Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[levelnine]

I would look at flights from CPH, ARN, NCE etc to DOH and then on to HKG , SIN etc. You're more likely to get one of them than LHR.

Really great tip, thanks very much.

 

[BillW]

I was here an age ago but life intervened!
I learned back then that a one-way multi stop at some point would convert into a set number of points, without returning to the start point.
If I am on the right track, what was/is that called?

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

I started building a J OWCA itinerary in mid August 2019 (yes, nearly 2 years ago...), to start travel in late August 2020. That was before the points cost went up from 280k to 318k.
I‘ve been adding and deleting sectors on that itinerary every 4 to 6 months since then. So far that seems to have preserved its ‘pre price rise’ status, as it is still capping out at 280k points...
Even though it seems a bit futile from an actual getting to travel perspective, I’m getting lots of practice at researching & booking (& waiting on hold)...

Update to above:
I finally finished building this itinerary today
Using the SE Asia staging point method, its two return trips MEL - Europe, one via HKG, one via DOH.
And the best bit... even after all this time, the points still capped out at 280k each... Priceless.
As an added bonus, due to the pandemic policy, none of the many many changes I’ve made along the way have attracted any change fees/points.

Sorry if all this comes across as gloating, but that’s what it is...

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

I was here an age ago but life intervened!
I learned back then that a one-way multi stop at some point would convert into a set number of points, without returning to the start point.
If I am on the right track, what was/is that called?

You’re in the right place...
It’s known as a One World Classic Award.
Refer here for the rules, esp. from 14.5:

Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions | Qantas

These Terms and Conditions form the basis of Qantas Frequent Flyer, to protect both Members and the Qantas Group.

www.qantas.com

 

[Spacetravel]

I had an identical issue 3-4 weeks back and it's BS, pure and simple. Nothing to do with married segments or phantom availability. There is plenty of MEL - SYD and SYD - MEL availability but one agent I spoke to let slip that they had been instructed to steer people wanting to book MEL - SYD legs as part of OWAs onto the flights with least demand. In other words they have been told not to put you on flights between 7.30 am and 11.00am or prime time afternoon/evening flights.

In my case I was to be arriving in SYD from HND on JL51 at 6.10am and needed to book a connection to MEL. I saw J availability on every flight after 7am but when I told the agent I wanted the 8.30 or 9am flight she said there was no availability before 11.00 (this was about 345 days out). I said I was sure there was availability earlier and I didn't want a 5hr transit in SYD after a 35hr trip home from Europe. She then admitted she knew there actually was availability which she wasn't supposed to book for OWAs. In view of my 35 hr trip she said she would need to check with a supervisor. She came back a minute later and said I could have my pick of whatever flight I wanted.

The reality is that QF want to hoard those J dom seats for their business customers.

This is what appears to happen to me. I need a flight arriving that departs MEL after 7PM (schedule arrival needs to be after 8:10PM to maintain less than 24 hours in SYD) on a Sunday and they said there is "no availability" for 7PM onwards and I had to book something earlier in the day. I just received a call back after 3 hours then the agent who answered hung up on me. So I've had enough waiting for the phone today and will attempt again tomorrow and be more assertive with my booking request. Thanks heaps for the insight!

 

[mikeQFF]

Post by @Mr H had me keen make my own and thank the community for the endless knowledge you all provide. I'm usually just a lurker and the info helped me lock in a J trip for myself and SO last month for the 2nd half of 2022.

Itinerary:
SYD-HKG-JFK (CX)
JFK-MAD (IB)
MAD-FCO (IB)
CDG-DOH-DXB (QR Qsuites)
DXB-DOH-NRT (QR Qsuites)
HND-SYD (JAL)

I have chosen to fly with Iberia as it significantly reduced the taxes and fees compared to BA.

However I am having some issues trying to select seats for my parter on their flights. By logging into RJ, I was able to select seats for all our flights but was only able to select seats for myself on IB flights.

Trying to sort this out has started to make me doubt my decision to fly with them. It is almost impossible to contact IB. I was only able to get through with a twitter DM with a response a month later, which didnt solve the problem. I get that its a first world problem having issues sorting out our seats but im now more so concerned about how reliable they will be and how Id get in contact with them if we ran into urgent issues.

Can anyone that has had IB on their OW award provide any insight into their experience with them. Also, has anyone run into seat selection issues with them and how were they sorted?

 

[Matt_01]

....
As an added bonus, due to the pandemic policy, none of the many many changes I’ve made along the way have attracted any change fees/points.

Sorry if all this comes across as gloating, but that’s what it is...

Glad to hear your trip is finalised. I do not see your comment as gloating, I have posted in this thread and others the QF rules for rewards changes and cancellations are IMO better than any DSC offer. My 2022 is in its final stages with 1 booking to go and to be honest do not care if I have to pay cash as it BOS-JFK.

 

[Mr H]

Post by @Mr H had me keen make my own and thank the community for the endless knowledge you all provide. I'm usually just a lurker and the info helped me lock in a J trip for myself and SO last month for the 2nd half of 2022.

Itinerary:
SYD-HKG-JFK (CX)
JFK-MAD (IB)
MAD-FCO (IB)
CDG-DOH-DXB (QR Qsuites)
DXB-DOH-NRT (QR Qsuites)
HND-SYD (JAL)

I have chosen to fly with Iberia as it significantly reduced the taxes and fees compared to BA.

However I am having some issues trying to select seats for my parter on their flights. By logging into RJ, I was able to select seats for all our flights but was only able to select seats for myself on IB flights.

Trying to sort this out has started to make me doubt my decision to fly with them. It is almost impossible to contact IB. I was only able to get through with a twitter DM with a response a month later, which didnt solve the problem. I get that its a first world problem having issues sorting out our seats but im now more so concerned about how reliable they will be and how Id get in contact with them if we ran into urgent issues.

Can anyone that has had IB on their OW award provide any insight into their experience with them. Also, has anyone run into seat selection issues with them and how were they sorted?

I didn’t have IB on my itinerary but I reserved seats using the manage my booking on the MH site. The only one I couldn’t do was BA because they charge fees on their own site for seat selection.

 

[GaryLG]

I didn’t have IB on my itinerary but I reserved seats using the manage my booking on the MH site. The only one I couldn’t do was BA because they charge fees on their own site for seat selection.

I'm having problems at the moment doing it on QF flights so I think I need to give them another call!

 

[Danger]

Post by @Mr H had me keen make my own and thank the community for the endless knowledge you all provide. I'm usually just a lurker and the info helped me lock in a J trip for myself and SO last month for the 2nd half of 2022.

Itinerary:
SYD-HKG-JFK (CX)
JFK-MAD (IB)
MAD-FCO (IB)
CDG-DOH-DXB (QR Qsuites)
DXB-DOH-NRT (QR Qsuites)
HND-SYD (JAL)

I have chosen to fly with Iberia as it significantly reduced the taxes and fees compared to BA.

However I am having some issues trying to select seats for my parter on their flights. By logging into RJ, I was able to select seats for all our flights but was only able to select seats for myself on IB flights.

Trying to sort this out has started to make me doubt my decision to fly with them. It is almost impossible to contact IB. I was only able to get through with a twitter DM with a response a month later, which didnt solve the problem. I get that its a first world problem having issues sorting out our seats but im now more so concerned about how reliable they will be and how Id get in contact with them if we ran into urgent issues.

Can anyone that has had IB on their OW award provide any insight into their experience with them. Also, has anyone run into seat selection issues with them and how were they sorted?

In my experience, IB is terrible.

Out of curiosity, what class are your DOH-DXB and DXB-DOH flights in? Qatar only operates Y and F on that route so I'm curious to know if you downgraded or if something odd has happened and you've managed to get an F seat on a J booking, in which case you'd have access to the F lounge.

 

[mikeQFF]

In my experience, IB is terrible.

Out of curiosity, what class are your DOH-DXB and DXB-DOH flights in? Qatar only operates Y and F on that route so I'm curious to know if you downgraded or if something odd has happened and you've managed to get an F seat on a J booking, in which case you'd have access to the F lounge.

Thanks for the response, were not too worried about the flight experience itself but hard to get past how terrible the customer service side has been so far.

I should have been more specific for those flights, they will be in Y

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the response, were not too worried about the flight experience itself but hard to get past how terrible the customer service side has been so far.

I should have been more specific for those flights, they will be in Y

AA has relatively good customer service and no surcharges transatlantic. If something goes wrong on the day it's hard to go past US airlines for good handling.

 

[Mattg]

I used Iberia for a Oneworld Award a couple of years ago. The intra-Europe J segment was not that great, but it got me where I needed to go. The trans-Atlantic flight (this was on an A340-600) was actually quite good and I slept well on the lie-flat bed. When the alternative is to pay an extra USD700 for BA's fuel surcharge or get stuck without any flights, I think Iberia is fine.

I would avoid Iberia Express, however! Worse legroom than Jetstar, even in J.

 

[mikeQFF]

I used Iberia for a Oneworld Award a couple of years ago. The intra-Europe J segment was not that great, but it got me where I needed to go. The trans-Atlantic flight (this was on an A340-600) was actually quite good and I slept well on the lie-flat bed. When the alternative is to pay an extra USD700 for BA's fuel surcharge or get stuck without any flights, I think Iberia is fine.

I would avoid Iberia Express, however! Worse legroom than Jetstar, even in J.

That is really good to hear! I must be overthinking it and thats given me some confidence, thanks

 

[GaryLG]

I can see on my bookings that BA flights and seat requests have to be dealt with on their site and and a reference number is provided (and you pay for it) but what about JL flights?

I cannot see a reference number or any other details.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can see on my bookings that BA flights and seat requests have to be dealt with on their site and and a reference number is provided (and you pay for it) but what about JL flights?

I cannot see a reference number or any other details.

Have you entered the Qantas booking reference? (I think for my last JL flights I just entered the number generated by Alaska Airlines).

 

[Matt_01]

@GaryLG for JL you normally go to MMB and log in as non JMB member then your flight details should appear.

 

[GaryLG]

Have you entered the Qantas booking reference? (I think for my last JL flights I just entered the number generated by Alaska Airlines).

I hadn't even got to a point where I could enter that information.

Post automatically merged: Oct 29, 2021

@GaryLG for JL you normally go to MMB and log in as non JMB member then your flight details should appear.

Sorry MMB? JMB? I'm in need of a bit more information please?

 

[GaryLG]

Sorry MMB? JMB? I'm in need of a bit more information please?

Worked out JAL Mileage Bank but not MMB and how to log in as a non member and I now seem stuck logged in as a member!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I hadn't even got to a point where I could enter that information.

Post automatically merged: Oct 29, 2021

Sorry MMB? JMB? I'm in need of a bit more information please?

MMB = Manage My Booking

On the japan airlines website: https://www.jal.co.jp/au/en/ you'll see 'manage booking' just above the 'from->to' box