Originally Posted by
izzik
If this rule change was literally a week ago, I wouldn't get too up in arms about it.
But you decide with your wallet -- take your business elsewhere.
Firstly, there are six "continents" defined for the oneworld explore fare. Europe/Middle East, Africa, Asia, South West Pacific, North America and South America.
I suspect the AA staff member was citing a rule that had been in place for at least 20 years.
Before a post COVID rule change. you could only visit a continent once (one arrival and one departure for each that you visit), however, you could
transit some continents (including Asia) while travelling between other continents. "Transit without stopover" was the term.
The contemporary rule is:
(e) Only one intercontinental departure and one intercontinental arrival permitted in each continent except as follows:
1. Two permitted in North America.
2. .Two permitted in Asia
3. Two permitted in Europe/Middle East for travel to/from/via Africa. If travel is to/from Europe in both directions, itinerary may not include Mauritius/South Africa.
As indicated, #2 used to read something like "Two Permitted in Asia where one is a transit without stopover ...". This is no longer the case.