Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Mr H]

Thanks. I tried it as a second flight (SYD - SIN > SIN - SGN). What am I doing wrong?

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Dunno - add it to the list of glitches. I guess you will have to phone up.

 

[turnipapple]

Dunno - add it to the list of glitches. I guess you will have to phone up.

Fair enough. Good to know it's just a glitch I guess. I originally took it as fact that Vietnam wasn't included.

 

[Mr H]

Fair enough. Good to know it's just a glitch I guess. I originally took it as fact that Vietnam wasn't included.

I can't ever be 1,000,000% sure but as far as I am aware there are no restrictions on any specific countries or locations - any restrictions are done through award seat availability, not on geography.

 

[algae]

Fair enough. Good to know it's just a glitch I guess. I originally took it as fact that Vietnam wasn't included.

I didn't think it was a glitch?
I thought that's been the case for quite some time.
Not actually sure how we're meant to book Vietnam award seats through. Maybe via phone?

Try a search of this thread with "Vietnam" and see if anything useful pops up (I'm on mobile otherwise I'd do it myself sorry)

 

[aikman]

There's a specific restriction on CX flights between HKG & HAN but otherwise you can book reward seats from other cities to Vietnam. Not sure why Singapore to Vietnam comes up with an error.

 

[turnipapple]

I can't ever be 1,000,000% sure but as far as I am aware there are no restrictions on any specific countries or locations - any restrictions are done through award seat availability, not on geography.

I didn't think it was a glitch?
I thought that's been the case for quite some time.
Not actually sure how we're meant to book Vietnam award seats through. Maybe via phone?

Try a search of this thread with "Vietnam" and see if anything useful pops up (I'm on mobile otherwise I'd do it myself sorry)

I tried booking with cash, then clicked rewards from there and it somehow worked

Another Q: I'm seeing flights I want for December 2023 but can't see later dates to continue the OWA itinerary (bronze). I see people say just book and add to the itinerary as time goes on. But I have experienced, and seen from others, call center staff not being able to find/book flights and amend itineraries.

Any ideas what to do?

 

[blu]

I'm seeing flights I want for December 2023

They could be taken very quickly for Xmas holidays. Do you have the flexibility to lose those flights. Maybe no option really but to secure them and handle the risks later.

 

[Jacques Vert]

If you have any issues about travel insurance and FF points @Jacques Vert may be able to help. There is a TR somewhere where they had to come home early

That would be our trip to Machu Picchu in 2018:

Canyons, Mountains & Vineyards

Regarding the train tickets purchased online through PeruRail, I forgot to mention that unlike the bus tickets, you pay online at the time of booking. PeruRail then send you an email with a confirmation number and you have to print your real tickets in Peru (and before you get on the...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Most important factor is to contact your travel insurance provider BEFORE you do anything else; they will work with you to make appropriate arrangements.

 

[flapper]

The airlines have been busy updating their Northen Summer 2023 schedules. Overnight I had 2 minor flight time changes for BA flights and 2 major time changes on JL flights meaning I miss my connection by hours from NRT to FRA. The email says they are working on it and will be in contact soon and yes there goes a flock of pigs flying by.
1st call to MNL, she said she found a number of alternatives. I asked on JL in J. Then she said Oh is it a rewards booking. It all went downhill from there. I asked her to contact the OW liason desk to request they release revunue seats. She said I should call back in 24-48 hours as more rewards seats might be released. I told her politley I was going to hang up and call back and hope I get someone who knows how to contact the OW liason desk.
2nd call CT. She seemed to know her stuff. She 1st searched for alternative flights and then came back and said she will get her supervisor to email JL and ask them to resolve the conflict. While I waited she got her supervisor to do that (she said they are not authorised to make these requests themselves). She said it should take 24 hours, sometimes even less to get a response. She said someone will call back (I'm not hopeful of that). I confirmed she had put a note on the booking.
I'm dreading calling back tomorrow and finding no email has been sent or they tell me to wait 72 hours and then 5 days, then 7 days, yes that has happened to me before.

Update: Just as I feared every time I call I get a different answer and even lied to.
3rd call Fiji Confirmed a request had been put through to JL and a note was on the system. Said there is no expected time to receive as response as it is out of their hands.

4th call Fiji. There are no notes at all on the booking and can't confirm a message was sent. Said will get her supervisior to request JL provide a new flight. Said expect a response in48 -72 hours and I will need to keep checking the MMB for updated flight info.

5th Call Fiji said she will contact her support team. Call dropped out after 25 mins and no call back despite promising to do so.

Nothing changed with the OS CC since the difficulties with my previous OWA earlier this year.

 

[PaulyB]

Nothing changed with the OS CC since the difficulties with my previous OWA earlier this year.

Bizarrely I had a one-in-a-million good experience today. As we all know Flapper's experience is not unfamiliar. Commiserations and maybe this might help...

I'm on AEDST and have tended to ring during the day or late arvo when I have had to navigate (mostly through the trials of Manila. ('we are an external office of Tasmania!!'). Yes I really did have that once.

But in the last 2 days, I have called at about my 6am. Yesterday I got someone terrific in Sth Af although she was unable to help me.

And today I struck gold with someone in Fiji who was able to provide me with a new route back into Australia in J that didn't have Prem Economy or go via HK!

But what was extra remarkable is that the whole thing was ticketed (MH) in 65 minutes. And he called back!!!!

And he knew that KLM wasn't One World...and lots of other things. This has been a 3-week hunt to get some better flights than the ones I had so all I can say is don't give up and, maybe, change the time you call.

Hope it helps just a little. I absolutely know how scary your situation can be.

 

[Wolf creek]

If my partner and I am doing a OWA 318k trip we can use each others points or a family member’s account to make bookings it doesn’t have to come from one frequent flyer account to qualify for the 318k trip?

 

[algae]

If my partner and I am doing a OWA 318k trip we can use each others points or a family member’s account to make bookings it doesn’t have to come from one frequent flyer account to qualify for the 318k trip?

I'd say it'll be easier to book it from one account. Gives you one PNR and keeps things together especially if things go wrong on the trip.

Just family transfer all points to one person and book the trip

 

[Wolf creek]

yes that’s the smart move…..I had only enough points SYD LHR,(saw 2 business class seats and snapped them up)and used daughters account for Euro internals and return trip home.Thinking I may have stuffed up getting all these flights for 318 k,using 2 different accounts

 

[madrooster]

If my partner and I am doing a OWA 318k trip we can use each others points or a family member’s account to make bookings it doesn’t have to come from one frequent flyer account to qualify for the 318k trip?

You can charge the points to two different accounts on the same PNR and even pay the taxes on two different cards, but it will need to be done over the phone. They should waive the booking fee as it's not possible to do this online.

 

[am0985]

Cathay availability is a game changer for those planning trips now. Very much doubt we will see the cancellations and chaos which characterised bookings over Covid either.

Just as a data point for others as I know a few others have had this same stroke of luck - booked a RTW ticket back in early October. QFF accidentally refunded the entire 318k points when I organised my final flights though tickets still valid - still QFF haven't spotted this mistake despite schedule changes since!

Have enough points in my account should they decide to take them later though.

 

[PointsTraveller!]

Does anyone have advice from previous experiences on how the system automatically recognises an OWA itinerary?

Bit concerned as I have to book flights out of order from what I will be flying due to flights opening up at different times through different airlines - mostly AA being later than others.

Will I need the extra points to effectively book each flight individually until the last flight is booked and meets all OWA criteria then it reverts to 318k points?

If I need to have the points for each flight it will be around 500k which I don't have.

My Itinerary, (order of booking), dates and airlines are below:

MEL - NRT - FRA - LCY. (1 Booked) 8 Nov 23 - JL and BA
MAD - JFK. (2) 26 Dec 23 - IB
JFK - CUN. (5) 31 Dec 23 - AA
CUN - LAX. (6) 11 Jan 24 - AA
LAX - KIX. (3) 18 Jan 24- JL
NRT - MEL. (4) 25 Jan 24 - JL

 

[cjd600]

Does anyone have advice from previous experiences on how the system automatically recognises an OWA itinerary?

Bit concerned as I have to book flights out of order from what I will be flying due to flights opening up at different times through different airlines - mostly AA being later than others.

Will I need the extra points to effectively book each flight individually until the last flight is booked and meets all OWA criteria then it reverts to 318k points?

If I need to have the points for each flight it will be around 500k which I don't have.

My Itinerary, (order of booking), dates and airlines are below:

MEL - NRT - FRA - LCY. (1 Booked) 8 Nov 23 - JL and BA
MAD - JFK. (2) 26 Dec 23 - IB
JFK - CUN. (5) 31 Dec 23 - AA
CUN - LAX. (6) 11 Jan 24 - AA
LAX - KIX. (3) 18 Jan 24- JL
NRT - MEL. (4) 25 Jan 24 - JL

points will max out once you reach 318k worth of flights, and not increase as you add more (assuming criteria for OWA has been met, e.g. 2 OW airlines other than QF, which looking at your itinerary, you will have met).

 

[Mr H]

points will max out once you reach 318k worth of flights, and not increase as you add more (assuming criteria for OWA has been met, e.g. 2 OW airlines other than QF, which looking at your itinerary, you will have met).

Agreed.

And TBH, you would have to work very hard to create an incomplete itinerary that priced at over 318k because it did not meet the OWA criteria, yet was capable of being turned into a OWA by adding more flights.

 

[PointsTraveller!]

points will max out once you reach 318k worth of flights, and not increase as you add more (assuming criteria for OWA has been met, e.g. 2 OW airlines other than QF, which looking at your itinerary, you will have met).

Agreed.

And TBH, you would have to work very hard to create an incomplete itinerary that priced at over 318k because it did not meet the OWA criteria, yet was capable of being turned into a OWA by adding more flights.

What I’m worried about is there being more than 2 surface sectors which from my understanding isn’t a part of the rules?

We’re planning to make out own way from London to Madrid and from Osaka to Tokyo.

During the booking process there will also be a gap between JFK to LAX because of American Airlines flights being released later. Meaning I’ll have 3 surface sectors until I book JFK - CUN and CUN - LAX.

Should I just fly from LAX to NRT/HND to avoid this?

 

[Mr H]

What I’m worried about is there being more than 2 surface sectors which from my understanding isn’t a part of the rules?

We’re planning to make out own way from London to Madrid and from Osaka to Tokyo.

During the booking process there will also be a gap between JFK to LAX because of American Airlines flights being released later. Meaning I’ll have 3 surface sectors until I book JFK - CUN and CUN - LAX.

Should I just fly from LAX to NRT/HND to avoid this?

There is no limit on surface sectors (well, the limit is five) - it is simply that booking online is not possible with more than two. You would have to phone up.