oneworld - DONE3 From Vietnam - need sagely advice

Hi all

This is my first post on this site, so I hope its OK to start with a toughie (well its tough for me but hopefully its basic for the gurus :))

I live in Australia, and will be doing the RTW thing from March next year to the beginning of November.

With the strong Aussie Dollar, and the 10% sale things out of reach before (like business class) are almost doable.

But I'm finding so many rules/sneaky issues its making my head spin

So I need some help - Pretty please

The trip can start anywhere in Asia thats using USD - and the best spot seems to be vietnam, as I want to end my trip in Vancouver.

I am not sure of the airport codes, but the plan is:

Hoi Chi Min City, Tokyo, Seoul, Helsinki, Rome, London, New York, Cancun, Miama, Dallas Fort Worth (or something on a direct route to Anchorage), Anchorage, Land to Vancouver, and then back to the start

Phew!

Theres a few things I have picked up through reading, like ALWAYS book through AA because of fuel surcharges. I have checked and there seems to be an office in Vietnam'

But how do I do that, call them direct or use the number on the one world website?

Also I am a Qantas Frequent Flyer Member, but is that any use - or should I be looking for another membership?

Also the taxes seem to change with destinations, and places like London seem to increase the price a bit, is that true or am I imaging it.

Just one other thing - there seems to be a service to Iceland, that finishes towards the end of the year. How come? Thats a destination I am hanging out for and if I could tack that on I would be very happy.

Sorry for all the questions, but people here seem to know where its at. And to be frank I have no clue,

This is my first big trip, and I need to know that I have got the best deal I can.

I can do flatseats (now) and have some idea of how to find things, and even know things I did not like if you change airports in the same city it counts against youf allowance. But I am still clueless on all of the real tough stuff.

Any help so very much appreciated ^

First, welcome to FT!

It can all be quite confusing at first, so read up on the sticky threads and don't be bashful about asking questions.

Of which you have a lot...

The trip can start anywhere in Asia thats using USD - and the best spot seems to be vietnam, as I want to end my trip in Vancouver.Why confined to countries with USD-denominated fares? If you're in Oz, just figure how the exchange works out.

For the time being, with fares converted to AUD, Vietnam as an originating country for a DONE3 is okay, but not as cheap (again, AUD terms) as Sri Lanka or the Philippines. Maybe getting to either is more difficult for you but that's the math.

I am not sure of the airport codes, but the plan is:

Hoi Chi Min City, Tokyo, Seoul, Helsinki, Rome, London, New York, Cancun, Miama, Dallas Fort Worth (or something on a direct route to Anchorage), Anchorage, Land to Vancouver, and then back to the startSGN-NRT-ICN-HEL-FCO-LON-NYC-CUN-MIA-(ORD/DFW)-ANC//YVR-(NRT/HKG)-SGN. Note "LON" and "NYC" are used because of multiple airports in each area. ANC can be accessed (northern summer only) from either Dallas or Chicago; from Vancouver you can get back to Vietnam either via Hong Kong or Tokyo.

Note even if you were wanting to "end" the trip in Vancouver, your ticket would have to show you returning to Vietnam.

Phew!

Theres a few things I have picked up through reading, like ALWAYS book through AA because of fuel surcharges. I have checked and there seems to be an office in Vietnam'

But how do I do that, call them direct or use the number on the one world website?"Always" is a long time. In general the Oneworld booking tool defaults to the first operating carrier as the ticketing source. In your case that would be JAL. I don't know if having the ticket issued by AA would be that much cheaper than by JL.

If you want to go with AA, the easiest way is to set up the itinerary with the AA RTW office in the US (use Skype or other VOIP) for issue in Vietnam (or other country.) Once you have the PNR (record locator) you then contact the AA office in Vietnam and give them your credit card etc. (they may want a fax of the card and passport) and they ought to be able to bill your credit card and issue the e-ticket. Then you just show up at HCMC airport the day of your first flight, and off you go.

Also I am a Qantas Frequent Flyer Member, but is that any use - or should I be looking for another membership?

Business class RTWs offer a very rich harvest of miles in any program; choosing the right one really depends on your longer-term plans, whether you want to attain elite status, where you'll be flying the most, etc. Too long a topic for this thread; this is what FT is all about.

Also the taxes seem to change with destinations, and places like London seem to increase the price a bit, is that true or am I imaging it.You have to distinguish between taxes and other charges like fuel surcharges. There are numerous taxes that apply, depending on where you stop and for how long. The big hit in the UK is the "air passenger duty" charged on departures from the UK, which in business or first class are very high for long-haul flights (e.g. LON-NYC) but notably lower for short-haul. So you can manipulate your itinerary that your transatlantic flight is from someplace besides the UK, and you'll save money.

Fuel surcharges are another matter. Those depend on the carrier with which you're flying, and with who issues the ticket. At the moment, some OW carriers seem to include much higher fuel surcharge totals in RTW tickets than others, hence the suggestions to use AA whenever possible, as AA hasn't been charging so much. But this is a moving target and one needs to do some careful comparative shopping. But we're talking a few percent of the total ticket price in the worst case.

Just one other thing - there seems to be a service to Iceland, that finishes towards the end of the year. How come? Thats a destination I am hanging out for and if I could tack that on I would be very happy.There used to be service to KEF but it was withdrawn not long ago.

Sorry for all the questions, but people here seem to know where its at. And to be frank I have no clue,

This is my first big trip, and I need to know that I have got the best deal I can. As do we all.

I can do flatseats (now) and have some idea of how to find things, and even know things I did not like if you change airports in the same city it counts against youf allowance. But I am still clueless on all of the real tough stuff.

Any help so very much appreciatedHappy planning and don't be a stranger!

Gardyloo

thanks for the outstanding reply and all the time it must have took.

Its really appreciated :)

Know its a bit of a pain when someone new pops up with a thousand different questions (used to be a local expert on Tripadvisor).

Should have been a bit clearer on Canada, thats where we finish the big part of the trip, and because of the 90 day visa waiver we have to avoid going back through the US (so places like Vietnam are ideal)

Ill have a good lot at adjoining places, as I am not fussed about where we start. I even noticed Indonesia seems cheap, but I am not sure about that with the travel warnings out.

Re the US dollar - our little Aussie Dollar is moving up the fastest against that currency, so its looking good.

Great to know about Iceland too, now I am not concerened in thinking its a seasonal route and not loaded on. Its a shame really as its alll over their website.

I'll go back to reading more, I found the fare spreadsheets and will be having a play.

Thanks for the tasty info on London too, I looked at Paris instead and it was cheaper, so it looks like I should fly in somewhere llike that (what a tough task!)

If anyone has any other suggestions to keep me on the right track that would be awesome.

This is hubbie and mines big trip - something we have always wanted to do. We have been saving furiously. So flyertalk has proved an amazing mine of info



And cheers :cool: