I have finally had the RTW ticket issued by BA. Now after reading what you have put forth in the last few days I will go through my logic, and eventually my sheer perserverance. Misplaced sometimes I have realized. So - the reason I did the ex LHR LONE4 ticket is because it was much cheaper then the US based one. Also I had to use a Canadian credit card to pay for this ticket Without it they were very clear they would have not done this ticket. Now initially I did this because I thought I would be in Toronto this weekend and I had thought I would have to show up in person for this ticket. On hindsight I was not thinking this through. Secondly I was in too deep before I could pull out. A slight exaggeration but yes I now need this ticket by tomorrow to get my Chinese Visas and this way was almost finished. When I attempted to do this ticket by calling the UK and paying in pounds the agent said he felt my fare could not be matched and to go through the Canadian channel. The UK agent was also helpful but exacting when he said I had to use a UK credit card. Now after reading other info on the sticky this seems to not be the case but I am not sure. So frankly while I am now more knowledgeable about this system I am nowhere near the level of the average FT'er. By the way - yes I am going to Guilin. Now I think in my first RTW foray I have left tons of miles on the table and prob. did some things that made this process harder. On the other hand BA were at times helpful (esp. UK based) and not.

I have to admit I wish I could have asked a few more questions but being a newbie in this world can be an intimidating place to be. I feel that asking questions albeit "daft" ones are normally done honestly and not to annoy or bore people. A few times here I have done unacceptable practices and asked about something that was similar in tone to a question asked previously (or I admit I asked the forbidden "Help me with a cheap fare?") but I am learning. On another thread I gathered that some newbies get up and leave or quietly lurk. I hope that one day I will reach your knowledge. Sadly I will be doing it from cattle at the back because I choose to grin and bear it and there is no business that pays for F when you raise two girls but at least we see a lot that way. I will also hope to get savvy enough that the lingo trips off of my tongue as I plan trips. All in all this site is useful and brilliant. I will continue to learn with all of this info that is here for the reading and I am thrilled that it prompted my foray into RTW and and I'll be back.