I realise my question is not about the oneworld RTW tool, but I'm at my wits' end with it. Is there a travel agent who can book RTW tickets who are more robust and expert then me limited with the online RTW tool? I've watched the recent Matt's Planet YouTube video about the oneworld RTW tool and tried Propeller Travel but not heard back after a fews weeks so assume as my route is not simple they ignored me.
I have a city list I want to take and know my dates (start and end are fixed due to work, and there's little leeway with the dates inbetween). Pencil and paper exercise of listing flights between the cities makes sense based on routes airline fly, except for the intra-South America bits as that's a big hole in oneworld. But the RTW tool forces less direct flights, does not offer sensible routings and also forces some in economy class even though I set the RTW tool to business class. Two examples:
- MAD-PVG it only offers BA (B789) via LHR and nothing else such as QR via DOH. With the £1,000s this will cost I'm not spending +12hrs in the BA old J seat. Why no QR being offered, as DOH is oneworld's Europe to Asia connection mega-hub or even CX via HKG?
- UIO-MAD it never offers the direct IB flight and either gives one-stop on AA via MIA or two-stops on AA/BA via MIA and LHR - utter madness.
To maximuimze my time I need to start (depart from London) on Saturday 26/5/2026 and end (arrive in Londn) on Sunday 21/6/2026. As the oneworld RTW is cheapest to start/end in OSL, then I'll get a cheap separate return between LGW/LHR and OSL. The route I wish to take is:
- OSL-MAD on IB
- 1 full day in Madrid
- MAD-PVG on QR via DOH
- 5 full days in Shanghai
- PVG-SIN on MH via KUL or CX via HKG
- 5 full days in Singapore (must include 1/6/2026 to 5/6/2026)
- SIN-WLG on QF via SYD or BNE
- 3 full days in Wellington
- WLG-SCL on QF via SYD
- 'Surface sectors' through South America on non-oneworld tickets for SCL-EZE and EZE-UIO with 3 days each in Buenos Aires and Quito
- UIO-OSL - IB via MAD
- Would prefer UIO-MAD on IB, one ful day in Madrid and then MAD-OSL on IB. But that repeat stopover in Madrid possibly breaks the rules.
This seems simple on paper but the RTW tool will not build it.
I'd much prefer to do this with SkyTeam to earn Flying Blue Miles as I'm not a member of any oneworld (or Star Alliance program), but they stopped their RTW ticket a fews years ago. Finally, just building this routing on separate one-way flights that Google Flights/Skyscanner shows then elimates the need to start/end in OSL but provides results that are crazy expensive. I think the RTW ticket would be cheaper.
Well, your question IS about the oneworld tool, rather than the oneworld user guide!
I've been playing around with your itinerary in the tool, and:
- IB only flies OSL-MAD on certain days of the week, and to get offered business class on the flight I needed to have IB as my preferred airline
- QR for OSL-DOH-PVG was offered, I just had to scroll down to see it (the tool displays in total travel time order, so there must be a lengthy layover in Doha on these flights - not a problem, just hang out the excellent Al Mourjan lounge)
- I could not get the tool to offer IB's UIO-MAD non-stop. I've no idea why.
- Total price is NOK95,416
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