Reward Flight Questions

[blairv]

Hey all, we are looking at a round the world rewards trip next year and have started looking at some dates but have noticed some weird things that the group may be able to answer:

1. If I book a reward flight (as in from the front page) in business on a particular date then I can get a Qantas reward seat no worries for around 190k points - however if I try it on the multicity booking all I get is via Melb or Emirates? Why are the same seats not availabe on the same date?
2. We are also looking at Qatar from Singapore to Frankfurt or Berlin but there is not option anywhere for Qatar flights? Does any one know why they don't turn up in reward flights?

Still trying to get our heads around this

 

[offshore171]

Hey all, we are looking at a round the world rewards trip next year and have started looking at some dates but have noticed some weird things that the group may be able to answer:

1. If I book a reward flight (as in from the front page) in business on a particular date then I can get a Qantas reward seat no worries for around 190k points - however if I try it on the multicity booking all I get is via Melb or Emirates? Why are the same seats not availabe on the same date?

The QF ticket might be so-called "married segments"

Could you share what route you are attempting to book and I'm sure some regulars will chime in with some good tips. Is it Melbourne to Frankfurt?

 

[fletty]

190k for business, sounds like Classic+ not Classic Rewards.

Also, Qatar is very difficult to find reward availability through Qantas.

 

[aikman]

We are also looking at Qatar from Singapore to Frankfurt or Berlin but there is not option anywhere for Qatar flights? Does any one know why they don't turn up in reward flights?

Qatar and Qantas had a fight so Qatar have given all their reward seats to Velocity which is where you will find them.

 

[sudoer]

Still trying to get ourheads around this

Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

Note that this is not exclusively a "Round The World" Award. While it can be so used, it can also be used for "Round Trips", "Circle" Trips or even "one-way trips" without actually going "Round The World". Also note the following from the T&C review that comes up on Qantas.com if you have...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

It's a long thread but will contain the answers to many of your questions - I would highly recommend investing the time in reading it.

You can also drop any questions you have about the award in that thread instead of starting a new one.

 

[blairv]

The QF ticket might be so-called "married segments"

Could you share what route you are attempting to book and I'm sure some regulars will chime in with some good tips. Is it Melbourne to Frankfurt?

Our routes we are looking at are:

BNE-SIN
SIN-FRA
LHR-JFK
JFK-MSY
MSY -LAX
LAX-BNE

Looking mid next year but trying to plan early

 

[levelnine]

Our routes we are looking at are:

BNE-SNG
SNG-BER
LHR-JFK
JKF-MSY
MSY -LAX
LAX-BNE

Look ing mid next year but trying to plan early

I will second sudoer's suggestion to read the thread they linked above.

Your current itinerary doesn't make a lot of sense. Assuming SNG means Singapore (which is SIN, not SNG), you cannot fly SIN-BER. You cannot use Classic Plus award flights. And you cannot add Emirates flights to a oneworld award ticket. And you will not be able to find award availability on Qatar.

Lots of reading ahead. I would begin about 100 pages back from the current page.

 

[aikman]

I would recommend reading this instead.
https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/fly-around-world-using-qantas-oneworld-award/

The forum thread will likely just confuse anyone trying to learn.

 

[offshore171]

I will second sudoer's suggestion to read the thread they linked above.

Your current itinerary doesn't make a lot of sense. Assuming SNG means Singapore (which is SIN, not SNG), you cannot fly SIN-BER.

Could also be Saigon, which has a similar code.

OP: If Singapore or Saigon was just intended as a stopover, I think you would have more luck going via Tokyo if you are looking for a reward seat on a Qantas/Oneworld affiliated airline.

I'd try for BNE to TYO (covers both airports) then see if you can get seats on JAL from Tokyo to Frankfurt (Berlin is going to be much more difficult)

I recently picked up 4 seats in J for the long 14 hour leg from Narita to Frankfurt.

Book those as soon as available. Then work on the rest.

Remember when booking these things, "perfect is the enemy of good"

 

[flyguy77]

Not to sound rude but it sounds like you don't really know what you are doing (e.g. Qatar hasn't been a viable option for like 18 months now)

You need to either put in some time to learn OR forget about this type of booking as they are not usually easy to make work unless you are VERY flexible on things.

 

[FlyingFiona]

There's definitely a bit to get your head around, but it's very do-able so do persist in trying. The two links in the posts above are excellent resources, and people are very helpful when you post in the thread (first link). You will learn things, such as Qatar's almost total dumping of Qantas in terms of reward availability, as you plan so my suggestion is open a file and take some notes as you find things out. You'll get there (even if it's just to find out that it's not possible on this trip. But you'll be in a much better position for your second time around if that is the case.) Good luck! See you on the OWA planning thread!

 

[blairv]

Not to sound rude but it sounds like you don't really know what you are doing (e.g. Qatar hasn't been a viable option for like 18 months now)

You need to either put in some time to learn OR forget about this type of booking as they are not usually easy to make work unless you are VERY flexible on things.

What makes you think I am not flexible?

 

[sap1l]

BNE-SIN
SIN-FRA
LHR-JFK
JKF-MSY
MSY -LAX
LAX-BNE

While I agree that it's worthwhile to look at the thread linked above, I can offer some suggestions for your routing. I’m guessing that the biggest difficulty is the SIN-FRA leg, so that’s what I’ll focus on.

Note that you will need to fly oneworld airlines, and there needs to be classic reward availability (i.e. not classic+). Also, your chances of getting a seat on Qatar are pretty much 0.

I would look to either routing via LHR or HEL. Finnair has quite good availability between SIN or BKK and HEL, while I’ve seen some British Airways flights between SIN and LHR. Malaysian via KUL and LHR is also an option here.

There is also the possibility of some more convoluted routings via CMB on SriLankan, or AMM on Royal Jordanian.

✈ FlightConnections - All flights worldwide on a flight map! is a good site to see which airlines fly between which cities, but you need to know what airlines are a part of Oneworld.

 

[blairv]

While I agree that it's worthwhile to look at the thread linked above, I can offer some suggestions for your routing. I’m guessing that the biggest difficulty is the SIN-FRA leg, so that’s what I’ll focus on.

Note that you will need to fly oneworld airlines, and there needs to be classic reward availability (i.e. not classic+). Also, your chances of getting a seat on Qatar are pretty much 0.

I would look to either routing via LHR or HEL. Finnair has quite good availability between SIN or BKK and HEL, while I’ve seen some British Airways flights between SIN and LHR. Malaysian via KUL and LHR is also an option here.

There is also the possibility of some more convoluted routings via CMB on SriLankan, or AMM on Royal Jordanian.

✈ FlightConnections - All flights worldwide on a flight map! is a good site to see which airlines fly between which cities, but you need to know what airlines are a part of Oneworld.

Yep having a play around it looks like Finnair via Helsinki is the best bet for this.

 

[yaziyo]

✈ FlightConnections - All flights worldwide on a flight map! is a good site to see which airlines fly between which cities, but you need to know what airlines are a part of Oneworld.

This link's even better, it's got all Oneworld airlines already selected (Including Qatar though). Oneworld Route Map - Flights and Destinations

 

[sap1l]

This link's even better, it's got all Oneworld airlines already selected (Including Qatar though). Oneworld Route Map - Flights and Destinations

Amazing, thanks! I vaguely remembered seeing that floating around, but I didn't realise it was also filterable (i.e. it wasn't just a blank route map).

 

[Mwenenzi]

Our routes we are looking at are:

BNE-SIN
SIN-FRA
LHR-JFK
JFK-MSY
MSY -LAX
LAX-BNE

Looking mid next year but trying to plan early

Have you checked OW or QF partner airline fly those routes non stop?
Some times transits will show in a award search and sometimes not.
Where do you want to visit??

Changi Airport - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

SIN-FRA
Need a transit like SIN-DOH-FRA(QR) or SIN-HEL-FRA(AY) or SIN-LHR-FRA(QF-BA)
Or any airport in Germany or close by. EU is small and trains go (almost) everywhere.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

MSY-LAX (also look at SFO)
From MSY AA or AS do not fly to LAX non stop. So will via a transit airport. Probably the AA head office hub DFW.

The QF Oneworld award will cost the least QF points, but getting 2 off business class seats can be hard~ very hard

All the best for the hunt. A lot of learning needed, so starting to practice now is good.
But some others will have already booked 353~330 days out

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

www.gcmap.com