Qantas Frequent Flyer - Help please? New member my 1st RTW first class

Hi there,

This is my first post.
I was recomended to come here by friends who recon you lot are the bee's knee's when it come to QANTAS.

I have a pile of questions which l hope that you will be able to help with.

I have never traveled outside Australia before. This is my first international trip/flights. Afyer 19 years of hard work l have given myself long service and taken 70 days off for a RTW trip of a lifetime.

I have bought a Global Explorer 34,000 first class ticket with Qantas as my airline. In my opinion I want to support them. Although reading the posts here there are some that may disagree with me.

I am a Qff member and a QP (that cracks me up!) member. I have 141,000 ff miles but no Stat credits. I have a ANZ ff Visa Gold card which l used to purchase the ticket. As part of my trip l have booked and am paying for a 35 night cruise also on the Gold card. So as l don't waste my purchase points because of the limits l have been paying for the trip with an arrangement with my T/A of $10,000 per month over 4 months which includes everything including accomodation.
So would you agree that l would recieve 25000 ff points plus my points bonus of 13000 for buying Qantas doing it this way?? or am l wrong here?

My itin so far is
QF Tsv-Bne J
Bne-Syd J
Syd-Lax F
AA Lax-Sfo F
Sfo-Dfw F
Dfw-Charlotte N/C F
Charlotte- Chicago Full fare econ
Chicago- New York F
New York- Miami F
Miami- Buenos Aires F

Join the cruise here and disembark in Port louis Mauritius, l have bought a sector from Mauritius to Johannesburg as an extra. Global Explorer dosen't go from here.

QF Johannesburg- Syd F
Syd- Bne J
Bne- Tsv J

That is what l have booked so far. But l am thinking of adding another destination.
Could l fly from to Johannesburg to London for some day's and then fly from London to Syd, Bne, Tsv under the ticket l have purchsed??
Rather than fly Johannesburg/Syd??

For the life of me l cannot work out how many FF points l will get from this trip, l keep getting totally diferent no's everytime l do it.
Could someone give me some idea of numbers here??

I also know that as you reach a different status level it changes immediatly, am l right here?? I am a bronze member.
What would be your best guess at my status earnings from the trip & what level would l be when l get home?
Where would be the status change points of the above trip?

I have never flown First class before and am looking forward to it (super excited) Can you give me any recent feedback on traveling up front?

I have heaps more to ask but this will do to start with.
I depart on Jan 21

I know this is a big ask, but l thought l would give it a go anyhow!

Thanks for reading this.

Colin............................................. ........

Firstly, welcome to FT. Sounds like a great trip in the making. Lots of questions, but I'll only attempt some of the answers. I'm sure others will chime in as the day goes by.

Be very sure what Credit card you are using if you want FF points from the purchase $. The ANZ Gold Visa Card (IF that's what you are using) has a crappy points program but does give free comprehensive travel insurance - but you only need to spend $250 to trigger that. After that spend you are better off using any other card - eg Westpac Altitude VISA, Diners, Amex, Comm Bank etc. I think an AMEX card where you get 1.5 points per $ is the best bet but many agents will not take it or add a hefty commission. Direct purchase through an airline (QF) avoids that surcharge.

You can check distances flown by entering the three letter airport code into:
http://gc.kls2.com/
The distances are then applied to the FF program of your choice (QF). Different sectors will be booked into different classes. If you actually are booked into First - A (some flights don't carry FIRST), you'll get 1.5 FF points per mile. If only Business (D), you'll get 1.25 points per mile. The Frequent Flyer pages in the QF web site will give you the tables.

Check the QF table for Status credits. <1000 miles = 30 SC. 1000-2700=60SC and so on. If you try to maximise SCs, choose flight sectors just over the threshold miles. Eg: in the USA, BOS-SFO=2704 miles. This is the best yielding trans continental for Status Credits. Other One World airlines have different cut-off values. So if you are after status, compare programs carefully. The One World Board on FT has far more information than can be given here.

As for the itinerary, you can maximise benefits with creative routing. I'm not familiar with the fare rules for the Global Explorer fare, but I doubt that you can back-track anywhere (one or two exceptions such as to PNG). The One World Explorer, on the other hand is not mileage restricted and does allow back tracking - but is more restrictive with airlines.

I'll hand over to others now...

So I work out the following:

TSV BNE 691
BNE SYD 468
SYD LAX 7502
LAX SFO 337
SFO DFW 1472
DFW CLT 922
CLT ORD 600
ORD JFK 738
JFK MIA 1092
MIA EZE 4428
Total 18250

and

JNB SYD 6857
SYD BNE 468
BNE TSV 691
Total 8016

Now, based on the current plan I would say don't waste your money on a First Class ticket as you only have SYD-LAX and possibley MIA-EZE that are in First, everything else is essentially in Business. Even MIA-EZE is operated on some flights by a two class plane.

I am unsure of the exact conditions of a global explorer but based on the current ITN doing MRU-LHR-SYD-BNE-TSV places you over your 34,000 mile limit. However, if you re-arranged things a bit you could do it if you can have an open jaw ticket between EZE and MRU and could trim some miles (2,082 mile) of your ITN. By taking the direct TSV-SYD flights this takes of 200 mile, so only 1800 to go.

Is there anywhere on your current plan that you don't have to go to?

How about swapping the Global Explorer to a One World Explorer fare - that'd avoid the 34000 mile limit. It'd also open up the itinerary to some other options. Seems like a 4 continent fare so it's the same price (have not checked though).

OWE prohibits surface sector across the Atlantic (as do almost all RTW fares, the Global Explorer is one of the few that permit his routing). I'm not up to date on the current GE rules but I believe it doesn't have a sector limit, only mileage plus transit per city limit, which does open up the chance to do some creative routings if there are any spare miles. The cruise sounds like it costs over $1000 per day which strikes me as very poor value (unless you have a penthouse suite on the boat with balcony). In the US the TA would get circa $5000 commission on a booking like that (cruises are really struggling to sell this year)!

Just checked the mileage, and via LHR is 36,849 miles ... not sure if you can buy more miles on the 34K GE. If you do keep it as a first class ticket, please make a few changes so you increase your enjoyment ... as it stands you will be greatly disappointed. Suggest SYD-LAX-JFK-SFO-ORD-CLT-MIA-EZE instead. LAX-JFK and JFK-SFO service is much better than other US routes. MIA-EZE does have F on the 11pm departure (but not the earlier flight). Unfortunately JNB-SYD does not have F and is notorious for being one of QF's worst service flights (I took it once, never again).

I wish I could say good things about this routing, but it is a "worst of Oneworld" tour, going on the worst flights. Even the MIA-EZE sector is the worst F service that AA offers (and SYD-LAX has been consistently worse than the kangaroo route this year on QF). I'd be tempted to eliminate the US parts of this ticket and buy them on a separate ticket as a separate trip, and just fly tsv-bne-syd-scl-eze-mru-lhr-hkg-syd-bne-tsv which is 33,512 miles so legal on the 34K GE fare and has very nice F MRU-LHR-HKG-SYD (on BA and CX). You can also go through JNB which cuts the distance to 31,328 miles letting you add some other sectors if you wished (also much more flights from JNB than MRU).

Hi Jaffa.oz and welcome to FT and the QF forum. Yes, there is a great deal of knowledge here and I am sure you will pick some good info. I am amazed at what I learn almost every day from this place.

There are two major types of Round The World fares available on OneWorld airlines. The Global Explorer as you are looking at, which is mileage based, and the One World Explorer, which is based on the number of continents visited.

As already noted by others, the only real First Class flight you have on your proposed itinerary is the SYD-LAX flight. The rest are all available on a business class Global Explorer (DGLOB34) or OneWorld Explorer (DONEx) fare. The USA domestic flights in F are available to business class RTW fare purchasers.

The OneWorld Explorer fare is generally considered to be more flexible for most situations, with the main exception being the Global Explorer fares can use some of the South Pacific code-share flights to get to some additional destinations that the OneWorld Explorer cannot reach.

Your proposed itineraty could be achieved with the AGLOB34 fare you are considering, or a AONE4/DONE4 fare (4-continent OneWorld Explorer in first or business class). However, to include London and other European destinations will require a 6 continent OneWorld Explorer fare.

Both Global Explorer and OneWorld Explorer fares increased on 10th October. The DONE6 fare is now $11,639, while the AGLOB34 fare is $13,269. So for a saving of $1500, you can travel in the same cabin as planned for all except the SYD-LAX route and also get to Europe and Asia. I use the DONE4 regularly as most of the flights I take are 2-class only, so I get the same seat on a business class fare that I would get on a first class fare.

Of course the FF points earning is slightly reduced for business class on the SYD-LAX sector, but the overall FF points Status Credits earned on the DONE6 will be more than that eaned on the AGLOB34 fare when you consider the additional sectors that can be flown.

The FF points you will earn will depend on the FF status level you start with and at what point you move up the food chain to WP status where the bonus points are increased.

If you do travel on a First Class ticket or reach WP status in time, be sure to visit the AA Flagship Lounges in LAX and ORD as they are huge step up from the Admirals Club lounges and have free food and drinks unlike the AC lounges.

The problem is that he is not eligible to use an DONE6 fare due to the surface sector EZE-Africa!!!! DONE6 requires flying across both Pacific and Atlantic oceans, so he would have to fly EZE-LHR on the DONE6, and then somehow get back to EZE to get the cruise (more practically I suppose it would be to fly MIA-LHR on a DONE5 and buy separate ticket LHR-EZE for example). Only the Global Explorer allows a surface sector across the Atlantic. I suppose the xONEx rule restriction is precisely to prevent using this RTW fare in conjunction with cruises like this. I don't see a creative solution to the salvage this routing without changing its spirit.

Are you cruising on Silver Wind Feb 15-March 13 2005? That is only 26 days but I can't find any other cruise on this route. If so that will be a wonderful trip, Silver Wind is the finest cruise ship in the world (that also explains the high daily rate). It is the equivalent of the Peninsula hotel, truly 6 star by any measure. It will make F on QF look very poor indeed. Be sure to drink your weight in champagne (and they do stock Krug as well as Crystal and my current favourite, Gosset Millesime 96).

Cruiseline: Silversea
Ship: Silver Wind
Departure: 15-Feb-05
Days: 26
Details:
Our special prices are $7495 per person in Vista Suites and $9225 in Verandah Suites. Prices include port charges (USD)
http://www.specialtycruise.com/index.htm?navbar=cruises&navbar2=silversea_cruises&showpage=cruise_specials&cruiseline_id=10000

Hmm, number_6, I believe you may be correct with the OneWorld Explorer "surface sector" limitation. But how is it different on Global Explorer? According to the OneWorld Explorer rules:
4. FLIGHT APPLICATION/ROUTINGS
(A) TRAVEL MUST BE VIA THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS AND ONLY ONE CROSSING OF EACH OCEAN IS PERMITTED
...
(E) INTERMEDIATE SURFACE SECTORS ARE PERMITTED AT THE PASSENGER'S EXPENSE
So although it does not explicitly say the Atlantic Ocean crossing cannot be via a surface sector at the passenger's expense, I expect the common interpretation will be that the "intermediate" surface sectors can only be within a continent and not between continents.

However, the rules for Global Explorer are worded almost the same:
4 FLIGHT APPLICATION/ROUTINGS
...
B. TRAVEL MUST INCLUDE A POINT IN TC1/TC2 AND TC3 AND MUST BE VIA BOTH THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS AND ONLY ONE TRANS ATLANTIC AND/OR TRANSPACIFIC FLIGHT IS PERMITTED.
...
G. A MAXIMUM OF 20 FLIGHT SEGMENTS ARE PERMITTED FOR THE ENTIRE JOURNEY. INTERMEDIATE SURFACE SECTORS ARE PERMITTED AT PASSENGER'S EXPENSE. SURFACE SECTORS MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL MILEAGE.

So according to those rules, the same trans-Atlantic and surface sector limitations apply to OneWorld Explorer and Global Explorer fares.

Geez NM. I hope you are right as this will now open up the Trans Siberian Railway as another way of getting flat beds between HKG and Europe! Seriously.

To the OP.

I knwo you might be Patriotic, but I guess given you don't travel in F Class all the time and if it is your FIRST International F Class trip i will definitely give QF the boot and try CX. They are miles better and you will NOT regret the experience.

Generally the pecking order of F Class in Oneworld should be:

CX
BA
QF
The rest....


Have a good trip.

I've tried to book a trans-Atlantic surface sector before and it was denied on the OWE fare as an illegal routing. I didn't try very hard and this was about 2 years ago, but the rules haven't gotten any more liberal since. I suspect a mileage based fare like GE would have a more liberal interpretation of the rules, particularly as you still pay miles for the surface sector, just don't fly it. It does sound from the GE rule quoted that it is not allowed -- yet it sounds like this ticket was issued already, presumably by QF. Who are well known for getting the rules right. Since the only travel after the possible rules violation is on QF, that is all that matters (if QF will accept the ticket, there is no chance for problems). I've had CX find errors when re-issuing a ticket (and requiring these to be fixed), so I wouldn't try to fly anything other than QF after the trans-Atlantic sector.

Hey Folks!

Wow! what a response, and so quick. I will try to fill in some holes that l was not clear on.
I originally wanted a World Explorer ticket, but l was knocked back because l have to fly over the altantic, I cannot break the journey. Apparently its a continent teir thing. It was suggested by QANTAS through my T/A that my only option was the Global Explorer.

I am booked on QF 11 to Lax.
I wanted to go to Sfo, Charlotte, and New York, the rest of the US sectors are to make this happen on and for a particular date in Charlotte.

I can confirm all but one of my US flights are in first, and the other is in economy because there was no choice out of Charlotte.
I am a bit confused as to how many types of Firsts you are talking about?
How many are there?
I assume here you might mean like the old QF domestic first?? and international first? am l on the right track here?

I can confirm that my Johannesburg-Syd sector is in First on flight 64 in a 3 class figured jumbo seat 1a.

Number_6
You are right, I am embarking on the Silver Wind on Feb 7th in Buenos Aires (2503) 8 days, up the coast through ports in Uruguay to Rio for 3 nights and then a Transatlantic crossing (2504) 15 days to Cape Town & ports in between. Then onto the Reunion's and Mauritius (2505) 11 nights where l disembark. 34 nights
I spend 2 days in Mauritius Then fly with Mauritius Air to Johannesburg and onto The Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge for a 6 night safari, Then 64 back home.

I never went out to intentionally go for points or status, but friends have pointed out l would get more points and status that l have ever seen from this one trip. So anything l get is just great as far as this typical domestic only pass is concerned. But l am always open to improvement.

I am on the AA 943 a 777 service to BA from Miami in First seat 1J all the other flights are in fact as you said in J. I wanted to fly in a 777 which l have never done.
My other domestic US flights are all in first as well, mixed between The MCdonnel Douglas MD80's and 757 300's l think. My code in all of these except the charlotte flight are in "A"

Fella's l know this might not be your ideal Itin but my restrictions wouldn't let me do much any other way. I have used all my 6 sectors in the US up. Maybe there is another way that l don't yet know, but i'm open to suggestions.
Remember you are dealing with a novice here who often thinks he knows more than he does!!
Thats why l was recomended to you lot ( he bows grovels and curtsies to the Kangaroo experts)

I have been told l will prob get around 90 to 100,000 ffp's with the card purchases and flights and expected status. l estimate that l will go from bronze zero status to Gold with around 1000 to 1100 status points.
My only disapointment is l will be around 300 short for Platnium. But them's the break's for a country boy.

I'm just glad i'm doing the trip full stop.
Keep the feedback coming!!

I had my T/A on her toes for hours this arvo as l started to put to her, your comments, crit's and questions.
It kinda felt nice talking the lingo a bit. But l could see the Oh No!! expression growing in her face!!

Thanks fella's.............

Cheers Colin............................................. ......

Oh! by the way Number_6

I got Silversea at a steal $440 AUD per day with no solo supp. You just can't beat that. All inclusive 6 star for a little over a month.
Now thats a cruise!!

In fact the whole trip is centered around this.

You lot prob travel well most of time, due to your smarts!
Me! i'm learning it the hard way, and loving it.

Thanks again fella's..............................

Colin.............

I originally wanted a World Explorer ticket, but l was knocked back because l have to fly over the altantic, I cannot break the journey. Apparently its a continent teir thing. It was suggested by QANTAS through my T/A that my only option was the Global Explorer.
Given that the fare rules for OWE and GE are basically the same for trans-Atlantic and surface segments, I would probably argue the point with the TA and Qantas. It would not be the first time they have been wrong when it comes to fare rule interpretation ;) . But if the AGLOB34 fare works for you, then go for it ^ .
I can confirm all but one of my US flights are in first, and the other is in economy because there was no choice out of Charlotte.
I am a bit confused as to how many types of Firsts you are talking about?
How many are there?
I assume here you might mean like the old QF domestic first?? and international first? am l on the right track here?
The AGLOB34 fare (34,000 mile Global Explorer in First Class) gets booked in the "A" fare class. If A is not available (say on a 2-class QF domestic flight or 2-class international flight), then you get booked in "D" (business class). And if there is no First or Business class available (such as you flight out of Charlotte) you go in economy/coach.

But, if you buy a Business Class Global Explorer (DGLOB34) or OneWorld Explorer (DONEx), you go in business class on a 3-class flight or 2-class international flight. BUT on AA domestic flight that are only 2-class, you get booked in "A" (ie first class) on the business class fare. And you get First Class status credits and points for those flights booked in A class.

So if you don't have many real 3-class flights, then the D fare booking can save a lot of money for the same seat.

I can confirm that my Johannesburg-Syd sector is in First on flight 64 in a 3 class figured jumbo seat 1a.
Yes, you are correct. QF64 is showing 3-class for most of next year. However, presently QF64 is operating as 2-class quite regularly due to a shortage of 3-class aircraft to operate the LHR and HKG flights with Skybeds. But that does seem to be sorted back to all 3-class for March. Just be aware that this may change as Qantas have been clear that they only plan to retain First Class on flights between SYD/MEL and LHR and LAX.
I am on the AA 943 a 777 service to BA from Miami in First seat 1J all the other flights are in fact as you said in J. I wanted to fly in a 777 which l have never done.
My other domestic US flights are all in first as well, mixed between The MCdonnel Douglas MD80's and 757 300's l think. My code in all of these except the charlotte flight are in "A"
The AA 777 in F will be a great domestic First Class experience. Enjoy it. The First Class in the MD80 and 757-200 will be a huge step down, more akin to business class on Qantas domestic flights, but on a short flight you still might not get a meal.
I have used all my 6 sectors in the US up
The Global Explorer fare does not have a limit of 6 segments in the USA. That is a limit of the OneWorld Explorer. The only limits relevant to the AGLOB34 fare are a max of 15 stopovers, with no more than 4 in any one region and no more than 2 in the region of origin. And a maximum of 20 segments covering 34,000 miles. I calculate you have about 2700 miles unused and if you can use them in the USA you could get to Gold before taking JNB-SYD. In fact, if you can use some in Australia before departing SYD (ie take the long way TSV-SYD such as TSV-BNE-ADL-SYD) would get you to Silver by the time you arrive in USA, but it is the long way to SYD!
I have been told l will prob get around 90 to 100,000 ffp's with the card purchases and flights and expected status. l estimate that l will go from bronze zero status to Gold with around 1000 to 1100 status points.
My only disapointment is l will be around 300 short for Platnium. But them's the break's for a country boy.
By my quick calculation I think you will earn 990 SC's. Assuming you start with zero SC's in your account, you will hit Silver status on the SFO-DFW flight. After that you then get the 25% status bonus points. Then you end up 10 SC's short of Gold before the JNB-SYD flight. Since that is a lot of miles, it would be good to be Gold before that flight to get the 50% bonus miles. I estimate you will earn about 40,000 QF FF points on the mileage.

I estimate you will earn about 40,000 QF FF points on the mileage.

And op would get another 60000 QF miles by putting the whole shebang on gold Amex Maximiser card right from the get go on the $40k spend. A round trip Townsville Perth is only about 45K in Biz IIRC?

Eow on earth OP thinks he//she will get 90-100K QF on a $40K spend on an ANZ card escapes me. :)

Ferrgedabout anything ANZ offers ....... get the Gold Amex FREE for 1st year NOW and get the 1.5 QF miles per $ before you make another payment. You can sign up on-line and it is fast. Even the ANZ FF Gold card allows only $2500 a month for 1=1 then it halves and it is annual spend capped anyway.

This will be a wonderful trip. Sabi Sabi is quite good, maybe the best game lodge in Africa (though you are at a bad time of the year for viewing game). Silver Wind is one of 2 cruise ships that I would consider taking (I am not a fan of cruises); it is that good. The cruise and game lodge will overshadow the RTW part of your trip.

I've checked the Global Explorer rules, and also checked with a TA, and you were very lucky; you have been issued tickets with a major rule violation. It is prohibited to route without a trans-Atlantic air sector, and you were allowed to do that. Maybe best to keep that in mind, any changes to your ticket may cause the whole ticket to be confiscated. As long as you don't change the routing to cause a reissue you will be OK, but any reissue is likely to result in requiring you to fly EZE-Europe (and that in turn will exceed the 34K limit, so it becomes impossible to reissue this ticket, making it value-less at that point). Here is a pointer to the rules (not quite current, but they have become more restrictive rather than less). http://members.shaw.ca/fewmiles/oneworld/globex.html
See line 109-112 (point 3) where it states for routing:
109N . 3. TRAVEL MUST INCLUDE A POINT IN AREA 1, AREA 2,
110N . AND AREA 3 AND MUST BE VIA BOTH THE ATLANTIC
111N . AND PACIFIC OCEANS. ONLY ONE TRANSATLANTIC
112N . AND ONE TRANSPACIFIC FLIGHT IS PERMITTED

Probably it is safe to use this RTW and it will be honoured for travel without any problems, just don't make a routing change to it. Your alternative of point to point tickets would cost far more (maybe AUD 10K more).
I was going to suggest some simple routing changes you can make to reach Platinum (earning the extra 300 SC that you need), but it would be unwise to make any changes to this ticket now. Best to use it as issued.

While Oneworld explorer rules explicitely forbid a transoceanic surface segment with "TRANSOCEANIC SURFACE NOT PERMITTED", there is no such rule in the Global Explorer rules. The rule quoted by number_6 does not explicitely say that a surface is not allowed for transoceanic, just that travel must be via Atlantic and Pacific. As in GlobEx fares surface segments are counted in the mileage allowance, I would not be surprised if they should not also be counted as "TRAVEL" as in the rule quoted here. I would guess that this was also QF's interpretation of this rule.

-jani

Hi jani,

Thanks for your reply.
That was sort of how they explained it to me (T/A)
Could you please explain by what might "even count it as travel"?? You have lost me there a bit.
If they do count it as travel what does that mean?

Number_6

My T/A has given me no information or indication that l should not or cannot change my itin.
I know she has been backwards and forwards with QA and AA here in Aussie land.

After the negative posts here about the AA LH flight to BA in A and the pretend first domestic flights in the US I have asked her to check out the feedback on my Miami-Buenos Aires and the above domestic stuff and get back to me.
I asked her to tell me if these are just glorified business services being called first class or wether they are a proper first.

Will get back to you with what she responds with. She was going to hit some contacts with both AA and QF that she trusts.

Thanks again everyone!

Cheers Colin....................................

Surface segments count towards the 34K mileage limit in the GE fare, so in that sense you pay for them whether flying or by surface. I've never bought a GE ticket as it is poor value compared to OWE fares/rules for my travel pattern, but I have been told that Atlantic ocean surface travel is prohibited. Both BA and AA have told me that. Thus my warning that if you try to reissue the ticket with an airline other than QF they may consider the routing to be invalid, which could cause considerable grief. Otherwise the fare is fully reissuable, but I would view this as high risk.
As for the quality of F, MIA-EZE is the normal full international F service on AA, but it is worse than other international F primarily due to crew based in MIA (notorious for poor service) and short flight duration (8 hours). Your other AA flights offer a very poor F as it is short-haul domestic US service and F is almost the same as Y on QF. By contrast the AA long-haul F service on flights such as LAX-JFK and even SFO-BOS would be much nicer (better food, wine, seat, etc.). But only a few routes in the US offer this "better" F service, most are equally mediocre. More to the point, buying a D fare gets you the same F service on most AA domestic routes as buying the F fare -- while it does not on LAX-JFK, you must buy the F fare for that route (as you have done; so a shame you aren't using what you paid extra money for).
In terms of maximizing QFF status, flying SFO-BOS would earn 150 Status credits (while flying SFO-ORD earns 60, for example). You could add LAX-LAS-LAX-SAN-LAX as an easy way to earn an extra 120 SCs and staying within your mileage allowance. You could also add ORD-MKE-ORD and similar short extra segments (each earns 30 SCs), as a way to get QFF Platinum on this trip. Not really worth it unless you live near an airport with a QP (Platinum gives unlimited entry to the QP even when not flying!) or plan to do more flying in the next 2 years. Some people would manage to drink their weight in Boags or scotch during that time.

While Oneworld explorer rules explicitely forbid a transoceanic surface segment with "TRANSOCEANIC SURFACE NOT PERMITTED", there is no such rule in the Global Explorer rules.
I have just scanned the OneWorld Explorer fare rules, as published by QF in PDF format to their agents and last updated on 24th August, 2004 (the most recent), and it makes no reference to the restriction noted above. The only two mentions of "Surface" are in these rules:
TRAVEL MUST BEGIN AND END AT THE SAME POINT EXCEPT ORIGIN - DESTINATION SURFACE SEGMENTS
PERMITTED AS FOLLOWS:
(A) WITHIN THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
(B) WITHIN THE MIDDLE EAST
(C) WITHIN SOUTH AMERICA
(D) BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
(E) BETWEEN HKG AND CHINA
(F) BETWEEN BANGLADESH AND BKK/SIN.
(G) BETWEEN MALAYSIA AND SIN
(H) WITHIN AFRICA
and
4. FLIGHT APPLICATION/ROUTINGS
FARES ONLY APPLY ON ANY AA/AY/BA/CX/EI/IB/LA/QF/LP FLIGHT.
(A) TRAVEL MUST BE VIA THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS AND ONLY ONE CROSSING OF EACH OCEAN IS PERMITTED.
...
(E) INTERMEDIATE SURFACE SECTORS ARE PERMITTED AT THE PASSENGER’S EXPENSE.
Similarly, there is no such restriction noted in the current (posted 30 Sept 2004) Global Explorer fare rules as published by QF in PDF format to their agents.

I would be asking the agent/airline to show me the rule that prohibits such trans-oceanic surface sectors in their current rules publication. I believe that rule may have existed once, but there is no mention of it in the current fare rules as published by Qantas to their agents. I don't have access to fare rules published by other airlines, but expect them to be consistent.

This current publication from Qantas notes the most recent rule change (causing the re-issue on August 24, 2004) as being:
Changes: Effective immediately AA ticketing restriction with regards to Lybia removed from para. 15 (sales restrictions); D RBD added for LP internation flights

Not really worth it unless you live near an airport with a QP (Platinum gives unlimited entry to the QP even when not flying!) or plan to do more flying in the next 2 years. Some people would manage to drink their weight in Boags or scotch during that time.
WP status may well be handy when wanting to redeem all those QF FF points earned on the trip!

Firstly,
I really do appreciate everyones help and advice here, so thankyou all for taking the time.

But now l am more confused than when l started.

So what is right and what is wrong from all of the above posts??

Is my booking safe? or is it illegal?

am l able to alter or change or should l not even dare to try?

I am taking a domestic Tsv-Bne return J in dec which should give me the status cred's l need to hit gold "before" l fly my home sector flight from Johanessburg-Syd

Thanks Again!

Colin.................................

I have just been told by a friend that they were issued with a OW GlobExp34 RTW with a surface sector Beijing - St Petersburg. So that seems to confirm that intercontinental surface sectors are OK (unless St Petersburg is in the same continent as Beijing).

I have just been told by a friend that they were issued with a OW GlobExp34 RTW with a surface sector Beijing - St Petersburg. So that seems to confirm that intercontinental surface sectors are OK (unless St Petersburg is in the same continent as Beijing).
But Beijing - St Petersburg is not trans-Atlantic. The implication by some above has been that the rule that states:
4. FLIGHT APPLICATION/ROUTINGS
(A) TRAVEL MUST BE VIA THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS AND ONLY ONE CROSSING OF EACH OCEAN IS PERMITTED
means the Atlanic crossing must be flown and not a ground sector. I can not find any reference to state that it can be ground sector for GE and not for OWE. As far as I can see, the rules for Atlantic crossing and ground sectors are basically the same for the two OneWorld RTW products.

If I was jaffa.oz, I would stick with the already planned Global Explorer, and would try not to have the ticket re-issued unless necessary. Note that you can make date/time changes without re-issue. Re-issue is only needed for route changes. And I would be very surprised if a route change is going to be needed given the type of trip that is planned.

But if a re-issue is needed, try to make sure you do it through Qantas.

I would still like to know why the QF agent said this cannot be done on a OneWorld Explorer fare but can be done on a Global Explorer fare. From my reading of the rules, the interpreation for the two fare types should be the same, so it is either ok for both or no-go for both. If there is a valid reason, then I am interested to understand it.

So would l, NM, So would I,

Yet some of the above posters also state caterogorically the opposite.
I don't really have an urge to change the set up of my ticket but if something happens while i'm away l need to know that l have some flexibilty to fix any problems that may pop up.

I really do appreciate everyones effort here.
I have not meant to have the experts in this dilema.

Cheers folks!

Colin............................................. .........

I don't really have an urge to change the set up of my ticket but if something happens while i'm away l need to know that l have some flexibilty to fix any problems that may pop up.
That is why we have travel insurance! If anything pops up that is that important that you need to make routing changes and you have re-issue problems, call upon the travel insurance policy.
I have not meant to have the experts in this dilema.
These are exactly the questions and situations from which we all learn. And sharing the experience here is why there is often more experience and knowlege here than many airline agents have about products such as OWE and GE.

Don't forget to take a notepad either. We expect a trip report on return.

This is a common problem with many fare rules: they are subject to interpretation. I have checked with both AA and BA RTW desk and they interpret the OWE and GE rule the same: it must be flown across Atlantic and Pacific. All other inter-continental routings can be by surface. Apparently QF interprets it differently (or more likely your TA has friends in the right places and was able to arrange for a favourable interpretation). If you do a re-issue sometimes the rules are strictly checked, other times they are not checked at all (it is a manual process, not computerized, however the checking is becoming stricter each month -- precisely because there are so many rule violations being done, often deliberately, and the airlines are cracking down upon it to preserve their revenue). If you make only date changes (which doesn't require a reissue) your ticket is 100% safe. If you make routing changes, it is 100% safe if reissued by QF and maybe 10% safe if reissued by AA -- just don't try to reissue it by LA in EZE, then it will be confiscated by LA for sure (they are really like that -- the worst airline in OW for this!). Of course this is my opinion, but I am 100% sure that I could not buy a GE or OWE with your routing from AA or BA today.
As for the miles earned, it really isn't very much (max 34K base so maybe 60K with the various bonuses, or enough for a couple of BNE-PER trips).

I must say that the OP has an extraordinary amount of knowledge about air travel, oneworld and global explorers, FF programs, et al. for someone who has never set foot outside his country.

Thankyou Wideman,

I take your comments as great compliment.
I have been planning my trip, sort of, over the last 7 months.

I, as a domestic only in Austraila traveler (so far) am also a businessman. I was lucky enough to be in Townsville when the QP club first opened many years ago and for some reason was invited along to there opening shing ding. Whilst there all invited guest's were given a comp membership for the first year.
I have been a member ever since. They were back in the days when QA had a domestic first class service. I have always had an interset in flying and try to keep up to speed on whats going on, through the media and the other whohar that the QP send out.

I was also one of those fools who jumped on the Airline/credit card linked partner cards when they first kicked off. It was a much better situation back then to what it is now. Hence my point tally now. mind you it has taken me around 10 years to build that up.

I think it is also worth pointing out that before l made my first post here, l read this and the One World board pretty extensivly for around a week.

There is a heap on info and great advice here for anyone to see, and rather than post sounding like a dill l made sure l read the intro for new posters and tryed to pick up the lingo which took a few days to pick up.

I have also been lucky to have a great T/A who l have used for over 8 years and over that time we have become good friends. It was she, who advised me to take an RTW ticket in the first place.

I hope this fills in the gaps for you.

Colin..........................

The power of the internet. It is changing all sorts of things in life.