Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[Warragul]

I am not sure why you are dealing with them by text messages/email - you should be calling their call centre and asking them as they are the people who actually make the bookings. If you don't get help from one agent then HUACA.

True enough, but I've found on occasion the service supplied to modify bookings via Messenger, which was referred to not text or email, to be less painful than the call centre. Slower yes and not always succesful, but when it works it eliminates a lot of phone call hold time especially if the phone call connected to Fiji or the Philippines.

 

[Amanad78]

Assuming that the transits are all strictly less than 4 hours…, I agree with @djkelly69 that it may well be a mileage problem.
Great Circle Mapper shows you within 40 miles of the max allowed, but the problem is that QF don’t use GCM to calculate the milage, they use something else (sorry, can’t remember what it is). Consequently there can be differences in the milage calculations of every sector. These differences can be positive or negative, and generally they are relatively small. But over a number of sectors they can accumulate, and when you are operating near the limit, can push you over the max.
If you call again, I suggest you ask the operator to go through the sector distances and compare with what you’re getting from GCM. Unfortunately, this will only confirm that your itinerary goes over max mileage- the QF distance is final, and the GCM distance is irrelevant to them (sad face). But at least you’ll know what the problem is for sure.

Thanks, yes, this would be interesting to look at.

Would be good to know how the calculate the mileage

 

[Cessna 180]

Qantas are still claiming this rubbish? Wow, thought they fixed up their systems but it's evident they haven't.

There's no (or shouldn't be a) reason a classic reward seat that is showing online isn't able to be added to an existing classic rewards itinerary. None.

I had to deal with this 2 years ago and almost pulled out hairs due to the time spent on it and the resulting frustration.

Not a Oneworld 318 redemption, however a one way booking with QF so relevant to this point.

PRG-HEL-HKG-MEL.
I wish to change the departure from PRG to KRK. A fairly simple ask I would have thought. Four phone calls now and they have all told me the same thing: available for new bookings only. The last one told me she would waive any change fees and refund the first leg and create a new booking for the KRK HEL leg but it would be on a separate PNR. I think the first to calls were to Africa and the last two were Fiji.

They have all been adamant this is not possible to change. The third one said she would put me on hold and went and sought further guidance.

 

[DC3]

Unfortunately, this will only confirm that your itinerary goes over max mileage- the QF distance is final, and the GCM distance is irrelevant to them (sad face).

Computer says ‘No’?

 

[RealtimeY]

FYI these are the distances that the QF calculator is spitting out behind the scenes. As said earlier on, it's a few extra miles each sector throwing you over.

Origin	Destination	Distance
SIN	HEL	5,767​
HEL	BKK	4,922​
BKK	KUL	749​
KUL	SYD	4,115​
SYD	BNE	468​
BNE	SYD	468​
SYD	KUL	4,115​
KUL	CDG	6,498​
CDG	BCN	535​
BCN	HEL	1,637​
HEL	SIN	5,767​
		35,041​

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

FYI these are the distances that the QF calculator is spitting out behind the scenes. As said earlier on, it's a few extra miles each sector throwing you over.

Origin	Destination	Distance
SIN	HEL	5,767​
HEL	BKK	4,922​
BKK	KUL	749​
KUL	SYD	4,115​
SYD	BNE	468​
BNE	SYD	468​
SYD	KUL	4,115​
KUL	CDG	6,498​
CDG	BCN	535​
BCN	HEL	1,637​
HEL	SIN	5,767​
		35,041​

It looks like the main culprit is the two KUL-SYD / SYD-KUL sectors. 4055 miles per QF Vs 4115 per GCM, so 60 extra miles each, for a combined 120 mile blow-out…

 

[Amanad78]

FYI these are the distances that the QF calculator is spitting out behind the scenes. As said earlier on, it's a few extra miles each sector throwing you over.

Origin	Destination	Distance
SIN	HEL	5,767​
HEL	BKK	4,922​
BKK	KUL	749​
KUL	SYD	4,115​
SYD	BNE	468​
BNE	SYD	468​
SYD	KUL	4,115​
KUL	CDG	6,498​
CDG	BCN	535​
BCN	HEL	1,637​
HEL	SIN	5,767​
		35,041​

That'll be it, thanks so much for posting.

We ended up choosing the CDG - HEL so removing the miles to BCN.

Super happy we've got 2 trips to Europe in J, leaving Aus on a repositioning flight to SIN in a couple of weeks! We'll have 9 months back in Aus, then the 2nd trip Feb/Mar 2026.

 

[flapper]

I've had problems accessing reward seats Vancouver to LAX later this year.
There are partner award seats on American Airlines available for a non stop flight on the right time and day.
However, the Call Centre do not recognize these as they only offer Westjet seats which,to be fair, are avaiable. The itinerary is a OWA so a Westjet flight would cancel the OWA and return it to a standard award!
I've rang twice to no avail.
Is anyone aware if the agents are correct - ie if an AA award is available as a partner award, it can't be used as part of a Qantas award on the YVR-LAX sector because Westjet gets preference?

I recently had trouble trying to add an AA flight to my OWA. Despite muliple flights showing on QF on multiple days the CC can't see any. I kept calling and after 6 calls I got someone who could see flights and added. This has also happened to me previously trying to add AS flights. I have no idea why most agents can't see these flights. The moral of the story is don't give up after 2 calls.

 

[N860CR]

I recently had trouble trying to add an AA flight to my OWA. Despite muliple flights showing on QF on multiple days the CC can't see any. I kept calling and after 6 calls I got someone who could see flights and added. This has also happened to me previously trying to add AS flights. I have no idea why most agents can't see these flights. The moral of the story is don't give up after 2 calls.

And don’t bother asking for a “supervisor” or “manager”. They’re no better. I’ve noticed the Fijians are the worst at escalating. Cultural I guess. I’ve even had one say “I’m sorry. I’m looking at my manager now and she’s shaking her head and doesn’t want to talk”.

 

[Cessna 180]

Does anyone have any tips on how to escalate this business of "only for new bookings" I just tried again then. (fifth time). Was straight through to FIJI and same story. I asked politely if there was anything further that could be done, escalation or similar and was promptly told "no and that she was sorry".

A Capetown agent was able to change for me something similar a month or so ago with zero trauma whatsoever.

 

[k_sheep]

Currently trying to book our final leg of our OWA we have 5 stops, 4 transits and 1 surface sector. Qantas are trying to say we have more than 5 stops. Please confirm we are within the rules!

SIN - HEL STOP 1
HEL - BKK STOP 2
BKK - (KUL) - (SYD) - BNE STOP 3
BNE - (SYD) - KUL STOP 4
KUL - CDG STOP 5
BCN - (HEL) - SIN END

5 Stops, 1 surface sector, 4 transits

Glad you have got it sorted now! Great itinerary, I might be very inspired to do something similar!

 

[N860CR]

Does anyone have any tips on how to escalate this business of "only for new bookings" I just tried again then. (fifth time). Was straight through to FIJI and same story. I asked politely if there was anything further that could be done, escalation or similar and was promptly told "no and that she was sorry".

A Capetown agent was able to change for me something similar a month or so ago with zero trauma whatsoever.

I’ve only booked two of these in the last year and hearing that like has me tearing my hair out. It’s a blatant lie (like most of the BS that comes from the call centres) but there seems to be nothing that can be done. I’m dreading adding a single JFK-DFW in a few weeks when it opens up.

 

[DC3]

…straight through to FIJI …

… A Capetown agent was able to change for me something similar …

You know when you are talking to Capetown/ Fiji? Many on here claim that they can’t tell what Call Centre picks up.

 

[FlyingFiona]

You know when you are talking to Capetown/ Fiji?

Accent is a bit of a giveaway

 

[Mr H]

You know when you are talking to Capetown/ Fiji? Many on here claim that they can’t tell what Call Centre picks up.

I find it difficult to pick the difference between Fiji and Cape Town accents - but I will often end the call by asking to double check the agent's name and ask them which call centre they are in - just so I know who to come back to (although I know I have zero control over who I would ever come back to).

 

[elanshin]

As I understand it correctly, there's no way to make voluntary changes to OWA once the journey has started is that right?

(Date/destination carrier change - rules still valid).

 

[DC3]

… I will often end the call by asking to double check the agent's name and ask them which call centre they are in …

Well done.

 

[DC3]

Accent is a bit of a giveaway

Yes, exactly.

 

[Cessna 180]

You know when you are talking to Capetown/ Fiji? Many on here claim that they can’t tell what Call Centre picks up.

Yes. I can normally pick the accent and sometimes I ask.

Anyway, I thought I would try again earlier. Not one to give up.
This time through to a British chap who said he was in HB. I did also ask him if he was ok.

Anyway, bit of chit chat about what I was trying to do and he informed that it is kind of correct that the flight was only available for new bookings. Therefore what the agent needs to do is email OneWorld or Finnair and ask for it to be waitlisted as a connection (or similar wording) and can take up to 24 hours.
However within a couple of minutes he said it has come back as approved.

Same amount of points and an $8.70 refund.

The overseas call centres really are a shambles...

 

[DC3]

Anyway, I thought I would try again earlier. Not one to give up.

Good for you.

Reading these posts, some seem to give up very easily. Always frustrating, of course, to jump through the hoops, but sometimes it pays off.