Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[QF029]

I tried to add an AS flight and was told it was not possible as they're not part of OneWorld. My recollection and Googling tells me they are. Is this a known issue?

 

[DC3]

I tried to add an AS flight and was told it was not possible as they're part of OneWorld. My recollection and Googling tells me they are. Is this a known issue?

AS is a oneworld member.

Edit: They joined on 31st March 2021, which is almost 10 months ago.

 

[kingzac]

We currently have the below booked in J for May but with the closure of Japan looking like extending even further we're looking at taking the safe option moving out the last two legs until January 2023. (We have a paid trip in December we will put it on the end of)

BNE>SYD>SIN>DOH>FRA (Long first day)
FRA>LHR>BHD
DUB>HEL
HEL>KEF
KEF>HEL>HND
HND>SYD>BNE

By my calc (Well GCMap), that is currently 26,377 miles.

If we are going to move the HND flight, could we change the second last leg to something like to:
KEF-LHR-GLA
GLA-LHR-CDG

And then finish in January with
FRA-HND
HND-SYD-BNE

I'd calc that as around 30k miles total. But I can never get my head around the segments etc.
Is this something we could do?
I'm not set on those places to add on, it was just a first idea, happy for suggestions.

 

[DC3]

I tried to add an AS flight and was told it was not possible as they're not part of OneWorld. My recollection and Googling tells me they are. Is this a known issue?

The only issue should be that you will probably find that an AS flight at the pointy end, booked as a QF classic award, is deemed to be First Class for using QF points. So, if changing a 318,000 business award itinerary, this will reprice as 455,000 points. Or, book an economy seat to keep it as 318,000.

 

[Mattg]

I tried to add an AS flight and was told it was not possible as they're not part of OneWorld. My recollection and Googling tells me they are. Is this a known issue?

Who told you that? I sure hope it wasn't the Qantas call centre because that's absolutely false.

Alaska Airlines - oneworld Member Airline

Alaska Airlines is now a member of the oneworld Alliance. Together with its affiliate airlines, Alaska Air flies to more than 100 destinations. Learn more.

www.oneworld.com

 

[DC3]

Who told you that? I sure hope it wasn't the Qantas call centre because that's absolutely false …

My money is on Cape Town.

 

[QF029]

Who told you that? I sure hope it wasn't the Qantas call centre because that's absolutely false.

Alaska Airlines - oneworld Member Airline

Alaska Airlines is now a member of the oneworld Alliance. Together with its affiliate airlines, Alaska Air flies to more than 100 destinations. Learn more.

www.oneworld.com

Yep it was the Qantas call centre. They said they also checked with another department. It's not a big deal I'll look at changing it later. After spending almost two hours adding 4 or 5 flights (not including wait time) I didn't have the energy to spend more time.

 

[cjd600]

Yep it was the Qantas call centre. They said they also checked with another department. It's not a big deal I'll look at changing it later. After spending almost two hours adding 4 or 5 flights (not including wait time) I didn't have the energy to spend more time.

I dread having to call and add/change a 'simple' flight now....drains the life out of you....

 

[ozflier]

I currently have 3 OWAs on the go and several overseas paid ones – hope they all survive.

Two of the OWAs are basically round the world ( though I know they do not need to be ) and their passage home via Asia is currently via Hong Kong .

Why via China, well, one tour finishes in Amman and another in Cairo .

Flights back thru north America are low on award J seats in June and September so most likely need to go via Singapore , Haneda or Hong Kong .

Qatar does not offer J class to / from AMM and CAI.

QF not offering much via Singapore

A connection from Doha thru SIN to BNE is not legal ( Singapore government rules )

Qatar still not offering J award flights for 2 pax from DOH to Australia .

I have booked Cathay from Dubai to HKG and from there , despite there being no Cathay flights out of HKG to BNE , I am booked J DXB-HKG but who knows how long HKG a viable transit point will be or Cathay will remain flying.

I know that I have various options should HKG not be available on the way home but I am wondering how other members, in the scenario where a pax could get to DXB or near to , and the options home via HKG disappear ( for political or other reasons) have thought out this situation.

I know Emirates is not a One World member but has anyone in a similar position to me ,been able to persuade QFF to break the rules about OWA and OW membership and be prepared to route the pax home on Emirates. I won’t confuse the matter further by adding whether or not QFF award seats are available for the particular flight.

Apologies for the confused nature of the question but I like to have plenty of options available in the current Covid pandemic and the potential loss of HKG as a well-served transfer points home from Europe.

 

[Guvner]

QF J SIN - MEL/SYD seems to be available sporadically I checked earlier today. If/when QF1 comes back in to service via SIN (June?) the A380 may open up some seats.

 

[Oubline]

QF J SIN - MEL/SYD seems to be available sporadically I checked earlier today. If/when QF1 comes back in to service via SIN (June?) the A380 may open up some seats.

I noticed unfortunately that the website won't allow the addition of a J SIN-MEL to a preceding long-haul J flight. For example HEL-SIN (AY J) and SIN-MEL (QF J) aren't allowed as options building a multi-city itinerary even though they can both be booked separately.

I haven't actually tried with the call centre yet though.

 

[Oubline]

I currently have 3 OWAs on the go and several overseas paid ones – hope they all survive.

Two of the OWAs are basically round the world ( though I know they do not need to be ) and their passage home via Asia is currently via Hong Kong .

Why via China, well, one tour finishes in Amman and another in Cairo .

Flights back thru north America are low on award J seats in June and September so most likely need to go via Singapore , Haneda or Hong Kong .

Qatar does not offer J class to / from AMM and CAI.

QF not offering much via Singapore

A connection from Doha thru SIN to BNE is not legal ( Singapore government rules )

Qatar still not offering J award flights for 2 pax from DOH to Australia .

I have booked Cathay from Dubai to HKG and from there , despite there being no Cathay flights out of HKG to BNE , I am booked J DXB-HKG but who knows how long HKG a viable transit point will be or Cathay will remain flying.

I know that I have various options should HKG not be available on the way home but I am wondering how other members, in the scenario where a pax could get to DXB or near to , and the options home via HKG disappear ( for political or other reasons) have thought out this situation.

I know Emirates is not a One World member but has anyone in a similar position to me ,been able to persuade QFF to break the rules about OWA and OW membership and be prepared to route the pax home on Emirates. I won’t confuse the matter further by adding whether or not QFF award seats are available for the particular flight.

Apologies for the confused nature of the question but I like to have plenty of options available in the current Covid pandemic and the potential loss of HKG as a well-served transfer points home from Europe.

Unfortunately it's tough to be planning right now with all these factors!

Others will have more direct experience but from what I've read here over the years Qantas will be of limited help where a partner changes or cancels the flight - I don't think they usually open up space on their own flights (perhaps different if you have high status) and have never heard of them allowing Emirates flights to be added.

If the worst happens I think the options are unfortunately to look for award space that's still available and/or Qantas can request the airline that cancelled the flight to reroute you on any other services they might have.

I do think the suggestion of Singapore stands out as a good potential option, perhaps with a worst case scenario of taking Y on the SIN-Australia leg since it's a relatively short flight and potentially survivable in an A330.

 

[ozflier]

I noticed unfortunately that the website won't allow the addition of a J SIN-MEL to a preceding long-haul J flight. For example HEL-SIN (AY J) and SIN-MEL (QF J) aren't allowed as options building a multi-city itinerary even though they can both be booked separately.

I haven't actually tried with the call centre yet though.

Call centre tells me that there are issues re Singapore restricting transit thru its country.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Call centre tells me that there are issues re Singapore restricting transit thru its country.

I dunno… both Qatar and Qantas are on the Singapore government and Changi airport ‘approved transit’ lists. Qatar Airways’ page - updated 5 days ago - says transits for connecting services via singapore are permitted between QR and QF. https://www.qatarairways.com/tradeportal/en-dz/news-updates/2021/transit-via-Singapore.html

If the flight to BNE is the specific problem… perhaps fly to SYD or MEL? Potentially split the bookings so one pax is via SIN and another via Japan? And a third option is for Sri Lankan in MEL.

 

[Oubline]

Call centre tells me that there are issues re Singapore restricting transit thru its country.

That’s interesting! It seems to work fine on the website for a transfer from SIN-Australia in Y, just not for the J seat on the same flight (even where both are available).

 

[ozflier]

I dunno… both Qatar and Qantas are on the Singapore government and Changi airport ‘approved transit’ lists. Qatar Airways’ page - updated 5 days ago - says transits for connecting services via singapore are permitted between QR and QF. https://www.qatarairways.com/tradeportal/en-dz/news-updates/2021/transit-via-Singapore.html

If the flight to BNE is the specific problem… perhaps fly to SYD or MEL? Potentially split the bookings so one pax is via SIN and another via Japan? And a third option is for Sri Lankan in MEL.

Ta for all the responses.
I'm caught up at the moment for a thorough response but here are quick thoughts
Qatar does not seem to be too popular with Canberra at the moment ( remember dragging the ladies off the flight for gynaecological examination at Doha).
QR does not have agreed traffic rights to Brisbane.
QR has been carrying a heavy freight load here so maybe they deserve some credit.
QR flights to/from to Australia don't offer business class award seating.
There is no option for a legal connection say from DOH to MEL via SIN and then on forwarding to BNE.
There was the option at one stage of getting J class awards MEL thru Colombo but they seem to have dried up.
All the options on offer keep chewing up segments and indeed an extra stopover in one scenario and I am close to the max .
I appreciate your thoughts and will respond more fully tomorrow.

 

[jase05]

Ta for all the responses.
I'm caught up at the moment for a thorough response but here are quick thoughts
Qatar does not seem to be too popular with Canberra at the moment ( remember dragging the ladies off the flight for gynaecological examination at Doha).
QR does not have agreed traffic rights to Brisbane.
QR has been carrying a heavy freight load here so maybe they deserve some credit.
QR flights to/from to Australia don't offer business class award seating.
There is no option for a legal connection say from DOH to MEL via SIN and then on forwarding to BNE.
There was the option at one stage of getting J class awards MEL thru Colombo but they seem to have dried up.
All the options on offer keep chewing up segments and indeed an extra stopover in one scenario and I am close to the max .
I appreciate your thoughts and will respond more fully tomorrow.

I’m hoping Indonesia opens up soon as there is always great J availability on QR DOH-CGK and QF CGK-SYD

 

[ozflier]

That’s interesting! It seems to work fine on the website for a transfer from SIN-Australia in Y, just not for the J seat on the same flight (even where both are available).

I can get thru SIN in Y award but not in J.

 

[ozflier]

Ta for all the responses.
I'm caught up at the moment for a thorough response but here are quick thoughts
Qatar does not seem to be too popular with Canberra at the moment ( remember dragging the ladies off the flight for gynaecological examination at Doha).
QR does not have agreed traffic rights to Brisbane.
QR has been carrying a heavy freight load here so maybe they deserve some credit.
QR flights to/from to Australia don't offer business class award seating.
There is no option for a legal connection say from DOH to MEL via SIN and then on forwarding to BNE.
There was the option at one stage of getting J class awards MEL thru Colombo but they seem to have dried up.
All the options on offer keep chewing up segments and indeed an extra stopover in one scenario and I am close to the max .
I appreciate your thoughts and will respond more fully tomorrow.

I have had OWA flights cancelled in the past ( then as a Gold) and the Agent was able to force the system to offer award seats on QF when they were not available . This we know but , on one occasion where there were no options between LHR and Haneda , a request went to BA and it came back "done" the next day !
Certainly I have not experienced an agent allowing a EK flight on a OWA in the circumstances I mentioned initially.
I am being premature with this line of thought but I just want to know what options are available.
Thank you for the feedback already.

 

[Courageousparrot]

The only issue should be that you will probably find that an AS flight at the pointy end, booked as a QF classic award, is deemed to be First Class for using QF points. So, if changing a 318,000 business award itinerary, this will reprice as 455,000 points. Or, book an economy seat to keep it as 318,000.

yeah it's so annoying basically, called up qantas last night and tried include this AS257 as part of business oneworld classic reward booking. The agent said she could see it's a business seat but classified as "First".

So she tried to put it in anyway, and when she quoted the booking, it messed up the points, total points required was 358,500 (did not even reprice to 455K as First OWA booking), and she said that the booking was not classified as a oneworld classic reward booking anymore if she included this AS257