DONE4 Assistance

[QuikSmart]

Hi all,

The wife and I have been working in Arnhem Land for the last 2 years, so we're rewarding ourselves with an ATW trip in Oct/Nov.

I'm reasonably new to the whole FF thing, but have found its pretty good fun to get the most out of the program.

While I'm a SG (with 90k pts), my wife is a PS+QC (80k pts). We should have another 30k in pts each before we leave. Plus around 120k for buying the trip - but I don't know if these will be credited before we leave.

In reading this forum about DONE4's, I have a couple of questions. I have searched for the answers but there is tonnes of info in here to get through.

1. A lot of people leave from NRT - what's the reason for this?
2. I would like to book through the CommBank's travel site where I get 4 pts per $. I notice several people book throught AA? What are the benefits in doing that? Does the AA program offer more pts or is just the cheaper fuel taxes etc?
3. I've been using the tools from the OneWorld website to try and plan the trip, is there a better tool? Is there something that tells you your miles and SC's as you go?
4. We hope to upgarde to F as much as we can along the way. Any suggestions on how this is possible.

Departing from ADL, the only places we really want to go to are NYC, Rome, Paris, London, SanFran. They're all easy to get in to an itin. After that we would like to do a few more oscure locales.

Would love to hear from those that have done this, or those also planning.

Cheers.

 

[Dave Noble]

1. A lot of people leave from NRT - what's the reason for this?

The cost of a DONE4 from Tokyo is a lot cheaper than from Australia; it also means that there are less restrictions on making use of the DONE4 for the South West PAcific sectors which can be of use

The cost ex-NRT is currently $8,203 plus tax whilst ex-SYD it is $10,499 plus tax

2. I would like to book through the CommBank's travel site where I get 4 pts per $. I notice several people book throught AA? What are the benefits in doing that? Does the AA program offer more pts or is just the cheaper fuel taxes etc?

Booking through AA can save several hundred dollars in fuel surcharges over booking through Qantas. Also , the AA Around the World desk staff do tend to understand the rules of the ticket a lot better than QF and do not invent their own rules.

I doubt v much that CommBank could do an ex-NRT ticket anyway since to get the lower price , the ticket has to be issued in Japan. If doing an ex-Australia DONE4, I suspect that you will have problems getting them to issue on AA unless the 1st international flight is on AA ( e.g. SYD-LAX ) and even then, they are still likely to try and ticket through Qantas unless you really force the issue

4. We hope to upgarde to F as much as we can along the way. Any suggestions on how this is possible.

The obvious way is to purchase a 1st class Around the World ticket ; an AONE4 ex-NRT would cost $11,837 plus taxes

Dave

 

[drron]

As to your questions-1.People start from NRT because a OW DONEx is cheaper from there.However you have to get to NRT and back.It is easy if you are doing regular trips but not so great for a one off trip.
2.You can possibly get Commbank travel to book through AA.When they released their new travel program I did ring.The TA was really surprised that booking it through AA was a fair bit cheaper.I asked if they would book through AA and she said she would ring back-still waiting but maybe they have worked it out by now.
As you are using Commbank there is no way to get your credit card points easily to AA therefore in your case best to stick with QF.
3.For mileage and SCs Great Circle Mapper
or MileageMonkey 0.95015
4.Basically the only flights that you could upgrade would be QF segments and 2 upgrades unlikely.Sometimes AA offer paid upgrades to first from J.I have seen this twice in the Admirals club in NRT where it cost $US500 to upgrade to the USA.Otherwise just occasionally you can be lucky.
Others will give you much more detailed FF info.I am sure.
Enjoy your trip

 

[Hawkeye]

A couple of additions to the above excellent info:

1. iirc ,the price of the ticket is the higher of a) the country where travel originates AND b) the country where the ticket is issued. So to gain the benfit of the lower fare ex-NRT, you need to both originate and ticket in Japan

3. Subscribing to Expertflyer or the like can be worthwhile to assist with routing, and availabilty of classes inc. the discounted fare buckets (L, D, & A). None of these tools are perfect, but the combination of MileageMonkey, the Oneworld planner and Expertflyer is better than each alone.

4. As Dave says, if you want first class, ticket it at the outset. Remember that first class is typically only available on inter-continental long-haul flights (albeit v nice), and that 2-class flights within the USA book on a DONE4 book into the first class cabin anyway ... and generate first-class status credits & miles. You need to decide if the extra cash is worth it. FWIW, I generally book AONEx's because I believe it is worth it.

Also, as a final point, the fidlling with itineraries etc, can be just as exciting as the actual flying!

 

[adrian]

As, Dave mentioned above, one of the benefits of ticketing out of Tokyo is making better use out of the SWP sectors. Further to that, it also enables you to split your trip onto 3 distinct trips, if you want. Once you return to Aust (after Tokyo, Europe USA) , you have 4 sectors permitted in SWP. You could use these sectors say, 6 months later, to do some flights in Aust or to NZ. And then some months later you could do a trip to Asia, say Hong Kong & bangkok, before returning to Tokyo.

 

[QuikSmart]

Guys - thanks so much for the help. I'm now looking using pts to get to NRT, then do Nth America - Europe and back to Aus. Then do a separate Aus holiday followed by a separate Asia holiday, flying back from NRT.

I have another question. How much flexibility is there with a DONE4. I know that the TA's want an idea of where we want to go, so they can price up all the various taxes etc. But if we change our mind after we get started, can we modify our itinerary? Do normal D/J conditions apply? And is it a simple process?

We'll probably end up going F, but I imagine the same conditions will apply.

 

[NM]

I have another question. How much flexibility is there with a DONE4. I know that the TA's want an idea of where we want to go, so they can price up all the various taxes etc. But if we change our mind after we get started, can we modify our itinerary? Do normal D/J conditions apply? And is it a simple process?

yes. you can change later but will be subject to a US$125 re-issue fee if you change the routing. no change for date/time changes. Naturally you are still constrained by the original fare rules so any changes will be checked against the rules. If there are additional taxes due then you will be charged them when the ticket is re-issued. I have not heard of anyone receiving a refund of taxes due to a re-issue but I suppose it could happen.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hi all,

Plus around 120k for buying the trip - but I don't know if these will be credited before we leave.

In reading this forum about DONE4's,.

Your conversion may be out...unless you are buying lot of accommodation


Say you have 2 tickets at $10,000 each (for easy maths) that is $20,000

With an Amex Maximiser @ 1.5that is 30,000 points.

A Qantas Premium Amex @ 2.25 = 45,000 points.


Citibank @ 1.0 = 20,000 points

Many bank Ccs @0.5 = 10,000 points

The points will normally post quickly after purchase...with Amex Max basically within a day. Citibank post each day as well, but you have to transfer points in chunks (10,000??)and there is a small delay in doing so. With QF Amex at you next cycle (once per month).


On top of this you would earn points for each leg flown and these will post just after you fly each leg. Basically as you go...

 

[QuikSmart]

Your conversion may be out...unless you are buying lot of accommodation


Say you have 2 tickets at $10,000 each (for easy maths) that is $20,000

With an Amex Maximiser @ 1.5that is 30,000 points.

A Qantas Premium Amex @ 2.25 = 45,000 points.


Citibank @ 1.0 = 20,000 points

Many bank Ccs @0.5 = 10,000 points

The points will normally post quickly after purchase...with Amex Max basically within a day. Citibank post each day as well, but you have to transfer points in chunks (10,000??)and there is a small delay in doing so. With QF Amex at you next cycle (once per month).


On top of this you would earn points for each leg flown and these will post just after you fly each leg. Basically as you go...

I plan on buying the tickets on my CBA Platinum Card through the CBA Travel Plus service. Platinum card holders get 4 award pts for every dollor spent (including all fees etc). I'm guessing these will come to approx $30k for 2 tickets. Award pts are then redeemed 1 for 1 with QFF pts. The only catch is I'm limited to 150,000 pts per cal year. Unless anyone knows of a better deal?

Also - what's the most miles anyone has clocked up on a DONE4? I just want to know that we are getting a good amount of SC's and miles from our trip. We plan on using all the points to take the kids to Disneyland next year.

 

[QuikSmart]

yes. you can change later but will be subject to a US$125 re-issue fee if you change the routing. no change for date/time changes. Naturally you are still constrained by the original fare rules so any changes will be checked against the rules. If there are additional taxes due then you will be charged them when the ticket is re-issued. I have not heard of anyone receiving a refund of taxes due to a re-issue but I suppose it could happen.

Thanks NM, I thought I had read that somewhere but couldn't find it. Cheers.

 

[serfty]

The current rules can be found on the oneworld web site. Here is a direct link to them (as of 13th Dec '07):

• http://www.oneworld.com/content/library/oneworld_explorer_13dec2007.pdf