Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[MTAB]

Thanks for your time and suggestions. I have tried YUL-JFK-LAX-SYD, YUL-ORD-LAX-MEL, YUL-DFW-SYD etc all which can all be done OW. Unfortunately these tries each take about ten minutes to explore and all failed either from a lack of award flights or the dreaded “i” indicating one of the supposed long haul J flights will be by Y. Your suggestion of having a paid leg does open up more possibilities.
YYZ is not attractive any more; I need a car and for the last twenty years or so (minus the COVID years) we have typically landed there, got a car and driven to Ottawa-Hull and environs our primary destination to catch up with my in-laws and Canadian relatives and friends. We are getting older (72+) and I just can’t face the thought of the 401 in winter. My MIL is 93 so we need to see her soon and I thought YUL would provide an easier drive.

 

[RichardMEL]

Understand that you want to go to YUL direct as much as possible, but I also agree nearby locations would be easier - specially those with a large oneworld presence such as NYC, ORD, BOS. You can then get separate flights into YUL and still get your car and all that. Though it seems YOW may also suit since you mention Ottawa? AC's Canada dominance means you're going to be very limited for options directly into Montreal.

I'm also very confused why you would look at routings involving the other side of the planet ie LHR and DOH/HKG/KUL to get to North America. I understand direct routings are going to be very difficult to find specially with just a few months notice, but given your ages and not wanting to deal with the rigmarole do you REALLY want to be bouncing around Asia, the ME and UK (and adding huge surcharges eg APD) if you don't actually want to stay in any of those places? You only appear to want to go to YUL and SYD or am I missing something obvious here?


Reward space into YUL will no doubt be very limited to as tend to be much smaller guage aircraft and even single class flying in. Have you looked at, for example, the J/Y combo reward to NYC, DFW or ORD for example and then 2xY into YUL< or even paid tix on AC? Or QF SYD-YVR then purchase AC to YUL?

Finally why not break up the trip into international and domestic? For example look for SYD-Canada as rewards and you could do CNS-SYD-CNS as separate tix - either reward or revenue (I tink these would possibly be much easier to deal with) and reduce the complexity that way. It may cost a little more in points I understand, but I have the impression points balance is not the prime concern here.

My four cents worth.

good luck.

 

[RichardMEL]

Additional thought. Not oneworld, but what about Westjet as QF partner in Canada? If you can get to YVR on QF for example, or say another WS gateway then you can redeem potentially on WS who seem to have decent service to/from Montreal. Again you may need to split rewards to make this work.

 

[Matt_01]

@MTAB As you published your travel travel dates I did a quick search on the QF web site for x2 PAX in J, if you do not have the points for both to travel in J, Y was also avail on the same flights. This has a long layover in NRT but if both in J you would be able to spend the time in the JL lounge or have a look at the other OW lounges at NRT. You would also have to over night at BOS however there are hotels near the airport. The fees and taxes for x2 in J would be $1475.56. There is also availability to get CNS-MEL, if you are not aware of the codes U is J see last image. To book this you need to start in MEL and call QF to add the domestic flight CNS-MEL as the QF multi-city booking engine will error if you try to book more than 5 sectors. Booking from MEL rtn to CNS can be done online and I was able to get through to the payment page. Not sure if this works for you but it seems like a feasible option to meet your dates and getting to YUL. All flights are J with the exception of YUL-PHL but that is only 1.5 hours. Also the taxes are significantly lower than the $3918.36 you had in your original post and with the dollars you save in taxes you could drop the internal US flights and pay to fly direct BOS-YUL and YUL-LAX. Good luck.

 

[MTAB]

Thank you so much for your efforts. What you have researched looks as though it will work well. I really appreciate all your suggestions.
I am keen on one J and one Y as I am small and have never seen the added value of J (either $s or points) unless of course my employer paid for it! I am OW Lifetime Gold so I don’t need the J for OW lounge entry.

Post automatically merged: Nov 16, 2021

Additional thought. Not oneworld, but what about Westjet as QF partner in Canada? If you can get to YVR on QF for example, or say another WS gateway then you can redeem potentially on WS who seem to have decent service to/from Montreal. Again you may need to split rewards to make this work.

Thanks, much appreciate the suggestion. I will take this onboard in exploring options.

 

[MTAB]

Understand that you want to go to YUL direct as much as possible, but I also agree nearby locations would be easier - specially those with a large oneworld presence such as NYC, ORD, BOS. You can then get separate flights into YUL and still get your car and all that. Though it seems YOW may also suit since you mention Ottawa? AC's Canada dominance means you're going to be very limited for options directly into Montreal.

I'm also very confused why you would look at routings involving the other side of the planet ie LHR and DOH/HKG/KUL to get to North America. I understand direct routings are going to be very difficult to find specially with just a few months notice, but given your ages and not wanting to deal with the rigmarole do you REALLY want to be bouncing around Asia, the ME and UK (and adding huge surcharges eg APD) if you don't actually want to stay in any of those places? You only appear to want to go to YUL and SYD or am I missing something obvious here?


Reward space into YUL will no doubt be very limited to as tend to be much smaller guage aircraft and even single class flying in. Have you looked at, for example, the J/Y combo reward to NYC, DFW or ORD for example and then 2xY into YUL< or even paid tix on AC? Or QF SYD-YVR then purchase AC to YUL?

Finally why not break up the trip into international and domestic? For example look for SYD-Canada as rewards and you could do CNS-SYD-CNS as separate tix - either reward or revenue (I tink these would possibly be much easier to deal with) and reduce the complexity that way. It may cost a little more in points I understand, but I have the impression points balance is not the prime concern here.

My four cents worth.

good luck.

That’s a valuable four cents. Really helpful suggestions. I’ll explore tonight and see what’s possible. One of our trips to Canada was direct to YOW ( via LAX and ORD) but generally I have found YOW OW flight availability a bit limite and this time I didn’t consider it — but I will now. In earlier days I din’t mind YYZ so much as I had good friends and family there and the 401 in non-snow months was OK. Now, my TO friends and family have very sadly all passed away.

 

[jrobin]

Looking for some route ideas to maximise the value of my booking. Currently have the following booked:

SYD > YVR (QF) Stop 1
YVR > DFW > MIA (AA) Stop 2
MIA > LAX (AA) (possibly adding > LAS on the end of this) Stop 3
LAS > LAX > LHR (BA) Stop 4
LHR > SYD (QF)

We stopped in SEZ for a week between LHR and SYD.

 

[gilldo]

I was looking at booking a series of flights on the weekend, which included a few AS legs.

AS only seem to have a First Class (similar to QF domestic Business) and economy, with no Business Class. Recently, I've noticed that AS First awards feature an information popup, saying that one or more legs of the flight will be in Business.

In the case shown here, it's a single leg flight, yet the First award will be flown in Business.

This would seem stupid.

Has anyone had any success booking AS First legs as part of a OWA Business Classic without going over the 318K pts? Is it possible?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was looking at booking a series of flights on the weekend, which included a few AS legs.

AS only seem to have a First Class (similar to QF domestic Business) and economy, with no Business Class. Recently, I've noticed that AS First awards feature an information popup, saying that one or more legs of the flight will be in Business.

In the case shown here, it's a single leg flight, yet the First award will be flown in Business.

This would seem stupid.

Has anyone had any success booking AS First legs as part of a OWA Business Classic without going over the 318K pts? Is it possible?

Unfortunately I think this issue is still unresolved It was raised previously in this thread and IIRC the call centre didn't see it as a problem!

 

[gilldo]

Unfortunately I think this issue is still unresolved It was raised previously in this thread and IIRC the call centre didn't see it as a problem!

Like if they didn't put the information bubble there indicating that you'd be flying Business, we'd probably just accept it. But when they blatantly tell you you're flying Business, but don't let you book it, it sticks in your craw!

 

[levelnine]

I just had a phone operator tell me Royal Air Maroc isn't part of Oneworld and therefore cannot be added to a booking *sigh*.

 

[bnr032]

I beleive its due to Air Alaska not having what they consider Business Class (even though their first class is the equiv. to what most airlines call business).
I have heard/read about people saying 'Qantas will be allowing you to book it as business equivelent' and the system is changing over for this, But no one first hand saying ive booked it and this is how etc.
As for my upcoming trip, id like to use it too.

 

[GaryLG]

I know there is a long wait for refund of taxes and fees but I'm wondering about a points question.

I finalised my booking on 4 Nov and it seems like they cancelled points charged rather than taken them so they are back in my account again!

I have my e-ticket and the bookings are listed under my account so should I be worried?

 

[ozflier]

I know there is a long wait for refund of taxes and fees but I'm wondering about a points question.

I finalised my booking on 4 Nov and it seems like they cancelled points charged rather than taken them so they are back in my account again!

I have my e-ticket and the bookings are listed under my account so should I be worried?

Not to worry - I sometimes get the refund of points and the addition of new points several days apart.

 

[GaryLG]

Not to worry - I sometimes get the refund of points and the addition of new points several days apart.

Thanks hopefully two weeks on and it's still the case.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I beleive its due to Air Alaska not having what they consider Business Class (even though their first class is the equiv. to what most airlines call business).
I have heard/read about people saying 'Qantas will be allowing you to book it as business equivelent' and the system is changing over for this, But no one first hand saying ive booked it and this is how etc.
As for my upcoming trip, id like to use it too.

Yes, but this is no different to any other US carrier - all have front cabins called 'first class', which for all intents and purposes are marketed and sold as business class (excluding a few select 3-class transcons such as those offered by American).

The other anomaly is Qatar's 'regional F', but to be fair that is more akin to an F product, although with business class seating.

 

[Danger]

I just had a phone operator tell me Royal Air Maroc isn't part of Oneworld and therefore cannot be added to a booking *sigh*.

I had that gem a few weeks ago.

Royal Air Maroc to join OneWorld? [CONFIRMED]

Incidentally, are you trying to change a booking that was originally ticketed prior to RAM joining oneworld?

 

[DC3]

… Has anyone had any success booking AS First legs as part of a OWA Business Classic without going over the 318K pts? Is it possible?

AS business award flights using QF classic redemptions will be at the First Class rate. Until such time as AS determines otherwise.

So, if anyone really wants to fly AS on the 318,000 points award, then it will be in Coach.

Edit: This is not a glitch on the part of QF (or a Call Centre issue), but it’s how AS is playing it

 

[Ktan89]

Thoughts on doing a day transit at London in April?
Do you think if we leave airside at 9.30am and come back at 5pm for the evening flight, we will need a PCR test registered from London?
Flying JFK - LHR - OSL.

 

[levelnine]

Incidentally, are you trying to change a booking that was originally ticketed prior to RAM joining oneworld?

No, very recently issued ticket.

I called back later in the day and got an absolutely fantastic agent who could not be more helpful. I don't think I'll ever get over how variable the assistance can be through the call centre.