Limited DONE4 questions

[vt01]

I've finally got another opportunity to do a DONE4. But... to get the company discount, it has to be booked through Amex travel and I can only fly QF, AA or BA. Not too much of a big deal. It just means I can't do sectors in Asia. I only have 2 destinations that I need go to - New York for 2 weeks and a side trip to Raleigh on the weekend in the middle. My plan is the following
SYD-JFK-LAX-DFW-RDU-ORD-HPN-ORD-LHR-MCT-LHR-SIN-BNE-PER-DRW-ADL-SYD.
I intend to travel without stopovers from HPN back to BNE mainly due to lack of time. I've even thought of throwing in a LHR-FCO-LHR after MCT.
But, I don't really want to take my luggage on a LHR-MCT-LHR-FCO-LHR..
.
So there are two questions..
1.Any ideas of better routings (this will all happen in April). I did think of going over via NRT but I'm travelling over with a colleague.
2. Is it possible when I arrive in LHR from ORD, I collect my bags and store them at LHR until I want to check in for the LHR-SIN leg? The connection time from the ORD-LHR to the LHR-MCT flight is only 2:50.
Thanks as always!

 

[littl_flier]

I've finally got another opportunity to do a DONE4. But... to get the company discount, it has to be booked through Amex travel and I can only fly QF, AA or BA. Not too much of a big deal. It just means I can't do sectors in Asia. I only have 2 destinations that I need go to - New York for 2 weeks and a side trip to Raleigh on the weekend in the middle. My plan is the following
SYD-JFK-LAX-DFW-RDU-ORD-HPN-ORD-LHR-MCT-LHR-SIN-BNE-PER-DRW-ADL-SYD.
I intend to travel without stopovers from HPN back to BNE mainly due to lack of time. I've even thought of throwing in a LHR-FCO-LHR after MCT.
But, I don't really want to take my luggage on a LHR-MCT-LHR-FCO-LHR..
.
So there are two questions..
1.Any ideas of better routings (this will all happen in April). I did think of going over via NRT but I'm travelling over with a colleague.
2. Is it possible when I arrive in LHR from ORD, I collect my bags and store them at LHR until I want to check in for the LHR-SIN leg? The connection time from the ORD-LHR to the LHR-MCT flight is only 2:50.
Thanks as always!

1. You could MR around Asia if you can squeeze it in rather than look at FCO. Perhaps LHR-SIN-NRT-HKG-SIN but it would make it a really really long trip home from HPN. :shock:

2. With a short connection time like 2:50 and to accomodate for delays etc, I would recommend just having the bags checked with you and picking them up by courier in a weeks time. You would have to go airside to put them in the left luggage and then do the same to check in for SIN but it's definitely possible in both cases. You just need to ask for the bag to only be tagged as far as LHR. London Heathrow Airport Baggage Storage

PS. Love the trip home!

 

[Dave Noble]

Once underway, if it is a DONE4, you can then change the sectors to your heart's content and get it reissued, say, by AA when you get to the USA. That way you can get it ticketed with the discount but still enjoy the full benefits



Dave

 

[vt01]

1. You could MR around Asia if you can squeeze it in rather than look at FCO. Perhaps LHR-SIN-NRT-HKG-SIN but it would make it a really really long trip home from HPN. :shock:

Can't do this as there are no QF, BA or AA flight numbers on those sectors. Otherwise I would consider making it a really, really long trip home

2. With a short connection time like 2:50 and to accomodate for delays etc, I would recommend just having the bags checked with you and picking them up by courier in a weeks time. You would have to go airside to put them in the left luggage and then do the same to check in for SIN but it's definitely possible in both cases. You just need to ask for the bag to only be tagged as far as LHR. London Heathrow Airport Baggage Storage

PS. Love the trip home!

hahaha.. I like the courier idea. although I thought it could be months before they arrived after a few missed connections and reroutes etc, etc. I think I'll try the storage idea..I'll have plenty of time to check for the LHR-SIN flight so shouldn't be a problem.

Once underway, if it is a DONE4, you can then change the sectors to your heart's content and get it reissued, say, by AA when you get to the USA. That way you can get it ticketed with the discount but still enjoy the full benefits

It is a DONE4 - I used it last time with the same restrictions. I thought each change to sectors and therefore reissue was USD$125?.. thx

 

[NM]

When we used Amex travel as our corp TA, on a DONE4 we would get different discount levels based on using different airlines. The discount was highest for QF flights, next level was for BA and AA flights, and no discount for other OneWorld airlines. This was based on the mix of miles flown on each carrier's flight numbers. So perhaps your deal is similar.

With that deal, I could still book non QF/BA/AA flight numbers, but there was no discount for those miles in the mix.

Another option is to look for the AA codeshares on JL and CX flights. You could route SYD-HKG on QF then various AA codeshares on CX within Asia, then AA an codeshare on CX to various US ports.

 

[Dave Noble]

It is a DONE4 - I used it last time with the same restrictions. I thought each change to sectors and therefore reissue was USD$125?.. thx

Well. It will cost you $125 to get it reissued once in the states, but that seems a minor issue to me if it then relieves you of the restrictions of the discount

How much is the discount?? Does the discount exceed the fuel fine saving that would be achieved by having the Oz-US sector booked on AA and therefore get it ticketed on AA since that can be several hundred dollars?

Dave

 

[vt01]

When we used Amex travel as our corp TA, on a DONE4 we would get different discount levels based on using different airlines. The discount was highest for QF flights, next level was for BA and AA flights, and no discount for other OneWorld airlines. This was based on the mix of miles flown on each carrier's flight numbers. So perhaps your deal is similar.

With that deal, I could still book non QF/BA/AA flight numbers, but there was no discount for those miles in the mix.

Another option is to look for the AA codeshares on JL and CX flights. You could route SYD-HKG on QF then various AA codeshares on CX within Asia, then AA an codeshare on CX to various US ports.

Well. It will cost you $125 to get it reissued once in the states, but that seems a minor issue to me if it then relieves you of the restrictions of the discount

How much is the discount?? Does the discount exceed the fuel fine saving that would be achieved by having the Oz-US sector booked on AA and therefore get it ticketed on AA since that can be several hundred dollars?

Dave

Hi NM, Dave
The discount is a QF corporate discount of about 25%. Amex gets a list of negotiated fares about once a quarter. I can still get a completely unrestricted DONE4 but then I don't get the discount. So for the 25% discount, I'll live with it. I don't think reissuing in the US would get around this. Although, it's an interesting thought - I've never tried it.. I seem to remember in the restrictions for the ticket printed on the itinerary it did have something about QF/BA/AA. I'll check..

I think I checked out the codeshares on JL and CX but they weren't that suitable. Unfortunately my time is a bit restricted. Even coming home the long way is going to cost an extra couple of days.. Hopefully Mrs VT01 won't mind too much! I may have to bribe a her a little. She's already i suggested I take the kids on the 4 domestic legs at the end and leave her in peace for a week!
As usual thanks for your suggestions and help

 

[vt01]

Worked out a solution to my leaving my baggage at LHR while I do a quick MR to MCT.

I switched from an AA flight to a BA flight on the ORD-LHR segment. This arrives at T4 and the LHR-MCT flight leaves from T4. As I don't have to change terminals, I figure 2hr 30min is enough for me to collect my bag, store it and then recheck with carry on for the LHR-MCT flight.

Once I've returned to LHR, I've got best part of a day to collect my bags and checkin for my QF LHR-SIN flight also at T4

 

[NM]

I switched from an AA flight to a BA flight on the ORD-LHR segment. This arrives at T4 and the LHR-MCT flight leaves from T4. As I don't have to change terminals, I figure 2hr 30min is enough for me to collect my bag, store it and then recheck with carry on for the LHR-MCT flight.

A cunning plan.

Now what will you do if the ORD-LHR is delayed by 2 hours and you have just enough time to make he MCT flight but not to collect and store bags? They could get rather dizzy going around and around on the conveyer until you get back from MCT :shock: .

 

[vt01]

A cunning plan.

Now what will you do if the ORD-LHR is delayed by 2 hours and you have just enough time to make he MCT flight but not to collect and store bags? They could get rather dizzy going around and around on the conveyer until you get back from MCT :shock: .

.. Probably better to have them lost at LHR then left at MCT... Although, come to think about it, It might be easier to let them go through to MCT and then pick them up there before rechecking and returning 2.5 hours later....More decisions! My cunning plan is turning out to have more cons and pros than I first thought!

But then if I squeeze in a LHR-FCO-LHR on returning to LHR but before I get on QF10, I need to collect my bags, store them and then head to T5..Or, pick them up, drag the across to T5, check them in again and hope they travel ok to FCO and back! And then drag them back to T4 to checkin...

This MR stuff with bags is not as easy as it sounds!:shock:

 

[serfty]

... This MR stuff with bags is not as easy as it sounds!:shock:

MR Rule number 1A: "Checked Luggage is anathema to Mileage Runs! "

 

[NM]

.. Probably better to have them lost at LHR then left at MCT...

At least if they were lost at LHR they would not be lonely. At any point in time there must be more lost bags at LHR than all the other airports added together :shock:

 

[simongr]

MR Rule number 1A: "Checked Luggage is anathema to Mileage Runs! "

Semper fi...

 

[JohnK]

This MR stuff with bags is not as easy as it sounds!:shock:

And it is not much fun when your perfectly legal 1.5 hour connection is turned into half an hour. The aircraft pushed back on time but just did not move for over an hour. I barely made the connection myself having to go from one terminal to another but my bags unfortunately did not make it. It took one week before I finally got them and that was at the beginning of the holiday.

 

[vt01]

And it is not much fun when your perfectly legal 1.5 hour connection is turned into half an hour. The aircraft pushed back on time but just did not move for over an hour. I barely made the connection myself having to go from one terminal to another but my bags unfortunately did not make it. It took one week before I finally got them and that was at the beginning of the holiday.

And I don't know which is a bigger risk.
If I check them through to MCT and, like you, barely make the connection but my bags don't, they'll get to MCT a day later and wonder where I've gone! oh back to LHR... and when they get there -oh where to now? SIN.. Ok off to SIN - now where's he gone??? oh down to BNE.. he's gone again??? My bags will surely think I'm trying to lose them....

At least if I only check them to LHR and they get left there.. they should end up in lost luggage or unclaimed luggage or whatever it is and I should be able to find them the next day when I return from MCT.. Maybe I should attach a large note - 'IF LOST, MY OWNER WILL BE ON QF10 DEPARTING LHR date and time. PLEASE HOLD FOR COLLECTION' - What do you think?? Wishful thinking:?:

 

[JohnK]

At least if I only check them to LHR and they get left there..

I would probably take this option.

If I had my time over again I should have found luggage storage in ORD and left my luggage there, instead of risking tight connections, whilst I went on the status run. I had plenty of time in ORD before and after the status run. Anyway we live and learn by our experiences....

 

[vt01]

I would probably take this option.

If I had my time over again I should have found luggage storage in ORD and left my luggage there, instead of risking tight connections, whilst I went on the status run. I had plenty of time in ORD before and after the status run. Anyway we live and learn by our experiences....

Thanks Johnk.
And in my case, live and learn by your experience..