Booking tickets overseas - Singapore and Japan

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aus_flyer

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With currency exchange rates at present, some RTW and circle-type tickets are quite cheap ex Singapore and Japan.

Does anyone see a reason why I would encounter a problem booking these tickets through the Qantas offices/agents in these countries?

I have set up a RTW ticket ex-NRT over the phone with Qantas. I'm hoping to be able to ring the NRT Qantas office and get them to issue.

Thanks
 
Rather common practice - don't see how you'd have a problem. I haven't had to deal with QF in NRT but AA in NRT were superb. There're also positive accounts of dealings with CX NRT. So if it doesn't work out with QF, you could try AA or CX. Saves a bunch of fuel fines too, if you don't have a specific need to be ticketed on 081 stock.

Only slight wrinkle - if the booking has to be paper ticketed and picked up on arrival, and you're heading there on a one way ticket - check in and the passport people can get quite sticky about needing to see proof of onward travel. A way to get around it is to get a fully refundable onward ticket like NRT-ICN or something. More a concern for NRT- It is easier if you're heading there on return tickets.
 
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QF009 said:
Saves a bunch of fuel fines too, if you don't have a specific need to be ticketed on 081 stock.
Hasn't this loophole been fixed now? I thought AA were now charging fuel surcharges, as imposed by individual airlines?
.
 
odoherty said:
Hasn't this loophole been fixed now? I thought AA were now charging fuel surcharges, as imposed by individual airlines?
.
Not on the xONEx, except for tpac and tatl sectors (US$75 and US$90 me thinks) where it seems to be automatically incorporated into the base fare anyway. There was a while where they were going to pick up fuel fines for BA but that has thankfully been rescinded.

FWIW even the fuel fines on a CX-issued RTW are cheaper than the same issued by QF or BA.
 
I'm also looking at one of those 13000mile asia tickets ex-Singapore.
Would be good if I can avoid all the surcharges on it!
 
odoherty said:
With currency exchange rates at present, some RTW and circle-type tickets are quite cheap ex Singapore and Japan.

Thanks

ODoherty, what are you looking to save over issuing the tickets in Oz?
 
jasonja3 said:
ODoherty, what are you looking to save over issuing the tickets in Oz?
The big saving is on AONE4 ex-Japan - saving is roughly $4000
 
odoherty said:
saving is roughly $4000

That is damn good. I will have to re-visit the Circle Asia fare again from asia to see if it is worth it, when it first came out, it was Oz that was cheapest.
 
jasonja3 said:
That is damn good. I will have to re-visit the Circle Asia fare again from asia to see if it is worth it, when it first came out, it was Oz that was cheapest.
The Circle Asia fare isnt much cheaper out of Singapore... around $500 cheaper than Oz.
I was looking at ex-Singapore mainly out of convenience, moreso than $$ saving..
But certainly the AONE4s are a good saving - as are DONE4s.
I think the % saving on DONE4 is actually better than on AONE4.
 
odoherty said:
Hasn't this loophole been fixed now? I thought AA were now charging fuel surcharges, as imposed by individual airlines?.
They are now charging fuel surcharges on domestic QF flights.
 
odoherty said:
The big saving is on AONE4 ex-Japan - saving is roughly $4000

I just got a quote from AA for DONE4 ex NRT for AUD7268 (plus taxes). I'm now thinking of starting my DONE4 from NRT instead of SYD to save a few thousand dollars.

Here's my itinerary:

1: NRT-JFK: 1st of 1 (intercontinental entry to North America without immediate transit & departure)
2: JFK-BOS: 1st of 6 (North America)
3: BOS-ORD: 2nd of 6 (North America)
4: ORD-SLC: 3rd of 6 (North America)
5: LAS-LAX: 4th of 6 (North America)
6: LAX-LHR: intercontinental
7: LHR-FCO: 1st of 4 (Europe)
8: FCO-MAD: 2nd of 4 (Europe)
9: MAD-ATH: 3rd of 4 (Europe)
10: ATH-LHR: 4th of 4 (Europe)
11: LHR-SIN: intercontinental
12: SIN-SYD: intercontinental
13: SYD-SIN: 1st of 1 (intercontinental entry to Asia without immediate transit & departure)
14: SIN-HKG: 1st of 4 (Asia)
15: HKG-CGK: 2nd of 4 (Asia)
16: CGK-NRT: 3rd of 4 (Asia)

Congratulations!! Valid itinerary!!! - (41307 miles)

A few questions:

I should be AA PLT on my first flight NRT-JFK, right? Given a choice, should I take JAL (AA codeshare) or AA flight?

On LHR-SIN, SIN-SYD flights, can I stopover more than 24 hours in SIN?

I know that I can take additional flights in SWP, but I'm trying to limit to 16 segments, so I can get an eticket. After reading some posts here, I'm concern that I can run into some problems with paper tickets.
By the way can I pay my AA tickets with Oz CC here in SYD for DONE4 ex NRT? Is the procedure any different to issuing AA tickets ex SYD?

Thanks.

sparoy
 
sparoy said:
I should be AA PLT on my first flight NRT-JFK, right? Given a choice, should I take JAL (AA codeshare) or AA flight?
According to the Great Circle Mapper, you will be flying 6745 base miles - which translates to 10 117.5 Qpts thus satisfying the PLT Challenge.

I have not been on JL to JFK but you will get the Recaro angled flat bed in J on their JFK flight. This is identical to the J products of TG and MH, both of which I've been on and are IMHO significantly superior to the J hardware on AA's 777s, the latter of which are cradle seats. Given that JFK is supposedly one of JL's premier routes, the service on NRT-JFK ought to be very good.

sparoy said:
On LHR-SIN, SIN-SYD flights, can I stopover more than 24 hours in SIN?
No you cannot. One of ur 2 intercontinental entries/exits to Asia must be a transit without a stopover. It appears you're stopping over on a subsequent entry to Asia and thus you cannot stop in SIN for more than 24 hours the first time. But hey - 23 hrs 50 mins is okay. ;)

Also, you're only allowed 2 stopovers in Asia as that's ur continent of origin.

sparoy said:
I know that I can take additional flights in SWP, but I'm trying to limit to 16 segments, so I can get an eticket. After reading some posts here, I'm concern that I can run into some problems with paper tickets.
The 16 segment limit includes surface segments, according to the AA ATW desk. An eticket can only have 16 'slots.' You have a surface segment between SLC/LAS, which takes you beyond AA's eticketing capabilities as you'd effectively have 17 segments.

If you want to insert the extra segments, you can pay the US$125 rerouting fee to insert those segments when you've flown some segments to bring the new total count to 16 or below, or when you return to Australia.

sparoy said:
By the way can I pay my AA tickets with Oz CC here in SYD for DONE4 ex NRT? Is the procedure any different to issuing AA tickets ex SYD?
Do you mean paying AA NRT over the phone? Or paying AA SYD? You need to be paying AA NRT to get the ex-NRT fare. If you attempt to pay via AA SYD you'll end up paying the ex-Oz fare. Fare paid is the higher of country of purchase vs country of departure.

AA NRT can be contactable at +81-3-4550-2111.

If eticketable, you will be able to pay and issue the tickets over the phone.

Since you're only over by 1 segment, you might want to do a minor reroute to save the hassle. Maybe merge 11 and 12 into LHR-SYD if you do not have a specific need to layover at SIN, as the advantage of extra SCs is kinda irrelevant if you're accruing to AA.... I don't think you're trying for EXP by segment count? Otherwise, you need to contact AA NRT asap to extend your ticketing time limit to your arrival date in NRT as you will only be able to pay and issue paper tickets while physically standing at the AA NRT counter. YGPM.

edited to add - The rerouting and reissuing after departure can be organised via AA ATW and paid via AA Sydney (or any AA ticket office at ur convenience). In addition to the rerouting fee, you will need to pay extra taxes. Process of paying AA SYD will be as usual - no fax since total amount to be paid would be under $1000. Only the initial issue and payment before departure must be done via AA NRT to get NRT pricing.
 
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The best idea would be to fly an AA codeshare on JL,just make sure that it is the AA flight number.This way you get JL service and aadvantage perks.The service NRT-JFK on JL is very good with good meal,wine and entertainment selections.Have only flown AA out of NRT once and even with no status was upgraded to F.I felt the JL J service was better as to food,wine and entertainment.
 
Just in relation to the AA benefits on the AA codeshare over JAL - I thought that after 1 July that the status bonus was received on JAL?
 
simongr said:
Just in relation to the AA benefits on the AA codeshare over JAL - I thought that after 1 July that the status bonus was received on JAL?
More to the point; the AA codeshare is required for the Plat Challenge if travelling on JL.
 
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odoherty said:
With currency exchange rates at present, some RTW and circle-type tickets are quite cheap ex Singapore and Japan...
Some point to point fares are reasonable value too. E.g. Fukuoka to Australia or New York in business for $2,700 and $3,700 respectively + taxes on Cathay.

See Cathay Holidays Japan - Business Class Discount Airfares .
 
Thanks for all your replies.
It looks like eticket is the way to go for me this time. I just don't want the added hassle to get paper ticket at NRT, especially this would be my first DONE4.
If I can't do a stopover more than 24 hrs in SIN, then I may as well do LHR-SYD to bring it down to 16 segments. The reason for SIN stopover is to visit my daughter, but I can do that later.
Alternatively I can just buy LAS-LAX ticket separately, so the surface sector will be SLC-LAX instead of SLC-LAS.

sparoy
 
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