My first DONE4, expert advise please.

[Evan]

Well.... i have done some planning... and so far i have this crazy routing ! Plan to ticket soon as i will be in Japan in a few weeks and even thought i may start it as part of my return to Singapore.

KIX-SIN-HKG-LHR-MCT-LHR-SFO-MIA-BOS-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-SYD-CNS-MEL-CNS-MEL-SIN-HKG-KIX

58k miles and about 2100 SC's (if all credited to QF and i think not taking to account any 2 class F/Y flights in NA)

I could start in NRT intead of KIX but i have a reason to be in KIX and i don't think it makes any difference for any flight.

So a couple of questions for the experts...

- The ANC flights are from May 1st onwards, i assume they are bookable now ?
- I live in MEL so any alternate Australian routing i would be interested in (I used CNS instead of AKL just because i could, but may change)

- Any ideas for SC maximising routing in Europe avoiding LHR ? FRA would be good for me, as would HEL or anywhere in Russia etc, just for something different.

E

 

[Mwenenzi]

What are the cities you want to visit and what are only for getting SC/miles ?

Go to Mileage monkey for checking

 

[simongr]

In terms of the ANC flights I would get in quick. I thought of doing these in July and even though I tried to book three months out there was no A availability.

I assume you are travelling just on hand luggage on this trip? If not then a lot of this is a bit of a gamble.

Great routing though. Only problem I might forsee is the 2 flights in Asia followed by a gap and then a return to Asia. I know from a SYD origin that you can not do that - but from a KIX you might be able to. One for the experts to check.

How long are you planning to do this over? On a short trip (3 1/2 weeks) I found this pretty gruelling - pretty rewarding though.

Final point - get a notebook and start prepping thr trip report

 

[dragonman]

My recent experience would suggest that there are a few steps to take. I suspect you have done a couple of these.

1. Read the trip reports of simonngr and kiwiflyer.

2. Make extensive use of mileagemonkey and the OWmap.

3. Give strong consideration to using AA to originate your DONE4 in NRT

 

[serfty]

Nice routing, your NA segments will earn an additional 270 SC's making a total of 2,370.

 

[Keith009]

Great routing.

The flights in continent of origin can be flown at either the start or end of the itinerary, or both. Just make sure that you only have 2 stopovers in Asia.

 

[serfty]

The Seasonal DFW-ANC flights commence on May 1st 2008 and cease on 30th September.

At this point in time there is plenty of A class around. IME, this will start to become scarce early next year.

 

[Evan]

Thanks for the input...

Mwenenzi, thanks, i was using MM and it says its valid.

Cities....

Asia: Osaka, Singapore (I live here part time).
Australia: Melbourne (Where i live rest of the time)
Europe: I want to visit some East Europe cities, not fully decided yet but i will just take side trips if needed. Muscat or one of the Middle east cities becuase i have never been and would be happy to go and its good for some miles, but would do a FRA-AMM or something like that also to avoid LHR.
USA: Never been to Alaska and thought why not, and some miles, have friends in Texas to visit, want to visit NYC, so USA i am happy with for the trip.

I plan only to take hand luggage and i will be splitting the trip up into some different segments, i will just use paid or award flights to make the connections.

Dragonman, Yes, i will be using AA from Japan, i think i can also di from KIX (Osaka), if not i will just train it up or come via NRT when i visit again in 3 or 4 weeks.

QF009, Yes i think my 2 stops in Asia will be both the SIN stops (i assume the 2 stops can be the same city, if not i will just make at HKG)

All i can't decide is if i avoid LHR, but give up a huge number of miles.... same some taxes.
Tonight i will sit down and finish planning the dates and checking availability.

I assume AA will want to use AA flights where ever possible, ie the JFK-SYD, but i can later change them to a QF flight number if i can't convince them to ticket a QF flight number ? Since i have heaps of QFF points i can try and use for F upgrades.

E

 

[Platy]

Can someone clarify an issue when booking a DONE4 through AA and paying through their NRT office....say I plan a DONE4 ex-NRT does the first flight have to be on an AA flight number? If so, what are the options for AA flight numbers ex-NRT?

 

[Evan]

I was using the OW PDF in the planning and SVX (Ekaterinburg, Russia) only appears from BUD (Budapest, Hungry) but looking at the OW timetables windows application i do see there is a BA flight (BA7585 operated by bmi)

hmmmm, this is a possible change i see, but how to do without backtracking....

E

 

[wandering_fred]

I was using the OW PDF in the planning and SVX (Ekaterinburg, Russia) only appears from BUD (Budapest, Hungry) but looking at the OW timetables windows application i do see there is a BA flight (BA7585 operated by bmi)

On xONEx all flights must be OPERATED by OW members, though code shares BETWEEN members are permitted. This allows for a certain amount of mileage/points maximization......

Or stated another way, code shares with non OW airlines are not permitted with the xONEx fares. xGLOBx fares permit a slightly enlarged set of airlines

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[dragonman]

I am sure that your first flight does not have to be on AA. the trick is to call the AA RTW desk in Dallas and get the "all-star" agent. PM me for details if you like.

 

[Keith009]

Can someone clarify an issue when booking a DONE4 through AA and paying through their NRT office....say I plan a DONE4 ex-NRT does the first flight have to be on an AA flight number? If so, what are the options for AA flight numbers ex-NRT?

No the first flight does NOT have to be on AA. You don't even need to have any AA content, but they'd sometimes make a fuss out of zero AA overwater content. You could always book on AA flight operated by CX or JL to chuck some revenue their way - that way you also get the status bonus if accruing to QFF.

Evan - yes you can make both stops in SIN.

 

[Evan]

SQ009, thanks, that is useful news.

Where it is a QF flight i want to use a QF flight number so long as F is offered since i will apply for upgrades. (Just because i can and never really had the first experience)

The guys and girls at work were amazed that i managed to research & book my DAS13 over Dec/Jan on days they did not even see availability in whY for return flights, i could not imagine a DONE4 without the tools like EF. I planned and checked in about 20 mins, and booked immediatly after.

Just can't decide on my Europe routings.... Any idea what the tax & charges difference between LHR and FRA is ? is it much... since FRA would limit my options given i have maxed my sectors elsewhere in the trip.

I am not actually chasing SC so much, i am only planning on visiting places i want to visit, eg ANC is because i want to, not just because is SC, as is Muscat or somewhere in the middle east, because i have never been and want to see atleast a country or 2.

E

 

[Keith009]

SQ009, thanks, that is useful news.

Who's that?? :shock:

Just can't decide on my Europe routings.... Any idea what the tax & charges difference between LHR and FRA is ? is it much... since FRA would limit my options given i have maxed my sectors elsewhere in the trip.

UK premium APD makes LHR more expensive if you stopover there - about 80quid for long haul departure.

I don't believe there's F on QF's service to FRA though.

 

[Evan]

Useful news about the doubt stop in SIN being OK. But i expected it would anyway.

A double visit to LHR could be an extra $360 or so, all adds up on the charges.... i just got hit almost $600 taxes and fuel fines today... All out of my pocket so it hurts !

Funny i made QF gold again next year in one booking today (Well close enough 580 SC of the 600 to renew) so may even consider if i want to credit a number of the DONE4 to QF, maybe i should divert any not required for plat flights to AA or to CX.

E

 

[simongr]

I don't believe there's F on QF's service to FRA though.

Correct - two-class flight SYD-SIN-FRA on QF5.

[OT]

Just checking the available options to get to FRA from SYD on the OW schedule tool - SYD-SIN-FRA is the only one-stop flight to FRA from SYD. All others are pretty much via LHR... except for the SYD-AKL-SCl-xx_-FRA options running at 40 hours... not as direct a route as it could be one guesses

[/OT]

 

[wandering_fred]

Just checking the available options to get to FRA from SYD on the OW schedule tool - SYD-SIN-FRA is the only one-stop flight to FRA from SYD. All others are pretty much via LHR... except for the SYD-AKL-SCl-xx_-FRA options running at 40 hours... not as direct a route as it could be one guesses

But then the schedule tool doesn't show some of the more interesting ones
especially if you can fly on Mondays, Thursdays or Saturdays
QF1 SYD 18:05 BKK 23:10
MA81 BKK 00:30 BUD 06:10
MA520 BUD 07:45 FRA 09:35

Or is that wandering too much?

Fred

 

[simongr]

That looks like a pretty good routing and if you can get into F you should get the caviar service

 

[NM]

What about CX via HKG? or JL via NRT?