Feb 8, 2018, 12:08 am
ANA RTW Award Booking Reports/Discussion
Feb 4, 2019, 8:25 pm
#121
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 49
Just booked another RTW trip with ANA miles for December 2019, seemed pretty painless after learning the ropes the first time. Two passengers, business class. Main goal of the trip is South Africa, which was a bit complicated due to distance and availability.
ATL-IST (TK)
IST-SEZ (TK)
SEZ-ADD-JNB-CPT (ET/SA)
CPT-JNB (SA)
JNB-SIN (SQ)
SIN-MNL (SQ)
MNL-TPE-SEA (BR)
170k ANA miles each (all from an MR transfer), $829.59/ea in taxes and fees, including the $25 call center booking fee.
Best I can tell the stopover in IST will leave us eligible for 2 free nights in 5 star hotel in IST, which is kinda cool. Would have preferred to start in MIA (am based in BOG, and MIA is definitely the easiest place to start in the Con US) and the MIA-IST flight was available earlier today, but someone snagged it before I finished planning. Also really wanted ANA metal to SFO which was readily available a couple weeks ago, but life happened, and now the available options are pretty much BR/OZ to SEA.
Came out to 5.71 cents/mile plus taxes and fees, which seems about as good as possible given the Mrs chose South Africa as part of the route. :-). The Star Alliance RTW tool once again reported taxes and fees at $1926.18, about 16% higher than what I wound up paying, so take what it says with a grain of salt.
ATL-IST (TK)
IST-SEZ (TK)
SEZ-ADD-JNB-CPT (ET/SA)
CPT-JNB (SA)
JNB-SIN (SQ)
SIN-MNL (SQ)
MNL-TPE-SEA (BR)
170k ANA miles each (all from an MR transfer), $829.59/ea in taxes and fees, including the $25 call center booking fee.
Best I can tell the stopover in IST will leave us eligible for 2 free nights in 5 star hotel in IST, which is kinda cool. Would have preferred to start in MIA (am based in BOG, and MIA is definitely the easiest place to start in the Con US) and the MIA-IST flight was available earlier today, but someone snagged it before I finished planning. Also really wanted ANA metal to SFO which was readily available a couple weeks ago, but life happened, and now the available options are pretty much BR/OZ to SEA.
Came out to 5.71 cents/mile plus taxes and fees, which seems about as good as possible given the Mrs chose South Africa as part of the route. :-). The Star Alliance RTW tool once again reported taxes and fees at $1926.18, about 16% higher than what I wound up paying, so take what it says with a grain of salt.
Feb 5, 2019, 2:19 am
#122
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 54
Anybody with experience making changes to ANA RTW ticket? If you bought a ticket in J with some legs in X, could you 'upgrade' these legs to J if availability appears?
It seems that NH initially releases only few award seats on their flights and then opens more 2-3 weeks before departure. I am thinking about initially booking some legs in X, if it realistic to expect that these legs could be upgraded later.
It seems that NH initially releases only few award seats on their flights and then opens more 2-3 weeks before departure. I am thinking about initially booking some legs in X, if it realistic to expect that these legs could be upgraded later.
Feb 22, 2019, 1:03 pm
#123
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SEA
Posts: 311
Just booked my 2nd RTW trip.
SEA-YVR-YYC (stop) - positioning
YYC-FRA-AMS (stop)
FRA-PEK (stop)
PEK-HND (stop)
HND-ITM (stop)
KIX-ICN-YVR-SEA
105K ANA miles each, in business class.(mostly) ~ GCmapper states distance as 17652 miles. The SEA-YVR, FRA-AMS, HND-ITM, and YVR=SEA are in coach but these are short hops - about 1 hr each if even that long.
The connection time on FRA is short, less than 90 min, which is my main concern. Past experience transiting FRA has been very smooth and quick though.
Cost is just a tad over $500 per ticket, mostly the charge is due to Air China, I believe $198 per tix. Not a fan of positioning to YYC, but AC decided to can their SEA-YYC direct flight so we had to go through YVR one day before and spend the night at YYC. ANA must have changed their rules because when we did this in 2016, we were able to start from SEA and ended at YVR (SEA-FRA-ZRH, ZRH-CPH-SVG, SVG-CPH-PVG-NRT, NRT-YVR). On that first one, the fee was higher ($950 or thereabouts, mostly due to LH and SK YQ - I believe SK does not have the YQ anymore now).
I looked all over for YVR-LHR, found some space, but the dates back do not align, so ended up with the above.
I have most of the space scouted using UA award search and KVS but not jotting down the flight num. When I called, I gave the dates and segments desired, and she found all of the segment. By far, the best airline phone agent I've ever worked with. Booking was done in less than 15 minutes, then another agent called about 30 min later, spend 10 min to process credit card and her trying to give me seat assignments.
SEA-YVR-YYC (stop) - positioning
YYC-FRA-AMS (stop)
FRA-PEK (stop)
PEK-HND (stop)
HND-ITM (stop)
KIX-ICN-YVR-SEA
105K ANA miles each, in business class.(mostly) ~ GCmapper states distance as 17652 miles. The SEA-YVR, FRA-AMS, HND-ITM, and YVR=SEA are in coach but these are short hops - about 1 hr each if even that long.
The connection time on FRA is short, less than 90 min, which is my main concern. Past experience transiting FRA has been very smooth and quick though.
Cost is just a tad over $500 per ticket, mostly the charge is due to Air China, I believe $198 per tix. Not a fan of positioning to YYC, but AC decided to can their SEA-YYC direct flight so we had to go through YVR one day before and spend the night at YYC. ANA must have changed their rules because when we did this in 2016, we were able to start from SEA and ended at YVR (SEA-FRA-ZRH, ZRH-CPH-SVG, SVG-CPH-PVG-NRT, NRT-YVR). On that first one, the fee was higher ($950 or thereabouts, mostly due to LH and SK YQ - I believe SK does not have the YQ anymore now).
I looked all over for YVR-LHR, found some space, but the dates back do not align, so ended up with the above.
I have most of the space scouted using UA award search and KVS but not jotting down the flight num. When I called, I gave the dates and segments desired, and she found all of the segment. By far, the best airline phone agent I've ever worked with. Booking was done in less than 15 minutes, then another agent called about 30 min later, spend 10 min to process credit card and her trying to give me seat assignments.
Feb 22, 2019, 6:29 pm
#124
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
Just booked my 2nd RTW trip.
SEA-YVR-YYC (stop) - positioning
YYC-FRA-AMS (stop)
FRA-PEK (stop)
PEK-HND (stop)
HND-ITM (stop)
KIX-ICN-YVR-SEA
105K ANA miles each, in business class.(mostly) ~ GCmapper states distance as 17652 miles. The SEA-YVR, FRA-AMS, HND-ITM, and YVR=SEA are in coach but these are short hops - about 1 hr each if even that long.
The connection time on FRA is short, less than 90 min, which is my main concern. Past experience transiting FRA has been very smooth and quick though.
Cost is just a tad over $500 per ticket, mostly the charge is due to Air China, I believe $198 per tix. Not a fan of positioning to YYC, but AC decided to can their SEA-YYC direct flight so we had to go through YVR one day before and spend the night at YYC. ANA must have changed their rules because when we did this in 2016, we were able to start from SEA and ended at YVR (SEA-FRA-ZRH, ZRH-CPH-SVG, SVG-CPH-PVG-NRT, NRT-YVR). On that first one, the fee was higher ($950 or thereabouts, mostly due to LH and SK YQ - I believe SK does not have the YQ anymore now).
I looked all over for YVR-LHR, found some space, but the dates back do not align, so ended up with the above.
I have most of the space scouted using UA award search and KVS but not jotting down the flight num. When I called, I gave the dates and segments desired, and she found all of the segment. By far, the best airline phone agent I've ever worked with. Booking was done in less than 15 minutes, then another agent called about 30 min later, spend 10 min to process credit card and her trying to give me seat assignments.
SEA-YVR-YYC (stop) - positioning
YYC-FRA-AMS (stop)
FRA-PEK (stop)
PEK-HND (stop)
HND-ITM (stop)
KIX-ICN-YVR-SEA
105K ANA miles each, in business class.(mostly) ~ GCmapper states distance as 17652 miles. The SEA-YVR, FRA-AMS, HND-ITM, and YVR=SEA are in coach but these are short hops - about 1 hr each if even that long.
The connection time on FRA is short, less than 90 min, which is my main concern. Past experience transiting FRA has been very smooth and quick though.
Cost is just a tad over $500 per ticket, mostly the charge is due to Air China, I believe $198 per tix. Not a fan of positioning to YYC, but AC decided to can their SEA-YYC direct flight so we had to go through YVR one day before and spend the night at YYC. ANA must have changed their rules because when we did this in 2016, we were able to start from SEA and ended at YVR (SEA-FRA-ZRH, ZRH-CPH-SVG, SVG-CPH-PVG-NRT, NRT-YVR). On that first one, the fee was higher ($950 or thereabouts, mostly due to LH and SK YQ - I believe SK does not have the YQ anymore now).
I looked all over for YVR-LHR, found some space, but the dates back do not align, so ended up with the above.
I have most of the space scouted using UA award search and KVS but not jotting down the flight num. When I called, I gave the dates and segments desired, and she found all of the segment. By far, the best airline phone agent I've ever worked with. Booking was done in less than 15 minutes, then another agent called about 30 min later, spend 10 min to process credit card and her trying to give me seat assignments.
Feb 24, 2019, 9:52 am
#125
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SEA
Posts: 311
Thank you. My worries is based on Flightaware history AC844 YYC-FRA seems to have chronic tardiness, averaging about 18 min late in the last 90 days, and the possibility that AC flights parking at remote stand vs direct at the gate. I saw that delay can get up to 40 min range. With remote stand possibility and exactly 75 min window, that looks quite close. I wonder if I tried asking to get on a later flight, will ANA allow it. I think different flight number = change in routing, hence penalty will kick in (or worse?).
Feb 24, 2019, 11:13 am
#126
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
Thank you. My worries is based on Flightaware history AC844 YYC-FRA seems to have chronic tardiness, averaging about 18 min late in the last 90 days, and the possibility that AC flights parking at remote stand vs direct at the gate. I saw that delay can get up to 40 min range. With remote stand possibility and exactly 75 min window, that looks quite close. I wonder if I tried asking to get on a later flight, will ANA allow it. I think different flight number = change in routing, hence penalty will kick in (or worse?).
Since the original connection is completely legal, if you’re unable to make it because of inbound delay etc, you will be protected onto the next FRA AMS free of charge. Hopefully you don’t have an onwards tight connection on a separate ticket
Feb 24, 2019, 7:28 pm
#127
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SEA
Posts: 311
If I read your itinerary correctly, you then have a FRA AMS and then a stop right?
Since the original connection is completely legal, if you’re unable to make it because of inbound delay etc, you will be protected onto the next FRA AMS free of charge. Hopefully you don’t have an onwards tight connection on a separate ticket
Feb 27, 2019, 1:27 pm
#128
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Central Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 189
1/3 of the way...
Well we are about one third the way through our around the world vacation. I am currently sitting in the Swiss business lounge one of the nicest I have been in. ZRH to SIN tonight. So far our travels have made us feel like royalty in the skies. LH from ORD to MUC and the Polaris lounge at ORD was nice as well although the seat layout on LH is a bit awkward if you are a single traveler.
Mar 11, 2019, 1:04 am
#130
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 11
I will try my best. First a change in dates on the exact same flights on an ATW ticket does NOT incur any charges. Changes in carriers, flights etc actually require you to cancel it and rebook. From how it was described and this would incur 3,000 point fee. What I don;t know is if you cancel and re-book the entire ticket as needed is there a guarantee that a segment seat will come back up as available as you released it from your cancel.
When you are booking it on business level and a segment only has economy and then later the business opens up I believe you can call and switch to business as you "paid" the business level. I know you wait list on ANA metal flights for this. I have also read that you take priority over other upgrades the day of flight even above frequent flier levels as you technically booked the business ticket not sure how this applies in real world.
When you are booking it on business level and a segment only has economy and then later the business opens up I believe you can call and switch to business as you "paid" the business level. I know you wait list on ANA metal flights for this. I have also read that you take priority over other upgrades the day of flight even above frequent flier levels as you technically booked the business ticket not sure how this applies in real world.
Meanwhile I'm also planning on signing up for ExpertFlyer alerts to see if any TATL routes open up. So I also wonder if I pay the 3000 mile fee to make changes whether the other segments will come back as available as I released for cancel. This is the only leg I have trouble with. Have not transferred miles yet but considering these flights now
EWR-PRG (UA - X)
PRG-FRA-BKK (TG - J)
BKK-HKG (TG - J)
TPE - YVR (BR - J)
YVR - SFO (UA - X)
Planning to exchange separate flight for HKG-TPE on CX to keep me under threshold and BKK-USM since they don't seem to allow that route even though TG codeshare.
Any help appreciated! First time posting on this forum and really appreciate all these posts and info. And John C Wisconsin, looks like you're having a blast on your RTW trip, enjoy!
Mar 12, 2019, 1:00 pm
#131
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 54
I spoke a week or two ago with ANA RTW desk and learned the following from a really nice rep:
1) if you paid a RTW ticket in business class with some segments in economy class and these segments become available in business, you need to call and they will change this segment into business class. You need to monitor availability yourself and call them if you find any. ANA will not notify you in such a case or book you into business class automatically.
2) there is no 'waitlisting' on any segment on a RTW ticket, not even for ANA flights. All segments are booked in whatever class is available at the time.
3) there is a 'last chance' for getting business seats at boarding time when you need to bring it up and ask ANA personnel at the airport. Apparently, it is not guaranteed that you will get it even if there are empty seats in business, as it is sole discretion of ANA staff on the spot.
I am in a similar position planning to book a RTW tickets for 3 persons in J in few months time when booking window open for summer 2020. My challenge will be HNL-NRT flight on NH metal. It seems all J seats get snatched as soon as the booking window opens 355 days out. As this flight is in the middle of my RTW itinerary, I can not try to pull this trick, so most likely will end up booking PE seats initially and hope to find some last minute availability.
It would be really helpful to hear if anybody managed to get a J seat at the time of boarding.
1) if you paid a RTW ticket in business class with some segments in economy class and these segments become available in business, you need to call and they will change this segment into business class. You need to monitor availability yourself and call them if you find any. ANA will not notify you in such a case or book you into business class automatically.
2) there is no 'waitlisting' on any segment on a RTW ticket, not even for ANA flights. All segments are booked in whatever class is available at the time.
3) there is a 'last chance' for getting business seats at boarding time when you need to bring it up and ask ANA personnel at the airport. Apparently, it is not guaranteed that you will get it even if there are empty seats in business, as it is sole discretion of ANA staff on the spot.
I am in a similar position planning to book a RTW tickets for 3 persons in J in few months time when booking window open for summer 2020. My challenge will be HNL-NRT flight on NH metal. It seems all J seats get snatched as soon as the booking window opens 355 days out. As this flight is in the middle of my RTW itinerary, I can not try to pull this trick, so most likely will end up booking PE seats initially and hope to find some last minute availability.
It would be really helpful to hear if anybody managed to get a J seat at the time of boarding.
Mar 24, 2019, 10:42 pm
#133
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: singapore, the netherlands
Programs: SQ PPS, KLM Platinum, Air Berlin gold, HHonors Gold, SPG gold
Posts: 81
I spoke a week or two ago with ANA RTW desk and learned the following from a really nice rep:
1) if you paid a RTW ticket in business class with some segments in economy class and these segments become available in business, you need to call and they will change this segment into business class. You need to monitor availability yourself and call them if you find any. ANA will not notify you in such a case or book you into business class automatically.
2) there is no 'waitlisting' on any segment on a RTW ticket, not even for ANA flights. All segments are booked in whatever class is available at the time.
3) there is a 'last chance' for getting business seats at boarding time when you need to bring it up and ask ANA personnel at the airport. Apparently, it is not guaranteed that you will get it even if there are empty seats in business, as it is sole discretion of ANA staff on the spot.
I am in a similar position planning to book a RTW tickets for 3 persons in J in few months time when booking window open for summer 2020. My challenge will be HNL-NRT flight on NH metal. It seems all J seats get snatched as soon as the booking window opens 355 days out. As this flight is in the middle of my RTW itinerary, I can not try to pull this trick, so most likely will end up booking PE seats initially and hope to find some last minute availability.
It would be really helpful to hear if anybody managed to get a J seat at the time of boarding.
1) if you paid a RTW ticket in business class with some segments in economy class and these segments become available in business, you need to call and they will change this segment into business class. You need to monitor availability yourself and call them if you find any. ANA will not notify you in such a case or book you into business class automatically.
2) there is no 'waitlisting' on any segment on a RTW ticket, not even for ANA flights. All segments are booked in whatever class is available at the time.
3) there is a 'last chance' for getting business seats at boarding time when you need to bring it up and ask ANA personnel at the airport. Apparently, it is not guaranteed that you will get it even if there are empty seats in business, as it is sole discretion of ANA staff on the spot.
I am in a similar position planning to book a RTW tickets for 3 persons in J in few months time when booking window open for summer 2020. My challenge will be HNL-NRT flight on NH metal. It seems all J seats get snatched as soon as the booking window opens 355 days out. As this flight is in the middle of my RTW itinerary, I can not try to pull this trick, so most likely will end up booking PE seats initially and hope to find some last minute availability.
It would be really helpful to hear if anybody managed to get a J seat at the time of boarding.
Did the agent say the above only applies to paid or redemption tickets? As your first point refers to paid.
Also, do you think this upgrade arrangement is ANA specific or applies to Star Alliance carriers in general?
Mar 25, 2019, 7:26 am
#134
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 54
Thanks I’m in this situation of booked in eco but RTW ticket is biz, shall advise once I fly.
Did the agent say the above only applies to paid or redemption tickets? As your first point refers to paid.
Also, do you think this upgrade arrangement is ANA specific or applies to Star Alliance carriers in general?
I am not sure but would guess that such 'on-spot' upgrades are possible only on ANA flights since the whole RTW ticket is issued by ANA.
Apr 17, 2019, 6:35 am
#135
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: GA
Programs: HH, IHG
Posts: 141
We've got the following itinerary booked, about $2k in fees which sucks, but we HAD to do US East Coast to Europe in a specific date range so that kind of hamstrung us. The value was great at 210k MR (came in just under 18k). A couple notes: backtracking slightly was allowed when going TO a *A hub (TLV-IST // TPE-PEK) and ending in Hawaii was ok, even though guy on the phone was thinking it may not be.
LIS-BOS
TLV-IST-DXB-BKK-SIN-TPE-PEK-HNL
We've got side trips built in there, including a bunch of Europe, Cairo, Petra, and 2 weeks in SYD / NZ South Island. We booked SIN-SYD // AKL-SIN on SQ Biz with ANA on a regular open jaw haha.
LIS-BOS
TLV-IST-DXB-BKK-SIN-TPE-PEK-HNL
We've got side trips built in there, including a bunch of Europe, Cairo, Petra, and 2 weeks in SYD / NZ South Island. We booked SIN-SYD // AKL-SIN on SQ Biz with ANA on a regular open jaw haha.