If I can't book the flights on-line is there a specific call centre which is easier to book through than others?
Not really. AA has a dedicated Around-the-World desk, but you have no AA flights so they would be unwilling to help you.
BA should be OK
or you can use a decent travel agent, though you may be charged a service fee
(I was charged 5% by an Australian TA for my current ex-MPM DONE5)
Are there any premium RTW deals at the moment?
Are there UK travel agencies that are similar to
flightplanet.com.au? It advertises various RTW business class deals, however they are fairly basic and would be unlikely to handle your proposed itinerary (those South American stops would be the problem)
The base business class fare (DONE4) ex-Norway is NOK57,959, so significantly more than the economy fare.
Not flown Y long haul for a few years so half dreading this!
My rule of thumb for flying long-haul down the back of the bus is:
- If it's a daylight flight, then it is bearable (keep myself busy during the flight, fall into bed after it)
- However a nighttime flight is to be avoided if at all possible
You only have three long-haul flights in your itinerary:
- LHR-GIG is a daylight flight
- SCL-SYD
- on QF is a daylight flight
- on LA is a nighttime flight AND has that stop in AKL making it a very long flight indeed; also it arrives into SYD at 9:10am (having departed SCL at 1:00am)
Note also Mwenenzi's comment - L availability is very scarce on this route. When LA's SCL-MEL service starts, this might result in more availability; time will tell.
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- BKK-LHR is a daylight flight