Jun 19, 2017, 9:34 pm
Last edit by: ernestnywang
oneworld Multi-Carrier Awards Wiki v0.1
Rules
1. You need two non CX/KA carriers
2. You are allowed 5 stopovers, 2 transits (<=24hrs) and 2 open jaws. You can use your stopover allowance as a transit, possibly by asking for it to be ticketed as such (extra taxes?). [Using stopover for transit is no longer possible since 2021/22?]
3. The open-jaw points do not count towards your stopover allowance. Neither does the final city on the itinerary
4. You must start and end in the same country.
5. To determine the miles required, add up all flight sectors on your itinerary and look up the award chart (ignore the distance between open-jaw points). gcmap.com is handy, though best to go via asiamiles' calculator.
6. Co-terminals (NRT/HND, LHR/LCY) do not count as an open-jaw (takes up 1 stopover/transit allowance).
If an itinerary clears the above, it is valid, though you may have to argue a lot back and forth. Keep your patience suit on and and keep referring to the terms & conditions ("What in the T&Cs makes this invalid" tends to work).
For the examples below, x=transit, o=stopover, and capitalized alphabets represent airports.
Some valid routings that have commonly been pushed back on
1. "You cannot go through the start, destination, or enroute point more than once". A-oB-oA-oC-oD-A is a valid itinerary.
2. "An open-jaw point is a stopover". A-oB-oC-D//E-oF-G//H-oI-oJ-A is valid, as is A-oB-xC-D//E-oF-G//H-xI-oJ-oK-oL-A.
Other tips
1. Tickets are valid for 1 year from the date of issuance. Potentially a pain when planning that dream RTW trip involving LATAM/AA which release seats 330 days out, that you're trying to tee-in with CX award seats released a year out.
2. A combination of BA/AA/LATAM/QF sites works well to research availability (look for saver availability)
3. You can go crazy on the routings- A-oB-A//C-oD-C//E-A is fine if A,B,E are in country/Region # 1, and, C,D are at the other end of the world.
Rules
1. You need two non CX/KA carriers
2. You are allowed 5 stopovers, 2 transits (<=24hrs) and 2 open jaws. You can use your stopover allowance as a transit, possibly by asking for it to be ticketed as such (extra taxes?). [Using stopover for transit is no longer possible since 2021/22?]
3. The open-jaw points do not count towards your stopover allowance. Neither does the final city on the itinerary
4. You must start and end in the same country.
5. To determine the miles required, add up all flight sectors on your itinerary and look up the award chart (ignore the distance between open-jaw points). gcmap.com is handy, though best to go via asiamiles' calculator.
6. Co-terminals (NRT/HND, LHR/LCY) do not count as an open-jaw (takes up 1 stopover/transit allowance).
If an itinerary clears the above, it is valid, though you may have to argue a lot back and forth. Keep your patience suit on and and keep referring to the terms & conditions ("What in the T&Cs makes this invalid" tends to work).
For the examples below, x=transit, o=stopover, and capitalized alphabets represent airports.
Some valid routings that have commonly been pushed back on
1. "You cannot go through the start, destination, or enroute point more than once". A-oB-oA-oC-oD-A is a valid itinerary.
2. "An open-jaw point is a stopover". A-oB-oC-D//E-oF-G//H-oI-oJ-A is valid, as is A-oB-xC-D//E-oF-G//H-xI-oJ-oK-oL-A.
Other tips
1. Tickets are valid for 1 year from the date of issuance. Potentially a pain when planning that dream RTW trip involving LATAM/AA which release seats 330 days out, that you're trying to tee-in with CX award seats released a year out.
2. A combination of BA/AA/LATAM/QF sites works well to research availability (look for saver availability)
3. You can go crazy on the routings- A-oB-A//C-oD-C//E-A is fine if A,B,E are in country/Region # 1, and, C,D are at the other end of the world.
oneworld Multi-Carrier Awards - sharing ideas
Nov 1, 2017, 4:05 am
#511
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 7
JFK-xHKG-HKT//HKG-oCNS-oSYD-AKL//MEL-oSCL-oJFK-oLIM-JFK
- 1 Transfer
- 5 Stopovers
- 2 Open Jaws
I am trying to book this itinerary, but the agents on the phone + by email keep telling me there are too many stopovers and it is not a valid booking for the multi carrier award.
Am I doing something wrong? Does the destination count as a stopover? Any advice on how to get this booked besides keep calling?
- 1 Transfer
- 5 Stopovers
- 2 Open Jaws
I am trying to book this itinerary, but the agents on the phone + by email keep telling me there are too many stopovers and it is not a valid booking for the multi carrier award.
Am I doing something wrong? Does the destination count as a stopover? Any advice on how to get this booked besides keep calling?
Nov 1, 2017, 4:13 am
#513
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Diamond / SQ Gold / Bonvoy Platinum / Hyatt Globalist / Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,098
JFK-xHKG-HKT//HKG-oCNS-oSYD-AKL//MEL-oSCL-oJFK-oLIM-JFK
- 1 Transfer
- 5 Stopovers
- 2 Open Jaws
I am trying to book this itinerary, but the agents on the phone + by email keep telling me there are too many stopovers and it is not a valid booking for the multi carrier award.
Am I doing something wrong? Does the destination count as a stopover? Any advice on how to get this booked besides keep calling?
- 1 Transfer
- 5 Stopovers
- 2 Open Jaws
I am trying to book this itinerary, but the agents on the phone + by email keep telling me there are too many stopovers and it is not a valid booking for the multi carrier award.
Am I doing something wrong? Does the destination count as a stopover? Any advice on how to get this booked besides keep calling?
So HKG is a transfer, and CNS, SYD, SCL, JFK and LIM are stopovers.
HKT/HKG and AKL/MEL are open jaws.
Remember anything over 24 hours is a stopover. Is HKG a stopover or a transfer (under 24 hours)?
When I had these problems in the past, I go over each flight with them, agreeing on which one is a stopover, which one is a transfer etc. Call them again and do it with them. Tell them explicitly which one is a transfer and which one is a stopover, and which one is an open jaw.
Good luck!
Nov 1, 2017, 11:39 pm
#515
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 274
I just tried to book the following using the online request form and I also got the response that my award exceeds the transfer limit. They state I have 2 transfers in HKG and 2 in JNB. So it sounds like I need to specifically state that I would like to use my stopovers as transfers? The connections in HKG and JNB are less than 24 hours.
JFK-SFO(stopover)-HKG-JNB-CPT(destination)
(open jaw) DUR-JNB-HKG-SFO
Is it better to just call and get this sorted out versus email? I tried to avoid the call centers because of the complaints about how long it takes.
JFK-SFO(stopover)-HKG-JNB-CPT(destination)
(open jaw) DUR-JNB-HKG-SFO
Is it better to just call and get this sorted out versus email? I tried to avoid the call centers because of the complaints about how long it takes.
Nov 2, 2017, 12:24 am
#516
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,168
I just tried to book the following using the online request form and I also got the response that my award exceeds the transfer limit. They state I have 2 transfers in HKG and 2 in JNB. So it sounds like I need to specifically state that I would like to use my stopovers as transfers? The connections in HKG and JNB are less than 24 hours.
JFK-SFO(stopover)-HKG-JNB-CPT(destination)
(open jaw) DUR-JNB-HKG-SFO
Is it better to just call and get this sorted out versus email? I tried to avoid the call centers because of the complaints about how long it takes.
JFK-SFO(stopover)-HKG-JNB-CPT(destination)
(open jaw) DUR-JNB-HKG-SFO
Is it better to just call and get this sorted out versus email? I tried to avoid the call centers because of the complaints about how long it takes.
I think that you could always just do a JFK-oSFO-xHKG-oJNB-xHKG-SFO for 175K Asiamiles in business instead of the 190K for the multi-carrier award. The domestic BA segments are cheap enough, and adding BA to the award will make the fuel surcharges quite high in any case.
Nov 5, 2017, 12:02 am
#517
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 274
Call will be more effecient imho. Tell them to ticket 2 of them transits as stopovers.
I think that you could always just do a JFK-oSFO-xHKG-oJNB-xHKG-SFO for 175K Asiamiles in business instead of the 190K for the multi-carrier award. The domestic BA segments are cheap enough, and adding BA to the award will make the fuel surcharges quite high in any case.
I think that you could always just do a JFK-oSFO-xHKG-oJNB-xHKG-SFO for 175K Asiamiles in business instead of the 190K for the multi-carrier award. The domestic BA segments are cheap enough, and adding BA to the award will make the fuel surcharges quite high in any case.
However, I go to book the award with and agent who checks the availability and eligibility and everything clears. However, when they go to book the actual award the agent says I am waitlisted on the SFO to HKG leg and can't ticket. The Cathay site and British Airways site both show availability. I can book on BA for up to 5 tickets. Anyone know what's going on or what I should do? I told her I see availability and she tried to book it and sent the itinerary where it shows waitlisted.
Nov 5, 2017, 9:21 am
#518
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto
Programs: HGP Globalist, SPG P100, Hilton Dia
Posts: 425
Thanks for the advice. So I decided to just book the 175K ticket because I am still uncertain of my itinerary in South Africa and so I think the flexibility is better to just book the intra-flights later.
However, I go to book the award with and agent who checks the availability and eligibility and everything clears. However, when they go to book the actual award the agent says I am waitlisted on the SFO to HKG leg and can't ticket. The Cathay site and British Airways site both show availability. I can book on BA for up to 5 tickets. Anyone know what's going on or what I should do? I told her I see availability and she tried to book it and sent the itinerary where it shows waitlisted.
However, I go to book the award with and agent who checks the availability and eligibility and everything clears. However, when they go to book the actual award the agent says I am waitlisted on the SFO to HKG leg and can't ticket. The Cathay site and British Airways site both show availability. I can book on BA for up to 5 tickets. Anyone know what's going on or what I should do? I told her I see availability and she tried to book it and sent the itinerary where it shows waitlisted.
If you are urgently needs to ticket the flights, then find an available flight a day before or after the original date.
Also, once all the flights are confirmed and booked, CX usually takes 1 to 2 days to ticket and verify the taxes and charges. In the mean time, you can still make modification free of charge.
Nov 6, 2017, 6:32 am
#520
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 139
My recent OW redemption is as follow
HKG-MAD[TRANSFER]
MAD-LIS[OPEN JAW]
OPO-MAD[TRANSFER]
MAD-HKG[STOPOVER]
HKG-YVR[STOPOVER]
YVR-HKG[STOPOVER]
HKG-BNE[STOPOVER]
BNE-SYD[OPEN JAW]
PER-HKG
34,962 mi of total flying distance requires 190,000 Asia Miles for business class
One of the tricky problems was that when I was on the phone talking to an agent their system did not allow me to book the flight MAD-HKG on CX with the connection time >2hrs while the flight was available when I search it separately. I double checked the MCT in MAD was 90min if I remember correctly. The agent said "Wait a moment" and then the problem solved.
Another problem I have encountered was that the flight OPO-MAD is operated by Air Nostrum, marketed by Iberia. The agent said it's a codeshare flight so she could not book that. I told her Air Nostrum is an affiliate airline of IB and it's also under the oneworld alliance. She said "wait a moment please" and then another problem solved.
HKG-MAD[TRANSFER]
MAD-LIS[OPEN JAW]
OPO-MAD[TRANSFER]
MAD-HKG[STOPOVER]
HKG-YVR[STOPOVER]
YVR-HKG[STOPOVER]
HKG-BNE[STOPOVER]
BNE-SYD[OPEN JAW]
PER-HKG
34,962 mi of total flying distance requires 190,000 Asia Miles for business class
One of the tricky problems was that when I was on the phone talking to an agent their system did not allow me to book the flight MAD-HKG on CX with the connection time >2hrs while the flight was available when I search it separately. I double checked the MCT in MAD was 90min if I remember correctly. The agent said "Wait a moment" and then the problem solved.
Another problem I have encountered was that the flight OPO-MAD is operated by Air Nostrum, marketed by Iberia. The agent said it's a codeshare flight so she could not book that. I told her Air Nostrum is an affiliate airline of IB and it's also under the oneworld alliance. She said "wait a moment please" and then another problem solved.
Nov 6, 2017, 7:06 am
#521
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,761
Nov 6, 2017, 8:15 am
#522
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: DUS
Posts: 318
OK before I ask my question, let me contribute a successful routing:
HKG-LHR-FRA, CDG-DOH-BKK, BKK-HKG (CX+BA, QR, CX - F @155k AM)
Now, I am working on:
FRA-HKG, HKG-HND, AKL-SCL, SCL-MDZ, HAV-MAD-DUS
It's a legal routing in my mind (3 carriers [CX, LA and IB], 2 stopovers, 2 open-jaws, 1 transfer) and should price as 140k AM in J.
My question is about YQ on IB. Does anyone have experience on whether AM will pass on IB fuel surcharges? They are massive if searching through BA Avios, less - but not 0 - when searching with IB Avios but I can't make out what they will be with AM.
You can't search one-ways on IB through AM anyways, and round-trips HAV-DUS or the other way error out. HAV-MAD round-trips look like no fuel surcharge is passed on at all, and same is true for MAD-DUS round-trips. I'd be surprised if AM pass on less YQ on IB redemptions than booking through either Avios currency but I'd gladly accept it.
Any insights on whether I should expect to be charged YQ on the IB legs and how much would be greatly appreciated.
HKG-LHR-FRA, CDG-DOH-BKK, BKK-HKG (CX+BA, QR, CX - F @155k AM)
Now, I am working on:
FRA-HKG, HKG-HND, AKL-SCL, SCL-MDZ, HAV-MAD-DUS
It's a legal routing in my mind (3 carriers [CX, LA and IB], 2 stopovers, 2 open-jaws, 1 transfer) and should price as 140k AM in J.
My question is about YQ on IB. Does anyone have experience on whether AM will pass on IB fuel surcharges? They are massive if searching through BA Avios, less - but not 0 - when searching with IB Avios but I can't make out what they will be with AM.
You can't search one-ways on IB through AM anyways, and round-trips HAV-DUS or the other way error out. HAV-MAD round-trips look like no fuel surcharge is passed on at all, and same is true for MAD-DUS round-trips. I'd be surprised if AM pass on less YQ on IB redemptions than booking through either Avios currency but I'd gladly accept it.
Any insights on whether I should expect to be charged YQ on the IB legs and how much would be greatly appreciated.
Nov 6, 2017, 9:35 am
#523
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,436
My question is about YQ on IB. Does anyone have experience on whether AM will pass on IB fuel surcharges? They are massive if searching through BA Avios, less - but not 0 - when searching with IB Avios but I can't make out what they will be with AM.
You can't search one-ways on IB through AM anyways, and round-trips HAV-DUS or the other way error out. HAV-MAD round-trips look like no fuel surcharge is passed on at all, and same is true for MAD-DUS round-trips. I'd be surprised if AM pass on less YQ on IB redemptions than booking through either Avios currency but I'd gladly accept it.
Any insights on whether I should expect to be charged YQ on the IB legs and how much would be greatly appreciated.
You can't search one-ways on IB through AM anyways, and round-trips HAV-DUS or the other way error out. HAV-MAD round-trips look like no fuel surcharge is passed on at all, and same is true for MAD-DUS round-trips. I'd be surprised if AM pass on less YQ on IB redemptions than booking through either Avios currency but I'd gladly accept it.
Any insights on whether I should expect to be charged YQ on the IB legs and how much would be greatly appreciated.
Code:
*I«
1 IB6888Y 02DEC 6 PVGMAD SS1 1035 1750 /DCIB /E
WPACX‡QYDNNOC«
PSGR TYPE ADT - 01
CXR RES DATE FARE BASIS NVB NVA BG
SHA
MAD IB Y 02DEC YDNNOC 02DEC 02P
FARE CNY 16940 EQUIV TWD 77066
TAX TWD 410CN
TOTAL TWD 77476
ADT-01 YDNNOC
SHA IB MAD2603.07NUC2603.07END ROE6.5077
ENDOS*SEG1*CHGS AND REF PERMITTED
RATE USED 1CNY-4.54934189TWD
ATTN*CX-NO VALID TICKETING AGREEMENT-CHANGE VALIDATING CARRIER
ATTN*VALIDATING CARRIER SPECIFIED - CX
**
PRICED USING RULE OVERRIDE-FOLLOWING FARE RULES NOT MET
ATTN* SALES RESTRICTIONS
FARE NOT GUARANTEED IF TICKETED
**
ATTN*BAGGAGE INFO AVAILABLE - SEE WP*BAG
Nov 6, 2017, 1:01 pm
#524
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,035
Looks like CX does not charge fuel surcharge on IB segments
Code:
*I«
1 IB6888Y 02DEC 6 PVGMAD SS1 1035 1750 /DCIB /E
WPACX‡QYDNNOC«
PSGR TYPE ADT - 01
CXR RES DATE FARE BASIS NVB NVA BG
SHA
MAD IB Y 02DEC YDNNOC 02DEC 02P
FARE CNY 16940 EQUIV TWD 77066
TAX TWD 410CN
TOTAL TWD 77476
ADT-01 YDNNOC
SHA IB MAD2603.07NUC2603.07END ROE6.5077
ENDOS*SEG1*CHGS AND REF PERMITTED
RATE USED 1CNY-4.54934189TWD
ATTN*CX-NO VALID TICKETING AGREEMENT-CHANGE VALIDATING CARRIER
ATTN*VALIDATING CARRIER SPECIFIED - CX
**
PRICED USING RULE OVERRIDE-FOLLOWING FARE RULES NOT MET
ATTN* SALES RESTRICTIONS
FARE NOT GUARANTEED IF TICKETED
**
ATTN*BAGGAGE INFO AVAILABLE - SEE WP*BAG
Nov 6, 2017, 2:33 pm
#525
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,436
1) I use Sabre, a GDS for travel agents not accessible to the general public.
2) Look at the "TAX" field and you will only see "CN" (PVG departure tax). There is no "YQ" or "YR," so no fuel surcharge. I used PVG-MAD as an example and forced the system to quote using CX plate.
2) Look at the "TAX" field and you will only see "CN" (PVG departure tax). There is no "YQ" or "YR," so no fuel surcharge. I used PVG-MAD as an example and forced the system to quote using CX plate.
