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Old Sep 12, 2016 | 10:32 am
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timbouk
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 25
Smile Planning first RTW, how does it look?
Hi all,

I'm planning a RTW for myself and my partner for ~6 months next year. I'm new to FlyerTalk and this type of ticket (previously only flown point-to-point L class), but have been devouring all the info on here and elsewhere to try to get up to speed... still learning all the lingo so call me out on anything wrong

Currently looking at an ex-OSL LONE4 looking like this (using 's' for surface segment?):
OSL-xHEL-BKK-sHAN-NRT-HAN-sKUL-MNL-SYD-sBNE-xSYD-AKL-LAX-sLAS-MIA-xLHR-OSL
Total 16 segments

Purpose of the trip is to allow for overland travel around South-East Asia, Australasia and California with a short hop to Japan. We are based in London.

So if any of you more experienced flyers have some thoughts on these, am all ears
  1. Oneworld Explorer seems to fit best. I've briefly looked at StarAlliance and buying individual tickets too. Anything else worth considering?
  2. After playing with the https://rtw.oneworld.com/rtw/ tool, positioning to OSL to start is coming up top (presuming that is what 'ex'-OSL refers to ). Above route is coming up ~£5200, avoiding BA as first flight to reduce the YQ (fuel charges?). Does this route look good, or any glaring problems?
  3. I have a few (negligible, ~3.5k) avios with BAEC. I've never really collected miles before, but starting with this trip would like to do so (as will actually be earning some...!). Have read quite a lot on merits of AAdvantage vs BAEC. Wondering whether it makes sense to put the miles in AA instead (future use will be mostly short-haul inter Europe and later another RTW at some point)
  4. Related to above, briefly looked at flying same route but in D class, ex-CAI. Would bump the cost to ~£8600 plus positioning. I'm not too swayed by the perks of physically flying business (but haven't tasted it yet so who knows! ) but trying to figure out if it makes sense from a mile-earning point-of-view to have miles in the bank for future trips. If anyone can shed some light on the mile earning potential of a LONE4 vs a DONE4 that would be awesome. ie. Does it ever make sense to travel D for mile earning potential, to later use on more L flights, versus L all round?

Thank you all, you guys have been a wealth of information already
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