RTW- One World Airfares- any advice appreciated

[Nick M]

Hi,

Wow! What a great source of information form some very informed travellers!!

Im travelling in just over 2 weeks from Sydney and haven't yet booked my round the world ticket.
From the investigations I have done it looks like the one world Global Explorer is the way to go.

I plan on visiting the following destinations:

:arrow: Asia- Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong, India; then to,

:arrow: Europe- London (to work for a while), Egypt, Greece, Morocco- if the route works- the travel agent had reservations on these requiring me to lose a segment and fly via London! (I figured I'd try to maximise distances, and try to get shorter/cheaper flights while in London); then to

:arrow: South America- Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru; then to,

:arrow: Australasia- (might fly to Brisbane, then get a red e-deal flight back to Sydney, and then take it up again within the 12 months to fly to NZ and back, and then to Sydney, as advised in pervious posts I've found .

I want to get the most "bang for my buck" and any advice would be appreciated. I originally wanted to use my Qantas FF points (approx. 200,000) but as only the dates for the Asian sector of my trip are definite, it was too hard.

Should I join any other FF programs?
Can I use my points for anything (upgrades), or just keep buiding them?
Is this the best RTW ticket for me?

Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated!
It's my first big trip and is daunting to say the least!!
Thanks.

 

[NM]

G'day Nick and welcome to AFF.

You seem to have done your research pretty well so fare. You can't use a OneWorld Explorer (LONE4) fare for this trip as you cannot get to Vietnam on that fare. The CX flights HKG-SGN are specifically excluded in the fare rules. However, on the Global Explorer (LGLOB34) fare you can use the QF/VN codeshare to get there. That means using QF359 from SYD or MEL (depending on the day or travel). But you will then need to purchase a separate fare from SGN (Ho Chi Minh City) to some other Asia port where you can pick up the other Asia segments (still can't use CX flights between Hong Kong and Vietnam).

So you may actually be better off buying a separate ticket to get to SGN, say from SIN, HKG or BKK, then you are open to use LONE4 or LGLOB34 fare type depending on the needs in other regions.

So perhaps start SYD-HKG, then separate ticket HKG-SGN-HKG with CX of VN), then HKG-NRT-HKG-BOM using CX. Note that CX flights in L class do not earn much on most other airline's FF programs, so you may want to consider using the CX operated AA codeshare HKG-KIX as your entry into Japan (depends where you want to go in Japan). Similar for the return to HKG. Then you can choose to go HKG-BOM-LHR or HGK-BOM-HKG-LHR. The first option is obviously best for Global Explorer (being less miles) and is one less segment permitting its use elsewhere.

The OneWorld Explorer fare is restricted to two segments between the UK and number of eastern European/North African countries, which includes Greece, Morocco and Egypt. So you can't go LHR-ATH-LHR-CAI-LHR as your 4 European segments. Only one of these destinations could be visited. The Global Explorer fare does not have that restriction, but to use up the available 34,000 miles very fast with all the back-tracking.

Another European option is to go LHR-(BA)-ATH-(IB)-MAD-(IB)-CIA-(BA)-LHR. That is only two of the restricted segments between UK and the far countries, and uses Iberia and their Madrid hub for the connection. You could then purchase a cheap MAD-CMN fare from IB or AT (Royal Air Morocco).

Europe to Argentina has a few options. Avoiding going through the USA will mean a choice of IB from MAD or BA from LHR. Note the BA flight is not daily and is operated via GRU (Sao Paulo, Brazil). With BA you get the option to pay for an upgrade to World Traveller Plus which will provide more comfort on the overnight flight as well as much better earning rates in either QF or AA FF programs.

You may chose to stop first in GRU and than later continue on to EZE (Buenos Aires), but this is now two segments even if you use the same BA flight number. So South America can look something like this: LHR-(BA)-GRU-(BA)-EZE-(LA)-SCL-(LA)-LIM-(LA)-SCL, being 4 segments within the continent.

Then of course its LA trans-Pacific. If you use the OneWorld Explorer fare, you can return to SYD direct on the LA flight (using QF codeshare for better earning rate on QF or AA program). If using the Global Explorer and if you have any miles left, you could return SCL-AKL than AKL-BNE/MEL and a red-e-deal back to SYD and pick up again later. But I really don't believe you can fit it into a LLGLOB35 mileage restriction.

So for me, I would be going with OneWorld Explorer as follows:

SYD-(BA-WT+)-SIN

Separate ticket SIN-(SQ/VN)-SGN-(CX)-HKG

HKG-(AA)-KIX-(AA)-HKG-(CX)-BOM-(BA-WT+)-LHR
LHR-(BA)-ATH-(IB)-MAD

Separate ticket:
MAD-(IB)-CMN-(IB)-MAD

MAD-(IB)-CAI-(BA)-LHR

LHR-(BA-WT+)-GRU-(BA)-EZE-(LA)-SCL-(LA)-LIM-(LA)-SCL-(QF)-SYD

and saving a few Aus domestic flights for the end.

I would be posting to AAdvantage and making Platinum before hitting London.

 

[QF WP]

What he said. NM is the expert in that field (tickets, fares etc) and I'll take on the advice about FF programs. Great tag team...

From the flights/tickets that NM has suggested, the OW Explorer ticket could be credited to AAdvantage and you should undergo a Gold and Platinum Challenges (this is the old version, read it for the basic understanding of what the Challenge means). The main reason NM has suggested the BA WT+ to SIN as the first segment is that it will meet a Gold Challenge. So a newly minted AA Gold member will be born + have Business Class check-in access from this point.

Then you can separately undergo a Platinum Challenge for your next sectors (depending on timing of your flights) so that you'll reach Platinum by the time you reach LHR.

For the separate ticket, the CX flight SGN/HKG you should credit to your QFF account, because it's the only one where you'll achieve any FF points - CX is terrible earning on AA.

For you to understand the AA earning rates for each airline in your ticket, refer to this page and then click on the airlines. There is a separate (new) table for your AA flights here.

Assuming you accept this advice, because you'll be in SIN when you achieve the Gold Challenge and LHR when yuo achieve the Plat Challenge, AA will be sending you the membership kits to your nominated address. In order to gain access to the Lounges, you need the Platinum card. To solve this conundrum, for any travel before you receive the Plat kit, you'll need to visit the AA Reservations office (in either SIN, HKG and/or LHR, wherever you have the time) to get them to issue you with a letter confirming your current status. I'd recommend that just before you leave Australia, you change your mailing address on your AA account to your future address in London. That way, for all future flights, you'll have your card (you definitely need your card for the LHR Lounge dragons)...

There is much more information to give you, but let's do it slowly so you understand each step (plus I'm at work and can't give it all at once :roll: ).

 

[serfty]

G'day Nick and welcome to AFF.

You seem to have done your research pretty well so fare. You can't use a OneWorld Explorer (LONE4) fare for this trip as you cannot get to Vietnam on that fare. The CX flights HKG-SGN are specifically excluded in the fare rules. However, on the Global Explorer (LGLOB34) fare you can use the QF/VN codeshare to get there. That means using QF359 from SYD or MEL (depending on the day or travel). But you will then need to purchase a separate fare from SGN (Ho Chi Minh City) to some other Asia port where you can pick up the other Asia segments (still can't use CX flights between Hong Kong and Vietnam). ...

NM, this changed last year, you now can get to Ho Chi Minh City !

FLyerTalk link: xONEx - minor rule changes May 15th: travel to Vietnam permitted after July 1st

 

[serfty]

Since Singapore is not on your list and you can get to SGN from HKG, I would suggest purchasing a LONE5 (with an additional Asian segment for $200 extra) ... Assuming Economy Travel.

e.g. SYD-HKG-SGN-HKG-NRT-HKG-DEL-LHR- ...

 

[NM]

Since Singapore is not on your list and you can get to SGN from HKG, I would suggest purchasing a LONE5 (with an additional Asian segment for $200 extra) ... Assuming Economy Travel.

e.g. SYD-HKG-SGN-HKG-NRT-HKG-DEL-LHR- ...

With the CX flights from HKG-SGN now being possible (thanks for pointing that out - its difficult getting current rules now that they hid them on the QF Agents site), that would be a good option.

My reason fir suggesting SYD-SIN as the start was to permit the use of WT+ and hence complete the Gold Challenge on that initial flight.

If using QF to HKG, it may be an option to use some QF FF points to upgrade to business class, but that can cause problems with AA challenge posting as you need to change the FF details for the sector and that can sometimes lead to confusion.

Note that it should fit into a LLONE4 fare. No North America or Africa needed.

 

[Nick M]

Wow, you guys are amazing!

Okay. The travel agent is hassling me now to sort it out today, she says that the price may go up from tomorrow....... Not sure if she's just trying to get her comission before end of month....

So,
What if I fly the following:

SYD-SIN (leaving about 14 April)
seperate ticket SIN-SGN-HKG
HKG-KIX (is this Kansai, Osaka? That's where I need to get to. I could leve from Tokyo though)-HKG-BOM-LHR (arriving about 14 May)
London-Rome
Morocco-London
London-Cairo
Istambul-London
(sorry, not sure of all the codes!)
Then LHR-GRU-EZE-SCL-LIM-SCL-SYD as suggested. The order here doesn't really matter though- whatever works best!

Sorry for being so vague. There's alot to decifer and I haven't even picked up a Lonely Planet!

Thanks again!

 

[serfty]

That's using only 3 asian sectors when you can have four.

Modifying the route I suggested to suit your needs (SYD-HKG-SGN-HKG-KIX-HKG-BOM-LHR-) and buying that fifth sector (for $200) would be a cheaper option than going via SIN and purchasing a separate fare to SGN.

 

[Nick M]

Okay, but should I be trying to get the AAdvantage challenge too?

 

[NM]

Depends on how much you want to spend. If you have the money and want some extra comfort, then using BA WT+ between SYD and SIN is gong to go a long way towards the AA Plat challenge (will complete the Gold Challenge).

Then you could use a sep tix SIN-SGN and pick up the LLONE4 from SGN, continuing to HKG on CX as is now permitted.

Otherwise, if not using BA WT+, do as suggested by serfty and purchase a 5th Asia segment.

From HKG, make sure you use the AA codeshare flight number if you want to do the AA Plat challenge. KIX is Osaka. You can lookup airline and airport codes at this site.

Note that with a LLONE4 fare, you only have 4 segments in EMEA and only two can be between the UK and eastern European and North Africa countries including Egypt, Greece and Morocco. So you can't include London-Morocco-London and London-Egypt-London. That is why I suggested doing LHR-ATH-MAD-CAI-LHR to get you to two of your desired countries with only two of the flights being to/from the UK.

Yes, there are rumours that there will be fare price and possibly rule changes on 1st April, but nothing has been confirmed in any of the forums I follow.

 

[Nick M]

Sorry, what is the BA WT1?
I think I'd like to take on the "challenge" as I do have a bit of money and do like comfort!
London-Rome
Morocco-London
London-Cairo
Istambul-London would all be one way.

Could also do London-Germany one way.

Thanks again,
-Nick.

 

[Dave Noble]

WT+ is BAs World Traveller Plus cabin; wider seats, more legroom plus laptop power

On an ATW ticket issued in Australia/New Zealand , the surcharge is AUD600 per sector , except for SYD-LHR which costs AUD900. If issued anywhere else, then the surcharge is USD350/USD450 or local currency equivalent

Definately worthwhile, plus when taking Candy Thief challenges, SYD-LHR will easily complete the challenge on its own since you earn 1.5 points per mile flown.

Also, unlike L class which earns 0.25 miles per mile flown, T class earns 1.1 miles per mile flown

Starting an ATW with SYD-LHR in T class, you will earn 10500 miles base plus 10500 bonus for completing the challenge plus 1050 cabin bonus, gving a single flight earning of 22,050 miles; travel in economy on QF and you would earn 5,250 miles and travel on BA in economy and you would earn 2,625 miles

Dave

 

[Skyring]

Wow, you guys are amazing!

My thoughts exactly!

This discussion group is an amazing source of information and advice freely given from people who know what they are talking about. I'm not yet fully convinced that it works out to a net saving in money. I get on here and I feel an itch to hop on a jet and smile at a hostie.

I'm a few hours away from a RTW departure. Sitting here in the QC in Sydney after burning up my Oz legs of a DONE4 to and from Perth. CBR-MEL-SYD, with an unexpected refuelling stop in ADL. The advice I've gotten here has been invaluable in helping to arrange the details, such as making sure that flights are booked using the carrier's code to get access to lounges.