Round the world- no idea

[Cynicor]

Hi guys,

Been reading the site for a while, but only just decided to post now that two friends are planning a round the world trip on a one world explorer.

I've noticed the AA platinum challenge thread and tried to figure it out, but i'm not exactly sure of what the xONEx tickets are, or whether they could benefit from this.

So far their plan is to go from perth to lima, mexcio city, las vegas, new york, london, morrocco, cairo,then goa/mumbai, beijing and hong kong.

The plan is to see europe via a eurorail pass and they also want to see kathmandu. Before they see the travel agent does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to structure the trip or even if this sort of itinerary is possible, and whether they could benefit from the AA challenge?

As they are students their aim is to keep the airfare reasonable, so it will be economy class, and they are based in perth. Also, should/where can they add flights to maximise miles or status credits.

Apologies if this has been asked numerous times, just point me in the right direction if so, and thanks in advance.

Jon

 

[NM]

Tip 1: Don't go through a travel agent unless you feel you really must. Book the OneWorld Explorer (also known as xONEx) directly with AA and they will save several hundred dollars

Tip 2: If considering the Platinum Challenge, then route to South America via North America. They can pass through NA twice so long as one is a transit on the way to/from SA. Then use the AA flight number on the QF operated flight trans-Pacific.

You have mentioned a lot of stops and may run into some sector limits with the ticket. There is a maximum of 20 sectors (and more than 16 means they need a paper ticket rather than e-ticket), and maximum of 4 sectors in each continent except for NA where they can have 6.

 

[simongr]

If you can I would go to the oneworld site and download the oneworld planner - its a tool that gives you all the flight schedules of all the oneworld airlines.

Also - go to this link - mileage monkey and use the oneworld planner to make sure that the planned itinerary is valid - I use it all teh time for quite complex itineraries.

As NM says - the best way to book is by the phone to AA - I have tried various options locally but AA was the best. Its an international phone call but it was a short call - probably cheaper than a bus ride to a TA

If you want any help with the itin - just ask - - that's what I have done many times

 

[Dave Noble]

Other than visiting Shanghai, the rest should be quite doable and just purchase a HKG-PVG-HKG ticket ( unless Dragonair comes in as a One World Carrier before you purchase a ticket )

Due to limits on the number of Long Europe sectors that can be done, you also need to purchase a sector within Europe . In the example below you would need to purchase a CAS-LHR ticket

Can do it as PER-MEL-SYD-LAX-LIM-MEX-DFW-LAS-ORD-JFK-MAD-CAI-LHR-CAS ...LHR-BOM-HKG-PER

Comes in as 16 Sectors

3 Sectors in SWP
0 Sectors in SA
4 Sectors in NA
4 Sectors in Europe
1 Sector in Asia

The journey from Perth to Lima with PER-SYD-LAX being done on the AA codeshare will nicely complete the Platinum Challenge

If wanting to add an extra trip in OZ ( e.g. PER-ADL-PER for later in the year ) then change to PER-SYD-LAX and then the MEX-DFW will complete the challenge

Dave

 

[Cynicor]

Thanks for that guys, especially for that sample to work off.

Now i have somehting that looks like this

PER-SYD-LAX-LIM-MEX-DFW-LAS-ORD-JFK-MAD-IST-LHR-CAI-LHR-BOM-HKG-PER

16 sectors i think, and neither the oneworld planner nor mileage monkey raise any objections.

Is it do-able or is there something that may get in the way of it or the AA challenge?
Also, I tried to search, but what advantage is there to the e-ticket in this case. My flight Per-Sin-Per was paper last week, but before that it's been mostly e-tickets; so should they bother keeping the sectors below 17> or is iit mostly for convenience?

Otherwise they could change the tail end of the trip to HKG-PVG (or PEK?)-NRT-PER

Thanks again guys,

Jon

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks for that guys, especially for that sample to work off.

Now i have somehting that looks like this

PER-SYD-LAX-LIM-MEX-DFW-LAS-ORD-JFK-MAD-IST-LHR-CAI-LHR-BOM-HKG-PER

16 sectors i think, and neither the oneworld planner nor mileage monkey raise any objections.

Is it do-able or is there something that may get in the way of it or the AA challenge?
Also, I tried to search, but what advantage is there to the e-ticket in this case. My flight Per-Sin-Per was paper last week, but before that it's been mostly e-tickets; so should they bother keeping the sectors below 17> or is iit mostly for convenience?

Otherwise they could change the tail end of the trip to HKG-PVG (or PEK?)-NRT-PER

Thanks again guys,

Jon

Being able to get an eticket is conveniant. If your itinerary needs a paper ticket and needs 16 sectors or fewer then it can be printed by machine; at 17 sectors AA has to handwrite the ticket

If you want to do the challenge then ensure that PER-SYD-LAX is on the AA codeshare and not the QF flight number. Do it on the codeshare and by arrival in the USA the challenge will almost be completed

For jfk-mad, also make sure to use the AA codeshare on the IB flight to ensure that full mileage is earned

Dave

 

[NM]

If you want to do the challenge then ensure that PER-SYD-LAX is on the AA codeshare and not the QF flight number. Do it on the codeshare and by arrival in the USA the challenge will almost be completed

And if you still have an extra SWP sector, then routing PER-BNE-AKL-LAX, or PER-BNE-MEL-LAX will complete the challenge on the sector to LAX and hence earn the 100% platinum bonus on the long-haul flight ensuring more AA miles in your account.

 

[Dave Noble]

And if you still have an extra SWP sector, then routing PER-BNE-AKL-LAX, or PER-BNE-MEL-LAX will complete the challenge on the sector to LAX and hence earn the 100% platinum bonus on the long-haul flight ensuring more AA miles in your account.

I don't think that AA has codeshares on the PER-BNE flights though

Dave

 

[NM]

I don't think that AA has codeshares on the PER-BNE flights though

Dave

Ah yes, then they will need to go PER-SYD-MEL-LAX for just over 10,000 miles.