Booking DONE4 with American Airlines

[Rae]

I know many on this forum book their RTW tickets with American Airlines. I usually book with Qantas in J and go for upgrades to F. However, with the dollar the way it is, I wondered if I should book with AA this time. It's a really simple schedule:

MARCH 2010
MEL / CDG / LHR / YYZ / LAX / AUS / MEL x 1
MEL / CDG / LHR / YYZ / LAX / AUS / JFK / NRT / MEL x 1

On this schedule, only the YYZ / LAX / AUS flights would be AA probably. Can I get away with that? Do I get downgraded to economy on the domestic sectors being that AA doesn't have business?

How do I book with AA?
Also, I'd probably pay early due to the exchange rates, but how hard is it to then make changes if required? Is it really worth it financially?

Sorry about all the questions.

 

[moa999]

No reason if you book with AA (and ensure you are booked on QF code) that you can't upgrade - may even be more cost effective.

On any DONE4 ticket (whether booked by AA or not) US Business (J) segments get upgraded to First (A) where there is no Business available (ie not on most LAX-JFK flights)...
If you are after some extra SCs a few flights around the US can be very attractive (if you have a spare day or two)

To book (assuming you can't get an AA codeshare on the first flight and thus can't do it online)
1. Call up the AA RTW desk and get the ticket loaded and sent for pricing
2. With the ticket ref call up AA Aus and pay for it.

Flight time changes can be done any time for free (+taxes) - by calling the AA RTW desk.
Flight route changes have a fee of US$125 (+taxes) - again by calling AA RTW desk.
You may need to call other AA desks to pay with a non-US credit card. That said AAs RTW desk is brilliant.

 

[Rae]

Thanks for that. I've also been looking at BA due to the pound taking a hammering and it seems that booking with them is cheaper again, but that perhaps it has to be ex-London in that case.

Has anyone here booked via BA ex Australia?
It seems you can book with AA ex Australia but when I tried to do it online via GBP, it took me to the BA site, but charged the AUD amount (same as Qantas basically)

 

[moa999]

You will be charged the same BASE fare in A$ no matter which carrier you book with starting from MEL (the BASE fare is determined by where you start from) (apart from certain exceptions eg Canada).

The difference between AA, QF and BA is how they calculate the +++ (taxes, fuel fines etc) - due to differing methodologies AA tends to be better. YMMV.

AA also tends to be easier to deal with to change routings and flight times (and doesn't charge an additional service fee)

 

[Rae]

I think I've worked out another way to do it. I have to do a RTW again within 12 months. So I book them both at the same time.

On #1, I start it in March and fly MEL/LHR then drop it, then picking up #2 booking to go RTW back to MEL

Then in Sept I fly MEL/LHR on booking #2, picking up booking #1 after LHR. That would mean one fare paid in AUD ex Mel and one far paid in GBP ex London. A saving of about $3K. Seems like a lot of work though.

I can't bare the thought that the exact same trip costs $3K more because it's ex Melbourne, vs ex London at the moment. Might think about it over the weekend.

FYI, both trips would be similar in style, similar cities and same direction so it's worth considering.

I don't yet know my Sept 2010 plans though so I would probably suffer route change charges.

 

[Danger]

I have an AA-ticketed DONE4 for travel beginning April 2010. Currently, LHR is included as a transit (twice) but I'm considering making one a stopover. For the experts, your advice please:

1. Is this possible without reissue?
2. If so, what extra can I expect to pay (by way of making it a stopover rather than a transit)?
3. Will there be any other fees involved?

 

[Dave Noble]

I have an AA-ticketed DONE4 for travel beginning April 2010. Currently, LHR is included as a transit (twice) but I'm considering making one a stopover. For the experts, your advice please:

1. Is this possible without reissue?
2. If so, what extra can I expect to pay (by way of making it a stopover rather than a transit)?
3. Will there be any other fees involved?

[1] No. It will require a reissue
[2] USD125 plus GBP115 for Air Passenger Duty
[3] No

Dave

 

[moa999]

I have an AA-ticketed DONE4 for travel beginning April 2010. Currently, LHR is included as a transit (twice) but I'm considering making one a stopover. For the experts, your advice please:

1. Is this possible without reissue?
2. If so, what extra can I expect to pay (by way of making it a stopover rather than a transit)?
3. Will there be any other fees involved?

1. No - Will class as a reroute so ticket will need to be reissued - afaik any transit-stopover or stopover-transit needs a reissue.
2. Probably airport fee of 20quid plus the UK Air passenger duty (from Nov-09 of up to 111quid to Austraia - depends on distance) - See http://www.britishairways.com/travel/lcinfo/public/en_in#7
3. Also get hit by the US$125 reissue fee, plus any service fee (not applicable if AA does the reticketing) plus any other tax changes.

edit. beaten

 

[moa999]

On #1, I start it in March and fly MEL/LHR then drop it, then picking up #2 booking to go RTW back to MEL.
Then in Sept I fly MEL/LHR on booking #2, picking up booking #1 after LHR. That would mean one fare paid in AUD ex Mel and one far paid in GBP ex London. A saving of about $3K. Seems like a lot of work though.

Should be OK. Have read some reports on FT of people being queried for nested ticketing - but I think this is unlikely - afterall you are following the rules by getting the travel done within 12 months

 

[Natt]

Hi Rae

I you would have to confirm this, but I was told by Qantas today that if I booked a DONE3 departing overseas that they would use that rate as there is no equivalent in Australia

Not sure if that helps you or not, but I just thought I should mention it