Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Montyrulz15]

, very new to the whole one world concept. Just a quick question, I note the Qantas multi city tool only allows 6 flights. How would you book the remaining 10 if you wished to utilise the full 16 flights? Also how does this work in terms of points? For example if I had 320k pts for a business class rtw trip, how would I book all flight legs with only that many? I’ve read that you get refunded points? But how would that work if you didn’t have enough points for the original pricing? Hope that makes sense

 

[Mr H]

, very new to the whole one world concept. Just a quick question, I note the Qantas multi city tool only allows 6 flights. How would you book the remaining 10 if you wished to utilise the full 16 flights? Also how does this work in terms of points? For example if I had 320k pts for a business class rtw trip, how would I book all flight legs with only that many? I’ve read that you get refunded points? But how would that work if you didn’t have enough points for the original pricing? Hope that makes sense

One World Award, not RTW. You get extra legs added by phoning up. The price in points caps out at 318,000 as long as the rules for a OWA are met. No need to pay more and get points back.

 

[Montyrulz15]

One World Award, not RTW. You get extra legs added by phoning up. The price in points caps out at 318,000 as long as the rules for a OWA are met. No need to pay more and get points back.

Thank you. I’ve read that you need to pay a fee for phoning up as well?

 

[levelnine]

Thank you. I’ve read that you need to pay a fee for phoning up as well?

5,000 points per person per change.

 

[Mr H]

5,000 points per person per change.

Yes, but each chargeable change can incorporate multiple amendments.

I think if you don’t book the first six sectors online but do your first booking by phone then there’s no charge for that initial booking - but I’m willing to be corrected.

 

[levelnine]

Yes, but each chargeable change can incorporate multiple amendments.

I think if you don’t book the first six sectors online but do your first booking by phone then there’s no charge for that initial booking - but I’m willing to be corrected.

There is a reward assistance fee of 7,700 points per passenger for bookings made by phone, but it can generally be waived by stating you cannot book the flight online.

 

[Mr H]

There is a reward assistance fee of 7,700 points per passenger for bookings made by phone, but it can generally be waived by stating you cannot book the flight online.

Ah yes, that’s right. I got in an argument with a Fijian over that who agreed reluctantly to waive the fee, charged it anyway and I had to get the FF people to undo it.

 

[Montyrulz15]

There is a reward assistance fee of 7,700 points per passenger for bookings made by phone, but it can generally be waived by stating you cannot book the flight online.

Thanks so much. So does that mean for each of the additional 10 or so flights I would like to add that I’d need to call? Wonder why they all can’t just be booked online…

 

[levelnine]

Thanks so much. So does that mean for each of the additional 10 or so flights I would like to add that I’d need to call? Wonder why they all can’t just be booked online…

The best method is to book as many of the flights as you can online and then add the extra flights via phone in batches, so you are reducing your change fees.

The challenge is that the longer you wait to add flights, the greater the likelihood that someone else will take them.

So you need to balance the desire to reduce change fees (and ticketing complications) against the desire to attain the flights you want.

Why don't Qantas allow you to book everything online? Because multi-sector, multi-airline award tickets are enormously complex with all sorts of routing and tax calculations, so it would require considerable IT expenditure to make that accessible for the customer. And they make minimal profit from those types of award tickets. High cost, low profit = no investment.

 

[Montyrulz15]

The best method is to book as many of the flights as you can online and then add the extra flights via phone in batches, so you are reducing your change fees.

The challenge is that the longer you wait to add flights, the greater the likelihood that someone else will take them.

So you need to balance the desire to reduce change fees (and ticketing complications) against the desire to attain the flights you want.

Why don't Qantas allow you to book everything online? Because multi-sector, multi-airline award tickets are enormously complex with all sorts of routing and tax calculations, so it would require considerable IT expenditure to make that accessible for the customer. And they make minimal profit from those types of award tickets. High cost, low profit = no investment.

Fantastic. That makes sense. So can you book flights online (additional to the original 6)? If so, would you just find flights that meet the criteria? Or is there another way?

 

[levelnine]

So can you book flights online (additional to the original 6)? If so, would you just find flights that meet the criteria? Or is there another way?

No, you can only book the original set of flights online. All subsequent changes (additions, modifications, removals) must be done via phone.

You can use the online tool to help find flights, but you'll need to assess whether they meet the criteria by yourself (eg you need to ensure you're not adding any non-oneworld carriers to the ticket).

 

[Montyrulz15]

No, you can only book the original set of flights online. All subsequent changes (additions, modifications, removals) must be done via phone.

You can use the online tool to help find flights, but you'll need to assess whether they meet the criteria by yourself (eg you need to ensure you're not adding any non-oneworld carriers to the ticket).

Great. That makes sense.

As long as I meet the requirements then it should only be a max 318k points (assuming booking over phone points are waived)? I’m just concerned as I will likely just have a little over that amount and won’t have enough to cover additional points. Will the person over the phone confirm if I’ve met requirements? Or are they not much help at all? Really appreciate your assistance

 

[levelnine]

As long as I meet the requirements then it should only be a max 318k points (assuming booking over phone points are waived)? I’m just concerned as I will likely just have a little over that amount and won’t have enough to cover additional points. Will the person over the phone confirm if I’ve met requirements? Or are they not much help at all? Really appreciate your assistance

Yes, if you meet the criteria, the ticket will max out at 318K points per person.

The phone operator will be able to confirm the points cost before it is booked, but if it is more than 318K points, they may not give you an accurate answer as to which rule has been broken. Some phone operators are good, some are hopeless.

 

[Montyrulz15]

Yes, if you meet the criteria, the ticket will max out at 318K points per person.

The phone operator will be able to confirm the points cost before it is booked, but if it is more than 318K points, they may not give you an accurate answer as to which rule has been broken. Some phone operators are good, some are hopeless.

Amazing. Thank you so much for your help.

Just one last question, would you recommend booking as many flights as possible at once over the phone? Or doing them one or two at a time as you travel?

 

[Mr H]

Great. That makes sense.

As long as I meet the requirements then it should only be a max 318k points (assuming booking over phone points are waived)? I’m just concerned as I will likely just have a little over that amount and won’t have enough to cover additional points. Will the person over the phone confirm if I’ve met requirements? Or are they not much help at all? Really appreciate your assistance

Do not, under any circumstances, mention OWA on the phone. This will confuse the agent and makes it less likely that you will ever get a ticket. Just confirm how much the total price is in points and trust that the computer will max it out at 318. If it comes to more, you will find that your booking/route does not comply with the rules.

 

[Montyrulz15]

Do not, under any circumstances, mention OWA on the phone. This will confuse the agent and makes it less likely that you will ever get a ticket. Just confirm how much the total price is in points and trust that the computer will max it out at 318. If it comes to more, you will find that your booking/route does not comply with the rules.

Ah okay. So will the operator confirm the 318 before officially booking?

 

[levelnine]

Just one last question, would you recommend booking as many flights as possible at once over the phone? Or doing them one or two at a time as you travel?

Book as many as possible. No flights can be added after you've taken your first flight.

 

[Mr H]

Ah okay. So will the operator confirm the 318 before officially booking?

Yes

 

[Montyrulz15]

Book as many as possible. No flights can be added after you've taken your first flight.

Oh okay. Thanks heaps

Post automatically merged: Nov 28, 2022

Yes

Thanks for all that. Much appreciated

 

[marioh]

Hi All,
I've managed to make a OWA booking for mid 2023:
MEL - SYD - ICN
NRT - FRA
ORY - MAD - ATH
ATH - LHR - ORD
ORD - HKG - MEL

Does anyone know if it would be possible for me to call up and swap out my 1st leg (MEL- SYD - ICN) for a MEL - NRT flight on an earlier date? I'm not sure how risky it would be, as I certainly don't want to have my whole itinerary cancelled by an inexperienced operator..

FWIW I have gold status, so won't be able to reach the Hobart call centre.

Cheers