Trip planning DONE4

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simongr

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I have done a search here on validating flights one a oneworld explorer ticket and found the mileagemonkey. That is really useful to validate a known route. I also have a link to the ITA trip finder - again really good to find routings. But what I can seem to do without doing multiple searches over and over again is find something that can plan valid oneworld routings for me.

I might have to go to the UK for a couple of days in october and am thinking that if I compare costs I could get my boss to approve a oneworld explorer flight.

My routing at the simplest level would have to include SYD-LHR-PFO-SYD. Obviously there needs to be a few flights inbetween. Having done a few searches on the ITA site I cant find anything that can get me from LHR (or anywhere in England [Birmingham/Manchester] really) to PFO and then on to SYD.

I think I will have to fly something like SYD-LAX-JFK-LHR-[tbc]-PFO-[tbc]-[tbc]-SYD. I really dont care about maximising miles and dont care if I have to have multiple flights as long as I am not away from home for too long. I would probably spend 3 days in london and 3 days in PFO. I could fly into LCA - as there is a direct flight LHR-LCA - but not sure how to get out of Cyprus on a oneowrld flight.

Cheers

S
 
From Cyprus, you would have to head back to somewhere like London and then continue from there; e.g. PFO-LGW-AMS-HKG-SYD or LCA-LHR-BKK/SIN/HKG-SYD

Dave
 
Is that allowed on a oneworld explorer? Going in the opposite direction?
 
simongr said:
Is that allowed on a oneworld explorer? Going in the opposite direction?

Yup, no issue.

The OWE allows 4 flights within Europe , no problem backtracking within a continent. Can happily do LGW-PFO / PFO-LGW-AMS-HKG

Dave
 
AY also flies to both PFO and LCA (from HEL naturally).

LCA-LHR would be easiest though (unless you need to stop in London, LGW-LHR shuffle is a pain).
 
Just trying to work out if the two hour drive from PFO-LCA is worse than the LGW-LHR shuttle - obviously less risk of missed flights as departure from family house in PFO mountains will be fixed.

I guess the question I should have asked first is whether a oneworld explorer business class is cheaper than a SYD-LHR business class return?
 
That depends on where you buy the DONE4 from, and whether you include the value of additional flights (eg the DONE4 includes 4 southwest pacific flights, so you can include some intra-australia travel on the itinerary).
 
I probably wouldnt factor in the intra-Oz flights as I need to compare a flat cost for my boss (if the LHR trip goes ahead and if he condones this from a perception point of view with the rest of the business). Basically they will pay the LHR rate and if the DONE4 rate is the same or lower then they would approve (possibly).
 
simongr said:
Just trying to work out if the two hour drive from PFO-LCA is worse than the LGW-LHR shuttle - obviously less risk of missed flights as departure from family house in PFO mountains will be fixed.

I guess the question I should have asked first is whether a oneworld explorer business class is cheaper than a SYD-LHR business class return?
You can fly J with CX in October from $7469 (inc) (SYD-LHR-SYD). (more)
 
Hmm - just checked the Qantas website and they had a oneworld explorer fare on 4 continents as A$10,741- which obviously is more than the cathay fare suggested by Serfty.

Hmm - might need more research :)
 
simongr said:
Just trying to work out if the two hour drive from PFO-LCA is worse than the LGW-LHR shuttle - obviously less risk of missed flights as departure from family house in PFO mountains will be fixed.
If you don't need to go through LHR, then consider a routing like Dave Noble suggested as PFO-LGW-AMS-HKG-SYD. There are places you can fly to from LGW that will connect to HKG (using CX).
simongr said:
I guess the question I should have asked first is whether a oneworld explorer business class is cheaper than a SYD-LHR business class return?
Certainly cheaper for DONE4 compared with full fare J ticket. The cheapest published fare using OneWorld for a return business class SYD-LHR is the BA promotion JUP5 or JUP6 where you pay for Club World and get an upgrade one-way to F pending availability. That are costs $10,950+++, while a DONE4 will cost $9609+++.
 
NM said:
If you don't need to go through LHR, then consider a routing like Dave Noble suggested as PFO-LGW-AMS-HKG-SYD. There are places you can fly to from LGW that will connect to HKG (using CX).

Certainly cheaper for DONE4 compared with full fare J ticket. The cheapest published fare using OneWorld for a return business class SYD-LHR is the BA promotion JUP5 or JUP6 where you pay for Club World and get an upgrade one-way to F pending availability. That are costs $10,950+++, while a DONE4 will cost $9609+++.

The Qantas website is offering SYD-LHR r/t for $9722 including taxes which isn't much less than a DONE4 ( purchased from AA ) would cost with a fare of $9609 plus taxes

Dave
 
From Best Flights
  • Cathay Pacific business class from SYD-LCA via HKG and LHR with 2 stopovers in each direction 6979+++
  • Finnair, Qantas and British Airways business class from SYD to Over 50 Cities in Europe 6399+++
 
For me I would compare against a full flexible fare. For example my flight SYD-NRT would be a comparable type of fare:

AIRFARE $4,960 plus $347.78 airport/departure taxes (subject to change). Thats direct in J with QF. Not sure of the fare class.

Rebooking : Permitted FOC
Re-route : Permitted must reissue
Reissue : Permitted FOC
CANCELLATION FEE $350
 
garyjohn951 said:
The Cathay airfare is very restrictive, doesn't allow stopovers.
Can't stopover in HKG and LHR? It does mention 2 stopovers in each direction! Oh well, don't always believe what you read.
 
D'oh - in searching for a tool to do this planning for me I forgot I had the oneworld timetables program on my laptop which has a oneworld explorer planning tool - linked into timetables.

the reason I forgot it is that I have it on a local profile which I only use to install software when I cant IT support. Its actually a really useful tool on my first run through :)
 
Just a quick follow up on = one thing I havent factored into teh DONE4 costings for multiple stops is the taxes/fines - I assume that if I bolt on a SYD-MEL-SYD-MEL-SYD then I will have to add in the cost of taxes to each flight?
 
simongr said:
Just a quick follow up on = one thing I havent factored into teh DONE4 costings for multiple stops is the taxes/fines - I assume that if I bolt on a SYD-MEL-SYD-MEL-SYD then I will have to add in the cost of taxes to each flight?

Yes, but the taxes are not very much. both SYD-MEL and MEL-SYD are about $11, so would add about $44 in taxes

Dave
 
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You have 12 months to complete the DONE4

simongr said:
Just a quick follow up on = one thing I havent factored into teh DONE4 costings for multiple stops is the taxes/fines - I assume that if I bolt on a SYD-MEL-SYD-MEL-SYD then I will have to add in the cost of taxes to each flight?
The best value is Aust long flights like SYD - Perth or Darwin. Remeber you have 12 months to complete the DONE4. DONE4's are cheaper in NZ at the moment (i.e. start in AKL)
 
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