OW global deal niceties and nuances

[drcam]

I am considering buying a OW global deal (miles not continents) in J class. The rules state that all intercontinental travel must be on a continuous easterly and westerly direction.

I have a few questions which will affect my schedule:

(1) Most of the time going from North America to South America is an easterly direction, but a flight from New York is actually in a westerly direction (just). So does this effectively mean that you can go from North America to South America in a westerly direction?

(2) If I want to go from Santiago (which is east of Lima) to Auckland, does that violate the rules because Santiago is east of Lima? Backtracking is allowed, but are you only allowed to cross every meridian only once in your intercontinental flights?

(3) If you fly from, say Melbourne to Perth with a stop in Adelaide, do your miles add up in two separate segments or is it taken as the straight-line distance from Melbourne to Perth?

(4) How do I win the lottery to fund this trip?

Responses will be greatly appreciated.

 

[serfty]

Assuming you mean a DGLOBnn, then:

1. Often intercontinental Travel wholly within a TC is considered neither Easterly nor Westerly. The TC's are:
   • TC1: North & South America
   • TC2: Europe & Africa
   • TC3: Asia & SWP
   However I'd choose my route carefully, SYD-LHR-LAX-HKG-AKL-SYD may be considered invalid with the HKG-AKL betwixt continents being rather Easterly on a Westerly routing. (YMMV)
2. Should be fine
3. MEL-ADL-PER
4. Those who know the answer aren't telling!

reference: oneworld Global Explorer

 

[oz_mark]

1. MEL-ADL-PER

Not that there is much difference in this example (<40 miles), the extra SC's for doing this might be more valuable!

 

[drcam]

Re question 3: I meant if the plane stopped in Adelaide for 20 minutes and you simply waited in transit.

 

[simongr]

You should basically get miles for each fliught number you fly on. So if on QF1 SYD-LHR you get the straight line distance. Flying MEL-ADL-PER you should get two flight numbers (and thus two BPs) and the points mel-adl-per.

I dont think though that you will be able to book a flight with 20 mins on the ground in ADL unless you buy separate tickets - and that would be a foolhardy strategy unless travelling with no luggage (checked or hand).

 

[oz_mark]

Re question 3: I meant if the plane stopped in Adelaide for 20 minutes and you simply waited in transit.

You would just get the PER-MEL miles, if such a flight existed. There is no such currently timetabled flight, and even if you get the same plane (and this does happen!), the flight number changes.