SightseeMC

Results in bold at the bottom if you want to skip the rant.

Been trying to book business class awards with my OZ miles for about, oh, 5 months now and finally...succeeded?

Trying to get to Copenhagen or Bali with any reasonable flights. Options available on the website:

• Nothing lulz (pretty much every day)
• OZ/SAS with a long layover in either Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan, or OZ SQ with a long layover in the Philippines(?) for CPH
• 2 stops and 24+ hours to get the 4,000 miles to Bali

Options on the phone:

• ICN - Munich in economy, then European biz class to CPH with LH. The agent literally proposed this as a "business class redemption".
• ICN - Munich - Paris in economy, then Euro biz to CPH because that's...better somehow?
• Bali: nothing lulz

Finally saw Etihad space open this week, so called in for the circus clown show. Had agents tell me that OZ doesn't allow partner airline bookings, or that they didn't see Etihad in the Star Alliance, or that they couldn't understand what airline I was asking about because as an American I pronounce it "Etihad" and not "Etihahd". Funny if it weren't so sad.

Next, the US rez line said call Korea, then Korea said call US AC, then AC said call US rez line. Finally realized that, yes, US rez line books partners (Korea should too, but whatever). Got a US agent who sounded like a new hire, so I was patient with him as he fumbled around for 20 minutes. He finally managed to scrape together two 1-ways for me and P2, but couldn't figure out how to make 2 flights 1 award. I'll maybe call in to see if they can combine and refund points, but at this point I am so done with this useless program that I don't really value 20K miles worth the 1 hour on the phone with CS agents who don't know the program. Jumping ship to TK immediately.

Cost was 90,000 and ~$460 1-way. Agent couldn't figure out how to make it 1 award.

ms5ooo

The agent could not make it one reward since OZ bills every EY segment as a separate award since 2021. Sadly, you are the one not knowing the rules.
On another note: did you not look for availible award seats before calling? Nowadays it�s hard to get premium seats when booking in advance.

THD

Getting Etihad reward tickets with OZ is certainly frustrating, that�s on OZ and should be better. That said though it is still an option that you wouldn�t have otherwise - you can�t get EY awards with Miles & Smiles.

The rest of your complaint is really a general star alliance issue - Bali is far from Europe and not exactly a bustling hub, it�s tourist traffic only. The only 1-stop connection from Europe is with TK and availability is restricted so 2-stop connection would be required booking with OZ or any other star award program.

Award availability is determined by the operating carrier and would have been the same irrespective booking OZ or other programs within star.

SightseeMC

I live in Seoul. Bali is a pretty common tourist destination from here. European carriers going to Bali are not part of the issue, hence my complaint. Generally, I received "other *A carriers don't release a lot of awards to us" for the zilches heading to Bali. Which seemed valid since I could find awards from Seoul - CPH on LH, LO, and a few others doing searches on UA at times.

SightseeMC

The only rule I didn't know of is the 2-flights/2-awards rule. I am aware of what airlines are in the alliance, that the rez lines make partner awards, and how to pronounce the airline I am booking.

I indeed mentioned that I had been looking nearly daily for awards online; it's near the top of my post. Perhaps look again.

And you should probably be aware that OZ agents can find awards that aren't online if you call and ask. Doesn't mean that they are good awards, but they are awards. Another "fact" I know about the program.

I also don't get paid to know the program. They do.

JFSV

OZ awards for Etihad flights is not the easiest booking experience, but can prove value for specific dates/routes.

In my case, I did a mixed-cabin Moscow (SVO) - KUL via AUH earlier this year in January. I say mixed-cabin as the SVO-AUH leg for some reason did show J availability to me on EY's website, but then the OZ contact center (the LA-based one) were not able to find J for the first leg. Anyway, at least managed to secure two seats with J cabin for the longer night leg from AUH. Taxes are considerable though (around USD 500 per person). However, mileage rate was not too bad. 57500 OZ miles per person.

Later this year I am flying SIN-ICN with OZ for 3 people (2 adults, 1 kid) in J for 82500 miles and minimum taxes.

I also value from OZ the ability to pool miles with family members and how relatively easy it is to keep Star Alliance Gold for 24 month's periods (for now, I guess).

All things considered it works OK.