Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Mr H]

Thanks I am happy to broaden criteria could you suggest other routes to try at all? The only options I can see is MH or UL or China Air with extra stops and not appealing. Qantas and Cathay and JL don't show up in my searches at all for say MEL-HKG or MEL-ICN or MEL-NRT or even via SYD it is definitely a different playing field and I really don't know how people are managing to book.

People have suggested some routes but you came back with problems with all of them. Basically, you look at the routes flown by One World airlines and search on them. You seem to want everything served on a plate.

 

[melbkate]

Hi. Do you have any status with Qantas? This affects the timing of visibility for awards on Qantas.

Lowly bronze

Post automatically merged: Jun 15, 2023

That's probably all you're going to get if you're not Qantas Platinum (and therefore able to request the release of award seats on Qantas flights).

Note: China Air is not part of oneworld, so cannot be used on a OWA.

If you're prepared to pay change fees, you could book a non-ideal route to have something locked in then keep an eye out for better options as they open up.

One other suggestion is to look at BA SYD-SIN-LHR. They reliably open up 2 seats in business on every flight, but they are usually snapped up in seconds by British people trying to use their 2-for-1 vouchers, so you have to be super quick and grab them the second they're released.

May need to split up search into individual sectors:

View attachment 333762
View attachment 333763

 

[melbkate]

thank you levelnine that is great to know as that is how I got my seats often by seeing the release pattern in the run up and jumping in the second they were released. This time there seems to be no releasing that I can see I will look at BA althogh really wanted to avoid London but it is the only lead I have so far thanks.

 

[pjm99au]

As a bronze you will only be able to see and book QF award seats 297 days out. Other OW will be earlier but limited services to get out of Oz so more competition for the seats especially as QR are unavailable. Think you should consider all OW airlines given you will have a low chance of securing QF seats.

 

[melbkate]

People have suggested some routes but you came back with problems with all of them. Basically, you look at the routes flown by One World airlines and search on them. You seem to want everything served on a plate.

I love this forum it has helped me so much with my previous bookings and I am just looking for more information. I wish these seats were on a plate! It just seems so different this year and I feel I am out of the loop so any info I can get or other ways of looking is helpful

Post automatically merged: Jun 15, 2023

As a bronze you will only be able to see and book QF award seats 297 days out. Other OW will be earlier but limited services to get out of Oz so more competition for the seats especially as QR are unavailable. Think you should consider all OW airlines given you will have a low chance of securing QF seats.

thanks for the info I didn't realise this

 

[Mr H]

I love this forum it has helped me so much with my previous bookings and I am just looking for more information. I wish these seats were on a plate! It just seems so different this year and I feel I am out of the loop so any info I can get or other ways of looking is helpful

My top tip would be to follow this thread closely (read back many pages) and browse other Qantas threads - the information is there. The bit about releasing QF seats at different times is surely in the basic information at the top of this thread.

In terms of routes, you just have to keep looking until you get a workable route.

Last year my routes to and from Europe were

MEL-CMB-DEL-LHR (UL and BA)​

LHR-HEL-DEL-MEL (AY and QF)​

This year my route from Asia was

LHE-CMB-MEL (UL)​

Next year my routes to and from Asia are:

MEL-SYD-HKG-DXB (QF and CX)​

MLE-CMB-KUL-NRT-MEL (UL and JL)​

Look at what other people are doing and learn from them. Most of us are not redeeming MEL-SIN-LHR on QF.

 

[melbkate]

My top tip would be to follow this thread closely (read back many pages) and browse other Qantas threads - the information is there. The bit about releasing QF seats at different times is surely in the basic information at the top of this thread.

In terms of routes, you just have to keep looking until you get a workable route.

Last year my routes to and from Europe were

MEL-CMB-DEL-LHR (UL and BA)​

LHR-HEL-DEL-MEL (AY and QF)​

This year my route from Asia was

LHE-CMB-MEL (UL)​

Next year my routes to and from Asia are:

MEL-SYD-HKG-DXB (QF and CX)​

MLE-CMB-KUL-NRT-MEL (UL and JL)​

Look at what other people are doing and learn from them. Most of us are not redeeming MEL-SIN-LHR on QF.

Thanks for those routes well done on getting them. I shall investigate esp via Sydney. Believe me I have spent many hours on this forum and after seeing such limited avails had decided to go with the paid Award Assist and now they are not taking any requests. I shall persevere however!

 

[WilsonM]

Thanks for those routes well done on getting them. I shall investigate esp via Sydney. Believe me I have spent many hours on this forum and after seeing such limited avails had decided to go with the paid Award Assist and now they are not taking any requests. I shall persevere however!

Firstly, good luck! I will point out that while yes, now is the time to start thinking about June flights, the award calendar is not quite caught up, especially with QF flights, as pointed out above. Definitely look for routes exSYD, even exBNE or exPER, and focus on simply getting out of Australia. As others have said, if you avoid certain airlines, especially MH, it does make it harder. It also might be worth considering using Velocity points if you have any, flying SQ/QR to get out of Aus, then go from there with QF points?

CX award availability seems to have dried up recently, and JAL will often only have PE award seats available exSYD. That being said, there is 1 J seat available on JAL SYD-HND on the 2nd, 6th and 9th of June, and PE available as well on the same flights. If you're travelling with someone, and they're willing to fly PE with you on the same flight (or vice-versa, of course), then booking a seperate award flight could be an option? It will be a lot more work, but that's the price you pay for organising so far out.

 

[melbkate]

Firstly, good luck! I will point out that while yes, now is the time to start thinking about June flights, the award calendar is not quite caught up, especially with QF flights, as pointed out above. Definitely look for routes exSYD, even exBNE or exPER, and focus on simply getting out of Australia. As others have said, if you avoid certain airlines, especially MH, it does make it harder. It also might be worth considering using Velocity points if you have any, flying SQ/QR to get out of Aus, then go from there with QF points?

CX award availability seems to have dried up recently, and JAL will often only have PE award seats available exSYD. That being said, there is 1 J seat available on JAL SYD-HND on the 2nd, 6th and 9th of June, and PE available as well on the same flights. If you're travelling with someone, and they're willing to fly PE with you on the same flight (or vice-versa, of course), then booking a seperate award flight could be an option? It will be a lot more work, but that's the price you pay for organising so far out.

Thank you WilsonM I did see all those PE seats on JAL I shall look at that idea.

Also I was going ask in general about JAL - the last time I booked a OWA in 2022 I found available seats on the JAL site and as they didn't show up on the QF site then called Qantas and one of the operators "found" them somehow.. and added them to my itinerary. I think I did that twice. Has that been anyone else's experience or is that something else that has changed? I had a great trip booked for this year until my QR flights suddenly disappeared never to be returned... despite hours on the phone and emails oh well. Now we are going to Japan only so very keen to get back to Italy in 2024

 

[gda380]

Hi Team, need some input please.
I have booked a OWCA SIN-HND-LAX-SYD-CGK-CMB-CDG-LHR-AMS-HEL-HKG-SIN.
Five stopovers are LAX, SYD, CGK, CDG, HEL.

I completed the first part (SIN-HND-LAX-SYD) in April 23 and would be commencing the second part in September 23 (SYD-CGK etc).

Availability in J has opened up LHR to HEL direct and I would prefer to travel without a transit in AMS. My questions are:

1. Since I have taken the first flight, can I remove AMS from the itinerary and fly direct between LHR and HEL?

2. Is there a chance Qantas staff cancelling other remaining flights which were very difficult to obtain? Hope things have been improving on this front.

3. LHR > AMS > HEL flight time have changed a few times lately so I am assuming I can ask for a change without incurring any fees ($/pts).

thanks in advance.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Hi Team, need some input please.
I have booked a OWCA SIN-HND-LAX-SYD-CGK-CMB-CDG-LHR-AMS-HEL-HKG-SIN.
Five stopovers are LAX, SYD, CGK, CDG, HEL.

I completed the first part (SIN-HND-LAX-SYD) in April 23 and would be commencing the second part in September 23 (SYD-CGK etc).

Availability in J has opened up LHR to HEL direct and I would prefer to travel without a transit in AMS. My questions are:

1. Since I have taken the first flight, can I remove AMS from the itinerary and fly direct between LHR and HEL?

2. Is there a chance Qantas staff cancelling other remaining flights which were very difficult to obtain? Hope things have been improving on this front.

3. LHR > AMS > HEL flight time have changed a few times lately so I am assuming I can ask for a change without incurring any fees ($/pts).

thanks in advance.

These are the rules:

14.7 Classic Flight Rewards (excluding Classic Flight Rewards forming part of Combined Classic Flight Reward Bookings) - changes to tickets​

14.7.1 Except as otherwise stated in this clause 14.7 and clause 14.8, changes are not permitted to any Classic Flight Reward at any time. Any permitted changes are subject to Classic Flight Reward availability.
14.7.2 If a booking is made that includes non-Classic Flight Reward flight(s) and Classic Flight Reward flight(s), then any changes to any Classic Flight Reward flight Segment or Segments in the combined booking may only be made in accordance with the conditions outlined in clause 14.8, and this clause 14.7 will not apply.
14.7.3 Prior to ticketing, Classic Flight Rewards may be changed without incurring a Change Fee; however, any changes will be subject to this clause 14.7 and to the advance purchase and validity provisions set out in clauses 14.2.2 and 14.6.1.
14.7.4 Subject to this clause 14.7, the following changes are permitted to a Classic Flight Reward after ticketing and prior to commencement of any travel and will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger:
(a) change to flight number;
(b) change to date of travel;
(c) change to class of travel;
(d) change to any Segment routing or airline;
(e) change to name (only for Flights with a Qantas (QF) flight number on the ticket that are operated by Qantas); and
(f) request to cancel ticket and re-credit Qantas Points. Please note that only Qantas Points that would not have expired will be re-credited.
14.7.5 Subject to this clause 14.7, the following changes are permitted to a Classic Flight Reward flight before departure of that flight, provided the entire booking contains only Flight Segments that are within Australia, and will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger:
(a) change to flight number;
(b) change to date of travel;
(c) change to class of travel; and
(d) change to a direct or indirect Segment routing without a Stopover (provided the origin and destination cities remain unchanged) or airline.
14.7.6 Subject to this clause 14.7, the following changes are permitted to a Classic Flight Reward flight before departure of that flight, provided the booking contains one or more Flight Segments that are not within Australia, and the Flight Segment(s) being changed do not include a partner airline that requires a ticket to be reissued for the change. Any such change will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger:
(a) change to flight number; and
(b) change to date of travel.
14.7.7 Any change made to a Classic Flight Reward after ticketing will incur a Change Fee (see the Fee Schedule) per passenger. No changes requiring ticket reissue will be allowed to any Classic Flight Reward within 24 hours before departure from the point of origin of the first Flight Segment on the Itinerary.
14.7.8 The following changes are not permitted to any Classic Flight Reward within 24 hours before departure from the point of origin of the first Flight Segment on the Itinerary:
(a) change to class of travel;
(b) change to any Segment routing or airline; and
(c) change to name (only for Flights with a Qantas (QF) flight number on the ticket that are operated by Qantas).
14.7.9 No changes will be permitted on qantas.com to any Classic Flight Reward within 24 hours before departure of each Flight Segment on the Itinerary.
14.7.10 Changes to Classic Flight Rewards that incur Point fees (see the Fee Schedule) can be made only by the Member who originally redeemed Qantas Points for the Classic Flight Rewards and only if that Member has sufficient Qantas Points to cover the applicable fees.
14.7.11 Any change made by telephone or in person to a Classic Flight Reward booking will incur a Service Fee per passenger occupying a seat (see Fee Schedule) in addition to any applicable Change Fee.

I refer you to 14.7.6 in particular.

 

[ozflier]

Just to support other posters re difficulty getting award seats to and from Australia.
I'm looking for business seats in May and June next year and virtually nil to find on QF, JAL or CX or BA.
I guess there are school holidays round these times and that will make it harder .
I just may have to give up on arranging another OWA and use airlines that are not in OW!

 

[melbkate]

Just to support other posters re difficulty getting award seats to and from Australia.
I'm looking for business seats in May and June next year and virtually nil to find on QF, JAL or CX or BA.
I guess there are school holidays round these times and that will make it harder .
I just may have to give up on arranging another OWA and use airlines that are not in OW!

Yes I am looking at Emirates it is frustrating

 

[jase05]

MH i totally agree with you.

As someone who loves flying with MH I’m more than happy if people avoid them and leave reward inventory for me

 

[dairyfloss]

As someone who loves flying with MH I’m more than happy if people avoid them and leave reward inventory for me

Agreed - guaranteed extra serves of satays?! Huzzah!!!

 

[Jacques Vert]

Any advice welcome thanks Kate

To Europe in June!

You need to look at every route out of Australia, on every airline, from every city and take whatever you can get. Of course, as others have said, different airlines release their seats at different days before departure, so you should get to know who releases when.

Good luck.

 

[melbkate]

To Europe in June!

You need to look at every route out of Australia, on every airline, from every city and take whatever you can get. Of course, as others have said, different airlines release their seats at different days before departure, so you should get to know who releases when.

Good luck.

Thanks I have done it successfuly 4 times before but the landscape is very different this year. Barren even! I am flexible with dates actually maybe I will look at September instead.

 

[Mr H]

Thanks I have done it successfuly 4 times before but the landscape is very different this year. Barren even! I am flexible with dates actually maybe I will look at September instead.

I don't accept that the landscape is barren. You are simply choosing to reject the options that are available.

 

[ozflier]

I think the landscape could be described as barren in say May or June 2023 as far as I can see if you are trying for a OWA.
Without doubt, there are ways of getting to the USA or Canada etc on Fiji or China Airlines but they are not part of OW.

 

[BillW]

Any suggestions for a J class oneworld award to Sydney/Canberra from the UK, or nearby, in the coming months. I am flexible on departure dates but generally August onwards.
I need J because of a back complaint plus quite an amount of baggage.
There are some legs I'd be very happy to use but online booking won't produce flights departing from them. Eg, BA fly regularly to Mauritius. Qatar and others fly from Mauritius but don't show.
But any available suggested combinations welcome.