Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[chiken_nugets]

Today I received a callback advising that after an internal review my proposed routing met the OW rules and an ITS ticket has been raised to rectify the problem. The AU-NZ flight would be a positioning and not part of the OW rules.

Did this ever get resolved @Matt_01 ?

I am getting an error when starting my itinerary from New Zealand.

 

[Mr H]

I've booked and paid ….

When you get a bank error in your favour it is seldom a good idea to ask questions about it in a public forum.

 

[JU581]

Are folks still getting the 3006 error whenever a Jetstar flight is in the result for a multi-stop search? I have tried in vain with QF to have it fixed.

 

[heytherehoney]

Hi all. I've been collecting points for a while and I'm now finally ready to book my first OW Classic Flight Reward.

I've seen the suggested 'hack' on the PointHacks website suggesting to start the trip overseas (book a cash fare to starting destination e.g. Asia) in order to get a second trip out of it within a year. Has anyone done this and would you recommend it? Not sure if I want to sit the repositioning leg to Asia in economy but I'm well under the 35K miles based on rough plan so would like to maximise it somehow.

I'm bronze and read that we can book reward flights up to 297 days in advance but I can view/book flights on Qantas site until Nov 2025 - is it just special/popular routes that are restricted to 297 days?

 

[sudoer]

I'm bronze and read that we can book reward flights up to 297 days in advance but I can view/book flights on Qantas site until Nov 2025 - is it just special/popular routes that are restricted to 297 days?

You can see partner awards without restriction.

You can't see Qantas operated awards more than 297 days out.

 

[Amanad78]

I've seen the suggested 'hack' on the PointHacks website suggesting to start the trip overseas (book a cash fare to starting destination e.g. Asia) in order to get a second trip out of it within a year. Has anyone done this and would you recommend it? Not sure if I want to sit the repositioning leg to Asia in economy but I'm well under the 35K miles based on rough plan so would like to maximise it sosomehow.

I'm doing this, first leg is booked from Singapore to Europe and back to Australia in Apr/May 2025. Next part of the trip will be (hopefully) Feb 2026 but given that we won't be able to book the flights until about Mar 2025 we have to be lucky to find flights before we set off in April.
We are repositioning to Singapore using Velocity Points on Singapore Airlines in business. Might cruise home from somewhere in South East Asia if we can line the dates up.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @heytherehoney

 

[aikman]

Has anyone done this and would you recommend it?

I don't recommend it. Here's why.

1. This strategy uses up a lot of miles which limits your routing options to Europe which I assume is where you actually want to go. This also means that for most people the 2nd trip will be pretty much restricted to Asia.
2. You will have to buy a separate (likely return) ticket to Asia to start and end your reward trip, which cancels out the benefit of getting a 'free' trip to Asia as the 2nd part of your reward trip.
3. It's hard enough to find award seats without the added complexity of splitting it into two trips close to a year apart.
4. Once the first flight is flown, you cannot change the routing of the rest of the flights (and you're unlikely to find availability to change dates). Your 2nd trip becomes a 'use it or lose it' trip.

 

[JensInsanity]

Hey everyone, sorry I'm unsure if this question belongs here.

Does AA ever release more reward flights to Qantas for SYD-LAX or SYD-SFO?

Long story short, I got San Diego Comic Con tickets a few days ago and the classic reward flight options going over around July 2025 are pretty dismal right now (returning has great options!).

Otherwise, any ideas on how to get over without spending a small fortune?

 

[elanshin]

Hi all. I've been collecting points for a while and I'm now finally ready to book my first OW Classic Flight Reward.

I've seen the suggested 'hack' on the PointHacks website suggesting to start the trip overseas (book a cash fare to starting destination e.g. Asia) in order to get a second trip out of it within a year. Has anyone done this and would you recommend it? Not sure if I want to sit the repositioning leg to Asia in economy but I'm well under the 35K miles based on rough plan so would like to maximise it somehow.

I'm bronze and read that we can book reward flights up to 297 days in advance but I can view/book flights on Qantas site until Nov 2025 - is it just special/popular routes that are restricted to 297 days?

I don't recommend it. Here's why.

1. This strategy uses up a lot of miles which limits your routing options to Europe which I assume is where you actually want to go. This also means that for most people the 2nd trip will be pretty much restricted to Asia.
2. You will have to buy a separate (likely return) ticket to Asia to start and end your reward trip, which cancels out the benefit of getting a 'free' trip to Asia as the 2nd part of your reward trip.
3. It's hard enough to find award seats without the added complexity of splitting it into two trips close to a year apart.
4. Once the first flight is flown, you cannot change the routing of the rest of the flights (and you're unlikely to find availability to change dates). Your 2nd trip becomes a 'use it or lose it' trip.

It really depends. We made good use of this and having significantly more award availability out of Asia too.

We're about to do it again ( i have leg 1 and 2 booked). Try to get call and get the agent to price it in AUD if you plan on doing it. Our last one was out if Jakarta and having payment in IDR caused the call centre all sorts of problems ticketing.

 

[Amanad78]

We're about to do it again ( i have leg 1 and 2 booked). Try to get call and get the agent to price it in AUD if you plan on doing it. Our last one was out if Jakarta and having payment in IDR caused the call centre all sorts of problems titicketing.

Do you know if it's possible to get it changed to AUD?
We already have our first trip out of Singapore, to Europe and back to Australia.
The next part will be 2026 leaving Australia, so when we call up to book those flights will they be able to convert it to AUD?

Thanks

 

[Jacques Vert]

Do you know if it's possible to get it changed to AUD?
We already have our first trip out of Singapore, to Europe and back to Australia.
The next part will be 2026 leaving Australia, so when we call up to book those flights will they be able to convert it to AUD?

Thanks

Don't know about converting it to AUD but for future reference, when making the initial booking put in a dummy first flight from somewhere in Aus to anywhere so that it is priced in AUD. When you phone to add other flights, cancel the dummy booking at the same time.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Ticketed a 318K Award earlier this week for departure today.
Last minute compassionate trip for Shrek. Basically a SYD-LHR return, QF/ CX outbound and AY/QF return.

Not fully optimized but given the late notice was very grateful to have had the points, excellent TA and QF P1 to make this happen. Without any of the above would have been very stressful and big $$$$$.

 

[icecream]

Just returned a couple days ago from our 318k reward. Wanted to say thank you again to this thread for all the help, especially when I had questions during the booking process!

The trip:
SYD-HND (JL) Stop 1
NRT-HKG (CX) Stop 2
HKG-SIN (CX) Stop 3
SIN-HEL-FCO (AY) Stop 4
(internal Europe legs on cash fare)
HEL-JFK (AY) Stop 5
SFO-SYD (QF)

 

[adamk8]

Hi all - quick question - once you commence your itinerary, are you still able to make changes/updates to the flights (by paying the 5000 points change fee)? Or is it only possible to make changes before starting?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all - quick question - once you commence your itinerary, are you still able to make changes/updates to the flights (by paying the 5000 points change fee)? Or is it only possible to make changes before starting?

See 14.5 at this link: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/freque...ms-and-conditions.html#classic-flight-rewards

It will depend on the airlines involved, and the mix of award types, if any.

 

[sap1l]

Hi all - quick question - once you commence your itinerary, are you still able to make changes/updates to the flights (by paying the 5000 points change fee)? Or is it only possible to make changes before starting?

The Qantas Frequent Flyer terms and conditions state:

Within 24 hours before departure of any Flight Segment - international Itinerary (i.e. it contains one or more Flight Segments that are not within Australia)

14.5.13 The following changes are permitted to Qantas Flight Segments. A Change Fee will apply (see the Fee Schedule):

(a) change to flight number; and
(b) change to date of travel.

14.5.14 Changes to partner Flight Segments are only permitted up to 24 hours prior to the commencement of any travel on the Itinerary.

I thought you could make segment changes after commencement provided it was just a date change, but it looks like it’s not possible? Happy to be corrected.

 

[adamk8]

The Qantas Frequent Flyer terms and conditions state:

Within 24 hours before departure of any Flight Segment - international Itinerary (i.e. it contains one or more Flight Segments that are not within Australia)

14.5.13 The following changes are permitted to Qantas Flight Segments. A Change Fee will apply (see the Fee Schedule):

(a) change to flight number; and
(b) change to date of travel.

14.5.14 Changes to partner Flight Segments are only permitted up to 24 hours prior to the commencement of any travel on the Itinerary.

I thought you could make segment changes after commencement provided it was just a date change, but it looks like it’s not possible? Happy to be corrected.

Thanks! I spoke to a few different agents and they all had slightly different responses so was confused. One even said you couldn't make any changes at all. But the agent that seemed most competent said what you posted here

 

[myusernam]

im sorry if this has been answered before. this thread is long!
in the points hacks page

How to fly around the world in Business Class with Qantas Points

We show you how to redeem Qantas Points for round-the-world tickets in Business, by using Qantas' oneworld Classic Flight Rewards.

www.pointhacks.com.au

it shows one readers (mark) example having lots of little flights all over europe.
I dont understand how this fits into the rules. There are only 5 stop overs arent there?
So was he just flying to these countries for fun or are these small flights not included somehow?
sorry if its a noob question.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

im sorry if this has been answered before. this thread is long!
in the points hacks page

How to fly around the world in Business Class with Qantas Points

We show you how to redeem Qantas Points for round-the-world tickets in Business, by using Qantas' oneworld Classic Flight Rewards.

www.pointhacks.com.au

it shows one readers (mark) example having lots of little flights all over europe.
I dont understand how this fits into the rules. There are only 5 stop overs arent there?
So was he just flying to these countries for fun or are these small flights not included somehow?
sorry if its a noob question.

A stopover is defined as a stay of more than 24 hours. You can transit cities (connections or stays of less than 24 hours) much more frequently - although there are some rules like not transiting the same city more than a few times.

Many of the smaller flights will be connections… if you want to fly from Paris to Casablanca for example, you could fly non-stop on royal air maroc, or you could fly BA via London or Iberia via Madrid for example.

You can use transits to your advantage. Say you want to visit friends in London.. you could arrive midday on one day and leave at 11am the next. This doesn’t count as a stopover because it’s less than 24 hours.

Transiting London rather than a stopover also saves the huge departure tax from the UK.