Basically the writing has been on the wall a long time when possibly the US Oneworld offices were issuing more tickets ex-other countries than ex-USA that they saw that Oneworld must close that loophole in permitting tickets to be issued in USA. (There is nothing they can do about Canada as the ticketing rules for that country has always been that).

Ever since OneWorld Explorer tickets came up, they have always been slightly or in some cases considerably cheaper than STAR alliances RTW. Now the tables have turned. With their drastic fare increases worldwide, STAR RTWs are now cheaper than ONEWORLD EXPL in most cases. Certainly it is in the case from South Africa.

With the majority of the tickets being issued through South African travel agents, the airlines think that most are South African residents and hence raised prices according to "what the local market will bear". OneWorld tickets on the otherhand were majority being purchased by North American residents and hence the fare increase matched (almost) to that of home.

The permitted of issuance of tickets of a lower currency in Canada originating from that currency's counrty is nothing new. (Well not to me, anyway. One of the advantages of having worked in the Canadian travel industry!)

The airlines WATCH this board. They KNOW what is going on, and what is being SAID and discussed and know our conieving ways in saving a few bucks. IMO, I had thought that the airlines would eventually be pulling the plug soon on many issues.

They already have started. STAR's RTW are more restricted that OWEs'. They need to be issued at least 7 days' advance. The 1st sector cannot be changed absolutely. OWE's do not need 7 days' advance and the first sector's date can be changed as long as there is no fare increase. I see all these soon to match those of OTHER similar RTWs' rules.