The perception has been that using the tool with BA as the first carrier, versus having Mindpearl do the ticketing on AA's behalf, resulted in significantly higher YQ on the overall ticket. AA passes through BA YQ on the BA segments, but BA adds YQ to non-BA segments more than AA does. QR is perceived as also having lower YQ than BA.

We don't, however have any real accounting on the total difference in cost brought on by these variables, i.e. does the use of Mindpearl/AA vs. the online tool/BA vs AA RTW queuing the PNR to Mindpearl, etc. etc... really make a giant difference, especially considering the pain and suffering involved at present.

On dummy itineraries using the tool that start with CX JNB-HKG i.e. west-to-east RTWs, the YQ difference with, say, DONE4s that start with JNB/CPT-LHR (i.e. east-to-west) seems to be a couple hundred bucks if you keep the BA segments to a minimum. But not everyone wants to start with JNB-HKG, or even go to Asia at all (I prefer JNB-SYD or v.v.) so using CX isn't always an option.

A big problem is that the AA RTW desk is a lot more hit-or-miss than before. Sara left a huge gap, sad to say. Then add Mindpearl's apparent reluctance to process non-SA credit cards and AA is less reliable for SA-originating tickets overall.

I suspect that Mindpearl would still accept wire transfers and don't know if anyone has tried that. I've also tried to find a TA in Joburg or Cape Town who could do the ticketing, but so far haven't located anybody.