Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[ablecookie]

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

A quick question - I've been investigating possible options for a RTW Qantas Classic Award ticket using the multi-city option. However, I can't get some cities to list, even when I've ticked the "check partner airlines" box. For example, I know that AA fly MIA to Port-of-Spain, and BA fly LGW-Tobago, but neither Trinidad nor Tobago will appear in the searches, using either the country, city or airport code. Does this mean that I can't fly through those places on a RTW ticket or just that I need to book these legs over the phone?

Qantas search site is not very good, many cities pairs will not show up, some cities will only show "to", but not "from".

I guess you can ring up to enquire, as long as you don't book, won't cost you anything, except time.

 

[ozflier]

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

Best way to check on availability for sectors that QFF does not show is to check on the BA website - they seem pretty accurate and the times I have requested a flight based on what I see on BA, they can be seen by the QFF agent.

It also seems that some towards Australia award flights will only show up if do a return flight search from home to that destination.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

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

I intend to book a OneWorld Award in Business Class (280,000 points) for a trip next October. The issue I have is that I'd like to be in London early October, then in the US mid October and back in London late October. So the restriction that you can only stop over in any city once or transit through any city twice is a problem. Just wondering if there's any creative ways around this.

(Not directly to my issue but included in case it makes a difference: I'll be flying out of Sydney but would like to stop over briefly in Perth before heading off to Europe. I'd also like to stop over in Copenhagen while over there, and maybe Dubai on the way there or back if possible.)

If I fly into a city other than London and make my own way there, but then fly out of London - does that count London as a stopover or a transit city?

Eg, if I fly:

• Sydney - Perth (flying Qantas) - transiting in Doha (flying Qatar) - Copenhagen (direct from Doha on Qatar) ...
• Then make my own way to London (not on the OneWorld Award ticket) where I'll be for a couple of weeks ...
• Then from London - New York (flying BA or AA, staying for a week or so) - back to London (staying for a few days) - Sydney (stopping off briefly at Dubai if possible)

I know that the second stay in London would definitely count as a stopover as I'd be there for a few days and flying both in and out on the OneWorld Award itinerary.

However, would the system count the first London departure as a non-allowed stopover or a permitted transit?

 

[jetpack]

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

However, would the system count the first London departure as a non-allowed stopover or a permitted transit?

I've played around with the booking engine to test out this scenario and yes, the system will recognise both CPH & LON as stopover cities. I doubt a phone agent will override this. Open jaws are actually not a good idea for what you are trying to do as you knock out two cities at once that you can't stopover again at.

Couldn't you use any of the other cities in the UK as an alternative second stopover to London?

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

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

Thanks for the reply.

Couldn't you use any of the other cities in the UK as an alternative second stopover to London?

I've thought about that but would prefer to avoid making my way to/from Manchester or Edinburgh or wherever if possible. I also notice that often flights terminating in those cities go via London (typically Heathrow) anyway, thereby adding to my "London transit" count. However, if that's the most effective way of doing it...

 

[Caversham04]

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

Best way to check on availability for sectors that QFF does not show is to check on the BA website - they seem pretty accurate and the times I have requested a flight based on what I see on BA, they can be seen by the QFF agent.

It also seems that some towards Australia award flights will only show up if do a return flight search from home to that destination.

Qantas search site is not very good, many cities pairs will not show up, some cities will only show "to", but not "from".

I guess you can ring up to enquire, as long as you don't book, won't cost you anything, except time.

Hmmm - the city pairs work OK if you do a dummy RTW booking on the OneWorld site. Once my planned trip is within the booking window (330 days??), I guess I'll have to check availability as you describe, and ring up ASAP.

 

[vetrade]

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

I've played around with the booking engine to test out this scenario and yes, the system will recognise both CPH & LON as stopover cities. I doubt a phone agent will override this. Open jaws are actually not a good idea for what you are trying to do as you knock out two cities at once that you can't stopover again at.

Couldn't you use any of the other cities in the UK as an alternative second stopover to London?

That's definitely not correct information. Open jaws are fantastic - only the first of the cities is counted as a stopover. I have an upcoming OW J award with 8 stopover cities but 3 aren't counted because we're making our own way between the cities.

 

[vetrade]

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

I intend to book a OneWorld Award in Business Class (280,000 points) for a trip next October. The issue I have is that I'd like to be in London early October, then in the US mid October and back in London late October. So the restriction that you can only stop over in any city once or transit through any city twice is a problem. Just wondering if there's any creative ways around this.

(Not directly to my issue but included in case it makes a difference: I'll be flying out of Sydney but would like to stop over briefly in Perth before heading off to Europe. I'd also like to stop over in Copenhagen while over there, and maybe Dubai on the way there or back if possible.)

If I fly into a city other than London and make my own way there, but then fly out of London - does that count London as a stopover or a transit city?

Eg, if I fly:

• Sydney - Perth (flying Qantas) - transiting in Doha (flying Qatar) - Copenhagen (direct from Doha on Qatar) ...
• Then make my own way to London (not on the OneWorld Award ticket) where I'll be for a couple of weeks ...
• Then from London - New York (flying BA or AA, staying for a week or so) - back to London (staying for a few days) - Sydney (stopping off briefly at Dubai if possible)

I know that the second stay in London would definitely count as a stopover as I'd be there for a few days and flying both in and out on the OneWorld Award itinerary.

However, would the system count the first London departure as a non-allowed stopover or a permitted transit?

Jean Prouvaire, your thinking about making your own way to London is sound. Maybe the easiest way around it is to fly into Paris or even Madrid on either the first or second intended trips to London and then buy a separate plane ticket from there to London or go via train. That way Paris or Madrid will count as your stopover city and you can fly out of LHR with it only counting as a transit, not a stopover.

 

[jetpack]

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

That's definitely not correct information. Open jaws are fantastic - only the first of the cities is counted as a stopover. I have an upcoming OW J award with 8 stopover cities but 3 aren't counted because we're making our own way between the cities.

I just tried now to book the following itinerary online as a dummy booking. It came up as 205,000 points noting there is a CDG-LHR open jaw plus a stopover in LHR.

4 Aug CX MEL-HKG
10 Aug CX HKG-CDG
18 Aug BA LHR-EWR
25 Aug BA JFK-LHR
1 Sep QF LHR-MEL

If I remove the open jaw and turn it into a CDG stopover and a LHR transit then QF is only asking for 140,000 points.

4 Aug CX MEL-HKG
10 Aug CX HKG-CDG
18 Aug BA CDG-LHR-EWR
25 Aug BA JFK-LHR
1 Sep QF LHR-MEL

The system is clearly recognising both open jaw cities as a stopover. I'd be interested to know how you got around it.

 

[vetrade]

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

I just tried now to book the following itinerary online as a dummy booking. It came up as 205,000 points noting there is a CDG-LHR open jaw plus a stopover in LHR.

The system is clearly recognising both open jaw cities as a stopover. I'd be interested to know how you got around it.

The 205K point option you are getting with the open jaw would be because the QF system is not recognising that flight combination as a OW award and is pricing the points out as just a standard multi-city booking. The booking would therefore need to be done by phone.

14.5.5 Surface Segments are permitted as part of oneworld Award Itineraries, but the distance between the disembarkation point and the next embarkation point will be included in the Award Point zone calculation for that Itinerary.

I couldn't find a specific reference explaining stopovers and surface segments and haven't got the time to look now but our upcoming trip will be the 3rd OW RTW award and each of them has had 7 or more stopovers but they only counted as 5 because we used open jaws.

 

[ozflier]

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

I am looking at flights AKL-Santiago.

The BA site seems to have availability on LAN flights but that availability does not appear on the QF site.

I have rang QFF and have received 2 different answers -its fine and when I later ang to book , I was told that only seats on the code share of the LAN aircraft are available for QFF awards.

So even if there are award seats for OW fliers ( eg presumably using your Avioa of AA miles) , they may not be available for Qantas points holders.

As my frustration mounted, I did not want to make a specific booking today so did not push the issue.

Is anyone aware of what the official situation is!

 

[vetrade]

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

I am looking at flights AKL-Santiago.

The BA site seems to have availability on LAN flights but that availability does not appear on the QF site.

I have rang QFF and have received 2 different answers -its fine and when I later ang to book , I was told that only seats on the code share of the LAN aircraft are available for QFF awards.

So even if there are award seats for OW fliers ( eg presumably using your Avioa of AA miles) , they may not be available for Qantas points holders.

As my frustration mounted, I did not want to make a specific booking today so did not push the issue.

Is anyone aware of what the official situation is!

QF website doesn't show availability for any LAN flights. I don't have any personal experience with awards for LAN flights so others may be better informed but if BA is showing availability I would expect you should be able to book seats through QF. I have read elsewhere on AFF that LAN does restrict award availability mainly for its own customers though - so the fact BA is showing availability here is a promising sign for you. I have had many instances where I have been given completely wrong info by QF call centre staff so I'd suggest you try again with a different operator. Will be to your advantage if you can quote the availability you are seeing on BA to the QF operator when you ring too. Good luck - people have often mentioned how difficult it is to get awards to Sth America.

 

[sergeyvzn]

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

QF website doesn't show availability for any LAN flights. I don't have any personal experience with awards for LAN flights so others may be better informed but if BA is showing availability I would expect you should be able to book seats through QF. I have read elsewhere on AFF that LAN does restrict award availability mainly for its own customers though - so the fact BA is showing availability here is a promising sign for you. I have had many instances where I have been given completely wrong info by QF call centre staff so I'd suggest you try again with a different operator. Will be to your advantage if you can quote the availability you are seeing on BA to the QF operator when you ring too. Good luck - people have often mentioned how difficult it is to get awards to Sth America.

QF web site certainly does show LAN availability on the SYD-Santiago route. I looked at flights for early 2015 (February) and was pleasantly surprised to see 2 J seats on most Wednesdays and Sundays

it might be different for Auckland -Santiago but I doubt that

 

[vetrade]

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

Thanks for correcting me, sergeyvzn, - I obviously need to update my facts!

 

[ablecookie]

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

I am looking at flights AKL-Santiago.

The BA site seems to have availability on LAN flights but that availability does not appear on the QF site.

I have rang QFF and have received 2 different answers -its fine and when I later ang to book , I was told that only seats on the code share of the LAN aircraft are available for QFF awards.

So even if there are award seats for OW fliers ( eg presumably using your Avioa of AA miles) , they may not be available for Qantas points holders.

As my frustration mounted, I did not want to make a specific booking today so did not push the issue.

Is anyone aware of what the official situation is!

I had these sort of issue booking my oneworld ticket. I used BA to find availability and then when I tried to book with Q points, none available.

Contacted "Red Roo", official rep of Qantas on AFF site, he put me in touch with an officer at Qantas and explained to me the working of OneWorld Alliance, that every airline including Qantas, does hold most award seats for their own members. And then does "counter-trade" with partner airlines. So in the case of South American airlines, since very few Brazilians travel on Qantas, Qantas' allocations from TAM/LAN are very small - and then possibly these rare allocations might well be reserved for high status members and only released for general allocation close to travel date - my summation: Noticed that no seats through the 10 months, then a number appear for November this year, for example..

 

[robd]

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

I have just booked my first 280K trip together with flights for Jnr#2 who I will be joining up with in Paris, after she has completed a 28 day European tour followed by 10 day Greek Island tour.

I would welcome any suggestions to tweek my itinerary (better times, airlines, etc).

MEL-HKG CX134 13/05/15
HKG-CDG CX261 14/05/15
ORL-xLHR-IST BA 19/05/15
IST-xAMM-DXB RJ 24/05/15
DXB-HKG CX738 27/05/15
HKG-BNE CX157 28/05/15 (have to overnight in BNE unfortunately).
BNE-MEL QF615 29/05/15

I was trying to get CX105 straight into Melbourne from HK, but Agent said "no can do".

 

[vetrade]

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

I have just booked my first 280K trip together with flights for Jnr#2 who I will be joining up with in Paris, after she has completed a 28 day European tour followed by 10 day Greek Island tour.

I would welcome any suggestions to tweek my itinerary (better times, airlines, etc).

MEL-HKG CX134
HKG-CDG CX261
ORL-xLHR-IST BA
IST-xAMM-DXB RJ
DXB-HKG CX738
HKG-BNE CX157 (have to overnight in BNE unfortunately).
BNE-MEL QF615

I was trying to get CX105 straight into Melbourne from HK, but Agent said "no can do".

It would help if you told us the dates of your flights robd and clarify where your stopovers are - your post reads like you have 2 stops in HKG but that obviously isn't the case.

 

[robd]

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

It would help if you told us the dates of your flights robd and clarify where your stopovers are - your post reads like you have 2 stops in HKG but that obviously isn't the case.

I've added the dates.

Thanks.

 

[vetrade]

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

Maybe give QF another call robd. Just had a look and CX105 is showing J availability for both 28 & 29 /5/15.

 

[robd]

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

Maybe give QF another call robd. Just had a look and CX105 is showing J availability for both 28 & 29 /5/15.

That's the flight that I wanted, but the agent said it is ex HKG only and that CX would cancel the itinerary if booked DXB-HKG and then HKG-MEL.