Trip planning DONE4

[simongr]

Or just pack for both trips in the one bag and check it through from BKK to JFK

The only problem with that is I am travelling WT+ SYD-BKK-SYD on BA which gives me a 23kg allowance. Given that BKK is going to be stinking hot and JFK will be stinking cold it migth push me over my baggage limit. The BKK flights are not part of the DONE4 so I dont think I can con them into giving my 30KG all flights (incl SYD-BKK-SYD)

Thanks for the heads up on the seats

S

 

[simongr]

Well I just got the quotes from the TA and the cost of the DONE4 was $10,332 whereas the cost of the SYD-JFK-SYD flight was $16,616. The only thing is that the open sectors added to the end are not on the itinerary. I am happy to waive those this time if it makes it to hard to book at such short notice - I want the LHR-LCA-LHR flight locked in.

Strangely just checking on the QF website - for the same dates going straight back from JFK a J class seat as $15,270 and First class is $16,170.

 

[Dave Noble]

Well I just got the quotes from the TA and the cost of the DONE4 was $10,332 whereas the cost of the SYD-JFK-SYD flight was $16,616. The only thing is that the open sectors added to the end are not on the itinerary. I am happy to waive those this time if it makes it to hard to book at such short notice - I want the LHR-LCA-LHR flight locked in.

If you are happy to pay USD125, you can always add them in later. I don't see how it would be any harder to include them and a competant agent should only take an extra minute or so to add them in and wouldnt affect your LCA flights

When selecting seats on the LHR-LCA-LHR flights I would suggest choosing from the centre pair of 2 seats since these will be the ones which have been reduced from 3 to 2 seats and so has a nice armrest gap between you and the other passenger

Dave

 

[simongr]

This is the same TA that tried to book me into the Renaissance in Reading when I was working in London and suggested 3 potential rates for hotels in Singapore: Pan Pacific S$275, Marina Mandarin S$280 and Raffles at S$500+ why do you think I spent all my time (and yours) working out the exact details for travel and then sent it to them....

Still concerned about baggage - I read the bagge thread where people explained about the allowances for ATW travel and that if you had a flight through the US (for example) you could get an alloance of 23kg/bag - which is effectively twice as much as my 23kg total for my WT+. Mind you I think just so I dont have to cart US autumn travel baggage through THailand (not staying in BKK the whole time) it might be easier to rely on the housesitter.

 

[simongr]

When selecting seats on the LHR-LCA-LHR flights I would suggest choosing from the centre pair of 2 seats since these will be the ones which have been reduced from 3 to 2 seats and so has a nice armrest gap between you and the other passenger

Dave

Thanks again (how many times have I said that???) once the trip is booked and assuming they use my QFF number rather than my AAdvantage number I will jump onto check my trip and check out my seats - will then be a few calls to get the best seats (I really need to get this Platinum challenge finished so I can rely on that for status for good seats).
If not using my QFF number - it will be a bit more complex but not too awful

Edit

Just checked the QF website and they have used my QFF number now its off to checkmytrip.com

 

[Dave Noble]

Still concerned about baggage - I read the bagge thread where people explained about the allowances for ATW travel and that if you had a flight through the US (for example) you could get an alloance of 23kg/bag - which is effectively twice as much as my 23kg total for my WT+. Mind you I think just so I dont have to cart US autumn travel baggage through THailand (not staying in BKK the whole time) it might be easier to rely on the housesitter.

If the agent is that incompetant, then once you have started your journey, pop into an AA ticket desk and get them to add the sectors in and pay them the USD125

The luggage allowance on the ATW ticket is 2 pieces. AAs weight limit per piece is 23Kg and they will charge USD25 if the luggage exceeds 23Kg but is no more than 32Kg. The other carriers on your journey will allow 32Kg per piece

The DONE4 has a 2 piece allowance regardless of whether your travel includes North America

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks again (how many times have I said that???) once the trip is booked and assuming they use my QFF number rather than my AAdvantage number I will jump onto check my trip and check out my seats - will then be a few calls to get the best seats (I really need to get this Platinum challenge finished so I can rely on that for status for good seats).
If not using my QFF number - it will be a bit more complex but not too awful

Edit

Just checked the QF website and they have used my QFF number now its off to checkmytrip.com

For the BA flight, just go to British Airways and use manage my booking and you can nicely do your own seat selection

For business class travel, I don't see that having the QF number in the booking will have made much difference in seat selection anyway to be honest

Dave

 

[simongr]

My concern with that is that the SYD-BKK-SYD flights are not part of the DONE4 so I am not sure that they would apply the same rules. But in relaity I dont expect the flight to be delayed and the house sitter can always drop the bag off for me (I will have it packed anyway).

Sadly BA have reached their pre-allocation limit on the Larnaca flight - but lots of seats are showing as unallocated. Might be time to give them a call

 

[simongr]

For the BA flight, just go to British Airways and use manage my booking and you can nicely do your own seat selection

For business class travel, I don't see that having the QF number in the booking will have made much difference in seat selection anyway to be honest

Dave

Yep - learnt that tip from you guys a while ago. I think because the flight hasnt been ticketed yet it might not be letting me book seats. Might need to wait a few minutes

 

[Dave Noble]

Yep - learnt that tip from you guys a while ago. I think because the flight hasnt been ticketed yet it might not be letting me book seats. Might need to wait a few minutes

It does not need to be ticketed in order to be able to use the seat selection facility. Looking at Expertflyer it would seem that the Y pre-allocation has been met but that there are still seats available in J

Dave

 

[simongr]

In a un surprising new twist I got sent a separate quote of $1500 for a business class return to BNE rather than adding it to my DONE4 - morons...

 

[Dave Noble]

In a un surprising new twist I got sent a separate quote of $1500 for a business class return to BNE rather than adding it to my DONE4 - morons...

Umm.. Why do you use this travel agent if they are so incompetant?

Dave

 

[simongr]

Its arranged through work - they are our official TA. I think they might have actually added the domestic legs to the DONE4 as it is showing up on the QF website (note that even though I have said use my AA number they still use QF...) with extra "dummy" domestic legs added.

Currently I have no idea how much we will be charged or what they have booked :/

 

[Dave Noble]

Its arranged through work - they are our official TA. I think they might have actually added the domestic legs to the DONE4 as it is showing up on the QF website (note that even though I have said use my AA number they still use QF...) with extra "dummy" domestic legs added.

Currently I have no idea how much we will be charged or what they have booked :/

for future, you could try phoning Qantas and holding the booking with them and then seeing if you can get the agent to take over the booking and issue the ticket. Get a layer of incompetance out of the activity

Dave

 

[simongr]

I was stunned today that they actually booked my DONE4 exactly how I specified - that was a net win

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

for future, you could try phoning Qantas and holding the booking with them and then seeing if you can get the agent to take over the booking and issue the ticket. Get a layer of incompetance out of the activity

Dave

That would depend on work's travel policy. Annoying if they arent competent.

 

[simongr]

Its weird that on my itinerary on manage my booking on BA that the domestic sectors now show. I have NFI what the domestic quote was all about :/

 

[simongr]

Fracking fracking frack!!!

I thought these people were idiots before but checking my itinerary on line on the QF website I now seem to have the following booking

4/11 syd-lax QF011
4/11 akl-lax aa7315
8/11 jfk-syd qf108
9/11 lhr-lca BA662
12/11 lca-lhr ba663
12/11 lhr-hkg cx254
13/11 hkg-syd cx111

Not sure how I get to fly on both planes to LAX and not sure how I get to NY from LAX - drive maybe? Going to be tricky as well to get to LCA from LHR as I will be on a plan going the other way to SYD???????

My (shared) PA is about to request that I get access to deal direct with the TAs - its getting a bit much for her...

 

[Skyring]

Fracking fracking frack!!!

I thought these people were idiots before but checking my itinerary on line on the QF website I now seem to have the following booking

4/11 syd-lax QF011
4/11 akl-lax aa7315
8/11 jfk-syd qf108
9/11 lhr-lca BA662
12/11 lca-lhr ba663
12/11 lhr-hkg cx254
13/11 hkg-syd cx111

Not sure how I get to fly on both planes to LAX and not sure how I get to NY from LAX - drive maybe? Going to be tricky as well to get to LCA from LHR as I will be on a plan going the other way to SYD???????

No, no. You have the wrong attitude entirely, brother. Let these things wash over you and let the natural way show through.

We have people on this board who will happily fly those extra legs for you. No. No charge, it's a pleasure to help you attain a simpler and more stress free life.

 

[simongr]

Slightly tense at the moment as the itinerary that they provided as an option was exactly what I wanted - not its jibberish. I would prefer to be on the afternoon flight to LAX - just no D seat availability. I dont want my business to be hit with a $26K bill rather than a $10K bill and be sat at SYD working out how to get to AKL....

I gave them the fligth numbers, times, itinerary and they still get it wrong :shock: I could probably get a better deal booking it myself - or getting my corporate travel agent in the US to book the flights!