Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

TOOJ#3
1. You indicated that you thought getting to Vietnam might be a problem on the basis of dummy entries you did, but keep in mind that QF won't show up MH flights online. MH fly to SGN 4 times daily and it's only a 2 hr flight so my guess is that the chances of getting J seats should be very likely -> even though you're not ready to book yet you can always ring the QF call centre and ask them what availability there is in, say, 10 months time for a MH flight from KUL - SGN.
2. I always reckon it would be a shame not to make full use of the 5 stopover rule - so I never go for 4 if we can have 5!
3. Not sure I understand how changing to fly into LHR and fly out of ORY would allow you to pick up your luggage - obviously you can only pick it up from the same place you left it so, whether that's London or Paris, your second visit could only be a transit of < 24hrs to comply with the one stop-over per city rule.
4. One option you should consider would be to buy a Y ticket to fly from SCQ (or MAD) to LHR (or ORY/CDG). That would be a short flight that wouldn't cost you much money and it would mean that, since it is separate and distinct from your OW itinerary, you would only be deemed to be having a single stop-over in London (or Paris). That way you would be able to take your time retrieving your baggage and you'd also have a spare stop-over to have a few days in KUL (or somewhere else) as well. Win / Win.

 

[serfty]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

It is good that you are looking toavoid departures from the UK on these awards as the APD can cost up to £194 per PAX.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

It is good that you are looking toavoid departures from the UK on these awards as the APD can cost up to £194 per PAX.

Serfty, my departure from VCE to JFK goes via London but assume that I don't pay this cost as my flight does not originate from there. Is that correct?

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

TOOJ#3
1. You indicated that you thought getting to Vietnam might be a problem on the basis of dummy entries you did, but keep in mind that QF won't show up MH flights online. MH fly to SGN 4 times daily and it's only a 2 hr flight so my guess is that the chances of getting J seats should be very likely -> even though you're not ready to book yet you can always ring the QF call centre and ask them what availability there is in, say, 10 months time for a MH flight from KUL - SGN.
2. I always reckon it would be a shame not to make full use of the 5 stopover rule - so I never go for 4 if we can have 5!
3. Not sure I understand how changing to fly into LHR and fly out of ORY would allow you to pick up your luggage - obviously you can only pick it up from the same place you left it so, whether that's London or Paris, your second visit could only be a transit of < 24hrs to comply with the one stop-over per city rule.
4. One option you should consider would be to buy a Y ticket to fly from SCQ (or MAD) to LHR (or ORY/CDG). That would be a short flight that wouldn't cost you much money and it would mean that, since it is separate and distinct from your OW itinerary, you would only be deemed to be having a single stop-over in London (or Paris). That way you would be able to take your time retrieving your baggage and you'd also have a spare stop-over to have a few days in KUL (or somewhere else) as well. Win / Win.

Vertrade, using your quoted numbering…
1. The MH service looks like it will solve the ‘how do we get to VN dilemma’. Thanks for the tip - silly of me to assume that the booking tool would include all services of Partner Airlines, but I guess that would take the challenge out of the game… I had a quick look on the MH website, and you’re right (of course), there appears to be plenty of flights to choose from.
2. Agreed.
3. We’ll be moving around a bit, so there’ll be many choices available as to where we leave the extra luggage. So flying in to LHR and flying out of ORY/CDG is completely feasible (and happily avoids the Departure Extortion mentioned by Serfty - thanks for the heads up).
4. Yes, good plan. I did a dummy booking and there’s plenty of flights SCQ-ORY at relatively low cost. And that will bring the KUL Stop into play.


So now the updated itinerary stands as (something like) this:


MEL - KUL - SGN / Stop1 (about 5 weeks)
SGN - KUL / Stop2 (a few days)
KUL - HKG / Stop3 (a few days)
HKG - LHR / Stop4
Surface Sector (at least 7 weeks), including an ‘off piste’ SCQ ORY
ORY - ?? - CAI / Stop5 (4 days - 1 week)
CAI - ?? - MEL (by 2 Oct at latest)

Thanks again,
TOOJ#3

 

[jastel]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I did read all through this last month but got busy and delayed again...now I really have to try and book this.

Quick question - are affiliate airlines of the main OW airlines allowed? eg Dragonair, Air China etc allowed, the flights have CX numbers and come up on the Oneworld Interactive Map.

 

[Flashback]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Serfty, my departure from VCE to JFK goes via London but assume that I don't pay this cost as my flight does not originate from there. Is that correct?

If you're transiting London e.g. spending less than 24 hours there, then no you shouldn't get hit with the APD. If you're doing a >24 hour stopover then yes....

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I did read all through this last month but got busy and delayed again...now I really have to try and book this.

Quick question - are affiliate airlines of the main OW airlines allowed? eg Dragonair, Air China etc allowed, the flights have CX numbers and come up on the Oneworld Interactive Map.

Dragonair OK but not Air China - all the affiliates are listed under "Member Airlines" on the OW site

 

[jastel]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Thanks found it now, so affiliates are ok like Dragonair but Air China is only a commercial partner it says.

 

[Jacques Vert]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

CAI - ?? - MEL (by 2 Oct at latest)
TOOJ#3

Have you considered CAI-DOH-DXB-MEL?

JV

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Have you considered CAI-DOH-DXB-MEL?

Yes JV, that route is one of the likely suspects, but may not need the DXB leg if there's a direct DOH - MEL available.
Thx,
J

 

[Jacques Vert]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Yes JV, that route is one of the likely suspects, but may not need the DXB leg if there's a direct DOH - MEL available.
Thx,
J

Try both; it would be interesting to see what the differences are in taxes. And of course, depends on availability on the day(s) you want to fly. JV

 

[QPProletarian]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Looking to book something for around this time next year, BNE-LAS/LAS-MIA/MIA-LHR/LHR-VCE/VCE(LHR)DXB/DXB(SYD/MEL)BNE.

I can see limited openings pop up in U on the hard to get QF routes to US and from UK.. My problem is that how can you reconcile this in an explorer booking with the required AA routes (which aren't opened up til much later?) I don't believe it is possible to put anything on hold?

Also, will still have a large number of miles under the 35k limit, has anyone managed to add in another side trip, say over to NZ in J as part of a similar explorer?

 

[MrHanky]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

With no small thanks to the advice from people on this forum, I've booked my OW fare!

MEL-BNE-HKG (stop)
HKG-ICN (stop)
ICN-LHR (stop)
LHR-BOS (stop), surface sector to JFK
JFK-HKG-MEL

The first leg I booked on this trip was ex-HKG so my taxes etc. have all been in HKD, $8605 HKD all up.

Some pretty nasty fuel fines built in there with LHR-BOS on BA213, and ICN-LHR is with BA on BA18.

As this is my first time riding at the front of the bus...
1) Swapping ICN-LHR from BA to QR via DOH would probably save $$ on fuel fines - how does QR vs BA stack up in terms of their bus class offering?
2) If I were to swap out LHR-BOS with BA and make it LHR-MAD-BOS with Iberia (to save ~$400AUD in fuel fines), I note that "iflybags.com" then bases my itinerary baggage allowance on IB's allowance.
--- When using a "piece" system for baggage, is the allowed weight per piece marked anywhere in the ticket/booking? I'm in a unique position where 3x32kg will be valuable on the way to LHR, and the allowance I get from there back to MEL I really couldn't care less, so if I'm flying CX/BA/QR/QF enroute to LHR, I note all of these airlines have weight limits of 32kg per piece for J class, yet IB have a 23kg per piece limit. Is it up to each individual airline to enforce weight limits on pieces?

 

[jastel]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Well after reading her over the last month or two (and thinking I understood the basics anyway) I got brave enough to ring Qantas and try a booking.
I have no paid flyer apps just useless airline own sites, so have no idea if reward seats are on the randomly picked flights I want. I have a very rough plan but am totally flexible with dates/places, at least to the months/continents, I want to use the flights for the BIG flights between places and hire car/train/local flights around each stopover.

I rang the normal number, (is there a special number for these trips?) and asked for a oneworld 280K award flight.
Lady said there is a Frequent Flyer 280K Round The World flight, the conditions sounded similar, except 6000 points or $60 for the booking, the whole booking had to be done at once, no changes allowed and she asked why I didn't do it online.
As I wanted to return Aug 15 she said none of it could be booked as seats were not out yet. So Game Over and I hung up.

This is not what I have been reading on here with people adding and changing all the time for a 3500pts fee. Booking the first flight early and adding/changing later.
Did I just get a dud operator, or have the rules changed?
Lastly are these fares still able to be booked after 30 June 2014 when all the enhancements kick in?

I can see why not many people use these things...
Thanks in advance

Jastel

 

[MrHanky]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

I rang the normal number, (is there a special number for these trips?) and asked for a oneworld 280K award flight.
Lady said there is a Frequent Flyer 280K Round The World flight, the conditions sounded similar, except 6000 points or $60 for the booking, the whole booking had to be done at once, no changes allowed and she asked why I didn't do it online.

There are no telephone assistance fees for changes to bookings in Business / First class as per QFF fee schedule.

However, there is a "booking assistance fee" of $60 if you make the booking via the contact centre.

Award Assistance Fee – Award Flight Bookings
Money payment option is available for Award Flight bookings made in Australia or in New Zealand (except as otherwise stated). Amount must be paid at the time of making your reservation.
In addition, the number of points required for Jetstar fares in Any Seat Awards may be higher if booked by telephone rather than at qantas.com."

vs

Service Fees
Service Fees are payable in addition to any applicable Change Fees.
Payable where changes are made to Qantas & Partner Classic Award bookings via Qantas Contact Centres.
Money payment option is available for Award Flight booking changes made in Australia or in New Zealand (except as otherwise stated). Amount must be paid at the time of making your changes.
Service Fees will not be applied when changing Classic Awards booked for travel in Business or First class.

Just make a 'placeholder' booking online, can be any city pair for any dates in the future, as long as it's in Business or First.

I would suggest just booking a multi-city booking for the legs that are searchable (up to ~May-June 2015) and then call up once the additional legs become available. Don't worry about the points total, it might come out to some ~250k points or whatever and you still might have two big legs to add in the future, but at some point it will "click over" to the magic 280k number and stay there regardless of how many sectors you add.

As I wanted to return Aug 15 she said none of it could be booked as seats were not out yet. So Game Over and I hung up.

Incorrect.

This is not what I have been reading on here with people adding and changing all the time for a 3500pts fee. Booking the first flight early and adding/changing later.
Did I just get a dud operator, or have the rules changed?

Yes, seems like you got a dud.

Lastly are these fares still able to be booked after 30 June 2014 when all the enhancements kick in?

AFAIK there are no published plans to remove OW awards. Even if there were, I would suspect that it would not apply to "classic award tickets issued before dd/mm/yyyy" of whenever those changes were to kick in.

 

[vetrade]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Well after reading her over the last month or two (and thinking I understood the basics anyway) I got brave enough to ring Qantas and try a booking.
I have no paid flyer apps just useless airline own sites, so have no idea if reward seats are on the randomly picked flights I want. I have a very rough plan but am totally flexible with dates/places, at least to the months/continents, I want to use the flights for the BIG flights between places and hire car/train/local flights around each stopover.

I rang the normal number, (is there a special number for these trips?) and asked for a oneworld 280K award flight.
Lady said there is a Frequent Flyer 280K Round The World flight, the conditions sounded similar, except 6000 points or $60 for the booking, the whole booking had to be done at once, no changes allowed and she asked why I didn't do it online.
As I wanted to return Aug 15 she said none of it could be booked as seats were not out yet. So Game Over and I hung up.

This is not what I have been reading on here with people adding and changing all the time for a 3500pts fee. Booking the first flight early and adding/changing later.
Did I just get a dud operator, or have the rules changed?
Lastly are these fares still able to be booked after 30 June 2014 when all the enhancements kick in?

I can see why not many people use these things...
Thanks in advance

Jastel

Yes, you did just get a dud operator - s*it happens! If you are booking a 280K J award you book the first flight(s) online but changes have to be done over the phone. You can definitely add more flights or change flights - the QF T&Cs state this specifically at 14.7.4. - suggest you quote this if you get stonewalled again. You should be asking the operator for a OW classic award in business class.

I suggest that you do need to make an effort to see what is available - use the OneWorld planner and QF classic award search facility to start putting together a coherent itinerary. Maybe post your proposed itinerary, stop-overs & approx dates here so people can comment on it for you.

 

[jastel]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Thanks guys - makes me feel a bit less stupid...

Will post an itinerary

 

[Alanslegal]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

Lady said there is a Frequent Flyer 280K Round The World flight, the conditions sounded similar, except 6000 points or $60 for the booking, the whole booking had to be done at once, no changes allowed and she asked why I didn't do it online.

She got it wrong the moment she referred it to as a RTW award. It's really a mileage based award with some conditions. You don't have to go RTW if you don't want to / need to.

 

[jastel]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

That's what made me think she doesn't know what she is doing...
If they don't end on 30 June like she said I don't have to panic as much.
I know I should still get in early but...

 

[jastel]

re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread

[TABLE="width: 447"]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]Date[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]Dep Time[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]Arr Time[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 90, bgcolor: transparent"]Flight[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]Company[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 132, bgcolor: transparent"]From[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 107, bgcolor: transparent"]To[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]18/03/2015[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]13:00[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]18:05[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] CX146[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Cathay[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Cairns CNS[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Hong Kong HKG[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]19/03/2015[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]17:05[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]19:30[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] CX5808[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Dragon[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Hong Kong HKG[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Shanghai PVG[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]29/03/2015[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]1:30[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]5:50[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] QR895[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Qatar[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Beijing PEK[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Doha DOH[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]20:55[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]23:05[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] QR1014[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Qatar[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Doha DOH[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Dubai DXB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]30/03/2015[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]2:15[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]6:45[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] QF1[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Qantas[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Dubai DXB[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]London LHR[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]1/07/2015[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]8:30[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]11:05[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] BA117[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]British[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]London LHR[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]New York JFK[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]13/08/2015[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]10:20[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]13:25[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] AA283[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]American[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Los Angeles LAX[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Honolulu HNL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]20/08/2015[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]10:55[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent, align: right"]17:35[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] QF4[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Qantas[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Honolulu HNL[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Sydney SYD[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]