Originally Posted by
zoombee
I then did the DONE3 (AY, CX only) version which was just confusing as ex OSL was cheaper (I have the pricing PDF to refer to so pretty sure I didn't make a mistake, maybe the online tool did):
* SPK-HKG-JFK-xHEL-OSL-xHEL-TYO taxes & surcharges ~$800
* OSL-xHEL-TYO,SPK-HKG-JFK-xHEL-OSL taxes & surcharges ~$575
I recall AY has high transatlantic surcharges (thanks to IAG I assume) but low surcharges going to Asia. I wonder if using AY EU-Asia before NA-EU results in the non transatlantic surcharges vs flying NA-EU before EU-Asia. .... ... Just reversed the DONE3 above to OSL-xHEL-JFK-HKG-SPK,TYO-OSL and it's insisting on QF for the "shortest" JFK-HKG even if I set CX as the preferred airline. Tried changing the JFK-HKG to BOS/ORD/YYZ-HKG given QF doesn't fly direct to those cities but the tool then just says there's no availability. FWIW the taxes and surcharges jumped to $1850 if transiting via SYD.