Originally Posted by
jAAck
I'm sure I'm missing something really basic here, but I do seem to be missing it. Looking for any clarification anyone can offer, please. I'm planning a DONE4 with the following routing:
SFO - SYD
SYD - LHR
LHR - IAH
IAH - MIA
MIA - SEA or SFO
I'm told this isn't possible due to the following rule:
"Two stopovers of greater than 24 hours permitted in the continent of origin and only one permitted in each direction within the country of origin. You can only make an extra stop if it is less than 24 hours."
But it seems to me that I'm not violating the rule...I have one stopover in Houston and a second in Miami. Appreciate any help from the experts out there.
PS - Yes, I realize this is a woefully short trip for a OWE ticket, but it's for biz not pleasure.
In which case I think you ought to look at a 34K mile Global Explorer ticket instead of a DONE4. The price in D is $99 more than a DONE4, but it doesn't have the stopover problem you'd have with a DONEx, plus - if this is of interest - you can use non-OW airlines in the itinerary, in particular AS, so you could go MIA-SEA at the end, or MIA-SEA-SFO, etc., without the stopover restrictions, prohibition on more than one transcon, blah blah.
A sample route for your trip would be something like SFO-SYD-LHR-IAH-MIA-SEA-SFO, which comes in at around 27,100 miles. You're allowed 34,000 miles with the business GlobEx, so if it were me I'd refrain from returning to SFO until you've seen if you have other travel needs within N. America for the rest of the one-year validity of the RTW, then have the ticket re-issued for $125 and use up the remaining 6900 miles. (If you hit the city of origin again the game's up.) Seems to me that the $99 purchase differential plus the $125 reissue fee (total $224) is a pretty good deal for almost 7000 miles of additional first/business class travel.
Either that or start LAX-SYD, which would let you return to SFO partway through the ticket.