Originally Posted by
andreirublev
This would be leisure-only trip for 2 weeks (can't be flexible on the 2 weeks). Having never been to any of the places on either itinerary, were you happy cramming in a lot of destinations in a short period of time, or would you have preferred more time in just one continent?
My partner I have been flying a DONEx annually; before the huge rate increase a few years ago we used DCIRx a lot. We have limited vacation, so we generally only allot 2 or 3 days per stop-over. If it's a place we've not been before, we try to use that limited time to get a feel for the place and decide if we want to go back. If we've been there before, then we target something we didn't get to do before, or something we know is very fun. So, for us, limited time per place is fine.
Originally Posted by
Gardyloo
At $9300 plus taxes, however, I'd be inclined to look at RTW fares instead of Circle Pacific. If, for example, you flew relatively cheaply to Europe, you could conceivably start a 4-continent RTW in someplace like Poland for under $8300 plus taxes, or around $7000 - $7300 in the "near" Middle East. Then fly east - to Asia en route to Oz, then home... and still have six North America segments and a couple of European ones remaining, which you could use over the space of a year.
[snip]
AMM RJ BKK CX HKG QF MEL QF SYD QF DFW. (Then pause the trip and go back to work.)
Then, later (imaginary) DFW AA ANC AA DFW AA YVR CX JFK AA DFW AA MAD IB IST BA LHR RJ AMM, then miles home. There are literally thousands of permutations on this theme. IMO way, way more bang for the buck than the DCIR22.
Very good advise. Ever since the big price increase, my partner and I have been doing DONEx trips that start outside North America for the significantly lower cost, plus the ability to have multiple stop-offs in North America. As you suggest, we have a long (~6-8 month) stop-off at home, making one DONEx into two trips.
Originally Posted by
RTW4
Call CATHAY PACIFIC number listed for their HONG KONG reservations office.. That is how I booked my last circle pacific from HKG.. No problems.. easy... faxed copy of credit card and passport to their office and e-ticket issued within 24 hours......hope this helps...
An intriguing idea. I have the AA RTW desk set it up, then find someone to issue it (usually an AA office somewhere). A big advantage is that then the RTW desk is happy to make changes. If CX issues the ticket, I'm assuming they couldn't issue something set up by AA (different systems)? The one time I used an external TA to set things up, the AA RTW desk couldn't touch it, and it was a nightmare.