Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[GaryLG]

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.

Might be a bit early for congrats as this was only a test run before hopefully booking next week but you have put your finger on the major problem - MEL-DOH!

I had managed to do each separately (just a reminder for those coming in late it's for myself and my daughter travelling together to LHR and separately afterwards) and found flights. But then of course last night trying MEL-DOH-LHR for 2 pax and nothing!

I was hoping someone here might be able to help but sounds like it is a common problem and I presume even if I do the bookings in 2 separately browsers from 2 accounts one will fail?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Might be a bit early for congrats as this was only a test run before hopefully booking next week but you have put your finger on the major problem - MEL-DOH!

I had managed to do each separately (just a reminder for those coming in late it's for myself and my daughter travelling together to LHR and separately afterwards) and found flights. But then of course last night trying MEL-DOH-LHR for 2 pax and nothing!

I was hoping someone here might be able to help but sounds like it is a common problem and I presume even if I do the bookings in 2 separately browsers from 2 accounts one will fail?

Yes - there's one seat available by the sounds of it. The system will allow more than one person to click on that one seat, but only one will be successful at the payment page. The call centre is slightly different... agents can actually hold seats - effectively pulling them out of inventory - while they set up bookings.

 

[GaryLG]

Yes - there's one seat available by the sounds of it. The system will allow more than one person to click on that one seat, but only one will be successful at the payment page. The call centre is slightly different... agents can actually hold seats - effectively pulling them out of inventory - while they set up bookings.

Yeah, that's what I figured - damn!

Don't suppose that means the call centre can actually see more seats on the flight?

 

[vetrade]

GaryLG, you need a contingency plan because it would be a miracle if you got 2 x J MEL - DOH - and I don't believe in miracles so my guess is you have zero chance. The call centre won't be able to help you because QR only ever releases 1 x J seat. If you are keen to try QR, one option is to get one of the CX flights to HKG and connect with QR817 to DOH. ATM QR is showing 2 x J availability on nearly all days between about 320 and 335 days out. You'd get 2 x J on CX to HKG too but you'd need to be quick to get CX104 which has the best connection time.

If you don't have time constraints you can also experience QR by flying via Tokyo (HND) from SYD. with JL & QR where you should also be able to get 2 x J

 

[GaryLG]

GaryLG, you need a contingency plan because it would be a miracle if you got 2 x J MEL - DOH - and I don't believe in miracles so my guess is you have zero chance. The call centre won't be able to help you because QR only ever releases 1 x J seat. If you are keen to try QR, one option is to get one of the CX flights to HKG and connect with QR817 to DOH. ATM QR is showing 2 x J availability on nearly all days between about 320 and 335 days out. You'd get 2 x J on CX to HKG too but you'd need to be quick to get CX104 which has the best connection time.

If you don't have time constraints you can also experience QR by flying via Tokyo (HND) from SYD. with JL & QR where you should also be able to get 2 x J

Thanks, some ideas worth considering there weighing up time and convenience, etc.

And no I don't believe in miracles either though sometimes you do get lucky.

 

[GaryLG]

Is there a trick/technique to finding available flights?

I'll search Classic Rewards for single flights and find suitable dates but then using them in multi-city searches fails to give the same results.

What am I doing wrong, if anything?

 

[Daver6]

Is there a trick/technique to finding available flights?

I'll search Classic Rewards for single flights and find suitable dates but then using them in multi-city searches fails to give the same results.

What am I doing wrong, if anything?

If you value your time, money spent using Award Flight Assist - Frequent Flyer Solutions is well worth it in my opinion. Especially for complex trips. I've only used the service once, but would absolutely stump up again and use it again in future.

 

[GaryLG]

If you value your time, money spent using Award Flight Assist - Frequent Flyer Solutions is well worth it in my opinion. Especially for complex trips. I've only used the service once, but would absolutely stump up again and use it again in future.

Thanks, definitely worth considering once I stop banging my head against the wall!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is there a trick/technique to finding available flights?

I'll search Classic Rewards for single flights and find suitable dates but then using them in multi-city searches fails to give the same results.

What am I doing wrong, if anything?

That's unusual. Normally if you find the individual flights you should get something similar for multi city, provided you are searching the same individual legs as part of the multi city. The time it might differ is when married segments are involved... so you'd see availability for two flights together, but can't break them up (for example TPE-HKG-LAX might be available, but you can't book the HKG-LAX by itself).

Using the Alaska Airlines booking engine (search using FF points/award booking) can give you various routings and availability. I usually cross-check with it to make sure I've got the options covered.

 

[GaryLG]

That's unusual. Normally if you find the individual flights you should get something similar for multi city, provided you are searching the same individual legs as part of the multi city. The time it might differ is when married segments are involved... so you'd see availability for two flights together, but can't break them up (for example TPE-HKG-LAX might be available, but you can't book the HKG-LAX by itself).

Definitely the same legs. I'll post an example shortly.

 

[Inuniform]

I added the below flights to a OW Award J itinerary this morning over the phone. I was charged $834.20 in taxes and surcharges. I questioned the Qantas CSR believing the taxes seemed high but they said they were right. Following the phone call, I checked the taxes for the last 3 flights individually on QF and it came to $410 aud (I could not check all the segments together as I didn't have enough points). Should one expect to pay the same taxes and surcharges for individual flights as a combination? Is it possible to dispute the charges?

IB FCO - MAD stop
IB MAD - ORY stop
JL CDG - HND stop - $834.20

On my above query. I have chased this up with QF. As can be seen in the attachment, these flights come to 284 Euro that amounts to around $445 aud, far more than the $834 I paid. QF have checked and told me the taxes I was charged originally are correct. The first part of my itinerary departing SYD includes 6 flights, 2 on QR, and the taxes came to $770. Do I have to just cop the taxes and move on? I have submitted a customer feedback form but my expectations of a favourable resolution are low.

 

[aikman]

On my above query. I have chased this up with QF. As can be seen in the attachment, these flights come to 284 Euro that amounts to around $445 aud, far more than the $834 I paid. QF have checked and told me the taxes I was charged originally are correct. The first part of my itinerary departing SYD includes 6 flights, 2 on QR, and the taxes came to $770. Do I have to just cop the taxes and move on? I have submitted a customer feedback form but my expectations of a favourable resolution are low.

Have you tried recreating your full itinerary (using dates which still has availability) to see what the total taxes are?

I don't think its as simple as adding 284 Euros. I think the taxes for the full itinerary is recalculated with rules based on originating in Australia.

 

[aikman]

Is there a trick/technique to finding available flights?

I'll search Classic Rewards for single flights and find suitable dates but then using them in multi-city searches fails to give the same results.

What am I doing wrong, if anything?

My solution to this problem is lots of trial and error. I find availability can vary depending on what origin and destination you put in. Even when you can trick the system in to showing the flights you actually want it just spits out an error at the payment screen anyway.

 

[GaryLG]

My solution to this problem is lots of trial and error. I find availability can vary depending on what origin and destination you put in. Even when you can trick the system in to showing the flights you actually want it just spits out an error at the payment screen anyway.

Fair enough.

 

[Inuniform]

Have you tried recreating your full itinerary (using dates which still has availability) to see what the total taxes are?

I don't think its as simple as adding 284 Euros. I think the taxes for the full itinerary is recalculated with rules based on originating in Australia.

The difficult part of recreating the whole itinerary is finding availability on QR Nrt-Doh-Fco. Definitely something to consider, thanks.

 

[N860CR]

Does anyone know what the ticketing time limit for JAL is? I’ve been waiting on a ticket for over 24 hours and it’s pretty much impossible to get onto Qantas.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Does anyone know what the ticketing time limit for JAL is? I’ve been waiting on a ticket for over 24 hours and it’s pretty much impossible to get onto Qantas.

All I could find was information for domestic fares which implies 72 hours: https://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/reservation/tl.html

 

[N860CR]

All I could find was information for domestic fares which implies 72 hours: https://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/reservation/tl.html

Thanks. Up to 2 hours on hold with QF now...

 

[vetrade]

Thanks. Up to 2 hours on hold with QF now...

If you ring the call centre before about 5pm you should be offered the option of a call back which saves you waitng on hold. After 5 - 6pm QF often doesn't give you the option of a call back so you just have to wait and hope you get through.

 

[N860CR]

If you ring the call centre before about 5pm you should be offered the option of a call back which saves you waitng on hold. After 5 - 6pm QF often doesn't give you the option of a call back so you just have to wait and hope you get through.

Didn't get the option unfortunately. Up to 3:37 on hold now