Buying OW Explorer in NZ rather than AU?

[Mr_Ephemera]

Hi,

Mrs_E and I are looking to travel RTW for three months next year, spending approximately 1 month in South Africa, Middle East and South America.

Currently comparing RTW tickets which are frustrating/expensive when including both Africa and S America...our proposed itinerary is as follows:

MEL-SYD-JNB-CPT-JNB-LHR-IST...make our own way to CAI-LHR-GIG-LIM-EZE-SYD-MEL

I understand this trip can be completed using OW's Explorer Fare for four continents (listed as AU$4099) on QF website...But I noticed that the same ticket is listed as NZ$3799 (about AU$3000) if we were to start our trip in NZ - given that I still have three segments left, is it possible for me to "start" my trip in AKL rather than Melbourne? The money saved would easily cover the AU-NZ flights...

I have waded through the rules and regulations and found the following provision which suggests that we will be stuck paying an extra AU$1100 per person than our Kiwi friends :

"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"

Am I reading this correctly?

Mr_E

 

[samh004]

It can be done and I believe it requires fooling the call centre staff with a local (NZ) phone number used to book. Though I haven’t ever done one of these fares so can’t tell you for sure. It has been accomplished though and I’m sure someone will be able to help you tomorrow.

 

[markis10]

Worst case scenario is a quick trip to NZ to buy some air tickets, at $1000 per person saving it would seem a good excuse to have a good weekend, you also need to factor in getting there and back as part of your trip but you will still be ahead.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tage/help-required-please-done4-nz-23199.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/done4-ex-nz-16625.html

 

[Flashback]

There was a thread started by tuapekastar that outlined how he did it, but I'm unable to find it at this moment. Paging tuapekastar....

 

[serfty]

Also, see here:

• http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rticularly-re-ticketing-23021.html#post321715

 

[tuapekastar]

There was a thread started by tuapekastar that outlined how he did it, but I'm unable to find it at this moment. Paging tuapekastar....

You rang? It's the first thread linked to by markis10 in the post immediately before yours.

To sum up for the OP, I did manage to get it at the ex-NZ price, as have others, but in my
case not before a scare. The first time I rang the AA NZ reservations number (which appears
to transfer to a Brisbane call centre), as soon as the agent established I was using an AU CC,
he wanted to reprice the ticket to the ex-AU price.

Long story short, i told him to hang five, rang back after the weekend, and this time got
an agent who ticketed it straight away, no questions asked.

My interpretation regarding the 'place of origin versus place of purchase' rule is that since
I was ringing the NZ number for AA, I was purchasing it in NZ. Some sales agents (and AFF posters)
may disagree.

Go for it by all means, but be prepared to tell them not to do anything, then ring
back and try another agent another day. and have a Plan B, and be prepared to suck it up if you simply
cannot get around it (if they're insisting on charging ex-AU prices, then you may as well go ex-AU)

As well as airfares to/from NZ, keep in mind things like possible currency conversion charges on
your CC, and any overnight accommodation in NZ you may be forced to book to facilitate the ex-NZ
departure...it all adds up and may end up making the price differential not so big.

PS. Without actually checking, not sure that itinerary is a 4 continent - may well be a 5?

 

[serfty]

...
PS. Without actually checking, not sure that itinerary is a 4 continent - may well be a 5?

Assuming the booking entity considers the routing is valid, then it would be a 4 continent (SWP-AFRICA-EUR*-SA-SWP).

*EUR includes Middle east.

 

[Mr_Ephemera]

Thanks to everybody for their replies (especially tuapekastar) - much appreciated. I think it is definitely worth further investigation and will let you know how I get on...

As serfty has mentioned, IST and CAI are both considered part of Europe for OW, so should only be a 4 continent fare.

Just double checked my proposed route and noticed that EZE-AKL with LAN goes via SCL so we might be better to go:

AKL-SYD-JNB-CPT-JNB-LHR-IST...make our own way to CAI-LHR-GIG-EZE-LIM-SCL-AKL...

Noticed that QF from EZE-AKL goes via SYD so presumably we would not be allowed to get this flight instead? Your thoughts/comments appreciated....

Mr_E

 

[john john]

Earlier this year I easily booked a LONE4 ex AKL heading east for the NZ price. I used the Oneworld website and booking tool to look at all of the options and eventually book. All of my contact details I provided were Australian and I used an Australian credit card to pay in NZD. It was an anxious 4 or 5 days before the booking came through but at no stage did any one contact me to question whether I was purchasing in NZ.

In hindsight I should have selected some alternate flight numbers on codeshare flights to reduce Qantas fuel fines.

We're currently in Chile enjoying our first land sector after a few days in AKL and Easter Island. If you have the time and finances for accom etc I encourage you to use as many of your 16 sectors, and your 4/6 in each continent.

I don't have enough posts to post the URLs but further details, including routing are in the threads
>general-airline-loyalty-program-discussion > choosing-ow-ffp 23536
and
>your-questions > after-nz-akl-ta-suggestions 23990

 

[iqis60]

I did a trip last year starting in NZ and got the NZ ticketing. I arranged it through an Australian around the world travel agent and they used their contacts in NZ to get it ticketed there. I think I may have even paid to the Australian vendor and then they paid the NZ vendor with a small comission for them.
I won't mention their name, as I don't know what the advertising rules are on the site, but feel free to PM me if you want me to pass on their details.

 

[markis10]

I did a trip last year starting in NZ and got the NZ ticketing. I arranged it through an Australian around the world travel agent and they used their contacts in NZ to get it ticketed there. I think I may have even paid to the Australian vendor and then they paid the NZ vendor with a small comission for them.
I won't mention their name, as I don't know what the advertising rules are on the site, but feel free to PM me if you want me to pass on their details.

That sounds like a good operation! Win Win for all except the airlines, but they set the terms in the first place.

 

[Mr_Ephemera]

I won't mention their name, as I don't know what the advertising rules are on the site, but feel free to PM me if you want me to pass on their details.

Thanks iqis60 - that would be fantastic!

As I have only recently joined AFF, apparently I don't yet have 15 posts to "qualify" for PM you directly - are you able to forward these details to me please?

Mr_E