oneworld - Where to book in UK

Hi, where is the best place to book a Oneworld ticket in the UK. Everyone seems to give different info and when I rang BA on there general number all I got was someone who couldn't give me anymore information about routing than I can get off the internet. BA wanted me to phone back with itinery, I couldn't email it which was strange as their foreign offices seem to allow you to email or fax.

I can't imagine why you would want to do this since OW Explorer tickets (I asume this is what you are talking about) are so much more expensive in the UK than in Europe or in Cairo.

But on the one or two occasions I have needed to use them (normally to help out their colleagues in France who are fairly clueless) I have always found the Cathay ticketing desk in London has been very competent and helpful on this type of ticket.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by christep:
I can't imagine why you would want to do this ....</font>

If you are travelling Y it is hardly worth the effort of going to CAI to purchase, if it is worth it at all after paying for accom, transfers, meals, visas and the inconvenience.

I have had friends book OW fares from Trailfinders. I have used them myself for other stuff and have been reasonably happy with them - they are a travel agent afterall! They have a website which gives their contact details.

Memo to self - must remember that some people turn right on entry http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

But having said that, here are the current prices for 3- and 6-continent fares from the UK (high season) for Y and from Egypt for J & F in GBP at the current interbank rate:

3 cont
L 1369
D 2025
A 2438

6 cont
L 2119
D 2700
A 3563

So you can fly business for less than 50% more and first for only about 70% more. The Cairo tickets are HUGELY better value if you can possibly find the cash.

The cost of the visa is trivial (10GBP) it isn't necessary to take a hotel just to pick up the ticket - you have beds on the plane and you can just read a book at the airport for a few hours. Booking tickets through Mrs Sobhi is no hassle at all.

[This message has been edited by christep (edited 10-24-2003).]

Cheers for help. Travelling economy as travelling for a year so wouldn't want to pay extra for business class, unless I win the lottery before I go!

But if you're travelling for a year, the choice is:

Travel economy class, or spend two pounds a day less on hotels, food, drink etc and do all you flying in business class.

I know which I would choose.

My girlfriend has just booked our flight with Quantis UK. They were the only people we rang who went through all the flights we wanted while we were on the phone, BA wanted 2 days before telling us if we could do the route or not. Quantas also allowed us to do one flight segment that we had been told 3 times by other agencies that we couldn't do.
And in reply to the post about paying a couple of pound extra a day to travel first class; the extra £600 pounds is easily a months worth of traveling in Asia, better than a few hours in first class on a plane, but thanks for the replies.

To organise a ticket in UK
-make phone call to QF
-pay over phone with CC
-ticket arrives in mail

To organise a ticket ex CAI
-fax/phone details to BA CAI
-fax CC details
-organise visa whether by mail or trips into consulate.
-pay for a flight to CAI.
-flight to CAI on BA arrives late evening, my return flight departs 8amish unless I travel IB and then I don't have a bed, but hey I don't have one anyway, so I 'hang' about in CAI terminal.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by christep:
The Cairo tickets are HUGELY better value if you can possibly find the cash.
</font>

As described above, flying Y the tickets are hardly worth the effort and then probably not.

If you wish to fly J/F then your statement stands true.

Memo to self - if christepturns left why do others turn right? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif