Booking oneworld RTW from another country?

[tuppaware]

So I found a link to the prices of purchasing 1world RTW fares based in different countries. Indonesia could save $3 grand off a 4 content rtw ($2 grand for a positioning flight).

But has anyone purchased this online? Would do it at Qantas.com .. whats the secrete trick ?

 

[JetLagged]

tuppaware - on the initial Qantas page in the top right-hand corner, there is a tab which says Australia - simply click on it and then choose which national site you want. I have booked tickets from Singapore to London and return on the Singapore site - and also London to Sydney return on , yes, you guessed it, the UK site. Saved thousands!

Have doen some dummy bookings and found, as you have, that you can save a bundle: such as booking from the NZ site.

Happy hunting!

 

[Alanslegal]

But has anyone purchased this online? Would do it at Qantas.com .. whats the secrete trick ?

To just answer the question; book through www.oneworld.com where you can start from anywhere in the world. That's where I booked my current dONE4 ex-LHR (I'm stopping in my home city SYD right now )

 

[moa999]

have done one ex-CMB booked through CX on phone, and two ex-KHI via AA's agent. Depending on where you start is not easy but can be very worthwhile.

 

[tuapekastar]

So I found a link to the prices of purchasing 1world RTW fares based in different countries. Indonesia could save $3 grand off a 4 content rtw ($2 grand for a positioning flight).

But has anyone purchased this online? Would do it at Qantas.com .. whats the secrete trick ?

When purchasing a xONEx fare which originates in another country, you need to be wary of this fare rule.

When travel originates in a country for which a specific local currency fares is published and
the ticket is sold in another country, the fare will be that published for the country of origin
converted to the currency of the country of sale at the bank selling rate. The resultant fare
must not be lower than from the country of sale.
Exception: Not applicable for sales made and/or travel originating in Canada or when BOTH
travel originates and sales are made within the European Common Aviation Area
(ECAA)/Switzerland.

Effectively it says if the fare from the origin country is cheaper than the fare from 'your' country, you pay the fare from 'your' country.

I think the key is defining 'where' you purchase the ticket.

I went through this last year with a DONE4 originating in NZ (I live in Australia). I reserved it through AA, then rang the AA NZ phone number to ticket it and as soon as the guy at the other end (which I think was a call centre in BNE anyway) realised I was from Oz, he wanted to charge me the ex-Oz price (~1500 dollars more).

My argument would have been I was 'purchasing' in NZ as I rang the NZ number to do so, but it didn't matter in the end, as I told him to hang five, rang back the following week and got someone who ticketed it without question at the ex-NZ price.

Reserving it over the phone with AA resulted in a far lower surcharge than a 'dummy' reservation online did.

Note: I have not tried to actually go through with an online xONEx booking, maybe things 'work out' a little differently.

 

[tuppaware]

Thanks guys, I might try doing a few dummy bookings on 1world site and maybe look at a couple of options.

 

[Danger]

So I found a link to the prices of purchasing 1world RTW fares based in different countries. Indonesia could save $3 grand off a 4 content rtw ($2 grand for a positioning flight).

Where did you find this table? The table showing different base costs by country of purchase/origin was removed from the oneworld website 10 days ago.

When purchasing a xONEx fare which originates in another country, you need to be wary of this fare rule . . .

I've purchased two DONE4s ex-South Africa and Namibia but booked from Australia, through AA. However, as my first flight originated in these countries I think that meant I was able to avoid this rule.

 

[tuppaware]

I've purchased two DONE4s ex-South Africa and Namibia but booked from Australia, through AA. However, as my first flight originated in these countries I think that meant I was able to avoid this rule.

Dod you book via AA's US number ? I thought AA like to have the first flight as a AA metal ?

BTW - I have a link to an excel spreadsheet somewhere from Flyertalk... its a bit out of date though.

 

[dfcatch]

Dod you book via AA's US number ? I thought AA like to have the first flight as a AA metal ?

BTW - I have a link to an excel spreadsheet somewhere from Flyertalk... its a bit out of date though.

AA try to ensure that the transoceanic segments are ticketed as AA as this is where they make their dough.

 

[tuapekastar]

I've purchased two DONE4s ex-South Africa and Namibia but booked from Australia, through AA. However, as my first flight originated in these countries I think that meant I was able to avoid this rule.

I think that in this situation you probably should have fallen foul of this rule, but as we all know, there is a lot of YMMV when booking your tickets in the airline industry. Glad you were able to get the fare at those prices.

Dod you book via AA's US number ? I thought AA like to have the first flight as a AA metal ?

My first flight was CX metal and flight number (AKL-HKG), so again it may be YMMV, depending who you speak to at AA.

AA try to ensure that the transoceanic segments are ticketed as AA as this is where they make their dough.

My Trans-Atlantic was indeed AA, but I was offered a choice of BA or AA by the AA RTW desk operator (I chose the AA and upgraded it with miles to F). I'm not sure if there was an AA codeshare on the BA flight that she may have booked me on had I chosen it. Another YMMV situation I guess. Without that LHR-LAX flight, all my AA flights on the DONE4 would have been domestic.

I guess the lesson in this is to be aware of the various YMMVs around and plan for the possibility of being asked to have the first flight on AA metal, and the other things that have been reported. Its something of a PITA, and a bit of work up front, but at least it may save some mucking around. And there is always the "thanks but no thanks" option, and hanging up and ringing back next day getting someone else who is more amenable to what you want to do (which is what worked for me )

 

[Danger]

Dod you book via AA's US number ? I thought AA like to have the first flight as a AA metal ?

No. I put my itinerary together myself then emailed AA's ticketing office in Cape Town. On both occassions there has been no issue with me being based in Australia; they simply email you a simple form to complete with credit card details and also require a copy of your driver's license and the credit card used.

As for the AA segments, I've usually 'allowed' them to book me on an AA TAtl or even on the Pacific route. However, once it's ticketed I email CPT or phone the AA desk in Dallas or even in Brisbane and change the flights to BA (TAtl) and QF (Pacific). On one occasion there was some hesitation but I pointed out (i) I needed to be on the QF flight number in order to upgrade and, if they dig their heals in, (ii) there is nothing whatsoever in the rules that says a ticketing carrier must be used on the transoceanic legs.

I think that in this situation you probably should have fallen foul of this rule, but as we all know, there is a lot of YMMV when booking your tickets in the airline industry. Glad you were able to get the fare at those prices.

Hmmm. Perhaps I was lucky. I'm in the very early stages of planning my next DONE4 and sincerely hope I'm lucky again. That said, the removal of the base pricing guide from the oneworld website for oneworld Explorers has some people concerned that a price hike is again on the cards.

 

[tuapekastar]

No. I put my itinerary together myself then emailed AA's ticketing office in Cape Town. On both occassions there has been no issue with me being based in Australia; they simply email you a simple form to complete with credit card details and also require a copy of your driver's license and the credit card used.

As for the AA segments, I've usually 'allowed' them to book me on an AA TAtl or even on the Pacific route. However, once it's ticketed I email CPT or phone the AA desk in Dallas or even in Brisbane and change the flights to BA (TAtl) and QF (Pacific). On one occasion there was some hesitation but I pointed out (i) I needed to be on the QF flight number in order to upgrade and, if they dig their heals in, (ii) there is nothing whatsoever in the rules that says a ticketing carrier must be used on the transoceanic legs.



Hmmm. Perhaps I was lucky. I'm in the very early stages of planning my next DONE4 and sincerely hope I'm lucky again. That said, the removal of the base pricing guide from the oneworld website for oneworld Explorers has some people concerned that a price hike is again on the cards.

Actually looking at what you wrote above your situation seems quite similar to mine. I reckon you 'purchased' in Sth Africa and were within the rules. My problem was the guy I intially dealt with reckoned I was 'purchasing' in Australia.

Anyway, all ended well. (and the info is useful too thanks - tucked away for possible future reference)

The removal of base fares is a bit of a concern (they're gone from the circle fares as well) - I hope they return, higher or not! Perhaps they don't like people 'cherry-picking' the best country-of-origin.

 

[SQ421]

The removal of base fares is a bit of a concern (they're gone from the circle fares as well) - I hope they return, higher or not! Perhaps they don't like people 'cherry-picking' the best country-of-origin.

You can still price the tickets, by playing around with the oneworld booking tool, and see how the price compares for a few of the usual suspects.

For DONE4, Saudi Arabia and Jordan seem to be the lowest. Jordan is easier for Australians due to visa-on-arrival. Also, the first flight is then on Royal Jordanian, which automatically gets ticketed on AA. I priced out a RTW ex-Jordan at a shade under 8000 USD. Positioning to/from Australia adds about 2k (which makes a DONE4 ex AKL in the same ballpark when you look at the total cost).

amm-lhr-lax-dfw-anc-dfw-bos-dfw-jfk-hkg-bom-hkg-del-nrt-syd-lhr-mct

Only AA flights were US domestic and LHR-LAX (BA Metal, AA Codeshare).

 

[Danger]

I priced out a RTW ex-Jordan at a shade under 8000 USD. Positioning to/from Australia adds about 2k (which makes a DONE4 ex AKL in the same ballpark when you look at the total cost).

In my experience a DONE4 ex-South Africa is more price competitive for three reasons. First, the exchange rate is particularly strong at the moment (although it's come off a little in the past week). Second, positioning flights to JNB are much easier, either with QF from SYD or QF codeshare on SA from PER. Both, of course, can be done with points. Finally, it's much easier to include SYD in the routing for a DONE4 ex-South Africa, meaning you can 'stopover' in your home port. What's more, it means you can then return to SA and start all over again, thereby eliminating the positioning flight for the next one.

That said, two weeks ago I priced a DONE4 ex-CPT and the taxes added an additional 22% to the base fare. I nearly fell of my chair. The last time I did a DONE4 ex-JNB (well, it was ex-Namibia but the base price was the same in rand) the taxes were a little over 10% and that was only purchased about 19/20 months ago.

 

[SQ421]

Finally, it's much easier to include SYD in the routing for a DONE4 ex-South Africa, meaning you can 'stopover' in your home port. What's more, it means you can then return to SA and start all over again, thereby eliminating the positioning flight for the next one.

Hows that not the case for AMM or AKL ?

Also, for a DONE4, you can't include Asia, if starting in South Africa and taking a stopover in Sydney. The routing needs to be Africa - Australia - America - Europe - Africa

 

[Danger]

Hows that not the case for AMM or AKL ?

I haven't done the maths but I'm fairly confident that a positioning flight to South Africa, either on points or an SA-coded flight, would still result in a cheaper DONE4 fare than departing from either AMM or New Zealand. However, I do take your point that my suggestion of it being much easier to include your home port' ex-South Africa is not correct as a standalone argument but I still believe it adds to the attractiveness of a DONE4 when coupled with the other points.

Also, for a DONE4, you can't include Asia, if starting in South Africa and taking a stopover in Sydney. The routing needs to be Africa - Australia - America - Europe - Africa

You can include Asia on a DONE4 ex-South Africa though I understand that taking a stopover in Sydney may well not be possible in this case. However, it can be done on a DONE4 that excludes Asia. It's all part of the rules and limitations of the fare product and what suits you best.

 

[Hermes]

I'm only a new kid in the flight game, so this question may seem silly to some: Can I book RTW for MEL-LHR-MEL via JFK (for example) by ringing a TA or airline office in NZ or the US or elswhere? In other words, I don't have to actually start/finish in the country where I made the booking? Otherwise you have to fly to that country to start your trip, which sorta defeats the purpose.
Not RTW, but relevant, I just checked LHR-MEL-LHR on the Qantas UK website. It is just over $5000 in J. MEL-LHR-MEL on the Australian website is $9000+.
But you can't book MEL-LHR-MEL on the UK website, so how do you take advantage of the price difference?

 

[Alanslegal]

Not RTW, but relevant, I just checked LHR-MEL-LHR on the Qantas UK website. It is just over $5000 in J. MEL-LHR-MEL on the Australian website is $9000+.
But you can't book MEL-LHR-MEL on the UK website, so how do you take advantage of the price difference?

You can't. It is very common that fares originating outside of Australia can be half the price than those starting locally, it's how the fares work unfortunately.

 

[medhead]

You can include Asia on a DONE4 ex-South Africa though I understand that taking a stopover in Sydney may well not be possible in this case. .

I'm pretty sure that if you include Sydney, stop over or not it has to be a DONE5.

 

[Danger]

I'm pretty sure that if you include Sydney, stop over or not it has to be a DONE5.

I've done one of these now that went something like JNB-SYD-North America-LHR-TLV-MAD-BUD-LHR-MRU-JNB, for the price of a DONE4 (base price ZAR48000). There was no Asia, though.