Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Kangol]

It looks like you’re right.
From the T&Cs:

'Flight' means one way travel (without a Stopover) on a scheduled air service with a single flight number (even if the travel includes a change of aircraft). If travel includes a change of flight number, each change is a new Flight even if there is no change of aircraft

So does that mean the MEL ’transit’ wouldn’t count as one of the 16 segments either?
And, if not, then would the distance be calculated as CBR-DOH, or CBR-MEL-DOH?

I'm pretty sure it would be counted as origin to destination, CBR-DOH, because the system sees it as one segment on one flight number.

 

[squid01]

All good thanks for having a look!!

Think we will just have to make our own way from KUL to HKT on a revenue fare with Malindo. This means an 8hr stop over in HKT instead of a 10hr one, no through checked bags, no lounge at KUL, must clear immigration at KUL. A fair few minor inconveniences stacking up with this but at least we can retain the overall route from ADL>LHR. Don't want to lose those J seats on QR from HKT to LHR.

Guess I will just get them to drop that flight, suppose then they need to reticket the whole intinery then?

In regards to the above I was thinking of booking the cheapest MH airfare from KUL to somewhere in Malaysia so I can then get lounge access at KUL. Would only cost about $30 each and probably worth it? Coming off a long haul international flight in business (PER>KUL) and then can have access as going on an economy short haul domestic flight with MH, that will grant me lounge access yes?

I would plan to just be a no show for that MH flight from KUL. Or when I go to get my Malindo flight maybe tell them at the lounge I will be a no show? Any ramifications on doing that? The MH flight will be a seperate PNR of course.

 

[doonie]

Hi all, I'm hoping this is the right place to ask. I would like to book SYD-LHR on Qantas (using classic rewards) for ideally 24th June 2023 but okay with leaving in the few days after that. I've been looking every day at 11am for 353 days ahead to see if Qantas release any QF flights but all I can see is Qatar and BA flights but they cost more in points and money (66,200 points and $460).
Do I wait and see if Qantas release any rewards flights or just suck it up and book the BA flight? I know it is peak time but I really don't want my high school aged kids to miss school if possible, plus we want to go to Wimbledon
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[ChrisMars]

Hi all, I'm hoping this is the right place to ask. I would like to book SYD-LHR on Qantas (using classic rewards) for ideally 24th June 2023 but okay with leaving in the few days after that. I've been looking every day at 11am for 353 days ahead to see if Qantas release any QF flights but all I can see is Qatar and BA flights but they cost more in points and money (66,200 points and $460).
Do I wait and see if Qantas release any rewards flights or just suck it up and book the BA flight? I know it is peak time but I really don't want my high school aged kids to miss school if possible, plus we want to go to Wimbledon
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

If you have double the points of what is needed, I would do the following:
Secure the booking on QR or BA.
Keep looking for availabilitirs on Qantas. If something comes up, book Qantas, then once ticketed, cancel QR or BA for free. Cancelation of international awards is free and fullt refundable till the end of the year if not mistaken (check first).

If you dont have enough points, you can, instead of booking-canceling, call Qantas to change your QR or BA award to the Qantas one (if you find award of course). There is a tiny risk that the call center stuff up, as seen in several threads recently, but in theory that ahould work. This is allso free till the end of the year if not mistaken.

In any case, if you book QR, be aware that Qantas needs to ticket your itinery within a day or two (can t remember exactly) or QR will drop your award. So if you don t get the pdf ticket quickly, you will need to call and insist with the call center. BA is better as far as I know, in that aspect.

Good luck

 

[doonie]

If you have double the points of what is needed, I would do the following:
Secure the booking on QR or BA.
Keep looking for availabilitirs on Qantas. If something comes up, book Qantas, then once ticketed, cancel QR or BA for free. Cancelation of international awards is free and fullt refundable till the end of the year if not mistaken (check first).

If you dont have enough points, you can, instead of booking-canceling, call Qantas to change your QR or BA award to the Qantas one (if you find award of course). There is a tiny risk that the call center stuff up, as seen in several threads recently, but in theory that ahould work. This is allso free till the end of the year if not mistaken.

In any case, if you book QR, be aware that Qantas needs to ticket your itinery within a day or two (can t remember exactly) or QR will drop your award. So if you don t get the pdf ticket quickly, you will need to call and insist with the call center. BA is better as far as I know, in that aspect.

Good luck

Oh yes great idea, thank you so much! I will double check the refund conditions.

 

[jeza]

Hi all, I'm hoping this is the right place to ask. I would like to book SYD-LHR on Qantas (using classic rewards) for ideally 24th June 2023 but okay with leaving in the few days after that. I've been looking every day at 11am for 353 days ahead to see if Qantas release any QF flights but all I can see is Qatar and BA flights but they cost more in points and money (66,200 points and $460).
Do I wait and see if Qantas release any rewards flights or just suck it up and book the BA flight? I know it is peak time but I really don't want my high school aged kids to miss school if possible, plus we want to go to Wimbledon
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

Do you have status with QF? If you are Bronze you won't see any QF flights until 297 days out by that time they are often taken.

As others have advised book what you can get now & look at other options if they become available.

 

[doonie]

Do you have status with QF? If you are Bronze you won't see any QF flights until 297 days out by that time they are often taken.

As others have advised book what you can get now & look at other options if they become available.

I'm a lowly Bronze. I've booked the BA flight and will keep looking, thank you

 

[melbkate]

Looks like QR989 CBR-DOH is on a single flight number, meaning the transit in MEL is not counted in the system - despite the plane stopping in MEL.

And what does that mean for me? I have rung qantas and tried to get them to allow me to book / board in MEL but they say the CBR flight 989 does not do to Melbourne (even though it does.) Do I have any hope?

Secondly, if I book the CBR-DOH-FCO flight can I return to (not CBR) Melbourne prob on JAL thanks

 

[Kangol]

And what does that mean for me? I have rung qantas and tried to get them to allow me to book / board in MEL but they say the CBR flight 989 does not do to Melbourne (even though it does.) Do I have any hope?

Secondly, if I book the CBR-DOH-FCO flight can I return to (not CBR) Melbourne prob on JAL thanks

It means you are unable to book from/board the QR flight in MEL.
You have to go to CBR and start there. If you don't board in CBR (no show), the rest of your ticket is cancelled.
You have no hope in your original question, unless award availability changes and the segments get unmarried (this seems unlikely).

If you book CBR-DOH-FCO, yes you can return to MEL.

As per my above posts, the system sees CBR-DOH as a single segment with a single flight number. It acts as if the MEL stop to pick up passengers doesn't exist. Yes the plane literally stops in MEL, but that is irrelevant because it's a single flight number.

 

[melbkate]

Thanks Kangol for the clear yet brutal information I shall comtemplate a night in Canberra and a stop in MEL for no reason but to get a J seat to FCO

 

[Kangol]

The 90 minute "stop" in MEL probably wouldn't be an actual transfer. I would be surprised if they made everyone disembark.

 

[melbkate]

It looks like you’re right.
From the T&Cs:

'Flight' means one way travel (without a Stopover) on a scheduled air service with a single flight number (even if the travel includes a change of aircraft). If travel includes a change of flight number, each change is a new Flight even if there is no change of aircraft

So does that mean the MEL ’transit’ wouldn’t count as one of the 16 segments either?
And, if not, then would the distance be calculated as CBR-DOH, or CBR-MEL-DOH?

Looks like QR989 CBR-DOH is on a single flight number, meaning the transit in MEL is not counted in the system - despite the plane stopping in MEL.

Hi Kangol I have put in to one search: MEL-CBR o/n in CBR (less than 24hrs) then CBR-FCO CDG-HEL HEL-MRT NRT-MEL and I am getting 636k for 2J so does that mean leaving from MEL and the next day CBR is ok and within the rules for a OWA? I'm not worried about distance just 2 Australian departures as somebody mentioned. Thanks

 

[Kangol]

Hi Kangol I have put in to one search: MEL-CBR o/n in CBR (less than 24hrs) then CBR-FCO CDG-HEL HEL-MRT NRT-MEL and I am getting 636k for 2J so does that mean leaving from MEL and the next day CBR is ok and within the rules for a OWA? I'm not worried about distance just 2 Australian departures as somebody mentioned. Thanks

Yes, looks like you are within the rules with a transfer in CBR and stops in FCO, HEL and NRT.
It is certainly priced as a OWA.
Surface segment from FCO to CDG as well.

 

[Mr H]

Quick question. Oman Air (WY) is slated to join OneWorld in 2024. At what point would we be able to book WY flights on a OWA itinerary?

• only bookable after the date WY joins
• bookable ahead of WY joining if the date of the flight is after joining? - if so, how far ahead of joining is that likely to be?

I suspect I know the answer but just dreaming about travel in 2024...

 

[BWKopite]

Hi,
Very useful information here for someone trying to book for the first time!
After slugging through credit cards for the past couple of years me and my partner finally have 640,000 point to book a RTW trip!

I've been trying to book for the past week or so and im finding it incredibly hard.
Our itinery is:
MEL - CUN - 06/03/23
CUN - LHR - 14/03/23
LHR - HKT - 01/05/23
HKT - KUL - 09/05/23
KUL - MEL - 12/05/23
Ive done it on the website, and managed to get the point to cap at 318,000 per person, however I then get the error message

We could not find a fare for the requested itinerary (5685 UI)

I called 13 13 13, and the girl was absolutely clueless. She didnt seem to understand the RTW trip at all, and kept telling me that I was the issue, for ever changing reasons:
-Flights are not available (Even though I can see them on the website, and she could magically see them later)
-I am not allowed to book because I am a bronze member?
-You cannot book business class if a single connecting flight is economy class

Any advice?

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Hi,
Very useful information here for someone trying to book for the first time!
After slugging through credit cards for the past couple of years me and my partner finally have 640,000 point to book a RTW trip!

I've been trying to book for the past week or so and im finding it incredibly hard.
Our itinery is:
MEL - CUN - 06/03/23
CUN - LHR - 14/03/23
LHR - HKT - 01/05/23
HKT - KUL - 09/05/23
KUL - MEL - 12/05/23
Ive done it on the website, and managed to get the point to cap at 318,000 per person, however I then get the error message

We could not find a fare for the requested itinerary (5685 UI)

I called 13 13 13, and the girl was absolutely clueless. She didnt seem to understand the RTW trip at all, and kept telling me that I was the issue, for ever changing reasons:
-Flights are not available (Even though I can see them on the website, and she could magically see them later)
-I am not allowed to book because I am a bronze member?
-You cannot book business class if a single connecting flight is economy class

Any advice?

One option is to call again, and again as many times as necessary until you get someone capable of building your itinerary and getting it ticketed.

Another option is to just try to book the first 4 sectors Yourself on the website.
Then, once they’re secured, call up to add the last sector.

There are pros & cons to doing this, but if option 1 doesn’t work, then you’re starting to run out of alternatives…

Some Pros:
You get 80% of your sectors, and probably closer to 90% of the value, booked before someone else grabs the award seats.
If it books through the website then it *should* ticket automatically.

Some Cons:
You still need to call up to make a change, which will expose you to potential errors during that process. (There are many threads on this forum describing some of those dangers…)

Of course, if you’ve got yourself back to KUL, and it’s too hard to add the extra sector back to MEL, you could just buy a revenue seat for that bit…

 

[Mr H]

Hi,
Very useful information here for someone trying to book for the first time!
After slugging through credit cards for the past couple of years me and my partner finally have 640,000 point to book a RTW trip!

I've been trying to book for the past week or so and im finding it incredibly hard.
Our itinery is:
MEL - CUN - 06/03/23
CUN - LHR - 14/03/23
LHR - HKT - 01/05/23
HKT - KUL - 09/05/23
KUL - MEL - 12/05/23
Ive done it on the website, and managed to get the point to cap at 318,000 per person, however I then get the error message

We could not find a fare for the requested itinerary (5685 UI)

I called 13 13 13, and the girl was absolutely clueless. She didnt seem to understand the RTW trip at all, and kept telling me that I was the issue, for ever changing reasons:
-Flights are not available (Even though I can see them on the website, and she could magically see them later)
-I am not allowed to book because I am a bronze member?
-You cannot book business class if a single connecting flight is economy class

Any advice?

When calling, do not mention OWA or RTW. Do not mention stopovers. That may confuse the agent. You just need to say you want to book some flights on an itinerary and you will give them one by one - do them flight by flight, not stopover to stopover. Then start at the beginning and the points should cap out at 318,000 while the taxes and charges keep mounting.

The bit about not being allowed an economy sector is a new thing. It is incorrect but it seems to be commonly applied. I was able to get around it by finding an indirect route all in J, but you may have less luck. If necessary, leave it as an open jaw and come back to it later. If you have to, you could do it in revenue.

 

[gourmet333]

Hi Everyone, I'm trying to book some Qantas J Class rewards seats in April next year from Melbourne. Into Casablanca on the 4th April and out of Barcelona on the 29th or thereabouts. I'll do it s 2 separate tickets.
Can't find anything in J to Casablanca so I'll keep looking everyday but I managed to find a BCN - DOH / DOH - MEL through the multi city function, the first leg being in economy. BUT when I work though the booking it comes up with an error at the end. I've tried a couple of times to get through to Qantas but after a few hours I have had to give up. Has anyone struck this before? Are there any pixies in the system I'm not aware of that may be causing this?
I did try to break the 2 sectors up into 2 separate tickets, whilst it looked like I would be able to book BCN-DOH, it wouldn't let me search for DOH-MEL
Any advice or work arounds gratefully received.
Thanks.

 

[aikman]

Hi Everyone, I'm trying to book some Qantas J Class rewards seats in April next year from Melbourne. Into Casablanca on the 4th April and out of Barcelona on the 29th or thereabouts. I'll do it s 2 separate tickets.
Can't find anything in J to Casablanca so I'll keep looking everyday but I managed to find a BCN - DOH / DOH - MEL through the multi city function, the first leg being in economy. BUT when I work though the booking it comes up with an error at the end. I've tried a couple of times to get through to Qantas but after a few hours I have had to give up. Has anyone struck this before? Are there any pixies in the system I'm not aware of that may be causing this?
I did try to break the 2 sectors up into 2 separate tickets, whilst it looked like I would be able to book BCN-DOH, it wouldn't let me search for DOH-MEL
Any advice or work arounds gratefully received.
Thanks.

Are you even sure you want to book that? Taxes alone are $1,236 and half your journey is in economy.

 

[gourmet333]

Are you even sure you want to book that? Taxes alone are $1,236 and half your journey is in economy.

Yes, it's not great value but I really want to at least fly the long segment in J class (tricky back!) even if I have to fly economy for the short leg. But unfortunately there were no J class seats on offer for that first segment. I know Emirates & Qatar have high taxes but none of the other Oneworld partner airlines are popping up with any options.