Circle Pacific (or equivalent) pricing

[Nizar]

A class generally, will earn F SCs, yes.

This is one of the keys to getting WP on a single DONEX

Is it still possible to reasonably easily reach/maintain WP on a single DONEX with the new SC earning system that kicked in on 1st July this year ?

 

[Cynicor]

It was never easy, but still possible I believe. I think one would have to really work out the US domestic flights in advance to optimise the routing.

 

[eric2011]

I am completely new to the circle pacific fares and know nothing about them and have dozens of questions. Must they be booked through an airline eg QF or can I use a TA and if so is there a TA on here who could help me in an official capacity

 

[Kangol]

Yes, like the OWEs, all dates are flexible until day of travel.

Date changes should be able to be made free of charge, even after travel has commenced.

Changes other than date, time, carrier, and inventory will require a reissue, and should incur a surcharge (which, if same as xONEx tickets, would be 125USD).

I've never needed to make changes to an xCIRx fare before, so I'm extrapolating from xONEx fares here, where I've invoked the above rules on several occasions.

Add: Checked rules on Expertflyer, and above rules do indeed apply to xCIRx's.

Thanks. Has anyone had experience with pushing dates back further than 1 year from ticketing? Even with getting an agent to add a $1 charge to invoke a reissue (the $125 charge is better than forfeiting a medium to long haul flight) and hence a further 1 year period for reissuing?

Looking at the EF rules for DCIR22, looks like the ticket may not be able to be extended...

ADVANCE RESERVATIONS/TICKETING

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR DEPARTURE OF FIRST
INTERNATIONAL SECTOR.
WHEN RESERVATIONS ARE MADE AT LEAST 29 DAYS BEFORE
DEPARTURE, TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED AT LEAST 25
DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE.
OPEN RETURNS PERMITTED.
OR - RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR DEPARTURE OF FIRST
INTERNATIONAL SECTOR.
WHEN RESERVATIONS ARE MADE AT LEAST 8 DAYS BEFORE
DEPARTURE, TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 3
DAYS AFTER RESERVATIONS ARE MADE OR AT LEAST 7
DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE WHICHEVER IS EARLIER.
OPEN RETURNS PERMITTED.
OR - RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR DEPARTURE OF FIRST
INTERNATIONAL SECTOR.
TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER
RESERVATIONS ARE MADE OR AT LEAST 1 HOUR BEFORE
DEPARTURE WHICHEVER IS EARLIER.
OPEN RETURNS PERMITTED.

...

MAXIMUM STAY

TRAVEL FROM LAST SECTOR MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 12
MONTHS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.

...

SALES RESTRICTIONS

EXTENSION OF TICKET VALIDITY IS NOT PERMITTED.

What does "open returns permitted" mean?

I am completely new to the circle pacific fares and know nothing about them and have dozens of questions. Must they be booked through an airline eg QF or can I use a TA and if so is there a TA on here who could help me in an official capacity

You can book them either through an airline (with TICKET STOCK - AA/AY/BA/CX/JL/KA/LA/LP/MH/QF/QR/RJ/XL/4M) or with a TA.
However:
EXCEPTION - WHEN JQ OPERATED / QF MARKETED
IS INCLUDED IN AN ITINERARY IB STOCK
CANNOT BE UTILISED

 

[ozkid]

Can I get a reality check from someone who regularly books DCIR22:
quote from a travel agent in HK is for 38,000HKD + taxes 6,942HKD = $5970AUD + $1090AUD
booked in D
ticketed as Cathay
ex-Hong Kong for travel from May 2015

Does this sound appropriate?

 

[Cynicor]

Close enough, yeah.

 

[ozkid]

Thanks Cynicor.
I tried the email address with Walshe in Hong Kong, apparently they have stopped booking DCIR from mid last year as per Flyer Talk. Looking through that forum seemed to indicate that ticketing under AA might still be worthwhile? But if the differential between the carriers is minimal, the cost-benefit ratio might not be worth it

 

[Kangol]

Thanks Cynicor.
I tried the email address with Walshe in Hong Kong, apparently they have stopped booking DCIR from mid last year as per Flyer Talk. Looking through that forum seemed to indicate that ticketing under AA might still be worthwhile? But if the differential between the carriers is minimal, the cost-benefit ratio might not be worth it

Can you link to the thread about Walshe not booking DCIR?
I'm thinking of an AA issued HK DCIR later this year, was just thinking of the AA RTW desk but any other pointers would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ozkid]

Can you link to the thread about Walshe not booking DCIR?
I'm thinking of an AA issued HK DCIR later this year, was just thinking of the AA RTW desk but any other pointers would be greatly appreciated!

here is the link
post 203

I found out only after getting no replies from Walshe, and googling. I haven't called them myself to verify

 

[Cynicor]

Can you link to the thread about Walshe not booking DCIR?
I'm thinking of an AA issued HK DCIR later this year, was just thinking of the AA RTW desk but any other pointers would be greatly appreciated!

AA RTW desk can create it but not ticket it. You need an AA agent in HKG to ticket. This can be slightly problematic when an airline cancels flights or makes significant changes but is not a huge issue.

If you call CX and have them create and quote it, I would book through them if the price difference does end up being minimal. AA used to be the best because of no YQ but now they charge it on partner flights or something like that?

 

[ozkid]

AA RTW desk can create it but not ticket it. You need an AA agent in HKG to ticket. This can be slightly problematic when an airline cancels flights or makes significant changes but is not a huge issue.

If you call CX and have them create and quote it, I would book through them if the price difference does end up being minimal. AA used to be the best because of no YQ but now they charge it on partner flights or something like that?

Thanks Cynicor. Appreciate all the advice and your post in the other thread

 

[Kangol]

Just booked a DCIR 22, for HKD 38810 (base) + 3147 (taxes). Of that, YQ is HKD 1552.
Done through a HK travel agent:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/hong-kong-travel-agent-66841.html

I rang up the AA RTW desk who could put the itinerary together but not ticket it. Interestingly the first CX leg had to be booked on an AA codeshare, as did QF12. Only AA codeshares were available for those two and nothing else.
I figured I would not only earn more QFF points under QF12 but also Aquire points if I could get it ticketed on QF ticket stock.
Then there were the issues of ringing up HK and then maybe them making a fuss about my Oz cc so I decided to leave it.

A few email exchanges and it was all smooth sailing.

 

[Limewood]

Correct me if I'm wrong DCIR 22 Circle Pacific was about AUD7K?.

 

[Cynicor]

Depends where it is Ex-

 

[Himeno]

I rang up the AA RTW desk who could put the itinerary together but not ticket it. Interestingly the first CX leg had to be booked on an AA codeshare, as did QF12. Only AA codeshares were available for those two and nothing else.

AA doesn't like booking oneworld products without at least one AA coded long haul included.

 

[Kangol]

AA doesn't like booking oneworld products without at least one AA coded long haul included.

Ah, that would make sense. I don't know if they would have any fifth freedom rights in getting a codeshare on QF 127, which was the other long haul.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Can anyone provide an update on the current pricing ex HKG for DCIR22 ?

Can CX book these from Australia or do I need to contact someone directly in Hong Kong?

Am considering a positioning flight to Hong Kong then HKG-YYZ-DFW-SYD on OW carriers with a later SYD to HKG leg to complete the circle.

Alternative is direct with CX SYD-HKG-YYZ-HKG-SYD in J for just under $7k.

 

[defurax]

Can anyone provide an update on the current pricing ex HKG for DCIR22 ?

Can CX book these from Australia or do I need to contact someone directly in Hong Kong?

Am considering a positioning flight to Hong Kong then HKG-YYZ-DFW-SYD on OW carriers with a later SYD to HKG leg to complete the circle.

Alternative is direct with CX SYD-HKG-YYZ-HKG-SYD in J for just under $7k.

The DCIR22 is AUD7,017 (+various taxes). It needs to be ticketed by an agent in HKG.

 

[Himeno]

an ex-HKG DCIR22 is 38810HKD (+taxes)
an ex-AU DCIR22 is 9299AUD (+taxes)

You need an agent in HK to issue an ex-HKG oneworld ticket, otherwise you'll pay the ex-AU price (if issued in AU).

 

[SeatBackForward]

The DCIR22 is AUD7,017 (+various taxes). It needs to be ticketed by an agent in HKG.

an ex-HKG DCIR22 is 38810HKD (+taxes)
an ex-AU DCIR22 is 9299AUD (+taxes)

You need an agent in HK to issue an ex-HKG oneworld ticket, otherwise you'll pay the ex-AU price (if issued in AU).

Need to factor in the positioning flights ex-Aus to and from HKG also.