xONE4 start point???

[QuikSmart]

I know a lot of forum members start their xONEx from NRT, and I understand there a 3 main reasons for this..

1. Cost - exchange rate lowers the ticket price
2. AA - buy through a AA and take advantage of lower fuel taxes etc.
3. Ability to separate journey in to distinct sections. I.e. Europe/US then SWP, then Asia.

Has anyone had any experiences in commencing out of the JNB. I'm looking at doing an AONE4 and the ticket from SAfrica is about half the AUS price.
My starting point in Aus will be Adelaide. Even with the addition of 2 x Y tickets (myself and wife) to JNB, we would still come out.

The concerns I have are...
1. Flight limitations in Africa. Can't take advantage of boosting miles and SC's. Can basically go to JNB-CPT-LHR
2. Would have to buy a AONE5 if I wanted to travel back through Aus.

Is there anything else I shoud be considering? Or are there other start points to consider?

 

[Keith009]

xONE4 ex-S Africa is perfectly doable by leaving out Asia- Africa->SWP->NA->Europe->Africa.

That of course removes the many MR opportunities in Asia. Come June however I don't think there's much opportunity for MRing anyway due to new 16 segment limit, without being at the expense of places I actually want to visit.

The following is an excellent guide on how to organise a oneworld global product via the ATW desk:
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-tips/rtw-j-3-000-less-12843.html

Further, the following threads on FT detail the process of payment/ticketing via Mindpearl, AA's GSA in CPT:
DONE5 ex-South Africa - FlyerTalk Forums
again AONE ex South Africa - FlyerTalk Forums

Note that Mindpearl will only agree to issue if you have one overwater segment on AA metal - ie not just codeshares operated by QF/JL/CX.

MRU might be cheaper than South Africa for AONEx in terms of base fare but 1) you can only ticket via BA in MRU who levy a USD300 service fee in addition to the fuel fines ; 2) the only immediate intercontinental flight is MRU-LHR, which has V thin availability.

 

[moa999]

I know a lot of forum members start their xONEx from NRT, and I understand there a 3 main reasons for this..

1. Cost - exchange rate lowers the ticket price
2. AA - buy through a AA and take advantage of lower fuel taxes etc.
3. Ability to separate journey in to distinct sections. I.e. Europe/US then SWP, then Asia.

Has anyone had any experiences in commencing out of the JNB. I'm looking at doing an AONE4 and the ticket from SAfrica is about half the AUS price.
My starting point in Aus will be Adelaide. Even with the addition of 2 x Y tickets (myself and wife) to JNB, we would still come out.

The concerns I have are...
1. Flight limitations in Africa. Can't take advantage of boosting miles and SC's. Can basically go to JNB-CPT-LHR
2. Would have to buy a AONE5 if I wanted to travel back through Aus.

Is there anything else I shoud be considering? Or are there other start points to consider?

Would suggest a visit to the Flyertalk Oneworld forum.
Other note is that I believe the AA agent in SA charges a surcharge but it is still not signifcant in the scheme of things.

Other closer places you might consider are Vietnam and the Phillipines (both also with AA offices). QF009 has a post on the Phillipines on this site.

but if you don't have a need to visit Africa you are comparing an SA AONE5 vs an Aussie/ Asian AONE4

 

[Keith009]

Mindpearl charges USD30 to issue tix.

Other closer places you might consider are Vietnam and the Phillipines (both also with AA offices). QF009 has a post on the Phillipines on this site.

but if you don't have a need to visit Africa you are comparing an SA AONE5 vs an Aussie/ Asian AONE4

Yes especially if you have a need to visit Asia.

I've yet to compare prices for AONEx, but I believe there are some posts about South Korea being quite competitively priced. They too are graced by the presence of an AA GSA.