terminating in BNE rather than SYD would be an extra 700 miles, which unless you were right at the limit wouldn't even be a problem or noticeable.

 

[DC3]

If it becomes an issue, with being just a few miles short, I would also look at starting/finishing in TSV (rather than CNS) to see if that works for you.

 

[paul66]

do a dummy booking even in Y and see if the points max out as expected

When I did a dummy booking I kept getting error messages. Very frustrating. I finally made the booking online and filled in the blanks by calling the call centre over the last few days as flights opened up. It worked Sydney to Sydney at the correct points (318000). The call centre could not tell me what would happen if I added on the CNS sectors. I did not want to risk a fail. So I probably may never know if adding on CNS would have been included. Thanks for all the help

 

[DC3]

… I finally made the booking online and filled in the blanks by calling the call centre over the last few days as flights opened up. It worked Sydney to Sydney at the correct points (318000). The call centre could not tell me what would happen if I added on the CNS sectors. I did not want to risk a fail. So I probably may never know if adding on CNS would have been included …

Good that you have the bookings. Just phone the Call Centre and try adding CNS-SYD and SYD-CNS. There’s nothing to lose. You may be in luck, and your extra flights would be protected.

 

[Mr H]

Done. Got a booking all in J:

MEL-KUL-CMB (MH)​

CMB-LHR (UL)​

LGW-DOH-IKA (BA and QR)​

IKA-DOH-LAX (QR)​

LAX-HND (JL)​

NRT-MEL (JL)​

Total taxes and fees $2,254.14

Plus a nested revenue flight LCY-BHD-LCY (deep discount Y with BA)

I had hoped to do LAX-KIX and KIX-NRT but despite GC Map's advice, that would have taken me over the 35,000 miles. Maybe they count taxiing distance too.

And I know there would have been ways to reduce the cost of the taxes, but honestly, it suits me to do it with these airlines and without adding days of positioning flights.

 

[JohnM]

Done. Got a booking all in J:

MEL-KUL-CMB (MH)​

CMB-LHR (UL)​

LGW-DOH-IKA (BA and QR)​

IKA-DOH-LAX (QR)​

LAX-HND (JL)​

NRT-MEL (JL)​

Total taxes and fees $2,254.14

Plus a nested revenue flight LCY-BHD-LCY (deep discount Y with BA)

I had hoped to do LAX-KIX and KIX-NRT but despite GC Map's advice, that would have taken me over the 35,000 miles. Maybe they count taxiing distance too.

And I know there would have been ways to reduce the cost of the taxes, but honestly, it suits me to do it with these airlines and without adding days of positioning flights.

View attachment 261986

Envious. One of THE best flights IMO - DOH-LAX (and vv) in QR Suites.

 

[Mr H]

Envious. One of THE best flights IMO - DOH-LAX (and vv) in QR Suites.

Thanks. And it is only thanks to advice on AFF that got me onto the RTW award - I was about to pay the same points for a return trip to IKA and this gets me to see my friends and family in the UK and a few days in both CMB (for rice and curry) and LAX. Just need the Covid restrictions to end to make this work

 

[serfty]

Doesn't the mileage count return to the start point is if the flights don't?

This is correct - The mileage from the destination of the last flight segment to the origination port of the booking gets tacked on to the total mileage,

I have always assumed that you did not need to go back to your city of origin only the country of origin - happy to be corrected.

You do not need to even return to the same country.

SYD-(CX)-HKG-(JL)-HND could be a Qantas classic oneworld award. The distance calculation would be that for SYD-HKG-HND-SYD.

 

[serfty]

Just remember going through LHR will ramp up your taxes big time…even if only transiting. For my trip and 2 pax, increased the taxes by $1400.

Thanks, another good reason then for an alternative transit point.

This is incorrect. A transit not greater then 24 hours should not incur any UK APD. We have done ORD-LHR,LGW-DBV 24 hours later and no APD was assessed.

If you are only in transit, on a single ticket, with less than 24 hours the luxury departure tax shouldn't apply.

Indeed!

 

[Chesty]

This is incorrect. A transit not greater then 24 hours should not incur any UK APD. We have done ORD-LHR,LGW-DBV 24 hours later and no APD was assessed.
Indeed!

Interesting, because if I fly out of FCO to JFK with IB via MAD then my taxes are $1530. A simple change to BA through LHR changes that to $2700.

 

[cjd600]

Interesting, because if I fly out of FCO to JFK with IB via MAD then my taxes are $1530. A simple change to BA through LHR changes that to $2700.

Thats BA surcharges v IB surcharges....nothing to do with LHR APD though (unless +24hrs in LHR).
Surcharges can vary wildly between airlines, largely due to their YQ/fuel levy policies...

 

[Chesty]

Thats BA surcharges v IB surcharges....nothing to do with LHR APD though (unless +24hrs in LHR).
Surcharges can vary wildly between airlines, largely due to their YQ/fuel levy policies...

Ok, makes sense. Thanks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thats BA surcharges v IB surcharges....nothing to do with LHR APD though (unless +24hrs in LHR).
Surcharges can vary wildly between airlines, largely due to their YQ/fuel levy policies...

The BA fuel surcharges are eye-watering. TATL it almost makes more sense to pay $$ rather than redeem points. Thankfully there is often AA availability out of JFK, PHL or CLT... but the QF booking tool doesn't make it easy to find. They seem to force connections on (a) BA and (b) AA flights where premium cabins have no availability.

 

[Matt_01]

Interesting, because if I fly out of FCO to JFK with IB via MAD then my taxes are $1530. A simple change to BA through LHR changes that to $2700.

I did some dummy bookings on the QF website to show the difference in airline carrier charges flying IB compared to BA then noticed @cjd600 had responded. Anyhow these are the charges for flying through fare for x1 pax in J.

FCO-MAD-JFK with IB

FCO-LHR-JFK with BA

LHR-JFK with BA
These are the charges if flying LHR-JKF with BA for x1 pax in J, you can see that the APD charge AKA the London Tax of £180 is present in this booking but not in the ones above and as @MEL_Traveller mentions the BA fuel tax is eye-watering (both above and below) and when combined with UK Govt charges the fees are staggering.

 

[GaryLG]

Just playing around with dates still but hoping this works so would appreciate any feedback.

MEL-DOH-LHR-KEF-LHR-HND-MEL

with the second LHR just being transit so open to alternatives.

Also a couple of those are on QR so hoping for QSuites though I see that the Boeing 777-200LR may be flat beds as well. Anyway of knowing which variation you get?

I know schedules change of course.

 

[Mr H]

Just playing around with dates still but hoping this works so would appreciate any feedback.

MEL-DOH-LHR-KEF-LHR-HND-MEL

with the second LHR just being transit so open to alternatives.

Also a couple of those are on QR so hoping for QSuites though I see that the Boeing 777-200LR may be flat beds as well. Anyway of knowing which variation you get?

I know schedules change of course.

Routewise that works - well within the distance limit. You could try googling the flight numbers to see which equipment has been used on that flight in recent days. I think you can also enter the flight numbers and dates into Seatguru and see what is lined up for the future.

 

[GaryLG]

Routewise that works - well within the distance limit. You could try googling the flight numbers to see which equipment has been used on that flight in recent days. I think you can also enter the flight numbers and dates into Seatguru and see what is lined up for the future.

Thanks. I had tried Seatguru which was the cause of some of the confusion but I'll try googling for recent flights as well.

 

[ozflier]

Just playing around with dates still but hoping this works so would appreciate any feedback.

MEL-DOH-LHR-KEF-LHR-HND-MEL

with the second LHR just being transit so open to alternatives.

Also a couple of those are on QR so hoping for QSuites though I see that the Boeing 777-200LR may be flat beds as well. Anyway of knowing which variation you get?

I know schedules change of course.

Well done.
How many J seats did you get MEL - DOH .
Up to now, more than one has been near impossible.
Also, the only other OW carrier serving KEF is FINNAIR -daily.
Trouble is that J seats are hard to come by in advance with AY but JAL serve HEL so AY kef-hel on AY then onto Japan on JAL would be doable.