Round the World Club
Jul 6, 2014, 6:02 pm
#63
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
I have done several circumnavigations on *A airlines redeeming UA miles for premium cabin reward tickets. The latest was EWR-LHR-BKK-ICN-JFK.
On one RTW I was on SQ21 which was EWR-SIN and at 18:30 hours was the longest scheduled commercial non-stop flight. It would head either east or west depending on the weather, where as SQ22 SIN-EWR would definitely head eastbound. So back in the day it was possible to circumnavigate the globe with only two flight segments.
For those who might be interested: http://circumnavigators.org
SunLover
On one RTW I was on SQ21 which was EWR-SIN and at 18:30 hours was the longest scheduled commercial non-stop flight. It would head either east or west depending on the weather, where as SQ22 SIN-EWR would definitely head eastbound. So back in the day it was possible to circumnavigate the globe with only two flight segments.
For those who might be interested: http://circumnavigators.org
SunLover
Jul 6, 2014, 6:14 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Fort Worth TX
Programs: Earned status with AA, DL, SPG, HH, Hyatt, Marriott, Seabourn, NCL, National, Hertz...I miss my bed!
Posts: 10,927
Back in the days that we could get the OneWorld Explorer tickets that could be "maxed" out by using separate entry/exit points in the US, I pulled three separate trips on one. But the only true round-the-world I did on that ticket was LAX-LHR-SIN-NRT-SFO (AA F, BA F, JL F). That was fun.
I also did another F RTW the next year - DFW-LAX-PPT-AKL-SYD-MEL-HKG-LHR-DFW. (AA F, TN F, QF F, CX F, BA F). That was delightful and also included an eight segment NZ ticket booked separately.
I also did another F RTW the next year - DFW-LAX-PPT-AKL-SYD-MEL-HKG-LHR-DFW. (AA F, TN F, QF F, CX F, BA F). That was delightful and also included an eight segment NZ ticket booked separately.
Jul 6, 2014, 6:25 pm
#65
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DFW
Posts: 50
I've only done one, this past New Year's.
Outbound: DFW-YVR-SEA-NRT-RGN-BKK. This was on AA, AS, DL, NH, and TG respectively.
Return: BKK-PEK-FRA-DFW. This was a Star Alliance award ticket. The first leg was on TG, with the remainder on LH. The Mrs. & I were the sole inhabitants of the 1st class cabin on PEK-FRA. That was a lot of fun.
Outbound: DFW-YVR-SEA-NRT-RGN-BKK. This was on AA, AS, DL, NH, and TG respectively.
Return: BKK-PEK-FRA-DFW. This was a Star Alliance award ticket. The first leg was on TG, with the remainder on LH. The Mrs. & I were the sole inhabitants of the 1st class cabin on PEK-FRA. That was a lot of fun.
Jul 6, 2014, 6:41 pm
#66
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 163
Managed to book prior to the UA deval:
LAX-PEK (CA J)
PEK-SIN (CA J)
SIN-DPS (SQ J)
DPS-BKK (TG Y)
BKK-CAI (MS J)
CAI-DXB (MS J)
DXB-SEZ (EK J)
SEZ-DXB (EK J)
DXB-IAD (UA J)
IAD-PHX (UA F)
I suppose, more accurately, I had booked lax-pek-sin-dps / bkk-add-sez-add-yyz-atl, but then had to reroute when ET decided to end service to SEZ. I'm thinking that trading out ET Y for EK J was a pretty good deal. By far the best use of 120K miles + $120 that I've ever managed.
LAX-PEK (CA J)
PEK-SIN (CA J)
SIN-DPS (SQ J)
DPS-BKK (TG Y)
BKK-CAI (MS J)
CAI-DXB (MS J)
DXB-SEZ (EK J)
SEZ-DXB (EK J)
DXB-IAD (UA J)
IAD-PHX (UA F)
I suppose, more accurately, I had booked lax-pek-sin-dps / bkk-add-sez-add-yyz-atl, but then had to reroute when ET decided to end service to SEZ. I'm thinking that trading out ET Y for EK J was a pretty good deal. By far the best use of 120K miles + $120 that I've ever managed.
Jul 6, 2014, 8:38 pm
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: Landry's President's Club, Marriott Silver, Awesomeness EXPLT
Posts: 20,408
Last year I did JFK-ORD-ICN-NRT-FRA-LCY/LHR-EWR. Next month I'm doing JFK-LHR-BKK-MEL-AKL-LAX-EWR and next year I've booked JFK-IST-JNB-ADD-HKG-TPE-EWR! All these are on US award tickets going to miss these bonus trips!
Cheers
Howie
Cheers
Howie
Jul 6, 2014, 9:15 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: AC Aeroplan, BA Executive, DL Skymiles, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 264
Booked a USDM *A award for January in Y for 60,000 miles
YEG-ORD (UA)
ORD-MUC (LH)
MUC-CDG (AF)
CDG-MUC(AF) Open Jaw on separate ticket
MUC-HND (NH)
HND-TSA (BR) HELLO KITTY PLANE
TSA-HND (BR) HELLO KITTY PLANE
HND-YVR (NH)
YVR-YEG (AC)
YEG-ORD (UA)
ORD-MUC (LH)
MUC-CDG (AF)
CDG-MUC(AF) Open Jaw on separate ticket
MUC-HND (NH)
HND-TSA (BR) HELLO KITTY PLANE
TSA-HND (BR) HELLO KITTY PLANE
HND-YVR (NH)
YVR-YEG (AC)
Jul 6, 2014, 9:16 pm
#70
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 75k, OW Emerald, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, National EE
Posts: 303
Lucky enough to do it three times so far, the latest being just a week ago:
2010: LAX-PEK-BKK-KTM-BKK-LHR-JFK-LAX
2012: SFO-BOS-FRA-FCO-BKK-DPS-BKK-ICN-LAX-SFO
2014: SFO-IAH-IST-FRA-BKK-SGN-DAD-SGN-SIN-ICN-JFK-SFO
And a near one in 2012: SFO-FRA-MUC-NRT-BKK-SIN-CMB-SIN-DEL-FRA-SFO
2010: LAX-PEK-BKK-KTM-BKK-LHR-JFK-LAX
2012: SFO-BOS-FRA-FCO-BKK-DPS-BKK-ICN-LAX-SFO
2014: SFO-IAH-IST-FRA-BKK-SGN-DAD-SGN-SIN-ICN-JFK-SFO
And a near one in 2012: SFO-FRA-MUC-NRT-BKK-SIN-CMB-SIN-DEL-FRA-SFO
Jul 6, 2014, 9:28 pm
#71
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lee, NJ
Programs: continental one pass, delta skymiles, platinum american express
Posts: 171
My wife and I were thinking about one on Star Alliance for next year, to celebrate the three months between our anniversary (May) to my birthday (July). We had it all planned out but then with US Airways (our primary airline) leaving Star and merging with AA and oneWorld, we are re-evaluating and seeing what we can get with oneWorld. Our itinerary was:
GSP-DXB-MUC* -- *LHR-SIN-SYD-HKG-NRT-DEN-IAD-GSP
* we were planning to purchase a BMW in Munich and drive around Europe for about three week, then take the Chunnel to London and continue our trip from there.
Strange question, perhaps, but if anyone has done RTW with both oneWorld and Star Alliance, how do the two compare? Especially with Business class?
GSP-DXB-MUC* -- *LHR-SIN-SYD-HKG-NRT-DEN-IAD-GSP
* we were planning to purchase a BMW in Munich and drive around Europe for about three week, then take the Chunnel to London and continue our trip from there.
Strange question, perhaps, but if anyone has done RTW with both oneWorld and Star Alliance, how do the two compare? Especially with Business class?
Jul 6, 2014, 9:44 pm
#72
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lee, NJ
Programs: continental one pass, delta skymiles, platinum american express
Posts: 171
Mine was a Star Alliance RTW trip and it was great. I booked it with United and never flew United. It was mainly in First but shorter flights in Biz:
JFK- NRT (ANA F)
NRT-HKG (ANA J)
HKG-SIN (SQ J)
SIN- DXB (SQ F)
DXB- ZRH (LX F)
ZRH-MXP (LX J)
NCE-GVA (LX J)
GVA-FRA (LH J)
FRA- GIG (LH F)
GIG-EWR (JJ F)
I would highly recommend star alliance (with their generous mileage requirement, I could have stuck in a trip to Chile and Peru but was tired after 3 months on the run). The only difference is that TAM is now with OW but they were the worst carrier on my trip (probably better since they merged with LAN)
JFK- NRT (ANA F)
NRT-HKG (ANA J)
HKG-SIN (SQ J)
SIN- DXB (SQ F)
DXB- ZRH (LX F)
ZRH-MXP (LX J)
NCE-GVA (LX J)
GVA-FRA (LH J)
FRA- GIG (LH F)
GIG-EWR (JJ F)
I would highly recommend star alliance (with their generous mileage requirement, I could have stuck in a trip to Chile and Peru but was tired after 3 months on the run). The only difference is that TAM is now with OW but they were the worst carrier on my trip (probably better since they merged with LAN)
Jul 7, 2014, 3:00 am
#75
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hoosier in Dubai
Programs: EK Gold, UA Platinum, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 576
Three times:
1986
ATH-CAI-BKK-NRT-ORD-IND-LHR-CAI
All in Y as I was young and flexible!
1994
ORD-ZUR-SIN-BKK-NRT-ORD
All in Y as I was still fairly young and cheap.
2011
ORD-PVG-PEK-HKG-BKK-DXB-ORD
All C as I could by then.
I did do at the end of the year last year DXB-BKK-NRT-ORD-IND-ORD-NRT-BKK-DXB, should count for something as it would have been shorter to do it RTW.
1986
ATH-CAI-BKK-NRT-ORD-IND-LHR-CAI
All in Y as I was young and flexible!
1994
ORD-ZUR-SIN-BKK-NRT-ORD
All in Y as I was still fairly young and cheap.
2011
ORD-PVG-PEK-HKG-BKK-DXB-ORD
All C as I could by then.
I did do at the end of the year last year DXB-BKK-NRT-ORD-IND-ORD-NRT-BKK-DXB, should count for something as it would have been shorter to do it RTW.