As the FT blog on the 16-segment limit for oneworld Explorer (and other airline round-the-world fares) shows no sign of abating, let’s get back to some basics.

oneworld Explorer enables customers to develop their own bespoke itineraries choosing from more than 9,000 flights a day offered by ten airlines and another 20 affiliates serving some 700 destinations in 150 countries, flying in First, Business, Premium Economy or Economy.

That provides customers with huge choice and flexibility – but, like other round-the-world fares – it also makes it among the most complex of air fares to develop and market.

To make it as easy as possible for travel agents and airline reservations folk to sell and support and for the average customer to plan and buy, we have endeavoured to reduce the complexity as much as possible.

That’s just one reason why Explorer pricing is based on the number of continents visited, rather than mileage flown.

It also means using systems and procedures as far as possible that are in common usage throughout the industry and easily understood by the average travel agent.

With the entire air travel industry moving to a 16-segment limit for individual e-tickets a few months ago, Explorer has followed.

Can you imagine the complexity in supporting the sale of a product not based on these global industry-wide standards? Can you imagine the number of FT blogs that would flow as a result of sales agents around the world being unfamiliar with the additional idiosyncrasies of such a fare? How many of the participants of this forum for experts and enthusiasts, let alone the standard small town travel agent, have heard of such a thing as “linked PNRs”, quite apart from understanding how they may work?

So, sorry Viajero, Hugh and others, but linked PNRs is not regarded as a practical procedure for this product at this time.

As it is, very, very few people used Explorer for journeys of more than 16 segments – the exceptions seem to be FT regulars! Of course we do not want to disappoint any customers, but to continue to make this product marketable, saleable and supportable around the world has meant making the 16-segment change.

We still believe this product represents excellent value for money and, for the vast majority of Explorer’s users, the 16-segment change has had no impact whatsoever.

As for the British sky being yellow (Bukhara), as everyone knows, it is predominantly grey and white with a rare and occasional smattering of blue during daylight hours. At night, black is its dominant tone, except in cities where light pollution taints it orange… or even yellow!

Happy and safe travelling - and, as ever, thanks for your interest in and support of oneworld.