[JohnK]

I have been looking at the following routing to go SYD-BKK! Yes I know weird but I have never been to these places so why not a brisk visit. I hope the rules allow this weird routing before getting too excited.

The routing is SYD-(HKG)-NRT-(NRT)-(TPE)-HKG-(MNL)-HKG-TPE-(ICN)-TPE-HKG-BKK and comes in at ~13,581 miles all on CX so just 75,000 points and just over A$400 in taxes and charges. The cities in brackets are overnight stopovers and all onward flights are within the 24 hours window allowed! I may have a another stopover in HKG before going to BKK.

To start with, I took this booking to the stage where credit card details are entered. It is 12 segments so i think it is OK. I don't think there is any limit on the segments on a zone 10 one world award as long as you stay under the 15,000 miles.

I want to maximise the 15,000 miles but only flying CX. If I get rid of the additional TPE transits it only saves ~264miles but then I can add another HKG-(MNL)-HKG to original routing before going to BKK which should keep me under the 15,000 miles. Anywhere else I can go other than going back to MNL?

Is a visa required for TPE? I don't think a visa is required for any of the other places listed! You can almost count out PEK and PVG as I will definitely require a visa(s) plus award flights are limited where I looked towards end of July.

Hope not too confusing. Any useful ideas?

[NM]

Firstly, the OneWorld Award must use two non-QF OneWorld airlines. So you cann't just use CX for all the flights. I think you are going to have to include a BA or AY flight in there to make it valid.

I'll keep thinking about the rest of it.

[JohnK]

Thanks NM.

The booking does say Total points required 75,000 points. Note: Charges and taxes will apply to your booking. Your flight is a Qantas/partner Award.

Did I mention OneWorld award? Sorry! When I look at the partner award zone 10 it is 75,000 points! This is where it seems to be calculating from as i could see it go through the various stages of 35,000 points, 50,000 points, 65,000 points and then finally 75,000 points.

[Kiwi Flyer]

You can stay at Shanghai up to 48 hours visa-free under a special exemption. As for other countries' visa requirements check out this link to IATA database.

No visa required for South Korea. Be aware ICN airport is well out of the city and can take a long time (2 hours each way) at peak hours.

[serfty]

Certainly can't be a oneWORLD award as its a 'one-way' trip; as long as they are all transits and the carrier and class remain the same you'll probably be OK.

However I would familiarise my self with the T&C of the program, particularly 13. Redeeming Points for Award Flights.

[NM]

Originally Posted by JohnK

Thanks NM.

The booking does say Total points required 75,000 points. Note: Charges and taxes will apply to your booking. Your flight is a Qantas/partner Award.

Did I mention OneWorld award? Sorry! When I look at the partner award zone 10 it is 75,000 points! This is where it seems to be calculating from as i could see it go through the various stages of 35,000 points, 50,000 points, 65,000 points and then finally 75,000 points.

Well if being a Qantas Partner award, then its a series of one-way trips per QF's definition of a one-way flight. Note from the definitions sections of QF FF web site terms and conditions:

The number of points needed for an award flight on Qantas and our Partner airlines will be calculated on the sum of the one-way trips* in your itinerary. There will be no charge for stopovers, or for any non-flown (surface) segments. Your itinerary may have not more than 16 flight or surface segments.

* Trip means:
(i) a series of consecutive Flight Segments not broken by a Surface Segment or Turnaround Point;
(ii) a series of consecutive Flight Segments not exceeding the maximum permitted miles in the Award Flight tables;
(iii) one or more consecutive flight segments not broken by a change from any airline to, or from, the following airlines: Aer Lingus, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, LAN, Air Niugini, El Al, SAS, South African Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, or US Airways;

I suspect they will note some of your transit points as "turnaround" points and hence break the journey into multiple one-way trips.

However, also note from the QF FF web site:

13.3.5 Qantas may supply an Award Flight Point quote upon request. If the quote is inconsistent with the current levels published on qantas.com, then the levels published on this website will prevail.

So if the on-line system has quoted this as one long one-way trip, then you may be covered by this statement.

The only way I can see this working is with a OneWorld Award and bring an AY or BA flight into the mix.

[serfty]

An International transit is a stay in the one place for less than 24 hours.

'Transfer' in relation to:
(i) an Australian domestic Itinerary, means a break of journey at an intermediate point when onward travel takes place on the same calendar day; and
(ii) for all other Itineraries, including those containing a domestic to international connecting flight, means when a passenger arrives at an intermediate point and is scheduled to depart within 24 hours of arrival;

[NM]

Originally Posted by serfty

An International transit is a stay in the one place for less than 24 hours.

I don't his problem will be the definition of "transit". The problem will be the undefined term "turnaround"

[JohnK]

I must be a klutz! I thought I had read all the t&c's!

Originally Posted by QF web site

Trip means a series of one or more consecutive Flight Segments within an Itinerary:
(a) that does not include:
(i) a Stopover; or
(ii) a Flight Segment whose arrival city is the same as the departure city of any other Flight Segment in that series, (in this instance the Trip will be broken at the farthest point from the departure city for that series);(b) not exceeding the maximum permitted miles in the Award Flight tables; or
(c) not broken by a change from any airline to, or from, the following airlines: Aer Lingus, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, LAN, Air Niugini, Alitalia, El Al, SAS, South African Airways, Swiss International Air Lines or US Airways;

Condition (ii) is the worry here. I can make it so that TPE is only visited once (I can route SYD-HKG-NRT-TPE-ICN-HKG-MNL-HKG-BKK) but I cannot avoid HKG as this is the central point!

Originally Posted by NM

I don't his problem will be the definition of "transit". The problem will be the undefined term "turnaround"

I am on the move in less than 24 hours out of each "stopover". When I have tried to go past the 24 hours it then starts a new trip "Trip 2" in the same itinerary.

Originally Posted by NM

However, also note from the QF FF web site:

So if the on-line system has quoted this as one long one-way trip, then you may be covered by this statement.

The only way I can see this working is with a OneWorld Award and bring an AY or BA flight into the mix.

I spoke to FF centre regarding this "trip". The person was not 100% certain but did tell me to try to complete the booking online. If I receive a booking reference and e-ticket then the itinerary is valid and they have no choice but to honour the booking.

I have seen the award booking engine while planning this trip on more than one occassion break the trip for one reason or another. For the itinerary I proposed it continues to display as Trip 1.

No point in trying to make it a OneWorld award as it will not be a return journey on points. I will be booking and paying for a return airfare from SIN back to SYD.

I am not ready to book as I am looking for more options. I cannot imagine that it would allow me to get to the credit card stage and then reject. But I have seen stranger things.

[ioki]

Originally Posted by JohnK

Is a visa required for TPE?

for australian passport holders, you'll be allowed up to 14 days with on the spot visa stamp