'12 Honeymoon RTW (Expert help needed)
Feb 12, 2012, 8:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,837
'12 Honeymoon RTW (Expert help needed)
Hey all!
Been a lurker for a long, long time and finally decided to ask a few questions.
I live in Eastern Europe and I am planning my upcoming honeymoon later this year. Going to Bora Bora for 2 weeks and always wanted to try something different than the "cattle class" I am used with
Here's what I came up with. I am a total newbie, even though I spent hours reading about fares/surcharges/etc ... Your thoughts? The final amount before booking is 12,500 EUR for two.
It's xCPH as it's closest to me and cheapest starting point.
Thanks!
Been a lurker for a long, long time and finally decided to ask a few questions.
I live in Eastern Europe and I am planning my upcoming honeymoon later this year. Going to Bora Bora for 2 weeks and always wanted to try something different than the "cattle class" I am used with
Here's what I came up with. I am a total newbie, even though I spent hours reading about fares/surcharges/etc ... Your thoughts? The final amount before booking is 12,500 EUR for two.
It's xCPH as it's closest to me and cheapest starting point.
Thanks!
Feb 12, 2012, 12:52 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
First Congrats!
Looking at your trip, not sure why CPH is the cheapest, maybe because your last segment on TG is an old 2 classs 747. But then again departure tax in Germany is getting out of hand too.
Here is my suggestion, on your outbound to US, can you get from CPH to FRA/MUC/ZRH on LH/LX or even IST on TK and fly direct to LAX? Transiting from international to Domestic in ORD is pain in general. And less UACO domestic the better.
NZ on certain days do fly LAX-PPT direct (ex, Sunday), this will save you some 5000+ miles and segments on back track from AKL. I think that will drop you a price category(<29,000 miles) and give you plenty of room to add another stop if you want. (Ex. HKG)
Nevermind, forgot NZ no longer fly that route, only codeshare now.
On your last leg, if you can get TG BKK-FRA/CDG on 773, it will have nicer seat than the BKK-CPH direct.
Looking at your trip, not sure why CPH is the cheapest, maybe because your last segment on TG is an old 2 classs 747. But then again departure tax in Germany is getting out of hand too.
Here is my suggestion, on your outbound to US, can you get from CPH to FRA/MUC/ZRH on LH/LX or even IST on TK and fly direct to LAX? Transiting from international to Domestic in ORD is pain in general. And less UACO domestic the better.
NZ on certain days do fly LAX-PPT direct (ex, Sunday), this will save you some 5000+ miles and segments on back track from AKL. I think that will drop you a price category(<29,000 miles) and give you plenty of room to add another stop if you want. (Ex. HKG)
Nevermind, forgot NZ no longer fly that route, only codeshare now.
On your last leg, if you can get TG BKK-FRA/CDG on 773, it will have nicer seat than the BKK-CPH direct.
Last edited by mobilebucky; Feb 12, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Feb 12, 2012, 7:57 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2003
Location: TLL
Programs: OZ Diamond, BA Gold, Bonvoy Ambassador, HH Gold
Posts: 4,410
Congratulations!!!
One suggestion - I am assuming you're flying to CPH to start your trip from Bulgaria, right? Have you thought about starting from IST instead of CPH? Price should come out roughly the same, you could fly directly to LAX, and the C product on TK will be nicer than SAS. I know it's very easy to get to IST from most of Eastern Europe, so just thought it might be an nice alternative.
One suggestion - I am assuming you're flying to CPH to start your trip from Bulgaria, right? Have you thought about starting from IST instead of CPH? Price should come out roughly the same, you could fly directly to LAX, and the C product on TK will be nicer than SAS. I know it's very easy to get to IST from most of Eastern Europe, so just thought it might be an nice alternative.
Feb 13, 2012, 1:58 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,837
It won't work. Choosing IST as start/end point bumps the total to 16k eur immediately. It's because as per http://www.wandr.me/RTW_Fares.aspx/ByProduct/CRWSTAR2 the starting price exCPH is $7352 and exIST is $10,312.
Czech Republic (PRG) is $7383, which is direct alternative to CPH. Thoughts?
Czech Republic (PRG) is $7383, which is direct alternative to CPH. Thoughts?
Feb 13, 2012, 8:14 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
There are three distance brackets for these tickets: 29000, 34000 and 39000 miles. You could either save some money bringing the itinary below 29000 or max it out a bit more and still staying below 34000.
The best tool to get the approximate mileage (and actually see where you are wasting miles is this:
http://www.gcmap.com/
You could also route the RTW thru your home airport at the end and then not take the last flight.
The best tool to get the approximate mileage (and actually see where you are wasting miles is this:
http://www.gcmap.com/
You could also route the RTW thru your home airport at the end and then not take the last flight.
Feb 14, 2012, 9:29 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
Have you try LH on FRA-DEN-LAS, that should easily get you down below the requirement.
Last edited by mobilebucky; Feb 14, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Feb 14, 2012, 11:32 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Programs: BA EC Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,233
You've got a number of flights on NZ and I can appreciate that you would want to experience some of the other companies too. However, NZ long-haul business class is arguably the best in Star Alliance. If you start with CPH-lhr-lax-LAS you can save over 200 miles.
cheers,
Henry
cheers,
Henry
Feb 14, 2012, 1:06 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
You've got a number of flights on NZ and I can appreciate that you would want to experience some of the other companies too. However, NZ long-haul business class is arguably the best in Star Alliance. If you start with CPH-lhr-lax-LAS you can save over 200 miles.
cheers,
Henry
cheers,
Henry
Feb 17, 2012, 11:45 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,837
There's it is! Booked it today 
Thoughts?
A few questions. I was able to pick the seats on the LH, UA, NH, SQ and NZ, but couldn't do it on the TK legs. When should I try again? I saw somewhere that you can select seats on TK flights 3 months before departure?
Thanks!
SERVICE FROM TO DEPART ARRIVE
-------------- ------------------- --------------------- -------- -------
LUFTHANSA - LH 1403
SAT 25AUG PRAGUE CZ FRANKFURT DE 0600 0720
NON STOP RUZYNE FRANKFURT INTL
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A321
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
LUFTHANSA - LH 454
SAT 25AUG FRANKFURT DE SAN FRANCISCO CA 0950 1220
NON STOP FRANKFURT INTL SAN FRANCISCO INTL
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A380-800
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
UNITED AIRLINES - UA 609
SAT 25AUG SAN FRANCISCO CA LAS VEGAS NV 1555 1721
NON STOP SAN FRANCISCO INTL MCCARRAN INTL
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320-100/200
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - A FIRST
UNITED AIRLINES - UA 796
FRI 31AUG LAS VEGAS NV LOS ANGELES CA 1400 1512
NON STOP MCCARRAN INTL LOS ANGELES INTL
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320-100/200
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - A FIRST
AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 5
WED 05SEP LOS ANGELES CA AUCKLAND NZ 2230 0630
NON STOP LOS ANGELES INTL AUCKLAND 07SEP
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 777-300
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 40
FRI 07SEP AUCKLAND NZ PAPEETE PF 1705 0005
NON STOP AUCKLAND FAAA
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 767-300/300ER
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
AIR TAHITI - VT 420
FRI 07SEP PAPEETE PF BORA BORA PF 0730 0820
NON STOP FAAA MOTU-MUTE
EQUIPMENT:AEROSPATIALE/ALENIA ATR 72
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - Y ECONOMY
AIR TAHITI - VT 412
SUN 23SEP BORA BORA PF PAPEETE PF 1120 1210
NON STOP MOTU-MUTE FAAA
EQUIPMENT:AEROSPATIALE/ALENIA ATR 72
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - Y ECONOMY
AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 41
SUN 23SEP PAPEETE PF AUCKLAND NZ 1815 2220
NON STOP FAAA AUCKLAND 24SEP
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 767-300/300ER
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 99
FRI 28SEP AUCKLAND NZ TOKYO JP 0840 1650
NON STOP AUCKLAND NARITA
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 777-200/200ER
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS - NH 909
THU 04OCT TOKYO JP HONG KONG HK 1010 1340
NON STOP NARITA HONG KONG INTL
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 767-300/300ER
FLIGHT OPERATED BY AIR JAPAN
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
SINGAPORE AIRLINES - SQ 861
FRI 12OCT HONG KONG HK SINGAPORE SG 1520 1905
NON STOP HONG KONG INTL CHANGI
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A380-800
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
TURKISH AIRLINES - TK 67
THU 18OCT SINGAPORE SG ISTANBUL TR 0010 0630
NON STOP CHANGI ATATURK
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A330-300
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
TURKISH AIRLINES - TK 1027
THU 18OCT ISTANBUL TR SOFIA BG 0740 0855
NON STOP ATATURK SOFIA
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 737-800
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
AUSTRIAN AIRLINES - OS 798
FRI 19OCT SOFIA BG VIENNA AT 1840 1920
NON STOP SOFIA VIENNA INTL
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A319
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
AUSTRIAN AIRLINES - OS 711
FRI 19OCT VIENNA AT PRAGUE CZ 2000 2050
NON STOP VIENNA INTL RUZYNE
EQUIPMENT: DE HAVILLAND DHC-8 400 SERIES
FLIGHT OPERATED BY VO TYROLEAN AIRWAYS
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
-------------- ------------------- --------------------- -------- -------
LUFTHANSA - LH 1403
SAT 25AUG PRAGUE CZ FRANKFURT DE 0600 0720
NON STOP RUZYNE FRANKFURT INTL
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A321
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
LUFTHANSA - LH 454
SAT 25AUG FRANKFURT DE SAN FRANCISCO CA 0950 1220
NON STOP FRANKFURT INTL SAN FRANCISCO INTL
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A380-800
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
UNITED AIRLINES - UA 609
SAT 25AUG SAN FRANCISCO CA LAS VEGAS NV 1555 1721
NON STOP SAN FRANCISCO INTL MCCARRAN INTL
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320-100/200
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - A FIRST
UNITED AIRLINES - UA 796
FRI 31AUG LAS VEGAS NV LOS ANGELES CA 1400 1512
NON STOP MCCARRAN INTL LOS ANGELES INTL
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320-100/200
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - A FIRST
AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 5
WED 05SEP LOS ANGELES CA AUCKLAND NZ 2230 0630
NON STOP LOS ANGELES INTL AUCKLAND 07SEP
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 777-300
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 40
FRI 07SEP AUCKLAND NZ PAPEETE PF 1705 0005
NON STOP AUCKLAND FAAA
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 767-300/300ER
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
AIR TAHITI - VT 420
FRI 07SEP PAPEETE PF BORA BORA PF 0730 0820
NON STOP FAAA MOTU-MUTE
EQUIPMENT:AEROSPATIALE/ALENIA ATR 72
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - Y ECONOMY
AIR TAHITI - VT 412
SUN 23SEP BORA BORA PF PAPEETE PF 1120 1210
NON STOP MOTU-MUTE FAAA
EQUIPMENT:AEROSPATIALE/ALENIA ATR 72
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - Y ECONOMY
AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 41
SUN 23SEP PAPEETE PF AUCKLAND NZ 1815 2220
NON STOP FAAA AUCKLAND 24SEP
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 767-300/300ER
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 99
FRI 28SEP AUCKLAND NZ TOKYO JP 0840 1650
NON STOP AUCKLAND NARITA
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 777-200/200ER
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS - NH 909
THU 04OCT TOKYO JP HONG KONG HK 1010 1340
NON STOP NARITA HONG KONG INTL
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 767-300/300ER
FLIGHT OPERATED BY AIR JAPAN
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
SINGAPORE AIRLINES - SQ 861
FRI 12OCT HONG KONG HK SINGAPORE SG 1520 1905
NON STOP HONG KONG INTL CHANGI
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A380-800
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
TURKISH AIRLINES - TK 67
THU 18OCT SINGAPORE SG ISTANBUL TR 0010 0630
NON STOP CHANGI ATATURK
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A330-300
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
TURKISH AIRLINES - TK 1027
THU 18OCT ISTANBUL TR SOFIA BG 0740 0855
NON STOP ATATURK SOFIA
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 737-800
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
AUSTRIAN AIRLINES - OS 798
FRI 19OCT SOFIA BG VIENNA AT 1840 1920
NON STOP SOFIA VIENNA INTL
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A319
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
AUSTRIAN AIRLINES - OS 711
FRI 19OCT VIENNA AT PRAGUE CZ 2000 2050
NON STOP VIENNA INTL RUZYNE
EQUIPMENT: DE HAVILLAND DHC-8 400 SERIES
FLIGHT OPERATED BY VO TYROLEAN AIRWAYS
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - D BUSINESS
A few questions. I was able to pick the seats on the LH, UA, NH, SQ and NZ, but couldn't do it on the TK legs. When should I try again? I saw somewhere that you can select seats on TK flights 3 months before departure?
Thanks!
Feb 17, 2012, 9:04 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ/NYC/CDG/NRT
Posts: 171
Feb 18, 2012, 2:18 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,837
Feb 19, 2012, 7:46 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
You can book Air Tahiti as part of RTW? If you can why now just book Air Tahiti direct from LAX to PPT. That will save you some miles and lower the cost.
