Purchasing a One World RTW ticket to start outside Australia

[Natt]

Hoping someone can help

I came up with a DONE4 from Vietnam, and have been having all sorts of trouble.

My understanding is that you used to be able call AA, get the PNR and then pay for it using a credit card at the local AA office of the country the fare has the first flight from.

So when we tried this the lovely lady from AA told us blunty no.

They have apparently "caught up" with this and the fare must be no less than the same fare in the country that the CC was issued (so in this case Australia)

Qantas said close to the same thing. They said if they have to apply a conversion, they have to use the Australian price.

Is this true? Its different from what has happened in the past!

I also had a think.

If this rule applies and you want to book a fare product thats not available in Australia (LONE3 or DONE3), does that mean you could use the price from the country of departure.

Gosh just when I thought its all sorted and I was ready to book it all becomes messy! :shock:

 

[djfuzz]

Are you unable to use the online tool to complete the booking?

I know if your first flight is not an AA flight, you obviously have to pay more +++, but at least it's a start.

 

[serfty]

The the actual rule is based on "Place of Purchase" not where the CC was issued - although the AA call centre based in Brisbane has been doing this.

What you need to do is contact AA in Vietnam to pay for the booking. (After setting up the routing, flights etc with the AA ATW desk in the USA).

Another technique is to use either AA in Canada or a Canadian Travel agent to book it for you (be careful though, CA TA fees can be high).

I am in the process of booking an ex AKL LONE4 and at no stage will I be buying "from" Australia (I will be calling from NZ).

Also, booking via Qantas may not necessarily be more expensive, especially if you have an AA transatlantic flight in the routing.

 

[Natt]

Wow

thanks for all the quick replies - we tried the AA thing and no joy there.

The travel agent is an idea.

I can access the online booking system but am a little wary with the lack of support should stuff go wrong.

Also we will not be completing the last sectors until Oct-Nov. So I cannot book them online.

It interesting but by the time you add on all the little extras Star Alliance looks comparable - even with the 10% off at the moment.

I did find out something very interesting, hubbie rang Qantas and because there is no 3 continent fare they said they will have to use the overseas price.

So you could pay in Aussie Dollars!

Anyway I am sure it will all sort itself out.

Just a very, very steep learning curve

 

[serfty]

... Also we will not be completing the last sectors until Oct-Nov. So I cannot book them online. ...

Yes you can! Book a mirror routing of your last segments during, say, August 2010, then re-book for free* in November when all your remaining dates become available.

The LONE4 I mentioned is planned to have its final segments in March 2011.

* Service fee may be payable - depends upon how/who you book it /with.

 

[Natt]

Yes you can! Book a mirror routing of your last segments during, say, August 2010, then re-book for free* in November when all your remaining dates become available.

The LONE4 I mentioned is planned to have its final segments in March 2011.

* Service fee may be payable - depends upon how/who you book it /with.

Ah ha this explains a lot

qantas wanted to charge to change dates, but this would be a fee they charge then, rather than actually penalties like a change of route?

So how come people dont buy on-line then and go with travel agents.

Is it because of foregin currency transaction fees, or to get some sort of points?

Or because they have insurance against dumb mistakes?

I have a wizard clear card, and I have been told there are no foreign currency conversion fees

sorry to ask all the dumb questions - I really appreciate the guidance

 

[serfty]

Route change/re-ticketing costs USD125 per passenger each time a change is made.

There is no such listed penalty for simply changing dates/carrier/class (without changing ticketed points), although service fees may be charged by individual agents/airlines.

Qantas do charge a service fee. AA have historically not done so.

Here's the rules: http://www.oneworld.com/content/library/oneworld_explorer_rule_sheet.pdf

 

[serfty]

... So how come people dont buy on-line then and go with travel agents.

Is it because of foregin currency transaction fees, or to get some sort of points?

Or because they have insurance against dumb mistakes? ...

For our first sector, I want to fly QF25 from AKL to LAX so I can put in for an upgrade.

Booking online would ticket this to Qantas who charge service fees just about every time they do anything to these bookings so I want to ticket through AA.

As for "Dumb" mistakes, the xONEx fares are very flexible and are, indeed, at least 90% refundable.

 

[russianrob]

Does anyone know of a list of who charges what fees for service currently?
CP and JL of particular interest.