Hi All,
Planning a LONE4 for December/January, and have a few questions for the crew here. I've done a couple of RTWs but this is the first since joining AFF. The expertise I've already been able to put into practice since joining is amazing - I'm hoping this will continue!
First of all, this is the planned route:
per-hkg-khh-nrt-lax-<surface>-slc-dfw-mco-<surface>-bos-lhr-hel-fra-hkg-akl-wlg-mel-per
Also worth noting is that I'm a NB with QP membership. Obviously I prefer QF, BA and AA flights for lounge access, but not essential.
1. I've been using the OW planner, but FRA-HKG-AKL causes issues. Mileage Monkey is kinder however, saying it's a valid routing. Has anyone done this route successfully as part of a xONEx?
2. I would like to break the trip up by stopping at HKG on the way to AKL to give me a second trip to NZ later in 2011. I understand this isn't allowed due to it being a second stop in Asia. My next best option then is to stop in AKL and catch JQ or other sale fares back to PER. Can anyone see a better (cheaper) option than this to come back to PER before going to NZ?
3. My gf will be joining me for the first part of the trip: per-hkg-khh-nrt, then nrt-hkg-per to get home. We'll be paying for his with a combination of QF award fights and a couple of one way purchases. At the moment, this is what I have:
PER-HKG (QF) - 30000pts
HKG-KHH (KA) - about $240
KHH-NRT (JL) - ???
NRT-HKG (CX) - 20000pts
HKG-PER (QF) - 30000pts
The issue here is the KHH-NRT leg on JAL - trying to get prices out of them at the moment is a pain. With all the problems going on, will bookings almost a year out be available online? Or is my other option to go to an agent to book just this leg? Qantas don't have KHH on their online booking tool.
4. The routing above will make use of some of my QFF points at a burn rate of about 5cpp. Are there any other easy to book routings that would be cheaper/better value, and also valid for my RTW? I tried PER-NRT-TPE-NRT-PER but award availability was basically nil.
5. What should I book first - the reward flights for gf, then my RTW, or the other way around? Obviously my intention is for us to be on the same flight.
6. I've been a bit out of the loop on the best current places to start a RTW from. Are there any countries through which I'm travelling which would have significant fare savings, or would it not be worth it? This would probably affect the questions already posed, so this is not a priority.
7. Just musing, what are the chances of JAL not flying in late December? If JAL was not flying, how would this affect current bookings? Would other OW carriers pick up the slack and fly pax on current JAL legs, or would pax have to be rerouted (and at whose expense)
Thanks to all in anticipation. My apologies for so many long winded questions!
Planning a LONE4 for December/January, and have a few questions for the crew here. I've done a couple of RTWs but this is the first since joining AFF. The expertise I've already been able to put into practice since joining is amazing - I'm hoping this will continue!
First of all, this is the planned route:
per-hkg-khh-nrt-lax-<surface>-slc-dfw-mco-<surface>-bos-lhr-hel-fra-hkg-akl-wlg-mel-per
Also worth noting is that I'm a NB with QP membership. Obviously I prefer QF, BA and AA flights for lounge access, but not essential.
1. I've been using the OW planner, but FRA-HKG-AKL causes issues. Mileage Monkey is kinder however, saying it's a valid routing. Has anyone done this route successfully as part of a xONEx?
2. I would like to break the trip up by stopping at HKG on the way to AKL to give me a second trip to NZ later in 2011. I understand this isn't allowed due to it being a second stop in Asia. My next best option then is to stop in AKL and catch JQ or other sale fares back to PER. Can anyone see a better (cheaper) option than this to come back to PER before going to NZ?
3. My gf will be joining me for the first part of the trip: per-hkg-khh-nrt, then nrt-hkg-per to get home. We'll be paying for his with a combination of QF award fights and a couple of one way purchases. At the moment, this is what I have:
PER-HKG (QF) - 30000pts
HKG-KHH (KA) - about $240
KHH-NRT (JL) - ???
NRT-HKG (CX) - 20000pts
HKG-PER (QF) - 30000pts
The issue here is the KHH-NRT leg on JAL - trying to get prices out of them at the moment is a pain. With all the problems going on, will bookings almost a year out be available online? Or is my other option to go to an agent to book just this leg? Qantas don't have KHH on their online booking tool.
4. The routing above will make use of some of my QFF points at a burn rate of about 5cpp. Are there any other easy to book routings that would be cheaper/better value, and also valid for my RTW? I tried PER-NRT-TPE-NRT-PER but award availability was basically nil.
5. What should I book first - the reward flights for gf, then my RTW, or the other way around? Obviously my intention is for us to be on the same flight.
6. I've been a bit out of the loop on the best current places to start a RTW from. Are there any countries through which I'm travelling which would have significant fare savings, or would it not be worth it? This would probably affect the questions already posed, so this is not a priority.
7. Just musing, what are the chances of JAL not flying in late December? If JAL was not flying, how would this affect current bookings? Would other OW carriers pick up the slack and fly pax on current JAL legs, or would pax have to be rerouted (and at whose expense)
Thanks to all in anticipation. My apologies for so many long winded questions!
