DONE4 Guide

[BVT]

Has anyone posted a "how to" for booking a DONE4/6 ?

I want to start one for June 2011, either ex SYD or ex SFO. All QF SC accumulative of course!

Thanks in advance for your helpful ideas.

BvT

 

[tuapekastar]

BrisVegas Traveller, are you talking specifically about the mechanics of making the actual booking, or looking for assistance re fare rules, routing and the like?

Plenty of info around on each, but for most people the scenarios differ a bit, so there is probably no definitive 'correct' answer, and AFAIK, no 'guide' as such has been posted.

Myself, and I'm sure plenty of others would be happy to provide some assistance, just need to know exactly what you're after.

 

[dfcatch]

There is a ton of info on here and FlyerTalk on planning/booking DONE4's.

The basics are:

- Use the OW planner to plan your trip and validate the rules to make sure its kosher.

- If flying eastwards, enter the US in JFK, and leave from the West Coast (LAX, SFO, YVR or even DFW), maximising your NA sectors and your 1 allowed transcon sector.

- Decide where to commence your trip, bearing in mind that starting (and purchasing) your DONE4 in a location other than Australia may result in significant savings. Although you will need to arrange a positioning flight.

- Book your flights using the AA RTW desk in Dallas.

- Check your itinerary

- Pay for it

- Fly


Don't forget that ExpertFlyer and MileageMonkey are your friends

 

[BVT]

There is a ton of info on here and FlyerTalk on planning/booking DONE4's.

The basics are:

- Use the OW planner to plan your trip and validate the rules to make sure its kosher.

- If flying eastwards, enter the US in JFK, and leave from the West Coast (LAX, SFO, YVR or even DFW), maximising your NA sectors and your 1 allowed transcon sector.

- Decide where to commence your trip, bearing in mind that starting (and purchasing) your DONE4 in a location other than Australia may result in significant savings. Although you will need to arrange a positioning flight.

- Book your flights using the AA RTW desk in Dallas.

- Check your itinerary

- Pay for it

- Fly


Don't forget that ExpertFlyer and MileageMonkey are your friends

This is excellent advice, many thanks.

I have tried the OW planner, but have found it to be very clunky. My main problem is thta I want to go South America, including HAV. GIG and EZE too! I do not want to go to the US after HAV. I will persevere.

BvT

 

[docjames]

This is excellent advice, many thanks.

I have tried the OW planner, but have found it to be very clunky. My main problem is thta I want to go South America, including HAV. GIG and EZE too! I do not want to go to the US after HAV. I will persevere.

BvT

You wont be able to ticket with AA a DONE that includes HAV.

Entry to HAV has been made more difficult with the uncertainty around MX. Options used to be to fly with MEX or CUN as the easiest and then ticket seperately to HAV (with MX/Click).

There used to be a seasonal SCL-HAV on LA that may be an option. Not sure there's OW HAV-EU (? Iberia HAV-MAD).

Not sure if you can go say SYD-EXA-SCL-HAV-SCL-GIG-LHR/MAD etc. But may be an option. It may help to look at the LA website to look at options. If avoiding the US you lose a lot of options in/out of Mexico which makes HAV easier to access. You may be able to ticket on LA into MEX and then IB or BA from MEX to Europe and buy a seperate side trip into HAV.