Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Phoenix-1]

I've got my e-ticket for my OWCA but points have yet to be deducted. I have a -318k charge and then a credit for 318k immediately after. My flight was ticketed about 24 hours after these "charges". Will the points be taken eventually or should I call up and make sure it's taken?

Points were taken about a week ago but now I've got another issue. The pending charge on my credit card has dropped off. Surely this isn't normal?

 

[Mr H]

Points were taken about a week ago but now I've got another issue. The pending charge on my credit card has dropped off. Surely this isn't normal?

My experience is that it can take a very long time for points and/or money to be taken, but they will both be taken eventually.

 

[flapper]

BA typically contains the PNRs for AA so maybe they have AS too?

Thanks, I tried both BA app and web versions but can't find the AS PNR but the app does show ticket number though.

 

[Lynda2475]

Thanks, I tried both BA app and web versions but can't find the AS PNR but the app does show ticket number though.

You can always try and select via Royal Jordanian

 

[Phoenix-1]

My experience is that it can take a very long time for points and/or money to be taken, but they will both be taken eventually.

Is it normal to be charged and have the charge drop off?

 

[Lynda2475]

Is it normal to be charged and have the charge drop off?

Only pending charges drop off, so that means they put a hold on your card but then didn't get around to processing the actual charge on time. Remains to be seen if they can just resubmit, or you will need to call in to provide the card details again in order for it to process.

 

[markyb]

My OWA was surprisingly extremely affordable - possibly due to human error.

MEL - NRT - FRA (JL) - LCY (BA) in J
MAD - JFK (IB) in J
JFK - CUN (AA) in Y
CUN - AUS - LAS (AA) in J
LAX - KIX (JL) in J
NRT - MEL (JL) in J

Only $635 AUD pp for taxes. Somehow my last two legs were ticketed for no fee at all.

Taxes to get from FRA - LCY were close to the same as getting from MEL - FRA.

The high taxes aren't due to the connection through London as much as the carrier being BA* and the flight originating in the US. But as part of a OWA, the taxes will recalculate according to wherever you start your OWA. Assuming that's Australia, have you tried the dummy booking with Australia as country of origin, i.e. try a local domestic flight as Flight 1 and see the difference this makes.

*As Lynda mentioned, you'll find the taxes on AY to be considerably lower than on BA.

So I've finally managed to do a dummy booking for:
SYD - YVR (QF)
PDX - LHR (BA) - HEL (AY)
HEL - LHR (AY) - AMM (BA)
AMM - BKK (RJ)
BKK - SYD (QF)

Taxes $1658.72 (AUD)
If I choose HEL - CDG (AY) - AMM (RJ) for the 3rd leg taxes for the trip go up to
$1902.92 (AUD). Multiply this by 4 (yep 4 people) and it's a costly trip.

Finding it so challenging to find availability from Europe to Asia when QR, CX, UL and RJ availability is minimal or non-existent.

 

[blu]

Got a text from Qantas regarding travel requirements for a flight to Norfolk Island next week. NI is not in my itinerary nor in MMB. Hope it's not indicative of a QF problem.

 

[melbkate]

Just look at the list of Oneworld airlines and their routes. Tokyo or Honkers should still work.

Thanks well I have been doing that and looking at Feb 2024 (even though I want to go in June I am investigating options now)

I cannot get any J MEL-HKG options except via BNE so thinking come the time when I can check for real I won't have any luck. If anyone has any strategies that could help I would appreciate it.

My last trip (June 2023 that I had to cancel as QR flights dropped off) took hours of searching and getting online at midnight to get seats etc. But things have changed..

 

[Mr H]

I cannot get any J MEL-HKG options except via BNE

So you have actually found options. It is not always possible to find direct reward flights so do search for potential connections too.

 

[Phoenix-1]

I cannot get any J MEL-HKG options except via BNE so thinking come the time when I can check for real I won't have any luck. If anyone has any strategies that could help I would appreciate it.

It seems like reward seats are being released in batches by QF. There are plenty of MEL-SIN seats available in November for example, but nothing after that. You may have to just wait a bit longer to see what's released.

HKG, SIN, DEL and KUL are probably the ones to search for out of MEL if you don't want to fly out of another AU airport. You can probably then find an AY flight out HKG, SIN or DEL to Europe.

 

[PaulyB]

Then you do not have a ticket. You need to sit on the call centre until it is ticketed. At least you now know how to check to see whether there is a ticket. CMT is the source of truth. I can’t vouch for the RJ website.

Just saw this post from Mr H. back in Feb. Ahhhh how things change!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In case anyone’s looking there’s a Qantas classic business class award seat LAX-MEL on 9 October! Cam across it by chance. Most of the rest is China Airlines.

 

[FenderQF]

Just found out my flight has been downgraded tomorrow on Iberia from lay flat business seats to a Level Airlines A332 which has Premium Economy only. Not what you want for 10.5 hrs. This is part of a RTW redemption. Anyone had any experience getting compensation via points/EU law? If it was a short hop I wouldn’t be bothered but considering the length of the flight, there should be something. Right?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just found out my flight has been downgraded tomorrow on Iberia from lay flat business seats to a Level Airlines A332 which has Premium Economy only. Not what you want for 10.5 hrs. This is part of a RTW redemption. Anyone had any experience getting compensation via points/EU law? If it was a short hop I wouldn’t be bothered but considering the length of the flight, there should be something. Right?

A downgrade is worth a refund of 75% of the ‘fare’ for that sector for long haul. Doesn’t matter if the fare is points or cash.

You could try and contact the airline in advance and see if they can re-route you. Otherwise at checkin tomorrow they’re supposed to give you cash for the downgrade. This may not be proactively mentioned, so you have to ask. If not resolved you might need to look at options - how to escalate with the airline post travel, or going to one of the compensation agencies to help you.

I’m not sure which method is being used currently to calculate the level of refund… whether it’s the straight out sector fare, or whether they base it as a proportion of distance you ticket is within the overall RTW.

 

[FenderQF]

A downgrade is worth a refund of 75% of the ‘fare’ for that sector for long haul. Doesn’t matter if the fare is points or cash.

You could try and contact the airline in advance and see if they can re-route you. Otherwise at checkin tomorrow they’re supposed to give you cash for the downgrade. This may not be proactively mentioned, so you have to ask. If not resolved you might need to look at options - how to escalate with the airline post travel, or going to one of the compensation agencies to help you.

I’m not sure which method is being used currently to calculate the level of refund… whether it’s the straight out sector fare, or whether they base it as a proportion of distance you ticket is within the overall RTW.

Thanks for your response. I had read up on the 75% refund option and wondered if anyone had experienced something along those lines during one of their RTW redemptions.

When googling I did see all those compensation agencies. Hopefully i won’t have to engage them. I don’t know about a re-route but I’ll see what Iberia have to say. It still baffles me that they could offer a Jetstar equivalent for such a long haul.

 

[Mr H]

A downgrade is worth a refund of 75% of the ‘fare’ for that sector for long haul. Doesn’t matter if the fare is points or cash.

It would be worth @FenderQF checking to see whether the new seats are being sold as Premium Economy or Business. If they are still being sold as business class on that flight then no compensation would be due.

 

[PaulyB]

Is there a change of messaging at the call centres?

I successfully made some changes yesterday to an existing OWA (leave Aug 11) and was told ticketing within 24-48 hrs.
Not trusting the system, I rang this morning - so about 19 hours later - to chase down the ticketing. 3 HUACA's later, I noted a theme that I don't recall hearing before: "we can only contact the ticketing office directly if the flight is within 24-48 hours."

One person included the word 'now' in there as well.

This same operator (all Fiji) did go through the process of checking with her supervisor and added me to the queue (I don't get why that is helpful as I am already there) with a note that I had enquired. There are no tax etc impediments etc.

She also said to call back after 24 hrs which I will.

Anyway - notwithstanding that I failed in my mission and I can't spend the day calling QANTAS, I was struck by the messaging from the operators. Does this seem like something new or am I imagining?

Thanks!

 

[Mr H]

Is there a change of messaging at the call centres?

I successfully made some changes yesterday to an existing OWA (leave Aug 11) and was told ticketing within 24-48 hrs.
Not trusting the system, I rang this morning - so about 19 hours later - to chase down the ticketing. 3 HUACA's later, I noted a theme that I don't recall hearing before: "we can only contact the ticketing office directly if the flight is within 24-48 hours."

One person included the word 'now' in there as well.

This same operator (all Fiji) did go through the process of checking with her supervisor and added me to the queue (I don't get why that is helpful as I am already there) with a note that I had enquired. There are no tax etc impediments etc.

She also said to call back after 24 hrs which I will.

Anyway - notwithstanding that I failed in my mission and I can't spend the day calling QANTAS, I was struck by the messaging from the operators. Does this seem like something new or am I imagining?

Thanks!

That is not something I have heard before, but it is understandable since it ties up an operator for literally hours on hold waiting for ticketing. Inevitably this will lead to more cancelled bookings that will require Award Escalations intervention to retrieve. It would be far easier and more cost effective to set up a ticketing system that worked. Other airlines manage to do it.

 

[PaulyB]

That is not something I have heard before, but it is understandable since it ties up an operator for literally hours on hold waiting for ticketing. Inevitably this will lead to more cancelled bookings that will require Award Escalations intervention to retrieve. It would be far easier and more cost effective to set up a ticketing system that worked. Other airlines manage to do it.

Good call. But how does that fit with some airlines (MA?) dropping off the system within a few hours?