Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[pye1201]

Thank you so much for this. It really gives me hope.

I am going to call and try your method.

Did you already book a new ticket? (if flights have opened up)

Once again, much appreciated.

I booked a 2021 flight for the start date and then dummy dates for each of the flights thereafter about two or three days apart given the flights I want for the end of next year are clearly not available. I discussed with the agent my plan to ring back when the flights I do want become available (somewhere around December this year) and change the dates then. She clearly understood what I was after and actually came up with a couple of flights to fill in a leg of the itinerary I didn't think I would be able to book again.

Let us know how you go!

 

[flapper]

Would you be able to provide any details about the first flight for your cancelled OWA, please? Was it on QF? Was it international or domestic?

I have a OWA booked for August, which I assume will not happen. The first flight is on QF domestic and I have received nothing from QF as yet. I phoned the Call Centre in April but was told that they were not anywhere near cancelling August flights at that time.

Edited

International. I had no flights booked on QF metal.

 

[abby-line]

It appears those of us who have managed to have our Qantas Classic OWA's deferred at the old 280K cost have been lucky. In my case, the agent wanted to cancel my whole booking but when I insisted that I didn't want to cancel and that it was Qantas who could not supply my previously booked flights for an indefinite period, she spoke at length with a supervisor and that was when I was able to get my dates deferred to next year and have the tickets for the whole itinerary reissued on the same PNR. On ringing back to check that I did indeed have a full 12 months from the deferred start date, to finish my itinerary, there was no hesitation on the part of the different agent who checked my flights. I would keep calling until you get someone who can give you a deferred start date at no extra cost AND a full twelve months from that date to finish your itinerary. Good luck!

Ditto to the advice of @pye1201. I've concluded my second call to Qantas for the day. First agent (who wouldn't tell me if she was call centre or check-in staff taking overflow calls) had to revert to a supervisor regarding my query about the validity. Then returns after lengthy exchange trying to push me very hard to cancel. Had a list of reasons (um, N-O!). Was even trying to tell me the validity wouldn't extend to these new changes resulting in new flights in March 21 in addition to existing flights in Dec 20. Transfers me through to supervisor to hash it out and one hour later the call disconnects. Turns out to be a blessing in disguise .....

Next call was with a NZ reservations agent (Josiah ) who made the necessary changes the first agent hadn't apparently done. Then I posed the million dollar question .... and he didn't hesitate and said the validity is 12 months from the new departure date (which in my case is now Dec 20). I requested he make a note of that 'rule' in my booking for what it's worth. This will likely mean nothing when it comes to ticketing a booking that's past 12 months from original departure date..... but we can only hope!!

 

[pye1201]

Ditto to the advice of @pye1201. I've concluded my second call to Qantas for the day. First agent (who wouldn't tell me if she was call centre or check-in staff taking overflow calls) had to revert to a supervisor regarding my query about the validity. Then returns after lengthy exchange trying to push me very hard to cancel. Had a list of reasons (um, N-O!). Was even trying to tell me the validity wouldn't extend to these new changes resulting in new flights in March 21 in addition to existing flights in Dec 20. Transfers me through to supervisor to hash it out and one hour later the call disconnects. Turns out to be a blessing in disguise .....

Next call was with a NZ reservations agent (Josiah ) who made the necessary changes the first agent hadn't apparently done. Then I posed the million dollar question .... and he didn't hesitate and said the validity is 12 months from the new departure date (which in my case is now Dec 20). I requested he make a note of that 'rule' in my booking for what it's worth. This will likely mean nothing when it comes to ticketing a booking that's past 12 months from original departure date..... but we can only hope!!

Great news @kleoline - has the itinerary been ticketed yet?

 

[Danger]

Where can I find this info? Sorry,can't seem to find it anywhere. I assumed it was a year from first flight.

The easy way is to look at your original itinerary. The rule (which some lucky people seem to have had broken in their favour) is that travel must be completed within 12 months of your flight departure. So, to put it another way, does your new ticket have any flights after the date of the original itinerary's first flight?

For example, original itinerary first flight is 15 August 2020 which is supposed to mean you must complete that itinerary entirely by 14 August 2021. If your new itinerary has any flights on or after 14 August 2021, it would appear the ticket validity has been extended. If your new itinerary does not have any flights on or after 14 August 2021, it's not possible to tell whether or not your ticket's validity has been extended without calling Qantas and asking what the validity is.

 

[abby-line]

Great news @kleoline - has the itinerary been ticketed yet?

Not yet @pye1201. Have you received yours?

 

[pye1201]

Not yet @pye1201. Have you received yours?

Yes - they emailed mine within 10 minutes of the changes being made - I received the booking confirmation and the e-ticket Itinerary by email. Might be wise to ring them back and request your e-ticket?

 

[Aristotle9]

Getting it noted on the booking is a good step as if the rule is systemic that they cannot override when the time actually comes U may point to it for manual issuance.

 

[Kangol]

Update on my cancelled booking.
The PNR was still "valid" and I managed to keep the flights for next year.
Flights for this year were cancelled and a refund has been processed with e-ticket received. Same PNR.
Current flights are priced at the old rates.

 

[rosstqz]

I don't suppose you know what the validity of your ticket is now? To put it another way, is the date of any of your new flights (in 2021) after the date of your original first flight (in 2020)?

No, my previous trip commenced June, this one ends April - so I'm not a good crash test dummy for that.

I am operating on the assumption that I take the free change and if I'm still unable to take these flights next year for operational reasons, I'll have the argument at that point - but hopefully we'll be ok!

 

[Kangol]

Update on my cancelled booking.
The PNR was still "valid" and I managed to keep the flights for next year.
Flights for this year were cancelled and a refund has been processed with e-ticket received. Same PNR.
Current flights are priced at the old rates.

Refund received. Card account is closed, not that it has ever been an issue. Got the bank to transfer it to a transaction account.

 

[knightfall88]

Kind bummed that cancelled my Qatar first class leg from Perth to Doha and not able to find another in the next 12 months.

 

[Aristotle9]

To those that cancelled their flights, did U do so using the online manage ur booking or had to call up? I can't see the chat option anymore either on the app. Also the manage ur booking shows flight credit, not points + taxes

 

[flapper]

To those that cancelled their flights, did U do so using the online manage ur booking or had to call up? I can't see the chat option anymore either on the app. Also the manage ur booking shows flight credit, not points + taxes

I called and got points back the next day.

 

[flapper]

When you use Qantas Points to book a Classic Flight Reward on Qantas flights, you can change your plans until 31 October 2020.

• If you wish to change your travel dates, we’ll waive the change fee.
• If you wish to cancel, we’ll waive the cancellation fee. The total Qantas Points used and any taxes, fees and carrier charges paid will be refunded.

This waiver applies to itineraries that consist only of Classic Flight Rewards. If you combine a Classic Flight Reward with a non-Classic Flight Reward fare, this waiver won’t apply.

I'm guessing this applies to OWA bookings too but it doesn't say they will waive the fee if you wish to add flights.

 

[davel]

Can anyone kindly sum up on the 'rules' for the changing of flights on the old 280K fare?

I called in early May to change my 280K change to later date in the year as a dummy booking and the rep said the entire trip must be completed before 1 year from the booking date (we booked on the final day of the 280K in September 2019). Is this in fact true?

What I am reading from the posts here is that booking date has no bearing on anything and that the fare just needs to be completed 1 year from the initial departure date of the first leg?

On top of that I just checked and they have just randomly cancelled my ticket against my wishes! It was due to depart on 2nd June 2020, but it was cancelled early May when I first called them and told them NOT to cancel it. Waiting for a callback from them...

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

When you use Qantas Points to book a Classic Flight Reward on Qantas flights, you can change your plans until 31 October 2020.

• If you wish to change your travel dates, we’ll waive the change fee.
• If you wish to cancel, we’ll waive the cancellation fee. The total Qantas Points used and any taxes, fees and carrier charges paid will be refunded.

This waiver applies to itineraries that consist only of Classic Flight Rewards. If you combine a Classic Flight Reward with a non-Classic Flight Reward fare, this waiver won’t apply.

I'm guessing this applies to OWA bookings too but it doesn't say they will waive the fee if you wish to add flights.

I added 2 flights to an existing OWCA itinerary last week.
1. The itinerary was initiated before the points cap change, and it still priced at 280k points for J;
2. The new e-ticket arrived in email within about 15min from the end of the call;
3. There was no points charge for the itinerary change - as others have noted, there was a line in my points activity showing a ‘charge’ of zero points.
YMMV...

 

[flapper]

Can anyone kindly sum up on the 'rules' for the changing of flights on the old 280K fare?

I called in early May to change my 280K change to later date in the year as a dummy booking and the rep said the entire trip must be completed before 1 year from the booking date (we booked on the final day of the 280K in September 2019). Is this in fact true?

What I am reading from the posts here is that booking date has no bearing on anything and that the fare just needs to be completed 1 year from the initial departure date of the first leg?

On top of that I just checked and they have just randomly cancelled my ticket against my wishes! It was due to depart on 2nd June 2020, but it was cancelled early May when I first called them and told them NOT to cancel it. Waiting for a callback from them...

Here is the rule:
14.6.1 Classic Flight Rewards will be valid for one year from the original ticketed departure date, unless otherwise specified.
Some on here have been told they will be able have one year from amended ticketed departure date. I tried with 3 agents and couldn't get any to agree to this. You can try if you like. No one has reported that they have actually been able to change flights to be 12 months after the original ticketed departure date.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Can anyone kindly sum up on the 'rules' for the changing of flights on the old 280K fare?

I called in early May to change my 280K change to later date in the year as a dummy booking and the rep said the entire trip must be completed before 1 year from the booking date (we booked on the final day of the 280K in September 2019). Is this in fact true?

What I am reading from the posts here is that booking date has no bearing on anything and that the fare just needs to be completed 1 year from the initial departure date of the first leg?

On top of that I just checked and they have just randomly cancelled my ticket against my wishes! It was due to depart on 2nd June 2020, but it was cancelled early May when I first called them and told them NOT to cancel it. Waiting for a callback from them...

The rule book says:

14.6.1 Classic Flight Rewards will be valid for one year from the original ticketed departure date, unless otherwise specified.​

There are (at least) 3 significant dates in play here:

A. The date the itinerary is first established (Booking Date);​

B. The date of the first flight in the itinerary on Booking Date (First Booked Flight);&​

C. The date of the first flight in the itinerary after the last itinerary change has been made (First Actual Flight).​

Date A is clearly NOT the relevant start date. Given that we need to book our award seats about 11 months in advance, if this was the start date then all OWCA itineraries would need to finish within about 1month. We know that is not the case.

I think that date B is the most likely relevant start date - it most closely matches with “original ticketed departure date”.

But... I’m *hoping* that date C is the start date. I’ve got an itinerary in play that I’ve recently changed (trying to keep an old 280k cap alive). The itinerary’s First Booked Flight date is late Aug this year, so will probably not happen (sad face). When I cancel those flights, I’ll be trying (later in the year) to add flights that might stretch into Sept next year. Only time will tell - hopefully computer says Yes...

 

[davel]

HI guys - not sure if you'll find this helpful, but I've managed to move my itinerary from Jun/Jul 2020 to Mar/Apr 2021 via Twitter. Was a joy not having to talk to the call centre.

Snagged:

MEL-HKG-DOH-JNB-DOH-AMM-JFK-NRT-MEL (business), came in 180KM under the distance limit. They even refunded me $30 in taxes from my old itinerary, which was slightly different. Now includes 3 QSuite sectors - And done entirely over Twitter!

I can confirm there were no additional fees of any kind charged. If we still can't fly in Mar next year, I will repeat the dose.

Note: I originally booked @ 280k per pax.

I'm not understanding how you are able to be departing in 2021? I've been told by 2 different reps now that you cannot begin your journey more than 1 year from your original booking date. Given that September 2019 was the month that the 280K J award increased, it only gives you till September 2020 to fly?

Am I being told lies by Qantas?