<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ExMo:
The only concern I have is the initial booking of the flights. It was a pleasure to work with the AA RTW desk to do this. As I originated on CX AKL-HKG-LHR, I assume I would have to deal with CX and have them ticket it in AKL, were I to do this again. Probably a bit more of a hassle but worth the savings in cost vs. a US origination.</font>
CX is just as good as AA RTW desk (almost, they don't have the personality of some of the agents and don't work quite as fast). I have been impressed with the CX service, it is still an order of magnitude better than the normal airline ticketing process. And the ticket counters in AKL and SYD/MEL are much more capable of issuing these kinds of tickets (I tried to get AA to issue my RTW at a ticket office, but they recoiled in fear ... luckily the AA RTW desk arranged to have it issued and mailed to me).
I think you could still use AA RTW desk to book a ticket that is ex-AKL or SYD because AA has code-shares on QF to AKL and SYD, thus they can issue AA-stock tickets (it would be done by QF acting as an AA agent).
The issuing airline does not have to be the airline flying the first segment, btw.