Mini RTW Questions
#1531
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Montreal, QC
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 1
I just came back from a mini-RTW which I booked on Aeroplan, for 75,000 pts, after having churned some credit cards to get Free Bonus Miles. The total taxes were only $315, w/o including GST/PST and the extra $30 to the agent for a phone booking.
I visited Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Korea, and added layovers in Singapore, Beijing, and Vancouver, travelling for a total of ~ 1 month.
I booked it as YUL-MUC-PEK-HKG (Stop 1), HKG-SGN (Turnaround), SGN-SIN-ICN (Stop 2), ICN-PEK-YVR-YUL.
The details were:
YUL-MUC (Layover of 5 hrs in Munich) = Lufthansa
MUC-PEK = Air China
PEK-HKG (Stopover 1) = Air China
HKG-SGN (Turnaround) = United
SGN-SIN (Layover of 10 hrs in Singapore) = Singapore Airlines
SIN-ICN (Stopover 2) = Singapore Airlines
ICN-PEK (Layover of 23 hr 45 min in Beijing) = Air China
PEK-YVR (Layover of 12 hrs in Vancouver) = Air China
YVR-YUL = Air Canada
We wanted to avoid flying through the US, so chose to get to Asia via Europe and the Atlantic Ocean, also which extended the MPM, and home via the Pacific Ocean.
5 hrs in Munich was more than enough time to have beer + sausage; we could have even played mini-putt at the airport, or gone into town, but there is a great Beer Garden at the airport so we stayed.
10 hrs in Singapore was more than enough to visit all the main sites, and eat at two of the most famous hawker centers in the city (we made sure to arrive hungry from Saigon)
23:45 in Beijing was amazing - we even got a hotel for the night, as we timed it so we arrived at 4 pm and left the next day at 3:45 pm.
12 hrs in Vancouver, and it was sunny the whole time, was wonderful as well.
Do note, we took a separate 45 minute flight from SGN-NHA (Nha Trang) to avoid a 9 hr train ride up the coast, but bought that (for a mere $40) with Vietnam Airlines.
So all in all, literally Around the World, for $315.
9 flights booked with the same Aeroplan pts, and even stretching the point of turnaround with the Agent on the phone to allow for a detour to Singapore (and making it be the MPM reference as it is the furthest most point from Montreal, even though it was not the point of Turnaround).
All the flights were amazing, and Air China surprised me with how on time they were. Singapore Airlines is luxurious to say the least!
What a trip...
Thanks to my wife who let me plan this crazy trip, and who loved every minute of it as we travelled the world, pretty much for free.
I visited Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Korea, and added layovers in Singapore, Beijing, and Vancouver, travelling for a total of ~ 1 month.
I booked it as YUL-MUC-PEK-HKG (Stop 1), HKG-SGN (Turnaround), SGN-SIN-ICN (Stop 2), ICN-PEK-YVR-YUL.
The details were:
YUL-MUC (Layover of 5 hrs in Munich) = Lufthansa
MUC-PEK = Air China
PEK-HKG (Stopover 1) = Air China
HKG-SGN (Turnaround) = United
SGN-SIN (Layover of 10 hrs in Singapore) = Singapore Airlines
SIN-ICN (Stopover 2) = Singapore Airlines
ICN-PEK (Layover of 23 hr 45 min in Beijing) = Air China
PEK-YVR (Layover of 12 hrs in Vancouver) = Air China
YVR-YUL = Air Canada
We wanted to avoid flying through the US, so chose to get to Asia via Europe and the Atlantic Ocean, also which extended the MPM, and home via the Pacific Ocean.
5 hrs in Munich was more than enough time to have beer + sausage; we could have even played mini-putt at the airport, or gone into town, but there is a great Beer Garden at the airport so we stayed.
10 hrs in Singapore was more than enough to visit all the main sites, and eat at two of the most famous hawker centers in the city (we made sure to arrive hungry from Saigon)
23:45 in Beijing was amazing - we even got a hotel for the night, as we timed it so we arrived at 4 pm and left the next day at 3:45 pm.
12 hrs in Vancouver, and it was sunny the whole time, was wonderful as well.
Do note, we took a separate 45 minute flight from SGN-NHA (Nha Trang) to avoid a 9 hr train ride up the coast, but bought that (for a mere $40) with Vietnam Airlines.
So all in all, literally Around the World, for $315.
9 flights booked with the same Aeroplan pts, and even stretching the point of turnaround with the Agent on the phone to allow for a detour to Singapore (and making it be the MPM reference as it is the furthest most point from Montreal, even though it was not the point of Turnaround).
All the flights were amazing, and Air China surprised me with how on time they were. Singapore Airlines is luxurious to say the least!
What a trip...
Thanks to my wife who let me plan this crazy trip, and who loved every minute of it as we travelled the world, pretty much for free.
#1532
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,935
^ glad you enjoyed.
And that's why we do what we do here...
And that's why we do what we do here...
#1533
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,619
Kudos to you and your wife for doing that in economy!!
My gosh - she's a keeper.
My gosh - she's a keeper.
#1534
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,717
Hey guys, would the following be possible?
YOW-YUL-ZRH(S)-SIN-MEL(D)-AKL-NRT(S)-ORD-YOW
YOW-YUL-ZRH(S)-SIN-MEL(D)-AKL-NRT(S)-ORD-YOW
#1535
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,669
PER is the most flexible from Australia - I was able to do PER-SIN-NRT-ORD-YYZ. Leaving from BNE, ADL, MEL - all over MPM+5.
#1537
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,717
Does YOW-AKL-YOW have a permited routing via europe and asia on the return?
I could just buy a AKL-MEL ticket...
Like YOW-YUL-ZRH(S)-SIN-AKL(D)-NRT(S)-ORD-YOW
#1538
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: All Accor Plat, 1865 Voyager, AE E35K, HH Gold,Hyatt, Hrtz Gold, Marriott Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 1,690
YOW-FRA or LHR-BKK or SIN-MEL all seem to work. Also YOW-YYZ-ZRH or CPH-SIN-MEL
TPAC MEL-SIN-NRT-YVR-YOW MEL-SIN-PEK or PVG or ICN-YYZ-YOW
#1539
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,669
Routing through SIN and NRT/PVG/PEK is not possible with any Australia/NZ destination except Perth - they are all over MPM.
For example, from SYD, pretty much all that works is SYD-ICN-YYZ-YOW or SYD-PEK-YYZ-YOW (it's just under MPM5). Routing through YVR is also over.
From MEL, I found that MEL-PVG-YVR-YOW is bookable. MEL-PVG-NRT-YVR/ORD-YOW also seems to work. The key is you must fly direct from MEL-PVG/PEK.
For example, from SYD, pretty much all that works is SYD-ICN-YYZ-YOW or SYD-PEK-YYZ-YOW (it's just under MPM5). Routing through YVR is also over.
From MEL, I found that MEL-PVG-YVR-YOW is bookable. MEL-PVG-NRT-YVR/ORD-YOW also seems to work. The key is you must fly direct from MEL-PVG/PEK.
#1540
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,187
Routing through SIN and NRT/PVG/PEK is not possible with any Australia/NZ destination except Perth - they are all over MPM.
For example, from SYD, pretty much all that works is SYD-ICN-YYZ-YOW or SYD-PEK-YYZ-YOW (it's just under MPM5). Routing through YVR is also over.
From MEL, I found that MEL-PVG-YVR-YOW is bookable. MEL-PVG-NRT-YVR/ORD-YOW also seems to work. The key is you must fly direct from MEL-PVG/PEK.
For example, from SYD, pretty much all that works is SYD-ICN-YYZ-YOW or SYD-PEK-YYZ-YOW (it's just under MPM5). Routing through YVR is also over.
From MEL, I found that MEL-PVG-YVR-YOW is bookable. MEL-PVG-NRT-YVR/ORD-YOW also seems to work. The key is you must fly direct from MEL-PVG/PEK.
Last edited by sp4294; Sep 15, 2013 at 1:21 am
#1545
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,669
On another note:
Are co-terminals in foreign destinations not allowed?
Yesterday, I tried unsuccessfully to get them to let me change my ticket to arrive in DME and leave from VKO. I tried with 3 agents - all said the system wouldn't let them, considering I already have an open jaw. Today I called in again to pretend that a previous agent had forgotten the change in a mess as I changed 6 flights yesterday (yesterday's changes haven't been ticketed) and I got the same response again.
Today I heard a super-creative excuse - co-terminals in foreign destinations are not allowed? I'd find it absurd if they wouldn't allow HND/NRT on the same ticket.
Are co-terminals in foreign destinations not allowed?
Yesterday, I tried unsuccessfully to get them to let me change my ticket to arrive in DME and leave from VKO. I tried with 3 agents - all said the system wouldn't let them, considering I already have an open jaw. Today I called in again to pretend that a previous agent had forgotten the change in a mess as I changed 6 flights yesterday (yesterday's changes haven't been ticketed) and I got the same response again.
Today I heard a super-creative excuse - co-terminals in foreign destinations are not allowed? I'd find it absurd if they wouldn't allow HND/NRT on the same ticket.