Pseudo Nim

tys90

Thanks for the quick reply. That's a good idea but I was hoping to use the 2nd stopover in Asia. Can't always get the perfect routing and dates I suppose.

Pseudo Nim

That's fair. Remember you do get a total of three stops (let's disregard the precise verbiage vis. stop/destination/whatever) if you complete the itinerary - so you could leave DEN, have one stop in Asia, second stop in Asia, then "stop" in ORD on the way back. I'm guessing you meant you need another stop in Asia, so in that case you'd need to position DEN-ORD on something like Frontier or Spirit or whatever cheap LCC flies that route.

yscleo

I did book for two for
8/30 YYZ-LHR (AC868), layover to 8/31 LHR-BRU SN2096, stop
9/12 BRU-CDG-TPE SN3631/BR88; destination
9/27 TSA-HND BR190, stop
10/11 NRT-DEN-YYZ UA142/AC1040

The tax/fees + booking fees came to $644.13 total. The last leg of DEN-YYZ I also compared to UA2024, but using AC1040 did not change the YQ, so I went with AC. This time the lady seemed knowledgeable, unlike the previous one who had a hard time about TPE/TSA and HND/NRT being co-terminals.

First time booking a mini-RTW. Learned a lot from all of you.

asovse1

Throwaway because I don't want to be identified.

I live in the prairies but I have a conference in NYC a year from today where afterwards I'll be flying a mini-RTW. I'm gonna be booking soon, and I just had a couple of questions...

So I think I can maximize MPM from the east cost of North America and do a circumnavigation around the world (as far south as Turkey, and many stops in Europe), if I select my destination to be HKG. On the way home, I want to do some more stops in Asia before flying home to the prairies.

From HND, I'll fly to a UA/AC hub like SFO or YVR (depending on YQ with AC and NH), and then one of my layover locations will be a spike up to Northern Canada. To complete my mini-RTW and have it recognized as a full round trip, I will then book flights from my hometown to DEN and back to EWR.

Summary:
- Flying company revenue ticket from my hometown to EWR
- After business in EWR, will do mini-RTW via Europe, destination HKG, and then a few stops in Asia
- Besides completing the entire mini-RTW, the return ticket's final destination will be EWR, but I intend to indefinitely stay during layover at hometown

Statements:
- I do not intend on flying the Y[XX] to DEN to EWR journey. It doesn't sound possible with MPM but I have routes that are surprisingly <1k from MPM.
- I have successfully short-checked bags to Y[XX] on Aeroplan rewards
- I've heard of consequences/outright bans with people performing hidden city ticketing on revenue tickets, I figure it'd be much worse on reward tickets. This may be one of my final flights with Aeroplan because I'm dumping all my miles

Questions:
- I feel bad about this hidden city ticketing, but I'd rather not leave an open jaw (is it considered one?) to maximize my destinations and stopover lengths, what do you guys think?
- Can I call and "change" or "cancel" my Aeroplan reward when I land at Y[XX]? This would be midway through my reward. My goal is not to reclaim my miles or anything immoral like that, I'd just like to release the seats back to the airline in case anyone is waiting standby

I'll provide more details if necessary

Pseudo Nim

I realy don't think you need to go to the trouble of making a throwaway account to ask about HCT (and I hope you're not the guy above asking about DEN!!! lolol) but yeah, nobody cares about the occasional HCT. I know airlines went bananas on people who regularly flew HCT to save money / work commute / whatever, but seriously, they have better things to do than catch one guy who didn't fly one segment (who knows, you got sick, had a headache, whatever - a single HCT, or more correctly, thrown-away segment, isn't going to send the Aeroplan police after you). I've actually never heard of someone being burned because they didn't fly the last leg or whatnot. Your actual and much more real problem is likely to be short-checking, so MAKE SURE you book a flight that departs the following day (overnight connection) as they will then require you to collect bags, which will solve your problem.

pentiumvi

I'm not super familiar with cabotage rules, but if you flew SFO-Y[XX]-DEN-EWR, that sounds like something that would not be allowed.

asovse1

Thank you both for your advice, I have done shortchecking before on a reward ticket thanks to a really understanding priority check-in rep at YVR. I think the best thing I'm counting on is after arriving from the SFO flight, I'll have to clear CBSA in Y[XX] and have access to the bags anyway. I'll definitely do an overnight layover to be sure.

Ah, cabotage! I'm not sure if my trip would be considered cabotage. From what I understand of cabotage, it's a carrier operating a domestic flight in a foreign country. Aren't I bound by airline schedules that definitely don't have this? I'll clarify:

HND -> YVR OR SFO (NH)
YVR OR SFO -> Y[XX] (AC)
Y[XX] -> DEN (UA/AC)
DEN -> EWR (UA)
Each operator departs or arrives in their own country and Aeroplan (does that mean Air Canada?) issues my ticket

The only domestic flights will ever be YVR to Y[XX], which will definitely be on AC, and DEN to EWR, which will definitely be on UA. No domestic UA flight in Canada, and no domestic AC flight in the US. My Y[XX] has US pre-clearance if it helps.

Am I getting the definition of cabotage wrong? Are there examples of customers deliberately booking cabotage flights? Because that sounds impossible, but it does explain why I do hear that term thrown around a lot on FT.

canadiancow

Without the overnight layover, you may not gain access to your bags. If flying, for example, SFO-YYZ-YOW, you will not see your bags in YYZ.

Flying SFO-YVR-EWR on AC is an example of cabotage because AC is flying you between two US cities.

pentiumvi

Like I said, I'm not an expert, but just thought I'd point it out as a possibility.

I was primary thinking if you did SFO-Y[XX]-DEN-EWR, with Y[XX] just being a layover. Would this be seen as AC carrying you from SFO-EWR/DEN?

WestistBex

Thank you all for your responses. I have realized that NAN is a no go. I have also learned that Air New Zealand doesn't release J class inventory until a month or 2 out and I'm not willing to gamble. New goal is a stop in BKK or HAN, and a stop in BKK. I don't really care which is first. Business or first class is a deal breaker. Any thoughts on:

YWG-AKL-BKK-YWG, or the reverse?

WestistBex

asgr81

Hi guys, i am planning a trip to Maldives and wants to book as much as i can on points and would appreciate help.

I would like to get some help regarding data points or experiences people had or any and all suggestions are welcome. This is for a 10 year anniversary surprise so i really want to do Maldives. Would like to get ideas of what to look for and quickest and easiest tp get to MLE and back from YYZ.

Does the below options are my only options ?

I am thinking YYZ > TPE > SIN > MLE in J , come back the quickest way for one Pax and other Pax will make it a mini RTW around Asia and Europe.

Some other options YYZ > IST > MLE (best option but no availability)

YYZ > CAI > IST > MLE ( Egypt Air has bad reputation for J seats and still 2 stops)

YYZ > BRU > IST > MLE ( availability limited and 2 stops )

jasdou

fortheloveofpoints