Qantas Frequent Flyer - QF online RTW planner

Have had frustrations using the RTW planner on the QF website.

Select SYD as departure city, and all the green squares come up as places where you SHOULD be able to travel to. But try VLI (Port Vila, Vanuatu), and you'll never find a flight, although QF has almost daily flights (codeshare with NF, Air Vanuatu). I realise codeshares complicate things, and NF is not a OW carrier, but if this is the case, why does VLI come up with a green dot?

I note that NAN doesn't get a green dot, as QF services have been taken over by JQ. And I will sadly miss the showers in the former QF Club which were a lifesaver after some long hot dusty trips to the airport...now operated as just FJ Tabua Club. There are still QF flight numbers to NAN, but no entry to Club for QF Club members on Y class without status. But clearly NAN is not available for a RTW itinerary either.

Pity, because if you can get to VLI or NAN you could continue by FJ to APW, HNL and onwards.

So is this planner just a toy/gimic? Or only useful if you follow the main drags?

[First time thread submission from a new member....]

Personally I find the flights I want on QF, and other OneWorld carrier websites and send it to Amex Platinum Travel Services. I found the online system useless for destinations in the Middle East, even trying to use London as hub it kept trying to get me to use Royal Jordanian via Amman even when BA flew that route.

Welcome to FT, interlude! The online tool has many bugs like this. It is not just the QF version, it is the entire tool. It is useful but you need to be able to work around the problems.
Also, I would not recommend to use the QF version as by doing so you will get QF as the issuing carrier which will mean hundreds of $ more in taxes and fees compared to AA for example.

If you want to plan a RTW, try this tool.

http://www.innovata-llc.com/onw/default.asp?show=MAP

Use this to find your flights and when done talk to a TA or directly to the AA RTW desk.

... So is this planner just a toy/gimic? Or only useful if you follow the main drags?

[First time thread submission from a new member....]The planner is based on oneworld.

If you are referring ot the one world explorer booking tool then those ports are not valid in any case.

But try VLI (Port Vila, Vanuatu), ......

Ahhh. I remember a long time ago attending a HHH function in Honiara. The easiest way was on Solomons Air. Even more fun was a side trip to VLI and NAN afterwards. And the milk run back to BNE. NAN-VLI-HIR-CNS-BNE in the old 732. A true full service airline. A meal between each stop and enough drinks to fill you up as well. I think they went broke shortly afterwards.

Thanks for comments. Yes, QF website does redirect to OW RTW planner, but Serfty, this was my point: if VLI and other ports are NOT valid, then why does the tool show them with a green dot, allowing you to drop a flight link to them? It all looks good, but you just get told "no flights available on the day you have selected". It would be better to just remove those ports from the tool, as NAN.

BUT THEN: I know that travel agents can book OW RTW itineraries that start from VLI or NAN and use QF flights to/from Australia...

I'm amazed at the suggestions about doing it via AA booking services, but I know you all must be right on this so will have to give it a try!

Travel agents can only book "Global Explorer" fares starting at ports wich are not serviced by oneworld alliance flights.

Even than there must be an allowable carrier/codeshare from that port.

More here: http://www.oneworld.com/content/library/global_explorer_rule_sheet.pdf

The same bug exists for other destinations served only by a OW codeshare (eg various places in Africa and Central Asia).

Travel agents can only book "Global Explorer" fares starting at ports wich are not serviced by oneworld alliance flights.

:confused:

Travel agents can only book "Global Explorer" fares starting at ports wich are not serviced by oneworld alliance flights. ...:confused:It was in reference to post #6:BUT THEN: I know that travel agents can book OW RTW itineraries that start from VLI or NAN and use QF flights to/from Australia...
To put it another way, if desired travel includes ports which are not serviced by oneworld alliance flights then xONEx cannot be used. xGLOBnn may be available if there is a service on an allowed carrier/codeshare to/from that port.

It was in reference to post #6:
To put it another way, if desired travel includes ports which are not serviced by oneworld alliance flights then xONEx cannot be used. xGLOBnn may be available if there is a service on an allowed carrier/codeshare to/from that port.

Makes sense now. I just didn't get that sentence.