RTW enquiry

[dragonman]

An update and an appeal for help. When LAN is used the booking tool falls over and will not let me pay. Rang AA to get them to price - no problem but I have to pay in NZ. I like the idea of arranging through AA - they are really knowledgeable and easy to deal with.

Any idea of a good TA who can do it in NZ and not charge a lot for a commission?

(Edited to add cannot book with AA using the online booking tool as the itinerary now goes in a westerly direction)

New edit -: seems that AA have a presence in NZ after all and the RTW desk did not know about it. Will try to pay on Monday.

 

[hayden]

I did it recently with LA - flew from auckland back to sydney then paused it there until I was ready to do the SYD-LAX leg. One word of warning with booking on LA, my experience trying to get them to change flights is terrible. It took me about a week and so many hours on the phone it wasnt funny. I think all up I made 4 calls that lasted about 6 hours...

Im just about to book another and thinking I'll do it ex NZ but booking onto qantas or AA , the amount you save on LA isnt worth the potential hassles later

 

[dragonman]

I did it recently with LA - flew from auckland back to sydney then paused it there until I was ready to do the SYD-LAX leg. One word of warning with booking on LA, my experience trying to get them to change flights is terrible. It took me about a week and so many hours on the phone it wasnt funny. I think all up I made 4 calls that lasted about 6 hours...

Im just about to book another and thinking I'll do it ex NZ but booking onto qantas or AA , the amount you save on LA isnt worth the potential hassles later

You know I figured as much. I got AA to price through the RTW desk in Dallas. It is marginally cheaper than the LAN price I could not do online. Will use the NZ AA number to pay by CC and should be all good.

 

[serfty]

You know I figured as much. I got AA to price through the RTW desk in Dallas. It is marginally cheaper than the LAN price I could not do online. Will use the NZ AA number to pay by CC and should be all good.

Note post #3.

The call to AA NZ must be made 9-5 M-F Auckland time otherwise you'll get a recording.

You will be charged in NZD.

The actual customer services operators are based in Brisbane.

 

[BABENS]

Hi - I am interested in the comments in this thread, but seem to be having difficulty working out how check online for a RTW via either LAN or AA out of Auckland. Neither LAN or AA appear to have an NZ site listed, but I am prepared to be told "user error". Appreciate any help in advance.

 

[SeaWolf]

Whatever happened to that chart that compared the prices of RTW tickets starting from different countries? It was very handy, is it still around and being updated?

 

[simongr]

Hi - I am interested in the comments in this thread, but seem to be having difficulty working out how check online for a RTW via either LAN or AA out of Auckland. Neither LAN or AA appear to have an NZ site listed, but I am prepared to be told "user error". Appreciate any help in advance.

Try oneworld - Home - there are links there to the travel options.

Whatever happened to that chart that compared the prices of RTW tickets starting from different countries? It was very handy, is it still around and being updated?

The OW site does this fairly effectively - just pick your ticketing option and toggle the countries.

 

[BABENS]

In the oneworld site - travel options - there is a drop down menu where you select the country of origin. Is that you mean?

 

[serfty]

There is a "FARE ESTIMATE" facility which provides base fares - add between $400 and $1400 in +++.

 

[BABENS]

Serfty - I have been reading a lot of your entries across the site. You have a wealth of knowledge. I very much appreciate you sharing it.

 

[BABENS]

I have just reviewed the new Oneworld Explorer Fares. There is a DONE3 out of the Phillipines for around AUD8,800. I am still working out whether or not that is inclusive of taxes, but it does seem to be very reasonable for RTW if it is inclusive. There is also one out of Malaysia for around AUD9,800. Has anyone used either or these destinations recently as their starting point for RTW? Any hints on bookings, what to look for, what to avoid etc?

Just a post note - ex Japan AUD7,756 also seems too good to be true.....

And lastly South Korea AUD8,300...

 

[serfty]

Those prices are the base fares; taxes, levies and charges (

) can be an additional ~$500 - ~$2000 depending upon the routing and the carrier you book through.

 

[BABENS]

Those prices are the base fares; taxes, levies and charges (

) can be an additional ~$500 - ~$2000 depending upon the routing and the carrier you book through.

Serfty - I kept trawling through all of the sites you have recommended including Mileage Monkey on Friday, checking out where the best RTW DONE3 appears to be at the moment and Japan is looking good - even with the taxes. Still need to work through the holiday schedule and the options on the US status run thread, but really feeling like an idiot for letting platnium slide last year when these options were around. Will be more careful this year.....