Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Jacques Vert]

I think overall BA doesn't have really great LH availability. For my flown OWA, I looked 9-10 months in advance and even then there was very little.

Actually, BA has good availability as they guarantee reward seats on all flights to LHR and LGW (at least 8Y, 2W & 4J) although not all of those may be released to QF members.

The problem is that QF rarely release any seats so those available on BA are usually snapped up the moment they are released, especially for the European summer months. If you were looking 9-10 months out, you were around 2 months too late. A friend who recently flew in J to LHR watched BA availability SYD-SIN-LHR everyday for a couple of months; and everyday there were at least 2 x J available on the QF website and by the next day, the previous day's release were gone. He grabbed seats on his preferred day the moment they were released.

 

[icecream]

Hi all, I received an email saying a CX flight in my itinerary has changed and to accept or change via manage my booking. The timing has only moved 5 mins and I cannot see anywhere to accept it, logging into Qantas there is the yellow banner 'Warning Please review the following items Your flights have changed, please call your local Qantas office. See flight details.' and then a 'Time Updated' next to the CX flight but no buttons I can press to accept. I checked the itinerary in CX website as well which already shows the new flight time but no options to accept (it appears as if it's been 'accepted'). The ticket number is still the same in RJ (although with a banner that says 'A schedule change has occurred on this trip. Please acknowledge it and choose your trip options again')

Am I all good? Or do I need to action something? Just antsy since it's a CX flight (which has dropped before when the agent didn't ticket). I just want the message banners to go away

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all, I received an email saying a CX flight in my itinerary has changed and to accept or change via manage my booking. The timing has only moved 5 mins and I cannot see anywhere to accept it, logging into Qantas there is the yellow banner 'Warning Please review the following items Your flights have changed, please call your local Qantas office. See flight details.' and then a 'Time Updated' next to the CX flight but no buttons I can press to accept. I checked the itinerary in CX website as well which already shows the new flight time but no options to accept (it appears as if it's been 'accepted'). The ticket number is still the same in RJ (although with a banner that says 'A schedule change has occurred on this trip. Please acknowledge it and choose your trip options again')

Am I all good? Or do I need to action something? Just antsy since it's a CX flight (which has dropped before when the agent didn't ticket). I just want the message banners to go away

i would call qantas to accept the change

 

[N860CR]

Hi all, I received an email saying a CX flight in my itinerary has changed and to accept or change via manage my booking. The timing has only moved 5 mins and I cannot see anywhere to accept it, logging into Qantas there is the yellow banner 'Warning Please review the following items Your flights have changed, please call your local Qantas office. See flight details.' and then a 'Time Updated' next to the CX flight but no buttons I can press to accept. I checked the itinerary in CX website as well which already shows the new flight time but no options to accept (it appears as if it's been 'accepted'). The ticket number is still the same in RJ (although with a banner that says 'A schedule change has occurred on this trip. Please acknowledge it and choose your trip options again')

Am I all good? Or do I need to action something? Just antsy since it's a CX flight (which has dropped before when the agent didn't ticket). I just want the message banners to go away

I had the same schedule change. There was a big red “accept” button at the bottom of the “manage” page on the app. Make sure you click manage as it doesn’t appear on the app itinerary page.

Try resending an eticket to yourself and checking if it reflects the new schedule.

 

[n1k]

Hi all - newbie to AFF here

With some trepidation (!), I'm considering attempting a OWA in August/September/October 2025 (MEL - Europe/UK - bit of internal travel - MEL).

If I go down this path, I know this will mean several interactions with the Qantas call centre (I'm only SG...) in order to keep things on the same PNR as I add flights.

But, I'm wondering if it's worth it? 1) Because I may not max out the OWA, and 2), potentially having separate bookings provides a little more flexibility in the case of schedule changes (and perhaps appealing new routes added between now and then that I can bargain for if said changes occur?).

Yesterday, I secured the first segment. We are 2 PAX + INF, and I saw seats available in F on BA16 SYD-SIN. I could hardly believe my eyes, so I pounced.

Question 1: even if I fly all other segments in J or Y, is my OWA now subject to a 455K cap?

Question 2: is it worth adding my MEL-SYD domestic leg to the same PNR? (I couldn't book this segment yesterday as QF had not yet released that date for sale). I'm guessing that I'd have to collect our luggage at SYD T3 and recheck anyway?

Question 3: since I'm building as I go, is it worth the stress to aim for a OWA in this situation?

Thank you for any advice.

Nik

 

[Mwenenzi]

n1k Welcome to AFF

Hi all - newbie to AFF here

With some trepidation (!), I'm considering attempting a OWA in August/September/October 2025 (MEL - Europe/UK - bit of internal travel - MEL).

If I go down this path, I know this will mean several interactions with the Qantas call centre (I'm only SG...) in order to keep things on the same PNR as I add flights.

But, I'm wondering if it's worth it? 1) Because I may not max out the OWA, and 2), potentially having separate bookings provides a little more flexibility in the case of schedule changes (and perhaps appealing new routes added between now and then that I can bargain for if said changes occur?).

Yesterday, I secured the first segment. We are 2 PAX + INF, and I saw seats available in F on BA16 SYD-SIN. I could hardly believe my eyes, so I pounced.

Question 1: even if I fly all other segments in J or Y, is my OWA now subject to a 455K cap?

Question 2: is it worth adding my MEL-SYD domestic leg to the same PNR? (I couldn't book this segment yesterday as QF had not yet released that date for sale). I'm guessing that I'd have to collect our luggage at SYD T3 and recheck anyway?

Question 3: since I'm building as I go, is it worth the stress to aim for a OWA in this situation?

Q2 On separate PNR's QF will interline, QF to QF, QF to EK and where 1 flight is an award.
QF link--->https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnec...ge/interline-and-through-checked-baggage.html

<snip>
^ Exemptions apply for customers travelling on a oneworld separate PNRs when using a combination of award travel and revenue travel. Note: This is a Qantas exemption and may not be supported by all oneworld airlines.
* Provided Qantas Interline and Inter-Airline Through Check-in (IATCI)Opens in a new tab or window agreements exist.

Q3. Adding flights to OWA will be stressful. Depends on who answers the phone for QF...

 

[Warragul]

Question 1: even if I fly all other segments in J or Y, is my OWA now subject to a 455K cap?

Question 2: is it worth adding my MEL-SYD domestic leg to the same PNR? (I couldn't book this segment yesterday as QF had not yet released that date for sale). I'm guessing that I'd have to collect our luggage at SYD T3 and recheck anyway?

Question 3: since I'm building as I go, is it worth the stress to aim for a OWA in this situation?

1. Yes

3. For me, once booking completed, yes. Did have doubts many times as I had to add flights 3 or 4 times requiring around 20 phone calls,hoping to get an agent who at least knew flights could be added and then the "these seats are for new bookings only" line (which may or may not be the case it seems). Luckily I'm retired and could jump on the phone at 0001 (UTC) for the days release of award seats. But once tickets and locked in had a great trip which I couldn't have afforded using revenue seats. What is you frustration tolerance?

 

[icecream]

Hi all, I received an email saying a CX flight in my itinerary has changed and to accept or change via manage my booking. The timing has only moved 5 mins and I cannot see anywhere to accept it, logging into Qantas there is the yellow banner 'Warning Please review the following items Your flights have changed, please call your local Qantas office. See flight details.' and then a 'Time Updated' next to the CX flight but no buttons I can press to accept. I checked the itinerary in CX website as well which already shows the new flight time but no options to accept (it appears as if it's been 'accepted'). The ticket number is still the same in RJ (although with a banner that says 'A schedule change has occurred on this trip. Please acknowledge it and choose your trip options again')

Am I all good? Or do I need to action something? Just antsy since it's a CX flight (which has dropped before when the agent didn't ticket). I just want the message banners to go away

Thanks everyone. I didn't have the accept button in the app. I ended up calling and asking the agent to accept and now the banner messages have gone away

 

[Lynda2475]

@n1k If the rest of your flights are going to be in J you could keep your one way F flights and then look starting a new OWA in SIN for the remainder of the 2025 trip this will then cap out at 318k and gives you the opportunity to get the first leg (MEL-SIN) of a trip for 2026 on the same booking.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Question 2: is it worth adding my MEL-SYD domestic leg to the same PNR? (I couldn't book this segment yesterday as QF had not yet released that date for sale). I'm guessing that I'd have to collect our luggage at SYD T3 and recheck anyway?



Thank you for any advice.

Nik

It may never be possible to add the MEL-SYD. QF has a hard block on domestic connections which aren’t offered initially as part of a city-pair routing. If you books MEL-LAX and it offers you MEL-SYD-LAX… all good. But if you find SYD-LAX and try to add MEL-SYD, the system will more than likely block it. The contact centre simply won’t be able to see the flights, even though you can see them and they are available to be booked separately.

 

[N860CR]

It may never be possible to add the MEL-SYD. QF has a hard block on domestic connections which aren’t offered initially as part of a city-pair routing. If you books MEL-LAX and it offers you MEL-SYD-LAX… all good. But if you find SYD-LAX and try to add MEL-SYD, the system will more than likely block it. The contact centre simply won’t be able to see the flights, even though you can see them and they are available to be booked separately.

It’s bizarre. I had this recently once and the call centre told me the only flights they could see were before my intl arrival… the bright sparks then tried to book those and it went as expected

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It’s bizarre. I had this recently once and the call centre told me the only flights they could see were before my intl arrival… the bright sparks then tried to book those and it went as expected

Correct. The flights they *can* see do not connect. They system has been hard wired to block connections.

 

[2infinity]

I just made a J OWA booking. Talk about dramas. This is not an easy process.

I was completely flexible in every single aspect; dates, direction, connecting cities, layovers, you name it. And it was only for 1 pax, so should be easy right!! It took me a solid week trying to find the flights. I found everything I wanted, but the website kept crashing trying to make the booking. (DRAMA 1) After some online research, I believe it was because I had 10 segments and you can only book a maximum of 6 on-line (I don't know how true this is?) So, I spent even more time printing everything out and double checking everything was good for the dreaded call to Qantas to make a phone booking. And literally like 2min before calling Qantas, on my last check of flights, all the JL award flights disappeared and only Westjet showed up (Westjet isn't a Oneworld member which would invalidate the entire OWA booking - Grrrrrrrrr.) (DRAMA 2) I took a few days breather from the process. Even checked with AFF Concierge, but they wanted $1500 to help. I would have paid $500, but $1500 for a booking for one is extortionate imo. (DRAMA 3 maybe to my bank account )

So after a few days, I got back at it and found some new flights and again printed it all out in preparation for my call to Qantas. I was actually taken aback at how fast the phone was answered. I rang about 1130am and within 20s of inputting the press 1 for..........enter your ff number.......etc, I got through to a real person. I believe Philippines call centre, but she was fine. I gave her all my flights that I wanted and she said they were all available (phew), only problem was she said I had too many stopovers. (DRAMA 4) I had 4 and was under the impression I was allowed 5, but she said I had 6. So, I told her the ones I believed I had (Dublin, Helsinki, Seattle, Tokyo) and asked her what ones she thinks I had and she said Manila (5hr layover). I argued and said I believe for it to be a stopover, you have to spend more than 24hrs, but she said no, it's calendar day (flight arrived at 21:40 and onward flight is at 0245). So, while she checked with her manager, I looked up the terms and conditions (I was right) and when she came back, that got sorted. and there was no 6th lol. After confirming all the flights, she said the computer wouldn't cost it for me, thus not allowing me to pay and secure the booking (DRAMA 5). She promised me a call back within 2hrs . (DRAMA 6) Of course, there was no call back after 2 days (points lost here Qantas), so I called back. Might have gotten New Zealand call centre this time (kiwi accent). Again I was amazed at how quick I was transferred to an operator. The on-hold message got as far as "all our operators are currently.............." and I was through . Good effort Qantas, 2 from 3. After explaining the situation with her, she came back saying there were too many ex-Australia departures on the same day (CNS-BNE-SYD-KUL) (DRAMA 7). This is despite the website allowing me to make the booking to that point (up to 6 segments at least anyway). I found this strange as I've flown CNS-BNE-SYD-SIN before on the same day. At any rate, I just changed the itinerary to go CNS-SYD direct the previous day and overnight in SYD and that allowed the booking. Flexibility right .

So, flights are:
Cairns to Sydney on Qantas - Was trying to do this on the same day as the next flight and the system showed it as available. Needed to be in Sydney in the morning for the 1300 departure of next flight, and flights had me in Sydney at 1100, however the Qantas agent said I had too many flights ex-Australia in the booking and it wouldn't process (like what the??? CNS-BNE-SYD-KUL on the same day - computer says 'No')

Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines - No issues so far and I hear the satay is yummy. Is the Plaza Premium lounge better than the Qantas J Lounge (wouldn't be hard)?

Kuala Lumpur to Paris on Malaysia Airlines - No issues so far. Hoping not to be shot out of the sky or deliberately crashed in the Indian Ocean

Paris to Helsinki on Finnair- No issues so far

Helsinki to Dublin (Stop 1) on Finnair - No issues so far. Yes had to go to all the way to Finland to cross the Channel or it was via Madrid and London Heathrow and London City instead.

Dublin to Helsinki (Stop 2) on Finnair - No issues so far

Helsinki to Seattle (Stop 3) on Finnair - wanted to go to Vancouver but this was the best I could do, so either train or hire car. Flexibility . (DRAMA 8)

Seattle to Tokyo (Stop 4) on Japan Airlines - No issues so far

Tokyo to Manila on Japan Airlines - All good now that the 5hr layover isn't considered a stopover lol.

Manila to Brisbane on Qantas - No issues so far

Brisbane to Cairns on Qantas - wanted the 15:35 departure and it was available on the website, but agent said the only available flight was the 20:00 departure....Ooof long layover. Will see if there is a possible change when I'm at the airport. (DRAMA 9)

All up 31,475 miles

My frequent flyer balance has taken a 318,000 point hit and my bank $987 for the taxes etc.

Qantas waived the $77 phone assistance fee for making the booking.

Now I need to sort out accommodation, ground transport, tours and travel documents (DRAMA 10 lol)

So yay, flights all sorted plus I managed to make it an actual around the world booking (which was a side goal) rather than backtrack type path, which was what my first attempt was going to be, coming in at 34,876 miles. Just waiting for Airlines to change their flights over the next 11 months and screw up my bookings. lol (DRAMA 11)

I'm wondering how much more difficult this would have been trying to get 2 pax. Not sure I'd try doing this again. Maybe just point to point return trips for the future. lol.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Unless you go through to ticketing, the website will let you do all sorts of things! The three departures on one day has been around as a limitation for a looooong time!

A tip that might be helpful in future is to just take a screenshot of the flights rather than having to print them out! Sometimes a matter of minutes is all it takes for availability to disappear. There are literally millions of FF members around the world all looking at the same seats, and some will have alerts set up via a tool such as expertflyer. If they get the alert the book instantly.

 

[Lynda2475]

@2infinity in my experience taking the bus from Seattle to Vancouver is the best option. They leave almost hourly (unlike train which has limited and mostly inconvenient timed departures), drop you right in centre of town, have free wifi and are cheapest by far.

 

[Murmal]

I just made a J OWA booking.
Congratulations! It's a task that once achieved, you feel like celebrating. Yours is a very full use of the miles, well done.
I managed to piece together my own, through being flexible, doing a heck of a lot of searching and researching and just a bit of fluke that a QF award became available at the right time. Mine turned out to be a RTW itinerary as well, with 7 sectors and 3 stopovers but lucked out with one connection being less than 24hrs but allowing me an overnight in a hotel. Mine only used 28,000 miles but it suited, was good value and I certainly didn't want to poke the bear by adding on future flights to max the distance allowed. Enough warnings on here and the experience of others (thanks people) are invaluable and armed with knowledge, ease some of the anxiety when having to interact with call centres.

One tip I could offer is not to sweat the Australian domestic connections. Sometimes it may be just less problematic to buy a flight from, say, SYD to MEL to start/finish an itinerary and later call up to link the bookings if both PNR's are with QF.

This is not an easy process.
This week's understatement @2infinity.

Maybe just point to point return trips for the future

The whole process of comparing flight availability and value are part of the time it takes. Always compare.

 

[11sjw]

Hi all, my original booking was HKG-HEL-NCE. I'm adding PER-SYD (just released for the day I want) and intend to add SYD-HKG later. Do I pay the service and change fee? All bookings are J Classic Reward flights.
I'm sure I didn't pay one of them the last time I did this.

 

[Lynda2475]

For J and F bookings you pay the change fee only.

 

[11sjw]

For J and F bookings you pay the change fee only.

That was what I thought was the case but I was charged a change fee and service fee. Might leave it and make an early call Monday to fix it. Thanks

Edit: Found the link Service Fee Link

 

[11sjw]

Update: Call back on Saturday was a waste of time but resulted on some notes against the booking. Call this morning with two bumps resulted in the 15.4k points being refunded. Cheers