My 2nd Done

[sr81]

Hi all,
Last year I completed a DONE4 from AKL and this year I would like to complete a DONE3 from DPS as it is really is quite cheap even adding a JQ return flight from MEL. I haven't tried ticketing it yet but I will report back on that as it could be quite a run around via AA or CX. I know I could get 20 segments but I am not prepared to try and track down an agent in DPS or Jakarta for paper. 16 segments and make them electronic please!

I have been through and messed about with MilageMonkey/oneworld Planner and think I have a valid itinery. Would the kind souls here be kind enough to vet it?

My only real concern are the legs in Asia, are they valid on the way back? When I booked my DONE4 the CSA (QF) had issues with the extra Oz legs between LHR and AKL with more than one stop - MEL.

My (hopeful) segments are:
DPS-NRT-HKG-JFK-SEA-DFW-ORD-RDU-MIA-LHR-DXB-LHR-HEL-LHR-HKG-NRT-DPS

I'll easily retain my WP status, enjoy some sun in Miami and the cold in Helsinki if this is ok. I will also make a minimum of 44,000 miles which ain't too bad considering.

Thanks all for any assitance. Will buy you a beer or gin if you are in Melbourne for the AFF shin-dig.

 

[moa999]

No AA Agent in Indonesia, so have to go CX and more expensive fines.
For this reason you may find MNL to be cheaper for issuance.

 

[sr81]

No AA Agent in Indonesia, so have to go CX and more expensive fines.
For this reason you may find MNL to be cheaper for issuance.

Thanks aubs, funnily enough AA do have a number for Indonesia though, as you point out, no agent. I could always follow QF009 and book through MNL. The Philippines is only USD100 more anyway. This should be less than the fines etc. through CX.

 

[Keith009]

Routing looks cool to me, so long as you limit urself to 2 stopovers in Asia.

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

It looks like I may be moving to the dAArkside, because my present FF program, Mileage Plus will likely be gutted following UA's forthcoming takeover (aka "merger") by CO.

Thus I am becoming more interested in DONE's, etc, and find this kind of info really useful.

Stand by for developments!

 

[sr81]

A quick update as DONE's via AA seem all the rage at the moment.

Last night I called AA's ATW desk and it took me the grand total of 12 minutes and 2 seconds to have a 16 segment itinerary planned, booked and off for pricing.

It would have taken 10 minutes but BA is being very tight on their LHR-DXB flights. Granted I am looking for Sunday night or anytime Monday in early December but this far out and D0? I think I will keep an eye on it to see if anything pops up.

My final routing as a DONE3 is:
DPS-NRT-HGK-JFK-SEA-DFW-ORD-RDU-MIA-LHR-HEL-LHR-DXB-LHR-HGK-NRT-DPS

The base fare was USD$6051 + tax.
After pricing (inc taxes) it is: 106,533,525.45 Vietnam Dong or USD$6610.85. I have no idea what the fines would have been with QF but I still believe that this is cheaper, my three LHR stops add to the taxes significantly.

With the AUD being so strong this translates to about $7000 all in. I think this represents quite good value.

My next step is to contact Hanoi and purchase the fare. The AA agent was quite happy that I would purchase this fare outside of my origin so long as I paid the greater fare.

Will report back once the payment has gone through.

 

[albatross710]

My final routing as a DONE3 is:
DPS-NRT-HGK-JFK-SEA-DFW-ORD-RDU-MIA-LHR-HEL-LHR-DXB-LHR-HGK-NRT-DPS

How many total stop overs do you have in this itin?

 

[albatross710]

triple post: sorry guys problem with my initial post timing out. I've deleted the "spurious transmissions."

 

[opusman]

I think albatross710 wants to know how many stop overs you have

 

[sr81]

I am stopping at the following:
DPS-NRT-HGK//JFK//SEA-DFW-ORD//RDU//MIA-LHR-HEL//LHR-DXB-LHR-HGK-NRT-DPS

In all I am taking 32 days to complete the itin.

 

[NM]

I think albatross710 wants to know how many stop overs you have

You can say that again (sorry, couldn't resist).

 

[sr81]

Re: My 2nd Done - ticketing

Well ticketing through AA appears not as easy as it seems. Firstly when you look the AA ticket sales page: https://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/aboutUs/whereWeFly/internationalTickets/main.jsp
Make sure you do not try to use a location that does not list a ticket office. I tried via Vietnam and they don't ticket, that office is only a general sales agent. Philippines provides a good alternative as their prices are pretty low.

It was very difficult to get through to the office as it was constantly engaged but once through the girl could not have been more helpful.
Yes - We can ticket your DONE3 which you organised via AA Dallas and originates in DPS.
Yes - I will email you the details for payment. This can be done in PHP or USD (different bank accounts).
Yes - As you have an e-ticket we can issue your ticket without you leaving Australia.

In all I was very impressed.

The PHP is really poor against the AUD so my fare became cheaper again and an international bank transfer is MUCH cheaper than credit card fees.

I have yet to transfer the money as I think the AUD will be a little stronger tomorrow but I'll report back once purchase has been made.

I have also discovered that once the *ONE* has been rated you can chose seats via the AA and BA websites. I tend to really only care about the longhaul seats but picking a seat on a trancon 757 was a little fun.

 

[albatross710]

You can say that again (sorry, couldn't resist).

I was a victim of that site upgrade issue the other night! All better now.

 

[Keith009]

Re: My 2nd Done - ticketing

Well ticketing through AA appears not as easy as it seems. Firstly when you look the AA ticket sales page: https://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/aboutUs/whereWeFly/internationalTickets/main.jsp
Make sure you do not try to use a location that does not list a ticket office. I tried via Vietnam and they don't ticket, that office is only a general sales agent. Philippines provides a good alternative as their prices are pretty low.

I tried SGN before I called MNL. SGN sounded v reluctant but nonetheless would issue the tickets if I'd already built the itinerary with the ATW desk. They weren't willing to issue paper tickets remotely though so that shot it down for me.

MNL is also a GSA, but like you observed couldn't be more professional and helpful. The lovely Tina who I dealt with sounded like a veteran on issuing such fares for people from overseas.

Each office has a different policy with these tickets really, even actual AA offices. With GSAs there's also the element of whether they'd make enough of a commission out of your ticket to make it worth their while.

 

[sr81]

I had Tina too!

She was most helpful and interestingly didn't quote me a ticketing fee, only the AA quoted fare which had been generated by Dublin.

Compared to last year with no running around cost me AUD$11,213 and this year which involved a few hoops cost me AUD$8066 (including a jetstar flight to DPS) this is a significant saving and one that is worth the effort.

Well done AFF - togeather we can save money and travel in a bit of style.

 

[sr81]

Well the ticketing is now all done and I only have to wait for my JQ flight to DPS before starting to post a TR.

The ticketing took 3 days and was seamless after inital contact was established. I ended up getting the fare rated in USD as it worked out cheaper than Pesos.

I now have an e-ticket and a desire to start planing next year as I will have nothing to do!