Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[SnowmanJ]

I’m halfway through a oneworld classic flight reward around the world in economy. An upcoming JAL flight got rescheduled to 20mins earlier (no big deal). However, I would like to change the date of the rescheduled flight to a week earlier.

Given the schedule change (although very minor), would Qantas likely let me change the date without incurring the change fee? Would this force the repricing of the taxes on the whole itinerary?

 

[meowster]

I’m halfway through a oneworld classic flight reward around the world in economy. An upcoming JAL flight got rescheduled to 20mins earlier (no big deal). However, I would like to change the date of the rescheduled flight to a week earlier.

Given the schedule change (although very minor), would Qantas likely let me change the date without incurring the change fee? Would this force the repricing of the taxes on the whole itinerary?

You should be able to call Qantas and change to any JL flight on the same route +/- 7 days with no cost as it's an involuntary change.

Tip: If you to go JAL's Manage My Booking function (https://www.jal.co.jp/au/en/), it will show you all the alternative flights. Find one and tell the Qantas Rep, the JAL option might even let you pick and change it yourself if it doesn't tell you to call Qantas.

 

[Jimmy89]

The OP is finishing within 365 days of the first flight - the airline seems to be objecting because it’s finishing more than 365 days from the date the original ticket was issued - which is an error on the airline’s part.

Yes correct. Turns out Auckland didn't know how to deal with this properly. Got through to someone in Hobart who managed to add on the JL flights in January 2026, however they then failed to reticket the booking in a timely manner which resulted in the loss of my CX flight from the booking. I called up Hobart again, and they managed to lodge a request and then successfully reticket the whole booking.

My next question is it possible to add platinum classic reward requested seats to an existing oneworld classic booking? ie I want to ask to release some I fare seats back from the US to Melbourne and add them onto the existing booking.

 

[Mr H]

My next question is it possible to add platinum classic reward requested seats to an existing oneworld classic booking? ie I want to ask to release some I fare seats back from the US to Melbourne and add them onto the existing booking.

No reason why that shouldn’t be possible.

 

[V1V2]

What a waste of time this article is. Classic reward points are long gone and cut right down. It’s all about poor value classic plus now. Qantas are cunning dressing it as an enhancement. It’s disgusting greed. RIP classic rewards. Qantas well knows they have cut down on availability of the same very significantly!! Shame Qantas.

 

[bagman]

What a waste of time this article is. Classic reward points are long gone and cut right down. It’s all about poor value classic plus now. Qantas are cunning dressing it as an enhancement. It’s disgusting greed. RIP classic rewards. Qantas well knows they have cut down on availability of the same very significantly!! Shame Qantas.

I have to agree. Josh at Frequent Flyer Concierge did his absolute best to get me Business Class RTW for Sep/Oct but nothing for Classic Flight Reward. Economy had availability but…no thanks. If I’m using my points I’m going Business. Interestingly I’ve been told Sep/Oct is the new “high season” for traveling out of Australia. Evidently 2 out of 3 flight bookings from this particular agency are during that period.
I remember when Sep/Oct used to be shoulder

 

[jrb17a]

Is this a joke? It's 2025, not 2006 or 2007. You can't book a reasonable RTW in J with 316,000 points.

 

[Warragul]

Is this a joke? It's 2025, not 2006 or 2007. You can't book a reasonable RTW in J with 316,000 points.

Depends what you mean by reasonable doesn't it?

I ( and partner)did Sydney - New York- Casablanca- Amman- Frankfurt-Tokyo- Sydney 18 months ago. Seemed reasonable to me.

 

[pye1201]

I've booked a Oneworld Award itinerary (34,616 miles) all in business class except for one leg - LAX-HND on AA which is in economy. I'm Qantas platinum and my husband has Platinum Pro status with AA - has anyone ever had any experience upgrading with AA points an AA flight originally booked with Qantas on a OWA ticket? Is it possible?
Hoping this isn't a question that's been answered before - I've searched but no luck finding any info..

 

[levelnine]

I'm Qantas platinum and my husband has Platinum Pro status with AA - has anyone ever had any experience upgrading with AA points an AA flight originally booked with Qantas on a OWA ticket? Is it possible?

You can't upgrade award flights with miles on AA.

 

[pye1201]

You can't upgrade award flights with miles on AA.

I was hoping there was some way to upgrade that flight - I guess I'll have to cross fingers I can find business class availability with EF between now and the flight and get it changed.
Thanks for that!

 

[fastferret]

Could you maybe try emailing the QF reward seat escalations email and see if they can get JL to release PE or even J seats (due to the equipment change)?

I emailed escalations on Sunday night. They responded the next day, which was great.

They reached out to JAL for release of J seats, but JAL declined.

It was the response I expected, but kudos to Qantas for their prompt action and reply.

 

[Lynda2475]

Is this a joke? It's 2025, not 2006 or 2007. You can't book a reasonable RTW in J with 316,000 points.

Looks like a typo as an OWA (which doesn't have to be RTW) is 318k not 316k.

 

[pyramidforce]

Can I add a flight before the first leg of an already booked OWA?

 

[Mr H]

Can I add a flight before the first leg of an already booked OWA?

Yes

 

[MelbFlyer]

What a waste of time this article is. Classic reward points are long gone and cut right down. It’s all about poor value classic plus now. Qantas are cunning dressing it as an enhancement. It’s disgusting greed. RIP classic rewards. Qantas well knows they have cut down on availability of the same very significantly!! Shame Qantas.

You can still build a OWA itinerary, but granted, it is harder these days.

Economy should be relatively simple to find (except for peak periods such as school holidays), but business is where the pain point is.

I was able to redeem a business OWA to Europe (using QF / AY / BA) and back in 2023 and it was already difficult at the time - I wouldn't want to try now!

The combination of the below makes it harder:
- More people accumulating points
- QF and partners not releasing as many seats, and somewhat sporadically, making it harder to plan
- More articles about how to redeem award seats ie. Point Hacks

I'm just glad that I was able to redeem and take said trip back in 2023. I'm resigned to the fact that it was good whilst it lasted. Moving forward it will be more difficult no doubt.

 

[DC3]

Can I add a flight before the first leg of an already booked OWA?

The flights can be booked in any order, depending upon availability (and who you gat at the Call Centre )

 

[elanshin]

What a waste of time this article is. Classic reward points are long gone and cut right down. It’s all about poor value classic plus now. Qantas are cunning dressing it as an enhancement. It’s disgusting greed. RIP classic rewards. Qantas well knows they have cut down on availability of the same very significantly!! Shame Qantas.

You can most certainly still build OWA. Remember the hardest is just getting off this rock. But if you make that lart flexible you can easily fill in the rest. Asia to europe or us has loads of availability.

 

[v0idd]

Hey guys, booked a trip for me, my wife and my 1 year old for end of this year in J.

This was the most creative way I could get to Brazil to see the inlaws without flighting to SCL, but also visiting Japan, and EU under 35k

Still missing Japan to USA section and the home leg.

MEL-HKG (QF) transit
HKG-KIX (CX) stop 1
ITM-HND-JFK (JL) stop 2 (missing this flight)
JFK-GRU-CNF (LA) seperate
CNF-GRU-BOG (LA) seperate
BOG-MAD (IB) stop 3
HEL-HKG (AY) transit
HKG-SIN (CX) stop 4
SIN-MEL (missing this flight)

Do I still have room for more stop overs or surface segments?

Maybe a flight within Europe?

Cheers

 

[DC3]

Do I still have room for more stop overs or surface segments?

As long as you keep within the rules, including within 35.000 miles, 16 segments, up to 5 stops (the final city does not count as a stop), etc, etc:

How to Fly Around the World with a Qantas Oneworld Classic Flight Reward [Mega Guide]

Book a Qantas Oneworld Classic Flight Reward to fly around the world with up to 5 stopovers from just 132,400 Qantas Frequent Flyer points!

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au