Originally Posted by
MiamiBeach
[*]
First flight changes
Our desired first flight is CPT-LHR, but there is zero
D availability from BA for the entire week we want (even on the daylight flight!). JNB-LHR is available that week. There is availability the following week for CPT-LHR. However, I have heard conflicting stories about changing the first flight on a DONE5 after issuing. One is that ANY change to the first segment requires a complete reissue at the current price (this is also what the AA RTW agent told me). The other is first hand experiences from people changing the dates on their MRU-LHR flights (first segment of an AONEx) without a reissue. From what I can see, the rules say:
Code:
5N PRIOR TO DEPARTURE
23N TRAVEL ORIGINATING AREA 2/3:
24N . 1. UNLIMITED CHANGES PERMITTED WITHOUT CHARGE.
25N . 2. DATE/TIME AND ONEWORLD CARRIER CHANGES ARE
26N . PERMITTED WITHOUT REISSUE PROVIDED ORIGIN,
27N . DESTINATION, CONNECTING POINTS AND INVENTORY
28N . REMAIN THE SAME.
If I can change the date of the first segment without reissue, then I would rather begin CPT-LHR on the "wrong" week to then change it to the right week when
D becomes available.
If it requires a reissue, then I'd rather start JNB-LHR and pay for our way to JNB instead.
As far as I know, a change to the first flight will usually need a reissue, because the ticket validity will change. (As the ticket is valid until 1 year after the first flight). If it doesn't require a reissue, it would be a nice way to create a ticket which will be valid for more than a year. (i.e. buy a ticket starting in a year, and move the first flight to next week. You now have a ticket which is valid for almost 2 years). I very much doubt they would allow that though...