ex-South Africa DONE5 vs ex-South Korea DONE4

[Bundy Bear]

My 2 cents worth,

If it were me I would start from ICN, closer, maybe I would take the easier option.

One pro for CPT is that English is widely spoken.
One negative for CPT is that time difference.

 

[GCD123]

Capetown is definitely worth experiencing.
You seem to only have 1.5 days. My picks (using available time) would be :

1. Waterfront - a great working port with nice hotels, bars, restaurants & shopping. Hotels : V&A, Cape Grand & Radisson (close by). Or up the hill to Waterkant and older area that is coming back to life with boutique accomodation, restaurants etc.
2. A trip down the coast to the actual Cape. Camps Bay, Houtt Bay etc. - great scenary.
3. Table Mountain
4. Canal Walk - another good shopping centre
5. Constantia - very upmarket residential
6. Wineries

Plus, you will surely sniff out the nightlife top spots.

Just know that you won't fit it all in - and don't worry because there is a lot to enjoy with even half of the above list.

GCD123

 

[GCD123]

Capetown is definitely worth experiencing.
You seem to only have 1.5 days. My picks (using available time) would be :

1. Waterfront - a great working port with nice hotels, bars, restaurants & shopping. Hotels : V&A, Cape Grand (SORRY - CAPE GRACE) & Radisson (close by). Or up the hill to Waterkant and older area that is coming back to life with boutique accomodation, restaurants etc.
2. A trip down the coast to the actual Cape. Camps Bay, Houtt Bay etc. - great scenary.
3. Table Mountain
4. Canal Walk - another good shopping centre
5. Constantia - very upmarket residential
6. Wineries

Plus, you will surely sniff out the nightlife top spots.

Just know that you won't fit it all in - and don't worry because there is a lot to enjoy with even half of the above list.

GCD123[/quote]

 

[NM]

Barring a dramatic appreciation in the Rand...

I think you will be appreciating the lack of appreciation of the RAND, much to the non-appreciation of some in SA.

 

[Keith009]

I think you will be appreciating the lack of appreciation of the RAND, much to the non-appreciation of some in SA.

I'd settle for non-appreciation in the week I intend to issue the ticket, as well as when I'm actually there. It can appreciate all it likes any other time for all I care.

 

[NM]

I'd settle for non-appreciation in the week I intend to issue the ticket, as well as when I'm actually there. It can appreciate all it likes any other time for all I care.

I can appreciate that

 

[Keith009]

OK, so I've now decided on the ex-JNB, can anyone offer suggestions on how to refine the following:
JNB-SYD-AKL-SYD-NRT-DPS-NRT-SIN-HKG-JFK-DFW-xMIA-LAX-LHR-DXB-xLHR-CPT

I want to go to all the destinations listed above plus MSP; DFW is really a springboard on to MSP. I am based in MEL of course and would actually need to reposition to/from SYD each time you see SYD in the itinerary, but that's a A$96 or so each way when sales are on.

Would people think it's cheaper to do MSP (say DFW-MSP-DFW or MIA-MSP-MIA) within the actual DONE and buy my own tickets to AKL instead? Or negligible difference? DFW-MSP return is about US$415 all in. Not v familiar with TT sale availability and prices... Especially as I'd done the segment on RTW tix over the last few yrs.

Any other way of juggling the transtasman and North American segments without incurring too much costs whilst using all 16 segments and maintaining or even enhancing the same mileage levels?

 

[docjames]

Well, best sale i've seen recently tt is about $229 on QF.

With the aussie rouble, that may be better than $400some USD for the return.

 

[Keith009]

It looks like a 180... and it is, but after all that fantastic sounding recommendations for CPT - I'm doing Seoul now. :-/

Reasons being:
- The other half used to teach English in Seoul and got all excited about the possibility of visiting the place and catching up with his good mates. We've decided to make a trip to SEL together, spending 4 nights there.
- ex-South Africa OW RTW fare has risen slightly, making a DONE5 ex-CPT (i'd need an extra continent for starting in Africa and still go to all the places I want to go) more expensive than a DONE4 ex-ICN. Which reminds me to ticket the ex-ICN itin ASAP...
- From a 'the journey is half the fun perspective', i'm rather enamoured by the W in SEL and more QF segments on ex-ICN than ex-CPT
- Itin-wise, ex-ICN gets me where I want to go without having to buy extra segments. Less positioning to/from SYD.

Itin is now as thus: ICN-xHKG-MEL-AKL-MEL-LHR-DOH-xLHR-LAX-xMIA-ATL-xMIA-JFK-HKG-DPS-xNRT-ICN

Now to find other means of visiting CPT.

 

[docjames]

Is "the other half" doing Korea only, or the whole trip?

Still looks like a great trip.

 

[Leumas]

Is "the other half" doing Korea only, or the whole trip?

I'm sure 'the other half' will be doing more than just Korea...!

Seriously though, I'm thinking of doing a DONE4 ex-ICN as well - would love to hear any wisdom you can share, especially with any contacts you've made.

 

[Evan]

I'm sure 'the other half' will be doing more than just Korea...!

Seriously though, I'm thinking of doing a DONE4 ex-ICN as well - would love to hear any wisdom you can share, especially with any contacts you've made.

My wisdom came from QF009, that is to just get it paid for ex UK in GBP, they do the conversion from KRW to GBP from the base fare and then add the taxes fuel surcharges in GBP. Over all the GBP is more stable when related to the AUD so it actually works out ok, maybe not the cheapest but can be all done over the phone so easy.
Mail me if you need more info.

E

 

[Keith009]

The other half is only doing Korea. We also have 1 night in HKG as QF cancelled QF86 and none of the CX flights get into HKG in time for QF30. There's QF128 to SYD but it'd mean repositioning. So another excuse to stay at the W HK. Unfortunately he doesn't have enough leave to come along for more, but the trip is split over 2009 and 2010 so hopefully he could come to the US as well.

 

[emirates777]

I am interested in ex-South Korea RTW trip but in Y class. I messed around with the OW rtw booking tool and came up with the following -

SYD - LAX - YYZ - LHR - SIN - SYD for $4,494.13 AUD

now via the Korea option -

ICN - LAX - YYZ - LHR - SYD -ICN for $4,698.13 AUD

also tried the South African option -

JNB - LHR - YYZ - LAX - SYD - JNB for $4,469.15 AUD

Do these only work with Business/First class fares? I am cant see the savings in economy?

 

[Evan]

Hi emirates777,
That could well be the case, at one time the ex AU price for economy was much better than going overseas to purchase given you need to get to your overseas destination which costs money.
At $4.4k doing it in whY seems expensive when i just purchased a DONE3 (business 3 continent, 16 segments) for $7k AUD from Korea, + the points to get the Seoul (award flight)

E

 

[serfty]

This is the case still.

An EX Oz LLONE4 is $3,499 (LHONE4 is $3,699)

An ex Korean LONE4 is KRW3,486,700 (≈$3,790) [note a LONE3 is KRW2,905,500 (≈$3,160).

As a contrast, an DONE4 ex OZ is $10,999 wheras ex ICN KRW6,776,800 (≈$7,370)

(Note, all these are base prices, the

is not included and has to be added to any final purchase price.

 

[emirates777]

Hi emirates777,
That could well be the case, at one time the ex AU price for economy was much better than going overseas to purchase given you need to get to your overseas destination which costs money.
At $4.4k doing it in whY seems expensive when i just purchased a DONE3 (business 3 continent, 16 segments) for $7k AUD from Korea, + the points to get the Seoul (award flight)

E

Thanks for the reply, yeah its not really worth it going via Y class. Maybe if the AUD dollar appreciates against the KWR, then this might be feasible.

This is the case still.

An EX Oz LLONE4 is $3,499 (LHONE4 is $3,699)

An ex Korean LONE4 is KRW3,486,700 (≈$3,790) [note a LONE3 is KRW2,905,500 (≈$3,160).

As a contrast, an DONE4 ex OZ is $10,999 wheras ex ICN KRW6,776,800 (≈$7,370)

(Note, all these are base prices, the

is not included and has to be added to any final purchase price.

The taxes are a killer unfortunatley!

 

[Alanslegal]

Slightly OT but for a LONE4, the ex-NZ $$$ seems like a decent purchase.

 

[serfty]

... The taxes are a killer unfortunatley!

Use the link on this page from the oneworld web site and make sure your first segment in an AA flight number:

• oneworld - Plan and Book your Itinerary

You may find the

somewhat less onerous.

 

[serfty]

Slightly OT but for a LONE4, the ex-NZ $$$ seems like a decent purchase.

NZD3,799 (≈AUD3,200)