RTW questions...

[AviationNZ]

Hi,

I am planning another RTW (either a oneworld Explorer or Global Explorer) trip for work for about 4 weeks in July-August, and have a few questions.

Firstly (and very very unfortunately), my company only flys me in economy at the moment, however, they are happy to upgrade me on QF flights using the company AMEX points (which we do through my uncle being the boss). Therefore, with all of my planning, flying on QF metal is first and foremost for the longhaul legs to get the best opportunity of flying in J. And secondly, gaining more SC should also be taken in account.

My travel will start in SYD, and for work needs to incorporate the following cities; LAX, SFO, SEA, YVR, YYZ, LHR and back to SYD. If possible I would also like to see JFK and DXB for a few days each. Also, spending a few days in MEL before and on the way home would be great if possible.

I'm not 100% on the benefits of using a oneworld Explorer or Global Explorer, but my initial thinking would be this LONE4...

SYD-MEL-LAX-SFO-SEA-YVR-YYZ-JFK-LHR-DXB-BOM-MEL(via SYD)-SYD.

This gives me the Pacific crossing on QF metal and the flight from Mumbai to Australia on QF metal. Would this all work? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[simongr]

Hi,

SYD-MEL-LAX-SFO-SEA-YVR-YYZ-JFK-LHR-DXB-BOM-MEL(via SYD)-SYD.

This gives me the Pacific crossing on QF metal and the flight from Mumbai to Australia on QF metal. Would this all work? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If the BOM-MEL flight is actually BOM-SYD-MEL youe LONE4 will terminate in SYD and you wont be able to do BOM-SYD-MEL-SYD.

If you are wanting to do use up the Australia sectors what you could do is start in BNE (say get a cheap flight to BNE) and then you can route back through SYD however you want.

 

[AviationNZ]

If the BOM-MEL flight is actually BOM-SYD-MEL youe LONE4 will terminate in SYD and you wont be able to do BOM-SYD-MEL-SYD.

If you are wanting to do use up the Australia sectors what you could do is start in BNE (say get a cheap flight to BNE) and then you can route back through SYD however you want.

Thanks. Would that mean I can still to BNE-MEL-LAX...BOM-SYD-MEL-SYD???

 

[simongr]

Yes that would seem fine - you might even be able to chuck in ...bom-syd-mel-syd-adl-syd as long as at the syd-adl-syd did not include a stopover.

 

[AviationNZ]

What if the original BOM-SYD-MEL-SYD doesn't include an actual stopover in SYD on the way through to MEL, do they still not allow that routing???

 

[simongr]

Any return to teh point of origin ends the trip. They used to allow it (but QF wouldnt book it) but the rule was changed late last year

 

[AviationNZ]

Bugger!!! Ah well, like you say, a cheap flight to BNE would be the answer.

I'm also having massive problems with the SFO-SEA-YVR-YYZ leg cause there aren't any oneworld airlines operating these routes. I think I may change it and just do BNE-MEL-LAX-YYZ-JFK-LHR-DXB-BOM-SYD-MEL-SYD and worry about SFO-SEA-YVR on their own...

 

[dragonman]

Bugger!!! Ah well, like you say, a cheap flight to BNE would be the answer.

I'm also having massive problems with the SFO-SEA-YVR-YYZ leg cause there aren't any oneworld airlines operating these routes. I think I may change it and just do BNE-MEL-LAX-YYZ-JFK-LHR-DXB-BOM-SYD-MEL-SYD and worry about SFO-SEA-YVR on their own...

you could do SFO-DFW-YVR-DFW-YYZ long way round but its doable

 

[NM]

Why not buy a cheap SYD-MEL to start the journey as a separate ticket. Then buy the the LONE4 ex MEL. Then you can come back to SYD and still have a few AUS sectors available later so long as you don't go back to MEL along the way.

 

[serfty]

There are easier ways to get between SEA and YVR than travelling oneworld.

I'm trying to get to SEA on a LONE4 in June and it's seems best achieved from the eastern states or via ORD/DFW.

 

[DTM1]

the one thin that appears to have been overlooked with all of this is that if the OP travels on a LONE4, he will not be able to use any points to upgrade any of the legs.

However, if status is the aim, then fine, but it's just something to bear in mind.

 

[simongr]

Why wouldn't be able to upgrade QF flights? Only NOQ booking class are prohibited.

Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Flight Upgrades

 

[serfty]

the one thin that appears to have been overlooked with all of this is that if the OP travels on a LONE4, he will not be able to use any points to upgrade any of the legs.

However, if status is the aim, then fine, but it's just something to bear in mind.

Actually, L class is quite valid for upgrading as Discount WHY. This is true for Qantas Frequent Flyer Points on Qantas Flight numbers on Qantas metal.

More than that, if ticketed by AA and an AA flight number on AA metal, then three contiguous segments on US domestic AA flights can be upgraded to First Class with 15K AAdvantage miles. (As long as there is availability in the A fare bucket.) If one is AA Gld, Plat or EXP it can be done with 'stickers'.

 

[AviationNZ]

OK, I think I'm getting close to signing this one off, here's what I have planned...

MEL-SYD-SFO-LAX-DFW-YVR-(SEA)-DFW-YYZ-JFK-FCO-LHR-MAN-LHR-DXB-BOM-SYD-MEL

Can anyone see any problems with this??? Since it'll be a LONE4 I wanted to maximise time of QF metal in an attempt for upgrades (hence the BOM-SYD leg).

With the OW itinerary planner I get an error with exceeding my 4 Europe sectors, how much extra is it to get the additional sector put in???

 

[serfty]

... With the OW itinerary planner I get an error with exceeding my 4 Europe sectors, how much extra is it to get the additional sector put in???

The oneworld Iterary planner is buggy.

You only have 4 European/ME segments (...FCO-LHR-MAN-LHR-DXB...)

You should employ MileageMonkey instead.

Assuming DFW-YVR-(SEA)-DFW actually means DFW-YVR,SEA-DFW (i.e. a surface segment YVR to SEA) then the routing should be fine for now. Note that such a surface segment counts as one of your "20" ("16" after June 1) so it's 17 segments. From 1st June the routing becomes invalid for ticketing.

 

[AviationNZ]

Yes, the YVR-SEA part is a surface segment.

I'll give MileageMonkey a go.

Thanks