AONE5, should i do it ?

[Evan]

JNB-HKG-SIN-NRT-SIN-MEL-AKL-SYD-AKL-SYD-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-BOS-MIA-SFO-LHR-MCT-LHR-JNB

Or something like that, should i do it ?

AONE5 = AUD 9050+++ (not sure of the taxes)
DONE5 = AUD 6200+++
DONE4 ex Indonesia or Philippines = AUD 7520-7800+++

 

[thegurio]

Thats like asking a heroi_ addict should you have another hit?

he he he

I say go for the AONE5 as thats what you want to do and if you can justify it why not. Having said that we need photos (especially those knee photos!) and trip reports...

 

[Evan]

Well i do want to see Victoria falls so South Africa has a reason, the rest of it is similar to the DONE4 i had planned but work intervened and i could not book it when i wanted.
AONE5 seems good value compared to DONE5, never been first class before... you only live once right ?

QF009 who i met up with today in MEL said there is an AA office in Cape Town so i guess i need to go there to pick up tickets.

I want to atleast get a quote on the +++ yet, i would think i would try AA, but not much AA content so i hope they wont complain too much.

E

 

[Febs]

On an itinerary like that, how many flights would actually be in a First class seat?

Would the other flights book into an A/F/P bucket for earning purposes, or just into D?

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Evan]

Febs,

JNB-HKG-SIN-NRT-SIN-MEL = all F
MEL-AKL = J
AKL-SYD-AKL-SYD = F but in LAN and maybe i would change to some QF J flights to CNS instead.
SYD-JFK = F
JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-BOS-MIA-SFO = F domestic US... hmm can you call if F ?
SFO-LHR-MCT-LHR-JNB = F

So a lot of F, for earning purposes almost every flight, but when you consider the cost the DONE5 is a lot lot cheaper, and the J products are ok, Domestic F in the US i would get on either option.

A DONE5 and upgrade a few select segments like SYD-JFK to F if possible would also be just as good at less cost i guess.

If i book J i could almost do a couple of them.... but then again i am not sure of taxes, also 'A' availabilty can often be easier to find than 'D' just from the quick look i had on EF before.

E

 

[Keith009]

Go for it if you personally reckon it's economically justifiable. As you said, you only live once.

OTOH the 3k or so on savings for D could go towards nice W hotel stays in the US.

You could go D and try for upgrades on QF metal but upgrades aren't guaranteed with QFF and you seem to have segments that can be difficult to upgrade on depending on day of travel (eg SYD-JFK).

i would think i would try AA, but not much AA content so i hope they wont complain too much.

Even if the ATW desk might book the itinerary as is, the issuing office has the final say in such policies. AA CPT will not issue the ticket unless one of the overwater segments is AA - so you'd have to go on the AA7365 codeshare for SYD-JFK (I don't think AA operates SFO-LHR). Of course this renders QFF upgrades impossible if you're going for D. You could ticket it with the AA code, and endorse the coupon over to QF107 after ticketing.

Edit: Another solution is getting CX JNB to issue the ticket. I doubt the CX +++ will be that much different/greater given that you don't have that many CX segments (whereas AA will charge their transatlantic and transpacific YQ even if you're booked on other airlines). As your first international segment is on CX they can't decline to ticket.

...also 'A' availabilty can often be easier to find than 'D' just from the quick look i had on EF before.

That does depend - A can be extremely hard to find on the regional JL flights (eg NRT-SIN-NRT). A friend has been HL1ed in A for SIN-NRT for ages but he doesn't depart for another 2 months or so, and apparently inventory gets released very much closer to departure.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Considering the up coming change to 16 segments and the continual reduction of F services go for it now. :idea:
When the rules change to 16 segments maximium AONE* are going to be poor value

 

[simongr]

There is no guarantee on the 16 segment maximum on *one* - I think TravelGuru explained that they could link two PNRs to effectively extend the number of segments beyond the eticket maximum.

 

[Evan]

Thay could do that, lets hope they do do that,.. especially it would make a *ONE6 and almost useless product otherwise.

My real consideration is not should i do an *ONE5 but should it be in F or J
F sounds good, but 3k extra on the trip if you want to look at it that way would be nice... And its not like we are talking the difference between Y and J.

As Febs asked about how many are actual F flights... not that many, but enough, if you fly J then the US and Australia/NZ flights are all about the same anyway, its really 3k for the BA,QF,CX flights JNB-HKG,SYD-JFK,LHR-MCT-LHR-JNB and maybe SIN-NRT-SIN. So it all depends if I think J->F for those flights is worth it.... for the DONE5/DONE4 price i could almost book 2... and also go to the South American countries as well.

E

 

[simongr]

It is down to you really. Personally assuming I could afford it I would pay for F and go on one trip with mrssimongr than book two trips. For one the saving you make on the AONE5 by booking two DONE5 would/could be blown away by the extra hotel costs whilst you are away on the second trip.

The other consideration is what point in your life are you at - do you think this is the only window of opportunity for ou to do an F run? I personally would be happy to wait a few years to construct an AONE4 - but that is me at my point in life with a lot of stuff planning to be happening next year I dont see any likelihood of a personal overseas trip (unless it is relocating to London/NY).

I would go the F though - just try and work it so that you can get the better CX F product.

 

[Evan]

The extra costs including taxes and hotels etc would be considerable.
I am not earning an income like others here so i wont say its my only chance at an F run (besides i am only 30) but its the first time i can considered it, its a whole lot cheaper right now.

If i saved points i would probably be close to doing a RTW in F on award for 2 people soonish. I have around 600-700k points. (QFF)

I think I wish i had somebody to go on it with me... its just going to be me
Unless you know any nice young ladies that like to travel a lot ? Then it would be in J not F unless they share my surname

So far is is 100% for AONE5 (7 from 7), i guess others are thinking what i am thinking. do it in style !

E

 

[Keith009]

Yes I've learnt that the airfare isn't the only consideration when it comes to my holidays. Most of the time it isn't even supposed to be the biggest consideration given that hotels and shopping eat up more of my budget...:shock:

There is no guarantee on the 16 segment maximum on *one* - I think TravelGuru explained that they could link two PNRs to effectively extend the number of segments beyond the eticket maximum.

IATA is mandating all airlines to have that capability after the eticketing mandate comes into force. But oneworld4u, the official OW rep on FT, mentioned that the alliance is simply going to reduce the fare to 16 segments anyway and that an official announcement will be put up "soon" - s/he didn't address the potential solution presented by the 'linked PNR' function when asked.

 

[Mwenenzi]

There is no guarantee on the 16 segment maximum on *one* - I think TravelGuru explained that they could link two PNRs to effectively extend the number of segments beyond the eticket maximum.

Have a look here on posts 4, 10 & 12 for 16 segment discussion.

 

[Evan]

Now we have a few voters for a DONE5, but CX has thrown a spanner in the works... It appears the time i wish to travel some routes including the JNB-HKG will be the A340-300 substituted for the noraml A/C (its that way for a couple of months), so no F !
I could delay my flights, but i had plans of the dates i wanted and D is available give or take a day or 2, so it may just be D and put in upgrades for some key segments on QF.

hmmmm, i see some days that are good a couple of months later that the A340-600 is back on the route....

E

 

[Keith009]

Due to popular demand, AA CPT has started levying a USD30 fee for issuing oneworld fares:

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - DONE5 ex-South Africa

This is most probably due to massively increased demand (and hence proportionally increased workload in issuing tickets) for the office after the "cheap RTW origin" limelight was cast on South Africa. According to the same thread the GSA in CPT is a pretty tiny operation - only 2 staff members.

Incidentally the AA GSA in MNL is only staffed by 3 people. So please don't all rush to swamp them in MNL now - not before I ticket my OWE.

 

[JohnK]

Are you crazy? Don't do it!

 

[Evan]

Are you crazy? Don't do it!

Why is that John ?

a.) South Africa is a dangerous place ?
b.) Its a lot of effort, when a DONE4 ex Asia would be less effort ?
c.) you think it should be a LONE5 instead ?
d.) some other reason ??

1 AUD = 7.43 ZAR right now.. rates getting better.

E

 

[simongr]

Why is that John ?

c.) you think it should be a LONE5 instead ?
E

I think we have a winner

 

[JohnK]

Why is that John ?

Any number of reasons and it was one of the options on the poll. I wasn't being critical. I probably should have voted for the DONE4 ex Asia option but felt that the option I voted for was more appropriate.

a.) South Africa is a dangerous place ?

No. I visited Capetown briefly in 1972 and I would love to visit again.

b.) Its a lot of effort, when a DONE4 ex Asia would be less effort ?

In my opinion I think it is a lot of effort to spend time and money to get to a place just to have a RTW ticket issued. Yes something ex Asia or preferably closer to point of origin would be a lot less effort.

c.) you think it should be a LONE5 instead ?

No. Why?

One RTW trying using all sectors was more than enough for me. Never again. Next time I will limit the number of airports I visit and spend more time on the ground during holiday.

I would go the F though - just try and work it so that you can get the better CX F product.

After my op-up yesterday I can now say I have sampled the so-called "better CX F product". Yes it is nice but I can safely say that I have not missed out on much all this time. It is still just a seat slightly more comfortable than a WHY seat, food nothing special and like all others on the aircraft still stuck in a metal tube in the sky with nowhere to go until the aircraft lands.

 

[simongr]

After my op-up yesterday I can now say I have sampled the so-called "better CX F product". Yes it is nice but I can safely say that I have not missed out on much all this time. It is still just a seat slightly more comfortable than a WHY seat, food nothing special and like all others on the aircraft still stuck in a metal tube in the sky with nowhere to go until the aircraft lands.

Which CX the suite style F or the F that is similar to QF?