Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the feedback, Matt.

As it turns out the Tokyo part of the trip is just a layover, but l broke it up due to different carriers. I should have written it like this:

Melbourne-Tokyo-Helnsinki-Rome (Qantas & Finnair)

If a cancellation by a carrier occurs, do they, (or Qantas) try and reschedule you to another flight? Or does the onus lay on me to choose a different route (and possibly carrier) to keep the trip on the rails?

The carrier cancelling a flight will usually put you onto another one of their services... but that service may or may not connect with other flights in your itinerary. For example Qantas cancelled their flight to San Francisco and sent me to LAX instead. But the connecting flights were all out of SFO. Changing the flights out of SFO was the problem and were no longer available in the class originally booked. The passenger is free to find better connections, but they will usually be dependent on award availability.

 

[BillW]

This is potentially possible for under 35,000 miles (see example which I put together using Great Circle Mapper). Keep in mind that you need to complete the trip within 12 months.

View attachment 268180

Thanks Matt. This occurred to me just after my post.
Are there workable strategies to extend?
I realise that no flights can be booked now beyond that timeframe. But, can the trip be changed later, into a second year?

 

[Danger]

There is the risk of flights being cancelled, but there are other risks too - requirements for Covid testing can change suddenly; borders can close or become restricted (e.g. France has banned transit for non EU nationals); quarantine could be introduced. The really big risk, of course, is that you catch Covid and get sent to Covid-jail while the rest of your itinerary evaporates. Plus, even if it does go ahead, will you find yourself having to wear masks all the time.

Where are you getting information that France has banned transit for non-EU nationals?

 

[Mr H]

Where are you getting information that France has banned transit for non-EU nationals?

The news France travel ban: UK tourists need essential reason for entry

 

[Danger]

The news France travel ban: UK tourists need essential reason for entry

1) That article, from two weeks ago, refers to "new rules" having "come into force for people entering France from the UK" (my emphasis). It specifically says, "People intending to travel through France to another country are only allowed to make their journey if they stay within the international area of an airport for less than 24 hours."

2) The ban has been lifted, at least temporarily.

3) "Entry" and "transit" are two entirely different concepts in the travel world.

 

[Mr H]

1) That article, from two weeks ago, refers to "new rules" having "come into force for people entering France from the UK" (my emphasis). It specifically says, "People intending to travel through France to another country are only allowed to make their journey if they stay within the international area of an airport for less than 24 hours."

2) The ban has been lifted, at least temporarily.

3) "Entry" and "transit" are two entirely different concepts in the travel world.

Transit means entering a country from one country and leaving into another. That was prohibited, The fact that this restriction was imposed, then lifted, and is likely to be reimposed rather backs up my point that borders may close or become restricted with very little warning.

 

[PineappleSkip]

These are loosely used terms but it is incorrect to conflate transit/transfer with entry into the country for passengers. Transit and entry are not synonymous. The latter term for passengers is normally used to refer to clearing immigration, where you obtain formal permission to enter, and going landside. In the bulk of countries you can transfer to a flight to another country without entering through immigration, although some countries such as the US require everyone to clear immigration before their onward flight.

BTW the Australian facilities for transit are here. In some airports, e.g. SYD, you cannot transit overnight without entering, either a Transit or other visa if you don’t carry an Aust passport. Someone who can transit without a visa is referred to here as a transit without visa (TWOV) passenger.

Don’t understand your point about restrictions. Noone can enter a country, or transit without entry, without having the right documentation and every country imposes restrictions on who can enter or transit without entry. In most cases they just don’t look at the paperwork for people who transit without entering.

Note when it comes to the aircraft themselves and goods the terminology is of course different, but the bulk of countries have rules that permit goods to transit without entry for home consumption. With aircraft it may enter a country’s airspace with or without landing and entering the country itself.

 

[Mr H]

These are loosely used terms but it is incorrect to conflate transit/transfer with entry into the country ...

Transit means travel through a country. It can be done sometimes without leaving an airport, but if you care too look at my original post, it was clearly used to refer to transit through a country - being an example in brackets after a statement about border closures and restrictions. The post I was replying to included a surface sector from Rome to London, so it seemed like a particularly relevant example since transit through France was the likely (although not only possible) route. You will also maybe want to look at the number of countries - including Australia - that issue Transit Visas for such journeys. I know there's a certain type of forum dweller who lives for correcting the misuse of terminology even when it misses the point being made, but in this case the only people misunderstanding the term are those seeking to do the correcting.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Thanks, I seek to enlighten but clearly I have failed in that quest. We can all expect to get pulled up if we post something misleading, especially where there are exacting rules that trip people up. I have been and we generally learn from it.

Cheers skip

 

[Mattg]

Thanks Matt. This occurred to me just after my post.
Are there workable strategies to extend?
I realise that no flights can be booked now beyond that timeframe. But, can the trip be changed later, into a second year?

You can change some of the later flights in your booking (or add them) after making the original booking and before you depart for the first flight. But the time between the first and last flights on the ticket cannot be more than 12 months - that is a firm rule.

 

[BillW]

You can change some of the later flights in your booking (or add them) after making the original booking and before you depart for the first flight. But the time between the first and last flights on the ticket cannot be more than 12 months - that is a firm rule.

Ah, OK, that settles that wonderful plan. A good idea while it lasted.

 

[BillW]

You can change some of the later flights in your booking (or add them) after making the original booking and before you depart for the first flight. But the time between the first and last flights on the ticket cannot be more than 12 months - that is a firm rule.

But you can change your itinerary, change dates, add a leg, after departure, for a fee or points can't you?

 

[aikman]

But you can change your itinerary, change dates, add a leg, after departure, for a fee or points can't you?

Before you take the first flight you can make whatever changes you want.

After you take the first flight you can no longer change your destinations. All you can change at this point is dates and times.

 

[BillW]

Before you take the first flight you can make whatever changes you want.

After you take the first flight you can no longer change your destinations. All you can change at this point is dates and times.

12 months from proposed departure in, say, April 22, you can't find available flights yet. So, to make it as full a 12 months ticket as possible if booking now, I would have to book flights no later than Dec 22/Jan 23 but could then change their dates just prior to departure. Would that be right?

 

[cambriamarsh]

Before you take the first flight you can make whatever changes you want.

After you take the first flight you can no longer change your destinations. All you can change at this point is dates and times.

You can also change classes eg from Y to J if an award seat becomes available

 

[paul66]

I have a one world award in Business. I need to change one flight but availability is only available in first. I am happy to pay the additional points even though only one flight will be in first. I can see the First availability on Qantas website but when I call the callcentre they say they can not see any availability. I have called three time. The flight is JAL 5 JFK-HND 06/10/2022 - 2 passengers. I am wondering if they can not see availability as my ticket is in business. Once you fully book a oneworld award, can it be changed by adding a First Class flight or do I need to request a change in my booking type ?

 

[BillW]

You can change some of the later flights in your booking (or add them) after making the original booking and before you depart for the first flight. But the time between the first and last flights on the ticket cannot be more than 12 months - that is a firm rule.

Just asking, are the rules affecting time limit of a year and/or changes to the itinerary any different for a RTW awards booking?
And with RTW can you have more than the 6 segments?

 

[cjd600]

I have a one world award in Business. I need to change one flight but availability is only available in first. I am happy to pay the additional points even though only one flight will be in first. I can see the First availability on Qantas website but when I call the callcentre they say they can not see any availability. I have called three time. The flight is JAL 5 JFK-HND 06/10/2022 - 2 passengers. I am wondering if they can not see availability as my ticket is in business. Once you fully book a oneworld award, can it be changed by adding a First Class flight or do I need to request a change in my booking type ?

You should be able to add/change a leg in F, if available, and ticket will reprice as an F award

 

[DC3]

455,000 points, instead of 318,000 points, each passenger. I hope that it’s a good F seat on JL.

Nothing showing in Business for JL5 on 6/10/22, although it shows First as being available.

Edited

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

You should be able to add/change a leg in F, if available, and ticket will reprice as an F award

Of course, once you’re successful at adding the initial F sector, you may as well see how many other sectors you can change from J to F - there’s no further points penalty…