Let me assure serfty that we are not intending to "brush off" anyone who uses oneworld services. We are in business to keep our customers satisfied. But we do have to work within industry-wide systems and standards. The shift to 16 segments for RTW fares is being imposed on the alliance by an industry-wide change. It is not something we have sought. If there was a practical way around this restriction, then we most certainly would have pursued it. As it is, our understanding is that all RTW fares will face the same issue.

Turning to serfy's earlier posting: "In the last year or so, the rules for xONEx's changed to include surface segments(/open jaws) in the 20 segment limit. This has led to an issue regarding co-terminals where some oneworld member airlines consider the use of co-terminals to be a surface segment while others do not. e.g. I know one airline considers the following route to be 6 segments, while another believes it to be 4 only:
ORD-LHR,LGW-DBV-LGW,xLHR-SIN
Note, that while the first airline believes it to be six, they consider no UK APD is payable for DBV-LGA,xLHR-SIN.
Can you please shed some light on which interpretation is the correct one?"

Our fares specialist advises: "Segments are the same as flight coupons. Which must have no geographical gaps. (Even between LHR and LGW). Thus LHR-LGW is a segment. In example you quoted, the only exception could be if the xLHR-STN has the same flight number as the DBV-LGA. In which case DBV-STN would count as one segment. UK APD is not charged for transfers (but is for stopovers). Transfers must be within 24 hours of previous flight arrival."

Let me add in response to manar that we would hope that, as technology progresses, the industry as a whole will be able to ease this restriction - look back at what airlines were able to offer just a few years ago and it is amazing how fast they change. But we are getting into the realms of crystal-ball-gazing now...

Beyond that, I would prefer to wait until we have posted our formal announcement on this issue before responding to any more queries or observation on this subject. So please hold fire until then!

On other matters....

headinclouds - apologies for adding a "the" to your name - and I hope the real headintheclouds did not take offence. Put it all down to being a newcomer....

777lover: Please be assured we do look regularly at how we can best support FFP members. I'm sure our competitors would love to know what plans we have in this area, so please forgive me for not responding to specifics...

And finally in this posting, a plug - five new destinations join the oneworld network in the new flying season starting this weekend. You can find full details and all the other latest news from the alliance in our latest news release, just posted at http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=13247

Happy and safe flying!