New QF RTW booking system...

[munitalP]

Hi Ya'll

A while back I posted a question regarding the DONE? bookings and even though the replies I got were awesome, I still had huge trouble (mainly with timing) going down the approprate paths to get the prices - in the end I just gave up and admitted defeat, hand balled it to my PA who after a day or so admitted defeat who in turn hand balled to our corp travel agent who just never replied! :evil:

Twas the eve of Christmas past when the thumbs up was basically given for the approval to do the RTW conference and customer visit thing in early 2009.

My original plan (which changed a number of times) was MEL/LAX (1 night stopover), LAX/MCO, (5 nights stopover), MCO via Chicago/Frankfurt, (5 night stopover), Lyon/LHR (2 night stopover), LHR/MEL (possible stopover in SIN for a day in Jakarta)

OK, I have been mucking around over the last few days to get my flights looking like this is a happening thing, on the QF, AA and BA sites (after using the OW planner) to get flight costs etc and "move" flights to better suit my needs.

Then I had a play with the QF RTW booking system - wow

Connected direct to the OW RTW "engine" and I can book and pay my flights from there! I am assuming that this is an easy way to purchase the DONE? flights - my total cost in discount Y was a tad over 4K and in J under 9K. (the SIN Jakarta is seperate)

Has anyone used this new system on offer yet? I plan booking in the next few days and it seems to be a "way easy" system...

Mr!

 

[serfty]

I would not use the link available on Qantas.com; this will only ticket with Qantas - thereby probably costing more that say, the same routing with AA. :shock:

There is a thread on this already, see here:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...gram/qantas-com-have-line-oneworld-15608.html

and on FlyerTalk:

• oneworld xONEx online booking tool [merged threads] - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[Dave Noble]

I wouldn't use it unless you want to pay the extra fuel fines that QF wonts to charge. I would just call the AA ATW desk , hold the booking and then pay AA AU

Dave

 

[serfty]

I note your thread here and how calling AA (in OZ) was frustrating:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/done4-15299.html

Here's a thread on how I did it earlier this year:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...advantage/detail-using-aa-rtw-desk-12473.html

If using the online tool use the "oneworld" version here:

• oneworld - Plan and Book your Itinerary

 

[munitalP]

....just call the AA ATW desk ...
Dave

Am I missing something here? - I was on the phone "on hold" for hours (literally) trying to get this done earlier this month...

Is there a particular number that avoids the phone ques such?

Tell me more Dave...

Mr!

 

[simongr]

With a properly planned and checked itinerary I have booked a DONE4 in 7 mins from dialling to hanging up...

The hardest part was then paying in AU - just terrible hold music for the AA.au call centre.

 

[Dave Noble]

When phoning the ATW desk on +1 800 247 3247 I have rarely had to wait more than a minute or so

Dave

 

[serfty]

Am I missing something here? - I was on the phone "on hold" for hours (literally) trying to get this done earlier this month...

Again, Here's a thread on how I did it earlier this year:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...advantage/detail-using-aa-rtw-desk-12473.html

Use the phone number as provided by Dave.

OR you can use the oneworld link above (not Qantas) and make sure your first segment is on an AA codeshare number - you would be ticketed on AA "E-"stock ...

 

[Evan]

- AA rtw desk has had a number if sick people in the last days, they sound really stressed ! but are happy and getting though it, just on hold a while.

If you can use an AA code share fantastic use the online tool.

If no AA desk and pay it is i guess. Maybe use the UK desk like i did for my ex ICN one last week.

E

 

[Febs]

When booking RTW's I've always just loaded up this:
oneworld - Plan and Book your Itinerary

..then chosen my flights, printed the itinerary to a PDF, sent it to the corporate TA and said "Book please". TA comes back to me if any flights are unavailble (i.e. no D availability) and we sort through alternatives. Corporate TA's certainly have their problems, but I find if you give them the date, time and flight number, they generally get it right.

(We have to book through Qantas, so that's not a concern.)

Actually I did pretty much the same thing when booking my QF Award Explorer RTW (140,000pts), only instead of the corporate TA I spoke to Qantas directly. Pretty easy really, and I was surprised to get every single flight I wanted bar one (DXB-LHR...had to leave a day earlier or so, not a big deal really).

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[simongr]

Corporate TA's certainly have their problems, but I find if you give them the date, time and flight number, they generally get it right.

This is why I can not see the point in using them - you do all the hard work and they get a fee...

 

[Febs]

This is why I can not see the point in using them - you do all the hard work and they get a fee...

Agree wholeheartedly.
Although in our case, the discounts they seem to get (especially on fares like SYD-LAX-SYD in J) well outweigh the hefty fees they charge.

E.g. Once got SYD-LAX-DFW-MCI-DFW-LAX-SYD in QF J and AA F (not YUP/KUP) for around $10k from memory.

My biggest beef is the domestic booking fee they charge, for bookings purely through their online system (which is a terrible, terrible system). Any human involvement in the booking process and the fee goes up. :evil: