Circle Pacific Route

[Chucksta]

Is this a valid route for the 26,000 mile DCIR fare, originating in Jakarta?

CGK-NRT-SFO-ORD-DCA-JFK-MIA-LAX-HNL-SYD-CGK

From To Distance SC Class
CGK NRT 3632 120 D
NRT SFO 5117 140 D
SFO ORD 1843 120 A
ORD DCA 611 90 A
DCA JFK 212 20 Y
JFK MIA 1092 90 A
MIA LAX 2340 120 A
LAX HNL 2555 150 A
HNL SYD 5082 140 D
SYD CGK 3432 100 D
Total 25916 1090

Total SC is 1090.

Pity that AA don't have a First or Biz cabin between Washington DC and New York.

thanks

Chucksta

 

[Chucksta]

Does the above routing meet this fare rule:

For –CIR22 and –CIR26 Fares
Travel must be via the North/Central Pacific in one direction and the South West Pacific in the other direction or vice versa. Only one North/Central Pacific crossing and one South West Pacific crossing is permitted.

First Pacific crossing: NRT-SFO
Second Pacific crossing: LAX-HNL-SYD

 

[Hawkeye]

Looks OK to me, without taking into account the issue of stopovers.

From my understanding, Australia --> Nth America (including via HNL) counts as Sth Pacific, and Asia --> Nth America counts as Nth Pacific, and vice versa for both crossings. So you should be fine with that as well.

 

[serfty]

... First Pacific crossing: NRT-SFO
Second Pacific crossing: LAX-HNL-SYD

Actually, you second or Southern "crossing" here is HNL-SYD.

To summarise, you need a Northern crossing of the pacific and a Southern crossing.

A Northern crossing could be described as travel between Asia and North America (e.g. China/Singapore/Japan/SAR HK and Canada/USA).

A Southern crossing could be in turn described as travel between SWP and North America (e.g. Oz/NZ and Canada/USA) (Oz/NZ and South America for xCIR29SA)

Basically, HNL is in the USA so your routing is fine.

Interestingly, with JL now in the picture, SYD-NRT-HNL-SYD would be valid.

 

[Chucksta]

With the DCIR fare, am I correct in saying that there are no restrictions on the amount of transcontinental flights in North America?

What's it like flying AA domestic in First in a MD80 or 757 or MD83?

How reliable are the AA domestic flights? Is it common for them to be delayed?

Anyone have their bags lost by AA during domestic flights?

Decisions decisions... trying to decide between these 2 routes:

CGK-HKG-SFO-ORD-JFK-MIA-DFW-LAS-LAX-SYD-CGK

- 1 less stopover, CGK-HKG-SFO (just a transit in HKG)
- CX Long Haul (between HKG-SFO)
- Get to check out the HKG F lounge
- Submit upgrade on QF for LAX-SYD (what are my chances as a QFWP?)
- 1060 SC earn

The other route:

CGK-NRT-SFO-ORD-DCA-JFK-MIA-LAX-HNL-SYD-CGK

- CGK-NRT would be on JAL (yuck??)
- NRT-SFO either AA or JAL.... both worse than CX/QF?
- DCA-JFK is in Y
- QF767 between HNL-SYD (what are the chances QF deletes this route in the near future?)
- 1090 SC earn

Can anyone see a different route to get more SC earn? I've tried to max out the AA First sectors in the USA

 

[serfty]

... With the DCIR fare, am I correct in saying that there are no restrictions on the amount of transcontinental flights in North America?...

No need for transcon restrictions as the fare's MPM prevents much additional travel.

... What's it like flying AA domestic in First in a MD80 or 757 or MD83? ...

Bring your own DVD Player/Laptop/Walkman. The 757's have main screen entertainment but it tends to be the same program for each flight. All F seats have individual "Car Cigarette Lighter" style power supply. Service is normally better than QF J but with an inferior soft product (old cabins, limited food options).

... How reliable are the AA domestic flights? Is it common for them to be delayed? ...

Never been significantly delayed in 17 flights, but I have heard some horror stories. Leave plenty of time betwixt flights.

... Anyone have their bags lost by AA during domestic flights? ...

Bags? Surely you jest.

 

[Chucksta]

Is there any other option for starting a DCIR out of asia?

I checked out HKG, NRT, SIN but the base fare is alot more expensive than CGK.

The only issue with the QF office in CGK is that they only accept CC payment in person and not over the phone!

 

[serfty]

MNL has a base price USD4 less than CKG for a DCIR26

 

[Chucksta]

MNL has a base price USD4 less than CKG for a DCIR26

Can you book through AA in Manila?

Does that mean I can go through the AA RTW Desk? But a circle fare isn't really RTW is it?

 

[serfty]

Can you book through AA in Manila?

Does that mean I can go through the AA RTW Desk? But a circle fare isn't really RTW is it?

You probably could go via the AA ATW for this; however, check with QF009 - I believe he has had contact with an AAgency there.

 

[NM]

Do note that there is a limit of 2 "free" stopovers in each continent. So if you want more than 2 in the USA you need to pay extra (used to be US$75/stopover). There are also restrictions on the number of stopovers and transits through the same city and trips between the same city pairs.

The main problem with AA domestic flights and checked luggage is the wait for the bags to arrive at the carousel. At some places (like DFW, ORD, MIA) this can take quite some time. Don't plan on if being anything less than 45 mins wait for baggage collection. But in my experience they don't lose bags any more regularly than any other airline.

 

[Chucksta]

Do note that there is a limit of 2 "free" stopovers in each continent. So if you want more than 2 in the USA you need to pay extra (used to be US$75/stopover).

Doh! I have 7 stopovers in the USA, meaning i'm charged 5x$75 = $375 USD! Ouch...

Still waiting for the QF office in Jakarta to reply... so so slow

 

[NM]

Doh! I have 7 stopovers in the USA, meaning i'm charged 5x$75 = $375 USD! Ouch...

Still waiting for the QF office in Jakarta to reply... so so slow

At least the A$ exchange rate is good at the moment .

 

[JohnK]

What's it like flying AA domestic in First in a MD80 or 757 or MD83?

Don't expect anything more than Australian domestic J and just enjoy the SCs.

How reliable are the AA domestic flights? Is it common for them to be delayed?

Not very reliable in my experience.

Anyone have their bags lost by AA during domestic flights?

Yes. Flying ORD-LGA-TPA and luggage did not make it as the 90 minute connection turned into a <30 minute connection due to delays in take-off. I barely made the connection as I had to transfer terminals in LGA and we landed in a different terminal to the one that was announced on the flight by the CSM a few minutes earlier.

Both bags finally arrived in ATH a week later.

 

[Chucksta]

QF Have loaded the flights and I can view them on the QFF website.

All the non QF flights (AA and CX) are showing as economy.

eg:

CGK-HKG Economy(D)
SFO-ORD Economy(A)

Shouldn't it read Business(D) and First(A)?

The QF office in Jakarta said they are still waiting for the fare price calculation and to validate the routing.

 

[dajop]

Doh! I have 7 stopovers in the USA, meaning i'm charged 5x$75 = $375 USD! Ouch...

IIRC, can only purchase two extra stopovers per region (ie 4 in total), so you'll have to find a way of eliminating 3 stopovers from the US.

 

[Chucksta]

Double doh!

That means my route is not valid... great..

This is not going to work with only 4 stops in the USA... Can't earn enuf SC.. argh!

 

[dajop]

Double doh!

That means my route is not valid... great..

This is not going to work with only 4 stops in the USA... Can't earn enuf SC.. argh!

The only way you can do it is choose three cities where you would like to spend 23 hrs and 59 minutes or less in ... the definition of a stopover being >24 hours. If you're doing the 7 "stops" just for status chasing, you'll be fine. If you've a need to be in all of those cities for more than a night, you won't be.

 

[MelUser]

I find when I check flights on Qantas website they show Business (D) for QF flights but for AA, AY etc it says Economy (D). If you look at www.checkmytrip.com it will specify the correct travel class - you need the booking reference number from the top of the Qantas booking page, something like Z7J56F

 

[Chucksta]

Hi Serfty,

I just sent you a PM about it.

Chucksta