Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[sap1l]

I understand that people want to maximise their 318k points for a business OWA, but literally going the other way around the world is next level

Not just that, but you'll have to apply for an ESTA even if transitting only.

I don't mind the transit that much, but good point on the ESTA. Maybe going through the US is not a great idea after all.

Side note: A hilarious routing I found (that is too long even for me) was LHR-HEL-HND-SIN-KUL-CMB-MEL

Not many options then, maybe try via DEL / BLR or SIN via BA.

Great ideas, thanks!

Looks like you have covered most of the OW routes from LHR (maybe chuck DOH and SIN in as well in case miracles happens), but just wondering how necessary is it to actually fly from LHR? Not sure on the specifics myself, but I believe taxes are quite high from there on J redemptions.

You seem to have plenty of miles left, so could maybe position to somewhere else with more/better availability (eg. HEL, MAD, probably many others)?

Ah yeah, that's a good suggestion. MAD and HEL both sound like good positioning ports, as I can get direct OW flights from there.

 

[elanshin]

Can I please get some suggestions for creative routings between London and Sydney? I've booked the first half of my OWA, but the return part is just under a year from now, so I suspect that award seats on many partners haven't been released yet.

For now, I've set up alerts for the following:
- LHR-HEL-SYD
- LHR-HND-SYD
- LHR-HKG-SYD
- LHR-CMB-SYD
- LHR-KUL-SYD
- LHR-JFK-LAX-SYD
- LHR-DFW-SYD

So for London, check for the non LHR airports as well. Potentially consider an extra stopover and see what shows up.

EG.
JL flies to LHR, FRA, CDG and HEL. You can then set up alerts for those and another way home to Aus from JP. CX flies to a quite a few more EU ports and you can look at that as a way to HKG then CX or QF from HKG home.

Another choice is to fly to PVG (Shanghai) on AY or BA then take QF home from PVG.

 

[funnybrus]

Hey guys,

Apologies if this has been asked before - I've tried searching this thread but no luck.

Can I please get some suggestions for creative routings between London and Sydney? I've booked the first half of my OWA, but the return part is just under a year from now, so I suspect that award seats on many partners haven't been released yet.

For now, I've set up alerts for the following:
- LHR-HEL-SYD
- LHR-HND-SYD
- LHR-HKG-SYD
- LHR-CMB-SYD
- LHR-KUL-SYD
- LHR-JFK-LAX-SYD
- LHR-DFW-SYD

I know that RJ via AMM is an option, but I can't for the life of me figure out a viable routing. Maybe something like LHR-AMM-DOH-KUL-SYD (but BA flies LHR-DOH direct)? I thought of LHR-AMM-BKK-SYD, but RJ doesn't fly AMM-BKK everyday.

The airline doesn't matter - I've already fulfilled the requirement of 2 other OW airlines.

Also, the length doesn't matter that much - I can spare around 15k miles to get from London to Sydney (LHR-SIN-SYD is 10k).

I'm flying in J, so I would like to try to avoid euro-business and older J cabins (e.g. old BA, old AA), but beggars can't be choosers - I rather have a flight than none at all!

Thank you!

It relies on getting a QF seat, but don't rule out a transfer in SCL. BA and IB both fly there.

 

[Lynda2475]

I understand that people want to maximise their 318k points for a business OWA, but literally going the other way around the world is next level

Disagree, I love coming home via the USA, not only is there usually great J award availability from LHR to JFK/ORD/DFW/LAX on BA (or via HEL on AY), you can do a shop over and then fly QF on the final leg. The longer direct flight form US means you get a decent sleep in.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Disagree, I love coming home via the USA, not only is there usually great J award availability from LHR to JFK/ORD/DFW/LAX on BA (or via HEL on AY), you can do a shop over and then fly QF on the final leg. The longer direct flight form US means you get a decent sleep in.

Agree with the great business availability between London and the US - I did look at this as an option too but it would add hours to the overall trip plus having to apply for an ESTA.

Unless a stop in the US was part of my trip, I wouldn't return home via there 'just because' it qualifies under a OWA.

 

[elanshin]

Update today.
HBA agent called back (I requested today as I was busy most of last week). They checked themselves as well and mentioned that dropping SYD > MEL solved it.

Flights are now ticketed (waiting on email, but CX MMB shows all confirmed now instead of waiting to issue). 5000 pts for flight change and a ~$50 per pax refund on taxes.

All flights now confirmed.
Itinerary now

CGK > HKG > TPE (stop)
TPE > HKG > PVG (stop)
PVG > SYD (stop)
MEL > SYD > DFW > IAD (stop)
BUF > ORD > SEA > LAX > SYD

I'm also on the side seeing if i could potentially tweak the ending to go to SIN later in the year and end the booking there, but I'll deal with that after after getting WP and having better call access
Thanks to those that helped sanity check .

Looks like I can add on another flight to end up in SIN for another trip.
Just have to do the final US leg to end in MEL so the stopover is MEL now. Then finally tack on a MEL > SIN (direct) and it's still valid.

Nice way to have multiple trips in a year.

 

[Phoenix-1]

Looks like I can add on another flight to end up in SIN for another trip.

I thought if you return to a country you previously visited the RTW ends?

 

[Steph123]

I thought if you return to a country you previously visited the RTW ends?

It's if you return to the country of origin the OWA ends. Elanshin is starting in Indonesia, so this is fine

 

[Kangol]

It's if you return to the country of origin the OWA ends. Elanshin is starting in Indonesia, so this is fine

You can still have domestic sectors in the country of origin at the end of the itinerary, as long as it's not the first city.

14.3.5 A Classic Flight Reward Itinerary must contain no more than one departure from the city or country of first departure on that Itinerary.

ie. you can start in MEL, then at the end arrive from an international port into SYD, then finish with SYD-MEL.

 

[serfty]

ie. you can start in MEL, then at the end arrive from an international port into SYD, then finish with SYD-MEL.

... and you don't even need to finish with a SYD-MEL ...

 

[FlyingFiona]

You can still have domestic sectors in the country of origin at the end of the itinerary, as long as it's not the first city.

14.3.5 A Classic Flight Reward Itinerary must contain no more than one departure from the city or country of first departure on that Itinerary.

ie. you can start in MEL, then at the end arrive from an international port into SYD, then finish with SYD-MEL.

If your i.e. is the case then their policy wording is confusing. I read that as not being allowed to fly out of any port in Australia if my starting point was, say, MEL.

 

[Kangol]

... and you don't even need to finish with a SYD-MEL ...

For those wondering, you still need to include the mileage in the above example, even if your last flight lands in the country of origin.

If your i.e. is the case then their policy wording is confusing. I read that as not being allowed to fly out of any port in Australia if my starting point was, say, MEL.

My i.e was supposed to be an eg. but it still stands in any case.
If you start in MEL, once you leave Australia you cannot return then leave Australia again to go to another country.
In my example, the final SYD-MEL is neither a "more than one departure from the city or country of first departure".
SYD-MEL is not a departure from MEL
SYD-MEL is not a departure from Australia
I don't think it's confusing, but that's just me.

 

[FlyingFiona]

For those wondering, you still need to include the mileage in the above example, even if your last flight lands in the country of origin.

My i.e was supposed to be an eg. but it still stands in any case.
If you start in MEL, once you leave Australia you cannot return then leave Australia again to go to another country.
In my example, the final SYD-MEL is neither a "more than one departure from the city or country of first departure".
SYD-MEL is not a departure from MEL
SYD-MEL is not a departure from Australia
I don't think it's confusing, but that's just me.

Ah now I understand the wording - thanks! (I knew what you said was correct because I've done it, I just couldn't match it to the wording). I had understood it to mean you could not depart from any port within with country, rather than depart the country itself.

I think your lack of confusion is one of those "once you see something you can't see how others don't see it" situations (eg I am not going to read it incorrectly again, now that I know!) So I'm grateful for you pulling it apart so the comprehension hit!

 

[Phoenix-1]

I'm looking at J OWCA route starting with:

MEL-LAX QF
SFO-JFK AA
JFK-LHR-HEL AA/AY
HEL-HND AY

And it's not capping at 318k (342.5k). This should be eligible right? Am I missing something?

 

[vetrade]

I'm looking at J OWCA route starting with:

MEL-LAX QF
SFO-JFK AA
JFK-LHR-HEL AA/AY
HEL-HND AY

And it's not capping at 318k (342.5k). This should be eligible right? Am I missing something?

When you add a leg back to MEL (which you will ultimately need to do to complete the OWCA itinerary) it will top out at 318K points.
Until you do that you will need enough points in your account to cover the points for the individual flights

 

[Phoenix-1]

When you add a leg back to MEL (which you will ultimately need to do to complete the OWCA itinerary) it will top out at 318K points.
Until you do that you will need enough points in your account to cover the points for the individual flights

I tried adding a Y leg from HND-MEL (QF) and I'm getting 378k or so.

I've always had it cap at 318k, no matter if it was a complete loop or not.

 

[Mr H]

I've always had it cap at 318k, no matter if it was a complete loop or not.

Yes, it should cap out because it qualifies already as a OWA by using both AA and AY. My only thought is whether the domestic AA flight could by pricing the itinerary as F.

 

[FlyingFiona]

I tried adding a Y leg from HND-MEL (QF) and I'm getting 378k or so.

I've always had it cap at 318k, no matter if it was a complete loop or not.

Perhaps screenshot your trip to help others troubleshoot?

 

[Phoenix-1]

Yes, it should cap out because it qualifies already as a OWA by using both AA and AY. My only thought is whether the domestic AA flight could by pricing the itinerary as F.

I think that might be it. Funny, because it's an A321 with both F and J reward seats available.

edit: maybe not. Even in Y it's still >318k.

 

[timeddoug]

Yes, you can book legs up to whatever points balance you have.

You don’t need to do anything specifically to convert it into a oneworld classic flight award.

If your itinerary meets the requirements, the price automatically caps at 318k points.

Thank you for the advice. I booked my outward to Europe via US using the online tool and after I received the required points this month, I was able to add on return via Helsinki and Tokyo to Melbourne, capped out at 318k. I didn't experience a long wait with the call centre and the first person I spoke was able to add on the flights. I guess I was lucky!