Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Lynda2475]

I also just called up to try to change a flight and the consultant wasn't able to see the classic rewards business flight that I was able to see online.

HUACA - i had same issue today, but second agent could see them, so was obviously a lazy/undertrained agent the first time.

 

[MelbFlyer]

HUACA - i had same issue today, but second agent could see them, so was obviously a lazy/undertrained agent the first time.

Sorry, but are you able to advise on "HUACA"?

 

[MelbFlyer]

Oh, I think I've deciphered it - Hang Up and Call Again?

 

[Lynda2475]

Oh, I think I've deciphered it - Hang Up and Call Again?

Yep that is it

 

[MelbFlyer]

Okay so I've called again and thankfully got a much more helpful consultant - they were able to see the rewards flight that I was able to see on my end!

Problem was, even despite me selecting 2 adults online and being able to select the flight in business for 2 adults, they said they could only see availability for 1 business seat on the 1st leg.

The 2nd leg they said was no issues though.

Seems very inconsistent that:
- Consultant 1 wasn't able to see the rewards flight that I see online
- Consultant 2 can see the rewards flight I can see (and overall was a lot more switched on), but says that there's only 1 business reward seat for the 1st leg remaining (even though I can see it for 2 adults online)

Anyway, calling again and hoping its 3rd time lucky!

Alternatively, as I can see the business reward seats flight online for 2 adults, would I be able to book it (I've got enough points left), then ask them to cancel the flight that it will replace from my original booking, then "apply" the 2nd booking to the 1st? Or would that open up another can of worms?

Of course otherwise I'd cancel my original / 1st booking, then re-book, but the problem is - one of my business legs is no longer available as I bought the last 2. If I could see more business seats for that one leg, I'd cancel and re-book immediately after I get my points back.

 

[Lynda2475]

Unfortunately, you can't merge separate bookings into a OWA.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Unfortunately, you can't merge separate bookings into a OWA.

My booking isn't a "OWA" (ie. the 318k business class capped fare), sorry I didn't mention that.

My itinerary is a combination of economy, premium economy and business (as that's all I was able to find at the time of the booking). Altogether it was 228k points.

Logging on now though, I can see more availability for business seats which previously either weren't available at all, or only economy / premium economy was available.

Slightly annoying to be honest - because I can definitely see the reward seats on my end, but the consultants see something else / don't see them at all - and the only way to make changes to a reward booking is via phone or Twitter / Facebook.

Would make it so much easier for everyone if reward bookings were able to be amended online.

 

[Lynda2475]

Would make it so much easier for everyone if reward bookings were able to be amended online.

That is the dream

 

[Lynda2475]

My revised e-ticket has arrived but they havent taken the extra points or charged my card for the extra fees ande-ticket still down the earlier fees from the shorter itinerary.

 

[Warragul]

I have a ticketed OWA for September booked several months ago, flying on 4 carriers and am thinking of adding an addtional short hop to it. Given the apparent improvement in the abilities of call centre staff since then and the escalation point, interested in views on whether to try to add the extra flights and the potential stress over ticketing etc or just spend the 20K points on a separate booking. The next flight after these extra flights is 10 days so missed connections is not an issue.

Thanks.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Okay just got through to another consultant who could see the exact flight that I wanted, but said that it wasn't available to be taken up by existing bookings - only new bookings.

I guess each call is a step in the right direction - HUACA, it's luck of the draw.

 

[Lynda2475]

wasn't available to be taken up by existing bookings - only new bookings

That seems to be an excuse some of the useless ones trott out, basically what first guy told me today whilst also mentioning that I should just book it myslef online - if only!

 

[yaksha98]

I have a ticketed OWA for September booked several months ago, flying on 4 carriers and am thinking of adding an addtional short hop to it. Given the apparent improvement in the abilities of call centre staff since then and the escalation point, interested in views on whether to try to add the extra flights and the potential stress over ticketing etc or just spend the 20K points on a separate booking. The next flight after these extra flights is 10 days so missed connections is not an issue.

Thanks.

For a short hop and 20k I would just book a separate ticket.

 

[MelbFlyer]

That seems to be an excuse some of the useless ones trott out, basically what first guy told me today whilst also mentioning that I should just book it myslef online - if only!

I know!

Okay so now I've got a consultant who has re-checked and actually appears to have contacted the alternative airline (Cathay) about the existing / new booking and has actually emailed a new itinerary with the existing flight I wish to change, plus the new flight I wish to replace it with.

I can even see it in my Qantas manage booking (both the flight I want to change / my existing flight, and the new replacement flight that I want).

They're currently checking how many points required to change the flight.

Persistence does pay off I guess, but it shouldn't take 7 calls to get a simple change done!

Each and every call I had a different response ranging from:
- We are unable to see the flight you can see online
- We can see other flights which are unavailable online
- We can see the flight you're looking at online, but only 1 adult can take that flight (I searched for 2 adults)
- As per above, but the flight you see online is only available for new bookings and not existing / changing existing bookings

I just hope at the end, it'll be ticketed correctly and I get a formal e-ticket with all the flights that I've booked. I'm only changing 1 flight so I think that should be okay.

 

[snabbu]

searchability of AA awards via QF seems back up and running.

 

[PointsTraveller!]

Finally fully booked the last leg of my OWA now that AA flights are showing up again!

Multiple issues with O/S agents not having the last leg ticketed. Emailed Reward Escalations Help email and received a call from John in Hobart around 30mins later. Hearing the Aussie voice made me relax instantly. Paid relevant taxes (correct taxes as opposed to what the O/S agents were trying to charge - almost 4 x's correct rate) Then was ticketed within 5 mins of the phone call!

Interestingly to note I did receive emails from John previously but some 48 hours after I emailed the escalation team and sorted ticketing via multiple calls.

Thanks to everyone on this thread for assistance along the way. Here's to hoping no flight changes or if there are I can deal with John again.

Big thumbs up to the escalations team though.

 

[Mr H]

Added in final flights today to create my second ever OWA.

I am quite proud of it as it is almost a holiday and a half. Returning from Pakistan to Melbourne later this year. Then a trip from Melbourne to Dubai in January 2024 and a trip from Male to Melbourne in February 2024. So basically an open jaw return in 2024. The line up, all in Business class:

LHE-CMB-MEL (stop) with UL
MEL-SYD-HKG (stop) with QF and CX - the stop is just over 24 hours to enable a connection to be made
HKG-DXB (stop) with CX
MLE-CMB-KUL-NRT-MEL (end) with UL and JL.

Including the open jaw and the return mileage to Lahore it is 34,504 miles.
I am using four airlines and nine flights.
I am actually flying 26,040 miles and using only three of the permitted stops, so there is some redundancy.

I have some gaps that I will have to fill in with other redemptions:

• DXB-MCT on Etihad using Velocity
• MCT-JED overland
• JED-DXB-CMB-MLE in Emirates First Class using QF points

 

[ozflier]

Mr H, this itinerary is really impressive !
Well done.

 

[Lynda2475]

searchability of AA awards via QF seems back up and running.

And unfortunately nothing suitable in J to get me from JFK to LAX on the dates I need, so I will buying a ticket (will consider it a SC earning opportunity to kick start my new FF year).

Hoping to replace
LHR-HEL (AY)
with
LCY-BHD (BA)+ DUB-HEL (AY)

Dont fancy chances of getting a HBA agent tonight will try tomorrow morning or monday morning.

 

[Mr H]

And unfortunately nothing suitable in J to get me from JFK to LAX on the dates I need, so I will buying a ticket (will consider it a SC earning opportunity to kick start my new FF year).

Hoping to replace
LHR-HEL (AY)
with
LHR-BHD (BA)+ DUB-HEL (AY)

Dont fancy chances of getting a HBA agent tonight will try tomorrow morning or monday morning.

You have probably thought of all this already - an alternative to LHR-BHD is to fly from LCY. There is no lounge there but the planes are arguably more comfortable and the airport may be easier to get to (depending on where you are starting).

If you are trying to fly ex DUB to avoid APD, I think you could get there direct LON-DUB provided you either have a 24 hour layover or do it on different tix. I am not an expert so others may be able to clarify, but I suspect that even LON-BHD/DUB-HEL on the same ticket would attract APD unless there is a layover of more than 24 hours. It's fiendishly complicated.