RTW for my sister?

[samh004]

I need some travel advice for my sister. As a family we're all taking different flight to Europe to eventually have a holiday in Santorini this winter (/northern summer). However after the holiday she's planning to visit my dad in the US and I can't work out (website won't price) if an LONE4 would be cheaper than some one-way tickets or an open jaw. Expected route of MEL-LHR-JFK-MEL (with a few stops in between to either book or have already been booked).

Could anyone by any chance point me in the right direction for fare information? The OneWorld website refuses to price.

Also perhaps considered a cheapie to HKG and an LONE3 from there, thoughts? Could be significantly cheaper as it's 3 continents and also HKG priced but I've never done a RTW so dunno.

Thanks for any advice and for taking time out of gawking at both airlines' losses.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Australia is an expensive place to start a LONE4. NZ is cheaper, even with positioning flights. Sadly some people do miss the last flight of these *ONE* if starting from a lower cost country. With a LONE4 or LONE3 you have up to 16 segments, so may be a good ticket option.

Pandaperth is a guru on these *ONE*, but posts mainly on FT. Also for route & rule testing use Mileage Monkey but may not be 100% up to date. After 31 March when US Airways joins OW will be more routes.

OW site should price it as a simple MEL-LHR-JFK-MEL. IIRC expert flyer has base fare information. Base fare will have add on's due to airport/country real taxes and possible YQ fuel surcharges. If QF ticketed (081) will have sky high fuel YQ surcharges (but QF need the money!). If AA ticketed (001) far less/no fuel surcharges. AA have a "RTW desk"

Or how about a Aust - Eu return with a nested Eu-JFK return?
Why LHR and not another Eu city as the destination?
If price is a factor consider non OW airlines

 

[samh004]

Or how about a Aust - Eu return with a nested Eu-JFK return?
Why LHR and not another Eu city as the destination?
If price is a factor consider non OW airlines

I should check that. Though flights across the Atlantic are already pretty expensive, so a return can't be much better!

LHR doesn't have to be the airport, could be Gatwick, but we fly in/out for our Santorini leg so ultimately have to be in London. We're also visiting family.

As I bought my sister Qantas Club, which has been hardly used, I'd be leaning more towards AA across the Atlantic simply because she can use her QP and access a lounge etc. seems stupid not to use that, and I'd value it over $500 because I paid at least that in fees, so it all adds up.

Doesn't have to be NY too if that is an expensive route, as we have family in Chicago too.

 

[Mwenenzi]

I should check that. Though flights across the Atlantic are already pretty expensive, so a return can't be much better!
< snip >
Doesn't have to be NY too if that is an expensive route, as we have family in Chicago too.

BA fly to several USA airports. I thought Eu/UK-USA could be cheapish.
Have a look at the route maps in OneWorld

 

[samh004]

BA fly to several USA airports. I thought Eu/UK-USA could be cheapish.
Have a look at the route maps in OneWorld

No access to lounges with BA anymore as non-status I thought?

 

[Mwenenzi]

No access to lounges with BA anymore as non-status I thought?

Probably correct (I have not checked)
But if she does the AA plat challange she will have status Challenge (AA) - FlyerGuide On LONE3/4 this should be acheivable

 

[tuapekastar]

Some base fares from EF:

LONE4 ex-AU = 3899
LONE4 ex-NZ = 3757
LONE3 ex-HK = 4147 (!)

All figures are AUD.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Some base fares from EF:
LONE4 ex-AU = 3899
LONE4 ex-NZ = 3757
LONE3 ex-HK = 4147 (!)
All figures are AUD.

And for interest what are the DONE* base fares?

 

[tuapekastar]

And for interest what are the DONE* base fares?

DONE4 ex-AU 11999
DONE4 ex-NZ 12235
DONE3 ex-HK 11336
DONE4 ex-HK 12930

It was only a few years ago I save in the order of AUD1000 - 1500 by going ex-AKL (DONE4). NZ fares have been somewhat 'enhanced' since then (not all that long ago I think).

 

[kiwitripper64]

Just out of interest, can you do a LONE4 or DONE4 from Fiji? They have been aggressively pricing J AKL-LAX flights recently.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Just out of interest, can you do a LONE4 or DONE4 from Fiji? They have been aggressively pricing J AKL-LAX flights recently.

No. Fiji is not a OW member. QF does not fly its own aircraft to NAN IIRC and NAN is not in the OW pdf timetable. The OW *GLOB* distance based fare have some non OW airlines allowed

 

[docjames]

DONE4 ex-AU 11999
DONE4 ex-NZ 12235
DONE3 ex-HK 11336
DONE4 ex-HK 12930

It was only a few years ago I save in the order of AUD1000 - 1500 by going ex-AKL (DONE4). NZ fares have been somewhat 'enhanced' since then (not all that long ago I think).

Part of this is that the NZD has "enhanced" itself relative to the AUD.

$1.08 now per AUD vs up to ~1.25/aud previously.

 

[samh004]

Just out of interest, can you do a LONE4 or DONE4 from Fiji? They have been aggressively pricing J AKL-LAX flights recently.

No. Fiji is not a OW member. QF does not fly its own aircraft to NAN IIRC and NAN is not in the OW pdf timetable. The OW *GLOB* distance based fare have some non OW airlines allowed

I thought JQ was added to the Explorer fares as an option, and they do fly to Fiji?

Regardless, in the end we went with a multi-city, MEL-LHR-JFK-xLAX-MEL, costing slightly less than an LONE4.

I'm now trying to work out lounge access

Thanks for the help!