Want a cookie - help me decide on a RTW route!

[Natt]

I have been working at this blasted holiday planning for so long, and I now have two contenders - woot :!:

So now I have to choose - soon.

Both are business class, and the trip is over 8 months

so.. drumroll...which one would you choose... and why?

Cookie on offer is not virtual, said cookie will be posted to the best answer (providing you are happy to send your address through a PM). I will even post to the States If you live in Australia cookie may be negotiated for another baked good.

After plugging away for days I need inspiration, and everyone needs cookies

Option 1
Seoul (indepedent)- NRT-HKG-LHR-LIS-FCO-DUS-KEF-OSL-LYR-FRA-JFK-IAD-MCO-LAS-Alaska/Anchorage (indepenent)-YVR-NRT

HKG-LHR : Air New Zealand
FRA-JFK : Singapore Airlines
YVR-NRT : Air Canada



Option 2
TYO--SEL--HEL--ZRH--MAD--ATH--LON-(independent side trip to Iceland)-LAS--NYC--SJO--MIA--DFW--ANC--YVR--JKT

SEL-HEL: Finnair
LON-LAS : British Airways
YVR-JKT : Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)

Option 1 is very hectic, but it has Svalbard, the other has Costa Rica. I have no idea about which business class is better, even after reading lots and lots.

So there you have it.

(I really hope I can offer cookies on flyertalk - if this should be in the playground section please move it there). Although cookies are serious stuff :shock:

Or please delete if its really breaking a rule

 

[drewbles]

(I really hope I can offer cookies on flyertalk - if this should be in the playground section please move it there). Although cookies are serious stuff :shock:

Or please delete if its really breaking a rule

I have no idea about flyertalk cookie rules, but AFF rules shouldn't prohibit it

 

[moa999]

I am assuming that
Option 1 is Star Alliance
Option 2 is oneworld

 

[Hawkeye]

Ok, for option 2, you would be proposing something such as:

NRT-ICN-HEL-ZRH-MAD-ATH-LHR-LAS-JFK-SJO-MIA-DFW-ANC-YVR-HKG-JKT-NRT

I am not aware of a OW service ANC-YVR which would prevent a DONE4 (but would love to find out that such a service exists).

With a bit of fiddling, the following route would be valid:

NRT-ICN-HEL-ZRH-MAD-ATH-LHR-LAS-ORD-ANC-DFW-SJO-JFK-YVR-HKG-CGK-NRT

Note that ANC-DFW & ORD-ANC are seasonal, and Mileage Monkey (MileageMonkey 0.95022) does not recognise either LHR-LAS or ORD-ANC.

 

[Mal]

Mileage Monkey (MileageMonkey 0.95022) does not recognise either LHR-LAS or ORD-ANC.

LHR-LAS is a new BA route starting today (or maybe tomorrow).
ORD-ANC is a seasonal AA flight.

I can understand why LHR-LAS isn't on Mileage Monkey, but surprised that ORD-ANC isn't as well. Perhaps it was introduced this year?

 

[dragonman]

LHR-LAS is a new BA route starting today (or maybe tomorrow).
ORD-ANC is a seasonal AA flight.

I can understand why LHR-LAS isn't on Mileage Monkey, but surprised that ORD-ANC isn't as well. Perhaps it was introduced this year?

Its a known problem that MM is not updated as often as we might like. Hence seasonal flights - ANC-ORD or ANC-DFW just do not appear currently.

LAS - LAX started yesterday (25th October). Sometimes you just got to ignore errors MM throws up.

 

[Natt]

Ok, for option 2, you would be proposing something such as:

NRT-ICN-HEL-ZRH-MAD-ATH-LHR-LAS-JFK-SJO-MIA-DFW-ANC-YVR-HKG-JKT-NRT

I am not aware of a OW service ANC-YVR which would prevent a DONE4 (but would love to find out that such a service exists).

With a bit of fiddling, the following route would be valid:

NRT-ICN-HEL-ZRH-MAD-ATH-LHR-LAS-ORD-ANC-DFW-SJO-JFK-YVR-HKG-CGK-NRT

Note that ANC-DFW & ORD-ANC are seasonal, and Mileage Monkey (MileageMonkey 0.95022) does not recognise either LHR-LAS or ORD-ANC.

oops my bad the ANC-YVR is a land sector - I too wish it existed - my bad. Both the routes are legal.

Moa - yep Option 1 is Star Alliance and 2 is One World

Hawkeye - I knew about the ORD-ANC flight - but I am going to plug your suggestion into the booking tool and see what it spits out. If I could avoid using land sector that would be awesome.

Sigh it should be easier - I have had a lovely dinner out, nice wine and I am still stressin :evil:

By the end of the week I'll know - so stay tuned :!:

And I guess if cookies are legal - Ill be putting out with a baked good

 

[serfty]

ORD-ANC is an AA marketed codeshare on AS metal so is not valid for xONEx ...

[edit]+ is a seasonal Northern Summer route for 2010[/edit]

 

[Hawkeye]

ORD-ANC is an AA marketed codeshare on AS metal so is not valid for xONEx ...

ORD-ANC on AA metal is loaded into Expertflyer, at least for northern summer 2010. I seem to recall some discussion about this on FT.

Also note, contrary to what I alluded to above, your itinerary would be a DONE3, not a DONE4 (Asia-Europe-North Am).

 

[Keith009]

Option 1
Seoul (indepedent)- NRT-HKG-LHR-LIS-FCO-DUS-KEF-OSL-LYR-FRA-JFK-IAD-MCO-LAS-Alaska/Anchorage (indepenent)-YVR-NRT

HKG-LHR : Air New Zealand
FRA-JFK : Singapore Airlines
YVR-NRT : Air Canada

If by "independent" you mean surface segment - I don't think you can start off with a surface segment.

NZ C is a great product.

Option 2
TYO--SEL--HEL--ZRH--MAD--ATH--LON-(independent side trip to Iceland)-LAS--NYC--SJO--MIA--DFW--ANC--YVR--JKT

SEL-HEL: Finnair
LON-LAS : British Airways
YVR-JKT : Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)

You can't do a transatlantic surface segment between LON and LAS unless you're going back to LON to pick up the BA flight to LAS.

And you need to end your itinerary in TYO not JKT. You have to have the same origin and destination unless you qualify for one of these exceptions:

 A- WITHIN THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN            
                     B- WITHIN THE MIDDLE EAST                  
                     C- BETWEEN THE UNITED STATE AND CANADA     
                     D- BETWEEN HKG AND CHINA                   
                     E- BETWEEN MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE          
                     F- WITHIN AFRICA                           
                     G- BETWEEN MALDIVES AND SRILANKA/INDIA

 

[Natt]

If by "independent" you mean surface segment - I don't think you can start off with a surface segment.

NZ C is a great product. ]

Good to know Air NZ comes up well.

I think I made an absolute mess of the cutting and pasting. I'll have a better go soon and I will get it right

Not starting with a surface sector with Option one just making our way to Tokyo under our own steam.

You can't do a transatlantic surface segment between LON and LAS unless you're going back to LON to pick up the BA flight to LAS. ]

yep we are

And you need to end your itinerary in TYO not JKT. You have to have the same origin and destination unless you qualify for one of these exceptions:

 A- WITHIN THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN            
                     B- WITHIN THE MIDDLE EAST                  
                     C- BETWEEN THE UNITED STATE AND CANADA     
                     D- BETWEEN HKG AND CHINA                   
                     E- BETWEEN MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE          
                     F- WITHIN AFRICA                           
                     G- BETWEEN MALDIVES AND SRILANKA/INDIA [/quote]
 
Pretty sure thats my mad keyboard skills again :evil:
 
mmm I think I owe a couple of cookies, I really appreciate the input:shock:

 

[Natt]

Okay I think I have cut and pasted right, so here goes.

ONE WORLD

JKT-HKG-SEL: Flight 1
SEL-NRT: Flight 2
NRT-LHR : Flight 3 - British Airways
LHR-ATH : Flight 4
ATH-MAD : Flight 5
MAD-ZRH: Flight 6
ZRH-LHR-LAS : Flight 7 - British Airways
LAS-ANC : Surface Sector
ANC-DFW : Flight 8
DFW-SJO : Flight 9
SJO-JFK : Flight 10
JFK-SFO : Flight 11
SFO-HKG-CGK : Flight 12 - Cathay Pacific

Theres a sidetrip to Iceland using a LCC - but thats not affecting the route.

I decided to pick up BA rather than Lufthansa (they should be Club World if I am right) and the new business class cabin with Cathay Pacfic. I also don't mind a long haul continental and I guess its good for miles ?? The 90 day rule for visa waiver was a pain too

So that one is all done :mrgreen:

STAR ALLIANCE
Before starting the flight we will be doing Korea using the cheapest fares, taking the beetle ferry from Busan to Fukoka and then will start the RTW from Tokyo after training there (hopefully thats clearer)

NRT-HKG : Flight 1
HKG-LHR : Flight 2 - Air New Zealand
LHR-LIS : Flight 3
LIS-FCO : Flight 4
FCO-DUS : Flight 5
DUS-KEF : Flight 6
KEF-OSL : Flight 7
OSL-LYR : Flight 8
LYR-OSL-FRA : Flight 9
FRA-JFK : Flight 10 - Singapore Airlines, but not in their new plane
JFK-IAD : Flight 11
IAD-MCO: Flight 12
MCO-LAS : Flight 13
LAS-YVR : Flight 14
YVR-NRT : Flight 15 - Air Canada on the new plane I think (theres a surcharge)

We plan to make our own way up to Anchorage on this one, again not affecting the booking structure

Oh that comes to 28,733 miles or something odd like that. So it is under the 29000 - thats why I picked up Washington as I would go over the miles otherwise, even though its really close

So I hope that now all makes much more sense:!:

I talked to a travel agent yesterday and they had no idea about the on-line tools. I am guessing she must be rather new to it, but at least I felt I knew something.

:shock:

Anything in these plans make people panic :?:

 

[Hawkeye]

Oneworld routing looks fine

CGK-HKG-ICN-NRT-LHR-ATH-MAD-ZRH-LHR-LAS,ANC-DFW-SJO-JFK-SFO-HKG-CGK

 

[docjames]

I wasnt aware Singapore flew FRA-JFK.

Presume last step in Oneworld is HKG not HKF?


Looks good - which one are you leaning towards??

 

[Natt]

Oneworld routing looks fine

CGK-HKG-ICN-NRT-LHR-ATH-MAD-ZRH-LHR-LAS,ANC-DFW-SJO-JFK-SFO-HKG-CGK

woot:!:

 

[Natt]

Oneworld routing looks fine

CGK-HKG-ICN-NRT-LHR-ATH-MAD-ZRH-LHR-LAS,ANC-DFW-SJO-JFK-SFO-HKG-CGK

Ah hah well spotted on the airport codes - Hawkeye you are indeed hawkeyed- all those codes look the same to me - I was almost in China accidently

DocJames - I am torn (and well spotted too). Longyearbyen is cool, but very expensive and the Star alliance has us buzzing around like bees.

At the same time is in the Arctice Circle where bears live :shock: White ones

I like the One World for the simplicty but we did have to compress america a lot. To apply for a visa I would have to go to an Embassy and the closest one is a plane flight away.

I think it will come down to the better flight product at the end of they day and how hard it is to book.

Either one I think is a pretty good plan I think

 

[Keith009]

All looks good. Now when do we get our cookies?

I wasnt aware Singapore flew FRA-JFK.

Yes they do, SQ25 SIN-FRA-JFK operated by 744. Kills the alternative that is LH C on both service and product even if it's the old Spacebed product. The timing isn't particularly convenient for connections from other parts of Europe though, as the flight leaves at about 8am which necessiates an overnight for the most part.

 

[Natt]

All looks good. Now when do we get our cookies?



Yes they do, SQ25 SIN-FRA-JFK operated by 744. Kills the alternative that is LH C on both service and product even if it's the old Spacebed product. The timing isn't particularly convenient for connections from other parts of Europe though, as the flight leaves at about 8am which necessiates an overnight for the most part.

Theres a United route Zurich to New York using the "Suite Dreams" thing, I was eyeing that up on Star Alliance.

Well we have hanbed both itinerarys to a couple of Travel agents, one is Flight Centre and I am not terribly impressed as they quote a good deal more than the on-line calculator. Hmm perhaps the RTW thing needs a specialist area.

Anyway as promised there will be cookies.

I count 8 people posted, drewbles, moa999, hawkeye (who we have established is), Maol, Dragonman, Serfty (always a font of knowledge), QF009 and DocJames

I can't decide

So if you PM me your address, and if you have a nut/gluten allergy I will arrange the promised treat and have them on there way via Aussie Post.

If you don't want to post your address thats cool, I'll assume you are on a diet But I promise once the cookies are on the way I will delete the post, and will promptly forget (not hard for me)

So the offers there

 

[Keith009]

Theres a United route Zurich to New York using the "Suite Dreams" thing, I was eyeing that up on Star Alliance.

I would consider LX ZRH-JFK. The new C seats on the A330 looks awesome! I am not very sure of the implementation schedule though as not all aircraft have the seats yet. Though having said that the old product is still sensational. If not needing to be in FRA or wanting to overnight there LX would be the way to go.

 

[Natt]

I would consider LX ZRH-JFK. The new C seats on the A330 looks awesome! I am not very sure of the implementation schedule though as not all aircraft have the seats yet. Though having said that the old product is still sensational. If not needing to be in FRA or wanting to overnight there LX would be the way to go.

Wow thats awesome to know - Zurich was actually where we wanted to go (Alpine Express Train).

Its actually Zurich to Washington - that might actually help with taxes too (maybe?)

and its a route
http://www.suitedreams.united.com/

Hmm that sounds like a winner then?