Originally Posted by
Brianek
That doesn't sound right to me.
You are correct - agent is inventing a rule that doesn't exist.
While it is true that surface sectors DO count towards the 16-sector limit, this is only true in cases the open-jaw occurs between two flight sectors. In these cases an informational sector called an ARUNK is inserted in the ticket, and this consumes one of the 16 "coupons" allowed in the e-ticket. Since an open-jaw between Origin & Destination doesn't require an ARUNK, as long as rules permit the combination of origin/destination you've requested, you should be good to go.
Full list of acceptable open-jaws for origin/destination is in the rule 4(c), as follows
:
Travel may originate at any point for which fares are published and must terminate at the same point, except that origin -destination surface segments are permitted as follows :
a. within the country of origin
b. within the Middle East
c. between the United States and Canada
d. between HKG and China
e. between Malaysia and SIN
f. within Africa
g. between Maldives and Sri Lanka/India
All that said: explaining to an agent that they are incorrect, and convincing them to accept that, well, this is easier said than done. Good Luck!