How to book DONE5 ex-ZRH without paying ex-ZRH prices?

[eosphoros]

I've been combing through the OWE rules and notice that there is an exception to the rule of "the resultant fare must not be lower than from the country of sale" where it is "Not applicable when BOTH travel originates and sales are made within the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA)/Switzerland." I currently have an itinerary ex-MXP priced up on the online tool but would much rather ex-ZRH. Unfortunately, the online tool quotes me a price that is around $2000 AUD higher. Of course, I can't actually call AY (or AA for that matter) and ask them to ticket ex-ZRH as they will charge me ex-AUS prices. The only way I can think of to get the ex-ZRH ticket at ex-MXP prices is to present myself to a travel agent in Europe (other than Switzerland) and book the fare there and this is problematic. Of course, then there are other issues such as competency of the travel agent and extra travel agents fees when trying to make changes (which I will have to do as this ticket will be utilising the entire 12 month limit, without even a single day to spare).

Does anyone have any suggestions for this situation? Or, for the sake of not over-complicating, should I just book the ticket ex-MXP and have it ticketed directly with AY and then deal with them?

 

[serfty]

Unfortunately, the "Canadian Exception" is no more.

You need to book from, and start the itinerary from, the cheaper location.

 

[eosphoros]

Unfortunately, the "Canadian Exception" is no more.

You need to book from, and start the itinerary from, the cheaper location.

You are right about the Canadian exception; however, the European exception is still there.

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.Exception: Not applicable when BOTH travel originates and sales are made within the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA)/Switzerland.

If I have read it correctly, it means that I can book the fare anywhere in the ECAA/Switzerland at the lowest rate in the region, while still flying ex-ZRH. Of course, this only applies to ex-Switzerland as all other tickets ex-ECAA are the same price. Now, I may have misinterpreted the exception and it may only apply to the last sentence, "the resultant fare must not be lower than from the country of sale," in which case, I won't be able to get it cheaper for the ex-ZRH rate is higher. But if in fact the exception applies to the whole condition, then I can book the ticket from a travel agent in say Germany, pay the rate for ex-Germany, but fly ex-Switzerland.

On another note, as I will be utilising the entire 12 months, it means I necessarily have to book dummy dates for many of my segments and have them changed later. Is there any downside to doing this? Or is it better to have then open-dated? (Of course, I can't do this using the online tool)

 

[stujamhen]

No the fare does not allow you to apply the cheapest ex Europe option to the city of your choice. If you wish to depart ex Zurich you must pay the ex ZRH price unless you are outside Europe in which case you must raise the fare to the applicable DONE5 fare in the country of sale.