Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Matt_01]

@Captain Halliday thanks for the response. The “positioning flight” will be a seperate PNR most likely revenue when a NZ sale comes along or a points flight if QF have a discount promotion, happy to spend 3.5 in Y. I did look at SIN, KUL or CGK, DPS options but didn't fancy spending 6-7 hours getting to the start point and then returning. I am only looking at this plan as we will head to France in 2023 (was planned for this year but have pushed it back to 2023) and if travelling on a partner airline the cost is 318K points so the extra trip to Japan is just a bonus and we like Japan. As for any side trips from France these would be minimal and I would be revenue. As long as we can get to/from Japan and France in J the rest is incidental.

 

[Captain Halliday]

@Captain Halliday thanks for the response. The “positioning flight” will be a seperate PNR most likely revenue when a NZ sale comes along or a points flight if QF have a discount promotion, happy to spend 3.5 in Y. I did look at SIN, KUL or CGK, DPS options but didn't fancy spending 6-7 hours getting to the start point and then returning. I am only looking at this plan as we will head to France in 2023 (was planned for this year but have pushed it back to 2023) and if travelling on a partner airline the cost is 318K points so the extra trip to Japan is just a bonus and we like Japan. As for any side trips from France these would be minimal and I would be revenue. As long as we can get to/from Japan and France in J the rest is incidental.

Fair enough. What I’ve done for a couple of trips is either a revenue fare or classic award to SIN and start the OWA from there.

I agree with you that it’s a long way to get to your starting point, but remember you can still end in AU. You don’t have to go back to SIN. Just remember to include the miles back to SIN.

The other possibility with your routing is to make ADL-HND your positioning fight. And book the rest as an award from starting from HND. It might leave you enough miles to include Korea in the award on JL, rather than revenue fares.

 

[BillW]

For a multi city award fare, does one internal Australian leg count as a stopover? Even Syd-Mel? Or ADL or PER?

 

[Mattg]

For a multi city award fare, does one internal Australian leg count as a stopover? Even Syd-Mel? Or ADL or PER?

Any break between flights of more than 24 hours counts as a stopover. If less than 24 hours, not a stopover.

 

[ChrisMars]

Any break between flights of more than 24 hours counts as a stopover. If less than 24 hours, not a stopover.

Isn't Australia domestic stopover based on calendar day? Or maybe this doesnt apply for an oneworld award?

 

[Oubline]

Isn't Australia domestic stopover based on calendar day? Or maybe this doesnt apply for an oneworld award?

For itineraries containing a domestic to international connecting flight, the 24 hour rule applies.

From the Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions:

'Stopover' in relation to:

(a) an Australian domestic Itinerary, means a break of journey at an intermediate point when onward travel does not take place on the same calendar day; and
(b) for all other Itineraries, including those containing a domestic to international connecting flight, means when a passenger arrives at an intermediate point and is not scheduled to depart within 24 hours of arrival;

 

[BillW]

I have put together an acceptable Classic Award flight using in Business all OW carriers, QF to Perth, then MH to SIN, UL to CMB and QR to DUB. 256,500 points + $882.35.
It is a one way fare, no return. But in the T&Cs is this: "the points required will be calculated using the oneworld® Classic Flight Reward table, and will be based on a return itinerary."
This just after saying: "The Qantas Points required for a Classic Flight Reward on Qantas and partner airlines are calculated based on a one way trip or a series of one way trips using the Qantas Classic Flight Reward table".
Are these statements contradictory? I do not intend to book a return.

 

[aikman]

I have put together an acceptable Classic Award flight using in Business all OW carriers, QF to Perth, then MH to SIN, UL to CMB and QR to DUB. 256,500 points + $882.35.
It is a one way fare, no return. But in the T&Cs is this: "the points required will be calculated using the oneworld® Classic Flight Reward table, and will be based on a return itinerary."
This just after saying: "The Qantas Points required for a Classic Flight Reward on Qantas and partner airlines are calculated based on a one way trip or a series of one way trips using the Qantas Classic Flight Reward table".
Are these statements contradictory? I do not intend to book a return.

I don't think it's contradictory. You will be charged the lower of
a) a series of one way trips, or
b) if using the oneworld award chart, the mileage based on a return itinerary.

Almost all trips from Australia to Europe return will fall within the 318,000 point category because of the minimum mileage. So your particular one way itinerary only costs 256,000 because you have been charged based on a series of one way trips, noting that you start a new one way trip every time you change partner airlines, regardless if it is an immediate connection.

 

[Matt_01]

Does any one know how far out Finnair release J rewards, from memory Y release is around 361 days however I think a read somewhere that J are only released much closer to the travel date.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Does any one know how far out Finnair release J rewards, from memory Y release is around 361 days however I think a read somewhere that J are only released much closer to the travel date.

D-60 to partners.

 

[jbman]

I thought I would ask here as this thread has the award masters

I am looking at flights from EU > SYD one way not RTW

I have noticed, if I just search for example LHR > SYD I can see heaps of flights to book with BA via QF awards

If I add something at the front or end, eg LHR > SYD > BNE i get different results not matter what I try like LHR > SYD > BNE with Multi city i can‘t get the LHR > SYD flight. Same happens if I try say DUB > LHR > SYD I get different flights in all the sectors.

It just seems the long flight in the middle LHR > SYD

So my question is, can I book the flight I want LHR > SYD then call or make an online change to add the DUB > part for example If I could see it available from another search.

I have encountered married segments during other bookings in the past where I needed to add more to get more but this seems to be the other way around.

Any help on this would be appreciated

cheers

 

[Mattg]

D-60 to partners.

Is this a hard-and-fast rule? I've booked Finnair J award seats much further out, both prior to COVID and recently (e.g. on the SIN-HEL route).

 

[vetrade]

D-60 to partners.

That seems to have gone out the window with Covid - J seats are available (even on long haul flights) at least 9 months out. I have booked 5 AY flights all in J for travel between July and October this year including HEL - HND

 

[DC3]

… can I book the flight I want LHR > SYD then call or make an online change to add the DUB > part for example If I could see it available from another search …

The Call Centre is able to add any extra flights that you want, as long as there is (actual) availability. Unfortunately, what you see and what the Call Centre sees may be two different things.

If you are wanting to change an existing booking (i.e., keeping the same booking reference number), it cannot be done on-line, and you will need to speak with the Call Centre.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Is this a hard-and-fast rule? I've booked Finnair J award seats much further out, both prior to COVID and recently (e.g. on the SIN-HEL route).

Restricting availability to AY members until D-60 was introduced just before Covid.

I’ve not seen any relaxation since, but I have no reason to doubt @vetrade and would be delighted to jag AY J as I’ve had good long haul experiences with them in the past.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The Call Centre is able to add any extra flights that you want, as long as there is (actual) availability. Unfortunately, what you see and what the Call Centre sees may be two different things.

If you are wanting to change an existing booking (i.e., keeping the same booking reference number), it cannot be done on-line, and you will need to speak with the Call Centre.

Agree - but also as long as the added flights don't breach any rules or restrictions in place... for example married segments, cabotage or minimum connecting times. The call centre can't fix things like that.

 

[jbman]

Agree - but also as long as the added flights don't breach any rules or restrictions in place... for example married segments, cabotage or minimum connecting times. The call centre can't fix things like that.

The Call Centre is able to add any extra flights that you want, as long as there is (actual) availability. Unfortunately, what you see and what the Call Centre sees may be two different things.

If you are wanting to change an existing booking (i.e., keeping the same booking reference number), it cannot be done on-line, and you will need to speak with the Call Centre.

Thank you both for the info

I feel I have some overly complex situation going on here were my original starting point say DUB shows many flights to LHR when it’s searched as DUB > SYD for example, however when I do DUB > LHR > SYD the DUB > LHR flights all change and mostly show up as DUB > LCY. It’s almost like what I have seen previously with a married segment for the DUB>LHR giving me more options.

If I did book the LHR > SYD and managed to get something in front like DUB would the taxes be calculated again and be reduced from the UK taxes down to the EU taxes, hence getting a refund on the huge taxes due when flying out of LHR?

thank you all for the help

 

[Jacques Vert]

Restricting availability to AY members until D-60 was introduced just before Covid.

I’ve not seen any relaxation since, but I have no reason to doubt @vetrade and would be delighted to jag AY J as I’ve had good long haul experiences with them in the past.

I can see AY flights on 5 January availalbe for booking on QF (sorry for the lack of formatting):

Tokyo (Haneda)
01:35
Helsinki
04:30
01:35
04:30
Flight AY62 is operated by Finnair
Total duration 9h 55m

 

[Matt_01]

If I did book the LHR > SYD and managed to get something in front like DUB would the taxes be calculated again and be reduced from the UK taxes down to the EU taxes, hence getting a refund on the huge taxes due when flying out of LHR?

Yes you will, in the past I have booked many flights from LHR to lots of locations and depending on our final plans added in a starting sector from CDG, FRA etc just to avoid the London Tax.

 

[jbman]

Yes you will, in the past I have booked many flights from LHR to lots of locations and depending on our final plans added in a starting sector from CDG, FRA etc just to avoid the London Tax.

Oh that’s fantastic news. I will look into booking the LHR flight and then work on getting things added around it.

Much appreciated