oneworld - Why Fare Discrepancy Between Online Planner & RTW Desk

Tried to book DONE04 ex-AMM online. Got to the pricing page but unable to ticket after entering CC info. When I set up itinerary over the phone with RTW desk, pricing is $500 more.


AMM-DXB-LHR-LAX-MIA-DFW-PSP-DFW-MIA-BOS-NRT-BKK-HKG-AKL-MEL-LHR-AMM

Fare from Online Planner; $7,193.00 + 982.10 taxes = 8,175.10 USD

AA RTW desk $8,545.64 Canadian $$ ($US 8,665.92)

Just curious -- BA fuel surcharges???

Are there any differences between the two itineraries, such as different flights, or one using a code share?

Tried to book DONE04 ex-AMM online. Got to the pricing page but unable to ticket after entering CC info.So the tool still isn't fixed? This bug has been known about for some time. It appears to be caused when it gets sent to AA for ticketing and the first flight isn't an AA operated, AA coded flight (so mostly starting with JL or RJ).

When I set up itinerary over the phone with RTW desk, pricing is $500 more.They did the same thing to me last year.
I had an ex-ICN DONE3 (ICN-NRT-DFW-ANC-DFW-ATL-ORD-SFO-JFK-FCO-MAD-LHR-DXB-LHR-SIN-HND-GMP) which failed to ticket via the tool. Ended up setting up the booking with the AA RTW desk and using a travel agent in Canada to ticket. AA quoted $400 more then the tool had. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld/1243358-pricing-confusion.html

Are there any differences between the two itineraries, such as different flights, or one using a code share?

No. Flights seem to be the same. I read from my printed online tool itinerary to the RTW agent.

I had same experience on a DONE03 ex-AMM I booked last fall; i.e., couldn't book with online tool (got to CC page then error message) & booked with AA RTW at higher fare.

I had this same experience booking a DONE4 ex-AMM. But I did eventually tinker with the itinerary enough until the online tool finally accepted it.

It was far cheaper to pay the re-ticketing fee to change it back to what I wanted originally than it was to pay what the RTW desk was quoting.

That said, is the MEL-LHR-AMM at the end legal if you already did DXB-LHR-LAX at the beginning?

That said, is the MEL-LHR-AMM at the end legal if you already did DXB-LHR-LAX at the beginning?Yes

I had this same experience booking a DONE4 ex-AMM. But I did eventually tinker with the itinerary enough until the online tool finally accepted it.

It was far cheaper to pay the re-ticketing fee to change it back to what I wanted originally than it was to pay what the RTW desk was quoting.Did you make changes and re-ticket before departing on your DONE4 or after? The way the rules are written is not clear as to what happens if you make changes and re-ticket through the AA RTW desk:

Changes other than to Date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory permitted at a charge of USD125.00 per transaction. If the fare level has increased since ticket issuance, the difference between the old and new fare will also be charged. If the fare level has decreased since ticket issuance, no refund will apply.

I ran into problems on a ACIR26 I booked a couple years ago where I had to make changes before departing and they wanted to charge me the ex-US price even though I was departing ex-HKG. In that particular case I was changing the first segment, and xCIRnn rules are slightly different, but your experience may be helpful with an upcoming RTW booking using the online tool should I encounter problems. - Thanks

Did you make changes and re-ticket before departing on your DONE4 or after? The way the rules are written is not clear as to what happens if you make changes and re-ticket through the AA RTW desk:

I changed it after I had already started a few flights. AA only charged me the $150 re-ticketing fee.

Was your first segment an AA flight number?

What kind of issues prevented you from booking through the online tool? And, when was this booking done? In the past 7 months?

My itin is a AONE4 using all 16 segments on RJ, BA, CX and QF flights. I have one surface segment AYQ-PER even though rules say I can book it - no biggie as the flight is only Y and only $219.

AMM-DXB-LHR-HKG-DEL-HKG-HKT-HKG-SYD-AYQ-PER-BNE-MEL-LAX-LHR-FCO-AMM

I have no LAN segments which others had indicated caused problems and no AA flights, which I am wondering might cause problems.

Any insights from you or others would be helpful. Thx

No. Flights seem to be the same. I read from my printed online tool itinerary to the RTW agent.

I had same experience on a DONE03 ex-AMM I booked last fall; i.e., couldn't book with online tool (got to CC page then error message) & booked with AA RTW at higher fare.Good to know! Is the difference in taxes/fees? The on-line tool will show the taxes and fees, and the RTW desk can be coaxed into reading them out (but they don't seem to like it). Sounds like it might be useful to do this to figure out what accounts for the difference.

I changed it after I had already started a few flights. AA only charged me the $150 re-ticketing fee.Do you mean the $125 re-route fee? There shouldn't be a re-ticketed fee, aside from the $15 or whatever nuisance fee AA charges non-EXP to issue tickets.

Could part of the extra fee when calling the RTW desk vs the online tool be related to the fact it is calling the RTW desk - ie: charging a phone booking fee?

Good to know! Is the difference in taxes/fees? The on-line tool will show the taxes and fees, and the RTW desk can be coaxed into reading them out (but they don't seem to like it). Sounds like it might be useful to do this to figure out what accounts for the difference.
In my experience the AA rates desk (which I believe is no longer in Dublin as that office has been/is being closed) tends of late to include more BA YQ charges than you may see online. I'd query them about the fuel surcharge numbers - YQ or YR in the "taxes" - to see if that's the case.

Also make sure that any LHR transits are noted as such by the RTW desk and not inadvertently being treated as stopovers, thereby incurring UK APD fees.

In my experience the AA rates desk (which I believe is no longer in Dublin as that office has been/is being closed) tends of late to include more BA YQ charges than you may see online. I'd query them about the fuel surcharge numbers - YQ or YR in the "taxes" - to see if that's the case.

Also make sure that any LHR transits are noted as such by the RTW desk and not inadvertently being treated as stopovers, thereby incurring UK APD fees.

Thanks.
As an aside, Stan told me today my ticket would be sent to the rate desk in FIJI! If I heard him right.

Could part of the extra fee when calling the RTW desk vs the online tool be related to the fact it is calling the RTW desk - ie: charging a phone booking fee?Such fees shouldn't be included in the quote, and at any rate should be something like $15 or so (EXP are exempt).

In my experience the AA rates desk (which I believe is no longer in Dublin as that office has been/is being closed) tends of late to include more BA YQ charges than you may see online. I'd query them about the fuel surcharge numbers - YQ or YR in the "taxes" - to see if that's the case.

Also make sure that any LHR transits are noted as such by the RTW desk and not inadvertently being treated as stopovers, thereby incurring UK APD fees.Good advice. If the AA RTW desk has more YQ or YR than you see online, will they remove it when challenged, or are you stuck with it? I know they will correct APD charged in error on LHR connections (happens sometimes, especially with an overnight stay <24 hours).