DONE4 help please. (One World RTW)

[v8Statesman]

I have a rather hair raising RTW coming up in a few weeks and I want to maximise my QF Status credits (I have decided not to do an AA Plat challenge.)

Below I have listed what I have come up with so far. The 2 conferences in MSP and SIN are a must.

I am rather looking forwarded to sitting in J for QF107 SYD-JFK (Will try for a points upgrade to F (Does anyone know how much that will be?)

SYD-JFK/LGA-MIA-MSP-ORD-LAX-LHR-SIN-PER then later PER-BNE-ZQN-BNE-PER for skiing

SYD-JFK 17th June
LGA-MIA-MSP 19th June (Need to be in MSP 20th - 22nd)
MSP-ORD-LAX-LHR 23rd June (Spending the weekend in GB with friends)
LHR-SIN 26th June (Need to be at a conference at 9am 27th I land at 8am )
SIN-PER 29th June (Need to be home for my daughters 3rd birthday on the 30th)

I have been told that on the DONE4 I am not allowed to add PER-BNE-ZQN-BNE-PER at the end. Any pointers would be great!

Any suggestions on maximising my SC’s would be fantastic!

 

[NM]

I am rather looking forwarded to sitting in J for QF107 SYD-JFK (Will try for a points upgrade to F (Does anyone know how much that will be?)

Your conference in MSP is obviously before the one in SIN. To maximise SCs and for more pleasent travelling (more daytime flight options), why not try something like this:

SYD-SIN-LHR (make sure you change flight number in SIN, perhaps to BA, for best - but it must only be transit).

Take some Europe segments to places you want to go.

LHR-LAX then various USA segments

LAX-HKG on CX (only CX daytime flight optoin trans-Pacific and earns the same SCs as the longer JFK-HKG flight). Book the AA codeshare to maximise QF FF points.

HKG-SIN plus any Asia segments you want

SIN-SYD on the QF32 daytime flight.

SYD-JFK/LGA-MIA-MSP-ORD-LAX-LHR-SIN-PER then later PER-BNE-ZQN-BNE-PER for skiing

You cannot go to NZ after arriving back in Australia. You may only have 1 international departiure and 1 international arrival from/to the country of origin.

 

[v8Statesman]

You cannot go to NZ after arriving back in Australia. You may only have 1 international departiure and 1 international arrival from/to the country of origin.

Lots of good information in there thank you. I will look at doing just that.

Do you know while in London can I do LHR-IST-LHR-(MOW?)-LHR or failing that LHR-IST-(MOW?)-LHR?

Also on my return do you know if I can pause my RTW in SIN. Buy a seperate SIN-PER-SIN ticket and then later fly SIN-ZQN-PER (with stopovers) as part of the RTW?

I may also try and squeeze a side trip to SHA if restrictions permit.

 

[NM]

Do you know while in London can I do LHR-IST-LHR-(MOW?)-LHR or failing that LHR-IST-(MOW?)-LHR?

You cannot do both IST and MOW as they are both in countries that are included in the restriction of 2 flights to/from London.

However, you can do HEL-SVO on AY and/or MAD/BCN-IST on IB. So you may need to purchase an additional European segment, either as part of the OWE or as a separate ticket.

Also on my return do you know if I can pause my RTW in SIN. Buy a seperate SIN-PER-SIN ticket and then later fly SIN-ZQN-PER (with stopovers) as part of the RTW?

Obsolutely can do that. You have a year to complete the OWE fare. But you will need to get to HKG to take HKG-AKL with CX, then AKL-ZQN-SYD-PER for three of your 4 SWP segments.

I may also try and squeeze a side trip to SHA if restrictions permit.

Your limit will likely be Asian and/or total segments.

 

[v8Statesman]

NM,
Thank you for your help so far. This is what I have drawn up so far. There are still holes in it. Can you see any problems with it?

10/06
QF5 SYD SIN 15:50 21:40
BA7309 SIN LHR 22:55 05:15 +1

Europe Stuff Missing

18/06
BA0269 LHR LAX 16:05 19:05
AA1264 LAX ORD 23:10 05:05 +1
19/06
AA1755 ORD MSP 06:39 08:02
23/06
AA1279 MSP DFW 06:18 08:41
AA492 DRW JFK 10:46 15:21
24/06
AA185 JFK LAX 21:00 22:13
25/06
CX881 LAX HKG 01:55 07:35 +1
26/06
CX717 HKG SIN 08:55 12:25

Will I have problems in August backtracking SIN-HKG-AKL?

 

[NM]

QF5 SYD SIN 15:50 21:40

QF5 is a nice daytime flight.

BA7309 SIN LHR 22:55 05:15 +1

This one is an overnighter, so not as much fun, but achieves the goal

BA0269 LHR LAX 16:05 19:05

Nice daytime flight.

AA1264 LAX ORD 23:10 05:05 +1

Ouch! I would be staying in LAX and taking a daytime service to ORD. That is a killer red-eye flight and operated by a 757! I would be taking AA1364 as a nice daytime flight on a comfy 763 aircraft.

AA1755 ORD MSP 06:39 08:02

That is an early morning start to be at ORD. Beware of the potential check-in and security delays meaning you need to be at the airport about 2 hours before departure, so that's 4:30am :shock:

AA1279 MSP DFW 06:18 08:41

Another early morning start. You must be a better morning person than me.

AA492 DRW JFK 10:46 15:21

I assume you mean DFW as the origin here.

AA185 JFK LAX 21:00 22:13

Night time flight, but at least you are chasing the sunset.

CX881 LAX HKG 01:55 07:35 +1

I would be looking to take CX885 as the daytime trans-Pacific service. In fact, I am booked on this very flight for my next DONE4.

CX717 HKG SIN 08:55 12:25

Note the CX 777 aircraft have 7 abreast regional business class seats (45: pitch). While the A330 aircraft have the same seats and pitch, they are only 6 abreast. But it does not make a lot of difference. Sometimes you see CX using their 3-class A333 aircraft on these routes, and that means you can score a F seat for a J/D fare - I have this on KUL-HKG next month.

Will I have problems in August backtracking SIN-HKG-AKL?

No problem. Just lots of time. It will be the long way to go from PER to ZQN via SIN, HKG and AKL.

 

[v8Statesman]

AA1264 LAX ORD 23:10 05:05 +1

Ouch! I would be staying in LAX and taking a daytime service to ORD. That is a killer red-eye flight and operated by a 757! I would be taking AA1364 as a nice daytime flight on a comfy 763 aircraft.

I picked this as it gets my into ORD at 05:05 for the 06:30 connecting to MSP. AA Website claims I will be sitting in First Class. I assumed it would be a bit like Business on a QF 73H am I wrong?

 

[v8Statesman]

CX881 LAX HKG 01:55 07:35 +1

I would be looking to take CX885 as the daytime trans-Pacific service. In fact, I am booked on this very flight for my next DONE4.

CX717 HKG SIN 08:55 12:25

Note the CX 777 aircraft have 7 abreast regional business class seats (45: pitch). While the A330 aircraft have the same seats and pitch, they are only 6 abreast. But it does not make a lot of difference. Sometimes you see CX using their 3-class A333 aircraft on these routes, and that means you can score a F seat for a J/D fare - I have this on KUL-HKG next month.

I picked these as I wanted the 12:55 landing in SIN so I have the afternoon in SIN.

 

[v8Statesman]

Here is my Aug RTW completion (Milage/SC runs can be hard to work out!)

08/08
CX734 SIN HKG 16:05 19:55
CX107 HKG AKL 20:55 11:45 +1
09/08
NZ0641 AKL ZQN 12:50 14:40 *Alliance
12/08
QF254 ZQN BNE 15:25 17:10
13/08
QF605 BNE MEL 06:05 08:30
QF677 MEL ADL 09:10 10:00
QF587 ADL PER 11:10 13:05

I know the NZ flight I will have to pay 4.

Anyone see any issues with it?

 

[v8Statesman]

However, you can do HEL-SVO on AY and/or MAD/BCN-IST on IB. So you may need to purchase an additional European segment, either as part of the OWE or as a separate ticket.

Looking at this has confused me a bit. All other sectors in the RTW total 16, so I ave 4 to play with So I guess it will be LHR-???-???-LHR

Could I do LHR-IST-SVO-LHR? If so, who would I fly?

 

[NM]

AA1264 LAX ORD 23:10 05:05 +1

Ouch! I would be staying in LAX and taking a daytime service to ORD. That is a killer red-eye flight and operated by a 757! I would be taking AA1364 as a nice daytime flight on a comfy 763 aircraft.

I picked this as it gets my into ORD at 05:05 for the 06:30 connecting to MSP. AA Website claims I will be sitting in First Class. I assumed it would be a bit like Business on a QF 73H am I wrong?

Yes, it will be similar to a QF73H seat in the F cabin. A DONEx fare books into A inventory for AA domestic flights, which means an F seat. Don't expect much (if any) in the way of food on that flight. So make sure you eat before departure.

Personally I would be trying to build in a travel day instead of taking short red-eyes, but that is not always possible with your itinerary.

 

[NM]

I picked these as I wanted the 12:55 landing in SIN so I have the afternoon in SIN.

Fair enough. CX long-haul business class is very good. Seat is similar to QF Skybed (flat but angled) and the service is excellent. Note this one departs from TBI terminal. If taking the overnight CX flight, you have several options including from SFO, VYR or even non-stop from JFK. Its only LAX that has a daytime flight.

I guess you can see a theme in my dislike for overnight flights and preference for daytime flights 8) . But that's just my personal preference based on my own experience and sleep-ability (or lack of).

 

[chrisb]

H
08/08
CX734 SIN HKG 16:05 19:55
CX107 HKG AKL 20:55 11:45 +1
09/08
NZ0641 AKL ZQN 12:50 14:40 *Alliance

Is that CX to NZ connection going to be long enough?
It's been a while, but from memory AKL is a walk or bus between terminals.

Chrisb.

 

[NM]

However, you can do HEL-SVO on AY and/or MAD/BCN-IST on IB. So you may need to purchase an additional European segment, either as part of the OWE or as a separate ticket.

Looking at this has confused me a bit. All other sectors in the RTW total 16, so I ave 4 to play with So I guess it will be LHR-???-???-LHR

Could I do LHR-IST-SVO-LHR? If so, who would I fly?

If you really want to fit both SVO and IST, you could do something like this:

Purchase a cheap LHR-BCN (BA or IB) separate ticket, or take QF5 all the way to FRA and take the train from there to BCN. Then take IB BCN-IST. Then BA IST-LHR-SVO. Then AY SVO-HEL and use AY for the trans-Atlantic flight into JFK.

Another option may be to take QF1 to BKK, then the QF codeshare on the AY flight to HEL as your transit through Asia between SWP and Europe. Then AY HEL-SVO. The BA SVO-LHR-IST. Then IB IST-MAD. Then use IB (with AA codeshare if you want to earn the extra QF FF points via status bonus) for the Trans-Atlantic flight MAD-JFK. This keeps to the 4 European flights. MAD-JFK is a nice daytime flight, so sleep-ability is less critical than having a horozontal flat bed on a long BA flight.

 

[NM]

H
08/08
CX734 SIN HKG 16:05 19:55
CX107 HKG AKL 20:55 11:45 +1
09/08
NZ0641 AKL ZQN 12:50 14:40 *Alliance

Is that CX to NZ connection going to be long enough?
It's been a while, but from memory AKL is a walk or bus between terminals.

Chrisb.

I don't think that one will be allowed. The only vlaid connection showing through ExpertFlyer is CX107 -> NZ647. Otherwise its an overnight stay in AKL.

 

[v8Statesman]

SYD-SIN-LHR (make sure you change flight number in SIN, perhaps to BA, for best - but it must only be transit).

10/06
QF5 SYD SIN 15:50 21:40
BA7309 SIN LHR 22:55 05:15 +1


One question. I picked BA7309 as it is QF9 codeshare QF Metal. Sould I earn the same miles and credits if I book QF9?

 

[NM]

10/06
QF5 SYD SIN 15:50 21:40
BA7309 SIN LHR 22:55 05:15 +1


One question. I picked BA7309 as it is QF9 codeshare QF Metal. Sould I earn the same miles and credits if I book QF9?

Yes, the same earning rate. But if you want to upgrade to F for that segment, better book the QF9 code!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I don't think that one will be allowed. The only vlaid connection showing through ExpertFlyer is CX107 -> NZ647. Otherwise its an overnight stay in AKL.

This is less than minimum connection time (if they were on a single ticket). It can be done but is extremely risky IMHO. IIRC we had a discussion already on this (either here or on FT).

 

[NM]

This is less than minimum connection time (if they were on a single ticket). It can be done but is extremely risky IMHO. IIRC we had a discussion already on this (either here or on FT).

Are you saying the CX107 -> NZ647 is invalid connection? or that the OP's suggestion of CX107 -> NZ641 is invalid (as I believe is the case)?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Sorry I meant the OPs suggestion.

Hmm not able to edit my post to clarify this