Originally Posted by
TKMAXX
Thanks, yes the HEL was just to price this thing properly on the tool for indicative purposes. Hopefully starting with QR doesn't boost the YQ fees much.
Due to timings constraints we would have to do Asia after Australia, will have a look at going via Tokyo! Hopefully not too much YQ, and JL are v nice I've heard.
I meant NBO, typo! Good inference!
Sadly the connections in Africa are quite poor for OW, so would have to do an surface sector if adding something inside Africa itself, and can't visit South Africa or Mauritius itself either, so would look at Seychelles perhaps.
Thanks for the help. Is it best to book via AA RTW, or can a travel agent book earlier than the 330 days (need to secure some high demand dates around New Year's 2025). Any travel agents specialise in this kind of thing?
Sadly yes, Africa is a major hole in the network at the moment since the franchise of BA in South Africa went bust. Hopefully in the coming years Rwandair and / or Airlink will join.
But lots of options to add something inside of Africa with a surface segment. Seychelles are beautiful but like many island paradises, very expensive on the ground. WB (Rwandair) is a partner of QR and you can use Avios for them at a very reasonable rate, they are bookable on the QR app or website. Rwanda itself is a very nice country to visit, and they reduced the price of the Gorilla permit at the beginning of this year to be in line with Uganda's price, sadly QR gave up their KGL service and let's WB fly the DOH route now with a QR codeshare (not eligible for OW Explorer). Entebbe in Uganda is also nice along Lake Victoria, QR has a daily service to EBB. You could consider Victoria Falls, but to catch QR down there you'd need to make your own way to HRE or LUN, neither are particularly close but definitely do-able.
For booking, it depends on where you credit your miles to. If not AAdvantage, then definitely just use AA to book. If you do credit to AAdvantage though you likely don't want the required AA coded inter-continental segment, so that's where a travel agent would be better. I don't know this firsthand but have heard that finding a travel agent who can ticket on QR stock via Sabre can cut a lot of fuel surcharges out. There are some travel agents who lurk on this board but not sure any of them can ticket that way, none that have raised their hand anyway.