Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Buzzard]

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

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Completely missed vetrades first reply, sorry folks. All questions answered for now.

One more query...if better bang to get 2 x J on points and pay for 2 x Y, then it'd be essential (at least to SWMBO) that the seats are in basically sequential rows, i.e the last J row and the first Y row, so we could turn around and chat, swap seats etc. I guess a map of the aircraft would possibly answer, but for each leg, each metal would be different. I haven't even told her about my J idea, I think the assumption is Y all the way. If I suddenly say "how about we travel in business and lob the kids in cattle", then it'd be couch for me for a week!

Unfortunately it's not going to happen. If it is going to give you grief then you should all settle for Y or Y+ if possible IMHO.

 

[Cynicor]

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

Not possible your way. I would price up LONEx fares x4, inc taxes, and compare it to the use of 560k points+ taxes. I imagine your valuation will be very poor, somewhere close to 1c/point and you won't be EARNING points nor status either.

I'd be prepared to pay you the 1c per point and you could go out and pay cash for the fares at that rate...

 

[vetrade]

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

If I suddenly say "how about we travel in business and lob the kids in cattle", then it'd be couch for me for a week!

Gee, you've got a tough gig! Even as young teenagers my kids were ecstatic if they didn't have to sit near us.

 

[Cynicor]

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

There's still the issue of 4xY on every flight. Not an insurmountable problem, but my aim is to give you all the ammo to negotiate with the wife!

If you book as soon as the flights open you will be fine, but then you run the assistance fee each time. And in Y isn't there an additional fee that is waived for J and F bookings?

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

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

Thanks all for answers.
I am fiddling around with a test itinerary on the OneWorld website.
Have selected a likely route to middle east, then Europe, UK (LHR), the USA (NYC then on to LAX), then back to SYD. At this stage I am looking well into the future, so trialling dates in May 2015 through to early June 2015.

Then at the bottom it says "Price my itinerary". I do so.
It shows dollars required for flights and taxes/fees.

No probs so far but
i) How do I convert to points? I have proceeded through the steps up to the point of actually making a booking, but at no time is there an opportunity to make this an awards itinerary. Must be something I am missing but have scoured the site all over for the hidden button to no avail.

ii) As previously asked & answered I was thinking of a final hurrah for last leg in J, but clearly no go, so there's a tickbox option for PE upgrade. Sweet - I'll tick it, and see how much more it is. so WITHOUT the PE upgrade, the flight component is $21,816*. After ticking, and repricing, the flights total $15,596*. That is WITH the upgrade, a discount of $6,220! With the upgrade! Anyone care to comment on that?

* That is without pricing one of the legs coz the OW site wouldn't show up any available flights, even though I know they exist because I confirmed on the airlines website. This is from AMM (I reckon checking out Petra would be really cool) to TLV (would love to visit The Holy Land). Royal Jordanian does the route, but not showing up. I think coz I am trying too far out. For now, this is just an irrelevent sidebar to the questions above, but the pricing would change accordingly once that leg had been priced. For now I put it down as a surface sector.

 

[sergeyvzn]

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

Thanks all for answers.
I am fiddling around with a test itinerary on the OneWorld website.
Have selected a likely route to middle east, then Europe, UK (LHR), the USA (NYC then on to LAX), then back to SYD. At this stage I am looking well into the future, so trialling dates in May 2015 through to early June 2015.

Then at the bottom it says "Price my itinerary". I do so.
It shows dollars required for flights and taxes/fees.

No probs so far but
i) How do I convert to points? I have proceeded through the steps up to the point of actually making a booking, but at no time is there an opportunity to make this an awards itinerary. Must be something I am missing but have scoured the site all over for the hidden button to no avail.

ii) As previously asked & answered I was thinking of a final hurrah for last leg in J, but clearly no go, so there's a tickbox option for PE upgrade. Sweet - I'll tick it, and see how much more it is. so WITHOUT the PE upgrade, the flight component is $21,816*. After ticking, and repricing, the flights total $15,596*. That is WITH the upgrade, a discount of $6,220! With the upgrade! Anyone care to comment on that?

* That is without pricing one of the legs coz the OW site wouldn't show up any available flights, even though I know they exist because I confirmed on the airlines website. This is from AMM (I reckon checking out Petra would be really cool) to TLV (would love to visit The Holy Land). Royal Jordanian does the route, but not showing up. I think coz I am trying too far out. For now, this is just an irrelevent sidebar to the questions above, but the pricing would change accordingly once that leg had been priced. For now I put it down as a surface sector.

1) wrong site. You need to build up your itinerary on the Qantas website using the "Classic Award" option. OneWorld's engine is for revenue flights only, it does not show available award seats. You're wasting your time (not quite as it is still OK to use it to research routes etc)

2) No idea but this is irrelevant. If you have a Y booking (140K), you can't have any upgrades in PE as it will be the higher points bracket then. You can get a leg in a LOWER class but not in a higher one

 

[Cynicor]

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

Barking up the wrong tree. I think you need to read a bit more of this thread. Bear in mind you aren't booking an around the world, it is a Oneworld award and has very different limitations, including the ability to backtrack etc (because it is not a RTW!).

2- you can't do the upgrade that way.

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

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

1) wrong site. You need to build up your itinerary on the Qantas website using the "Classic Award" option.

Well, that'd explain it then! I recall previously actually going through the Qantas site & it redirected me to OW anyway. Will try again.

And to Cynicor, yes I thought the upgrade might've been irrelevant as it's an award flight. but thought it is interesting that taking the PE option is $6,220 cheaper! And I have read a substantial part of this thread, but 157 pages would take me a week to read. I read the first about 20 to 25 pages but realised it is quite dated, so have read the last 20 pages or so. Getting there.

 

[Cynicor]

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

Not trying to be rude at all. Just what you have posted shows that you don't yet understand the awards that well, and it took all of us a long time to get there.

Basically, you need to login to QF and book multicity award, NOT round the world.

 

[hossein_au]

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

but thought it is interesting that taking the PE option is $6,220 cheaper!

As you were using a revenue-ticket search tool, pricing depends on what fare bracket was being used. It is not uncommon for fully-flexible economy to be more expensive (or at least as expensive) as semi-flexible business class.

 

[Skyring]

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

Not trying to be rude at all. Just what you have posted shows that you don't yet understand the awards that well, and it took all of us a long time to get there.

Basically, you need to login to QF and book multicity award, NOT round the world.

I'm currently booking a new RTW trip on points and it's a pain in the bum trying to find flights that work. I know I can do it, just that it's a pain to read through this whole long thread and wondering which bits are now obsolete.

Any chance of splitting off a new one with updated links - if anyone's feeling energetic...

 

[vetrade]

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

I'm currently booking a new RTW trip on points and it's a pain in the bum trying to find flights that work. I know I can do it, just that it's a pain to read through this whole long thread and wondering which bits are now obsolete.

Any chance of splitting off a new one with updated links - if anyone's feeling energetic...

I have just finished booking our third J RTW award for April/May next year so I can speak from experience, Skyring, and you are quite correct that it's getting harder. We did one trip only 9 months ago and I started to put together our next itinerary at the start of this year. You would think that with airlines like QR, US and MH joining OW in recent times the range of options would increase markedly but it has gone the other way. Routes through Sth America etc have always been hard but IME the newer difficulties have been primarily due to AA making routing through the USA much harder by taking many options off the table since they joined up with US a few months ago.

It seems that AA has made a concerted effort to discourage pax to use their metal for award travel (even in Y). The only flights you seem to be able to get consistent availability on most days of the week now are the short flights which are inconsequential to most RTW itineraries. Many direct flights (especially the transcontinental ones) have been changed to virtually ASA's only which can't be booked on OW awards, and the indirect options they offer frequently involve markedly longer travel times and/or inhospitable flight times. Stringing together connecting flights is so much more difficult now than it was only 3 - 4 months ago - one leg might be available but then you find that onward legs are only available for different days of the week etc. The itinerary I put together in March had 5 AA flights that, on past experience, there should have been reliable availability for, but the itinerary I ended up with doesn't have any AA flights at all! I ended up having to buy a couple of flights that I would have had no trouble including in the RTW ticket earlier in the year.

So I hear what you're saying about updated links etc but I think the real solution is that conventional wisdom on RTW awards is "out the door" and you need to re-think your strategy and build your itinerary more on the airlines like IB and CX that still offer consistently available award options.

 

[tallie]

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

Quick question, I have a J RTW Award booked, can you change sectors and dates once the journey has started? Ie reroute home from europe mid trip? Currently LHR-JFK-HKG-SYD to something more like LHR-HKG-SYD? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

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

you are quite correct that it's getting harder.

.

Maybe that's why I am struggling too. For me, a first timer with RTW booking, I have entered in each leg, a total of about 7 or 8 eight flights and after spending maybe 15 - 20 mins each time, I always get an error. Either the site crashes with an error, or it proceeds to find me flights & seats, then at the final step I get another error, like just now "We could not find fare for the requested itinerary (5685 UI)". Or the points tally keeps incrementing but not realizing that there is a 140k limit for RTW. I want to avoid ringing QF and wasting their time. I'd rather waste my own, but several hours is getting ridiculous. And one of the legs only showed F, not Y.
Before anyone responds, I have probably only done this 5 or 6 times (on QF site - have also done similar on OW site too) so I think I need just a few more attempts before I really get the hang of it. What would I rather do...watch telly or pull hair out on the QF site?

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

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

Quick question, I have a J RTW Award booked, can you change sectors and dates once the journey has started? Ie reroute home from europe mid trip? Currently LHR-JFK-HKG-SYD to something more like LHR-HKG-SYD? Thanks in advance for your help.

From what I understand, yes but it costs 3,500 point per pax each change and you risk there being no award seats available leaving it that late.

 

[vetrade]

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

Quick question, I have a J RTW Award booked, can you change sectors and dates once the journey has started? Ie reroute home from europe mid trip? Currently LHR-JFK-HKG-SYD to something more like LHR-HKG-SYD? Thanks in advance for your help.

If your booking contains only Classic Awards, then the following conditions apply:

Up to 24 hours before departure of the first flight:

The following changes are permitted up to 24 hours before departure of the first flight in your booking:

- change to name (only for flights with a Qantas (QF) flight number on the ticket that are operated by Qantas)
- change to class of travel
- change to any segment routing (including departure, stopover or destination cities) or airline

Up to the commencement of travel for each flight:
The following changes are permitted up to the commencement of travel of each flight in your booking*:
- change of flight number
- change to date of travel
provided that a change to name, class of travel or segment routing or airline is not required.
*Exception: If the change is requested for an airline that requires ticket reissue for changes to flight number or date of travel, changes are only permitted up to 24 hours before departure of the first flight in your booking. For further information call your local Qantas office.
Up to 24 hours before departure of each flight (within Australia only):

The following changes are permitted up to 24 hours before departure of each flight in your booking (provided your entire booking contains flight segments which are within Australia only):

- change to class of travel
- change to any segment routing (including departure, stopover or destination cities) or airline

If your booking contains any flight segment where travel is outside Australia, changes to class of travel, segment routing or airline is not permitted.

 

[vetrade]

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

Maybe that's why I am struggling too. For me, a first timer with RTW booking, I have entered in each leg, a total of about 7 or 8 eight flights and after spending maybe 15 - 20 mins each time, I always get an error. Either the site crashes with an error, or it proceeds to find me flights & seats, then at the final step I get another error, like just now "We could not find fare for the requested itinerary (5685 UI)". Or the points tally keeps incrementing but not realizing that there is a 140k limit for RTW. I want to avoid ringing QF and wasting their time. I'd rather waste my own, but several hours is getting ridiculous. And one of the legs only showed F, not Y.
Before anyone responds, I have probably only done this 5 or 6 times (on QF site - have also done similar on OW site too) so I think I need just a few more attempts before I really get the hang of it. What would I rather do...watch telly or pull hair out on the QF site?

Danster, I would not try to check the availability of any more than 2 flight segments at a time because the system will frequently abort the process, as you have found. Sometimes I just isolate one flight at a time to check for availability. Also it won't let you select any more than 2 flight segments on the same day, which might occur if you had some short connecting flights. I find it easier to just search the flights between each stop-over at the same time. By dividing your trip into discrete segments and then piecing them together after you have sorted out the availability for each one, you should make life easier for yourself.

 

[tallie]

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

If your booking contains only Classic Awards, then the following conditions apply:
....
Up to the commencement of travel for each flight:
The following changes are permitted up to the commencement of travel of each flight in your booking*:
- change of flight number
- change to date of travel
provided that a change to name, class of travel or segment routing or airline is not required.
*Exception: If the change is requested for an airline that requires ticket reissue for changes to flight number or date of travel, changes are only permitted up to 24 hours before departure of the first flight in your booking. For further information call your local Qantas office.
Up to 24 hours before departure of each flight (within Australia only):
.....

Thank you for your prompt response vetrade, so basically you can make segment changes before you leave, not half way around the world. Interesting to note that you can't change class of travel while travelling. You'd think if you booked J you could downgrade to Y or Y+ if seats were only available in these classes. Guess I better make a decision before I depart!! Thanks again!

 

[MrHanky]

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

Thank you for your prompt response vetrade, so basically you can make segment changes before you leave, not half way around the world. Interesting to note that you can't change class of travel while travelling. You'd think if you booked J you could downgrade to Y or Y+ if seats were only available in these classes. Guess I better make a decision before I depart!! Thanks again!

Yep - I'm currently part way through my J OW award (sitting in the BA Lounge @ Heathrow waiting for my LHR-JFK-YYZ sector as I type this! ) and I actually called last week to change date/time of my two final sectors.

As vetrade has pointed out, you can only change date/time - not segment routing or airline combinations, or class of travel.... **HOWEVER** when I called to make two date changes, the operator put me on hold for 5-10 mins to "check if the points &/or taxes $$ would be the same" - by definition if I'm making no change to the routing, then these are all unchanged... The impression that I got was that this may be a rule that is up to the operator to enforce, and therefore YMMV if you request a change to routing after departure.

Anyway - I haven't actually tried to initiate any routing changes so who knows - maybe I'm reading between the lines a bit too much here! Importantly, the T&Cs state that you can't do it, so I wouldn't rely on it for your travel, but rather as a mechanism of last resort if the need arises.

 

[vetrade]

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

**HOWEVER** when I called to make two date changes, the operator put me on hold for 5-10 mins to "check if the points &/or taxes $$ would be the same" - by definition if I'm making no change to the routing, then these are all unchanged...

I have been told by a couple of operators that each time you make any changes to your itinerary the taxes & surcharges are recalculated for the whole itinerary, not just the flights you have changed. I happened to change the dates of a couple of our flights a few weeks ago (no changes to the airlines or routes though) and because the $AUD happened to be peaking at the time I ended up with a $280 refund. There does seem to also be some discretion on the part of the operator to make some minor adjustments to the taxes as well.