Originally Posted by
Franky The Anorak
Firstly you don't say when you are flying but on current schedules BA can offer OSL-xLHR-RAK on Mondays and Fridays without the need to schlep between LHR-LGW and saving you a sector which you might want to use elsewhere.
The rules showing on Expertflyer feel like they are intended to be read by computer rather than humans but let's have a crack at it!
Area 2 comprises Europe/Middle East and Africa.
As you don't wish to visit Libya we'll go with the first stopover option where the intention is to show that you can have UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS anywhere (which are however limited by the number of sectors permitted in each continent), UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS IN AFRICA (which are however limited by the four sectors permitted in Africa - and also the fact that Oneworld has no African airline at present), and 2 IN AREA 2. The UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS IN AFRICA comes before the 2 IN AREA 2 and overrides it.
So, bearing in mind the sector limits you can have UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS, UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS IN AFRICA plus 2 IN (THE REST) OF AREA 2 - the rest of area 2 in this case being Europe/Middle East which is the Continent of Origin.
Thank you
Franky The Anorak ! On reflection I think your interpretation makes sense, otherwise why the repeated insistence on "unlimited in Africa"? It is however a bit wierd that you only get 4 but there we go..
So now my next challenge is to somehow reassure my agent (or indeed the American RTW desk if it comes to it) , so that I can get this routing ticketed. It feels like there is no rock solid authority on how to interpret the rules*. Is this also your experience? Any advice appreciated.
*yesterday I rang the AA desk and each time was told a completely different restriction. One agent said I could never fly Africa to Europe on this fare, and it needed to be via Asia!