azgirlnnyc

Assuming there are seats for my dates, would this itinerary work?

BCN-LHR-NYC-AMM-DXB-HKG-JNB-HKG-MEL-SYD-SIN-DPS-NRT-GUM-NRT-BCN

Thanks!

BAK

I am trying to book a oneworld explorer award LAX-TXL-DME-TJM (in Russia). There is availability but the agent told me she cannot book it because one-way oneworld awards are not allowed. Does anybody know if this is true ?

azgirlnnyc

Tried downloading the file from the link on first page of thread, but nothing opens except a file with characters that are not English (and saying file is "locked") Any helpful hints on getting this to work? Thanks again!

Austinrunner

What are the airlines for each segment? Which are stopovers and which are connections? How long are you taking to complete the itinerary? Have you studied the rules in the first post of this thread (or at the link in my signature)?

Austinrunner

There is no such rule. Also, they're called Explorer awards now, not oneworld awards.

Austinrunner

It's a software program that you have to install on your computer. It's not a regular file. Also, the program won't work on Macs.

boogsbobo

Thanks to Austin Runner for this great thread and blog post. 2 questions.

1: Can I choose my seats on anything other than the AA segments?
2: As I have booked a Business award, will I have access to business class lounges while I am flying Air Berlin economy segments? Even if these segments are not part of an immediate long-haul connecting flight?

From http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access/
"Customers flying First or Business Class have access to the equivalent class of lounge regardless of their frequent flyer status... Customers flying in Economy class on the domestic or intra-European segment to connect to or from a oneworld longhaul First or Business Class flight can also use the lounge applicable to the class in which they are travelling the longhaul segment."

Just to note: I booked in business with around 24,200 miles length.
tol-ord-mad-amm-del-bkk-hkg-pek-oms(connection)-dme-txl-krk-txl-bcn, (open jaw),mad-ord-tol. Fees were $392 + $25 booking fee.

azgirlnnyc

is there any other tool to look up route maps? I've been on all the partner maps, but when I finally go to check actual routing, it seems like connections pop up everywhere. Am pretty flexible on my itinerary, but seems to completely change every time I redo it! Any suggestions?

Can leave from US or Europe. Plan on traveling for 12 months.

Essentially want to go to Middle East for fall, South Africa/Vic Falls in November, Dec-May in Asia, except for side trip in January to Mel and Syd

Latest attempt looks like this, all with stopovers unless mentioned:

LHR(aa)-NYC(aa)-AMM(rj)-DXB(rj) (open jaw) JNB-VFA(ba)-JNB(cp)-HKG(cp)-BKK(cp)-MEL(qf)-SYD(qf)-SIN(qf)-HKG(cp) (connection)-DPS(cp)-HKG (cp)(connection)-NRT(jal)-LHR(jal)

Thanks again.

I'm open to better routing suggestions, esp if I can go from the US to start the trip. For example, ORD-LHR...then the rest, but then I'd be using my open jaw and will max out on miles flown...

Such a puzzle to figure out a year in advance!

beofotch

So one-way awards are alowed?

azgirlnnyc

Further to thread above, I will be doing several side trips from these locations overland, so if there is a routing that incorporates more expensive flights within this ticket instead of less expensive legs that would make more sense to purchase, would be nice to know so I can plan accordingly.

I know this is a lot to ask. I've spent countless hours trying to figure this out on my own, and on hold with AA and my travel date is drawing very close!

Thanks again!

Austinrunner

(1) Airline Route Mapper is the best mapper.

(2) When did CX start offering VFA -> JNB on a CX aircraft?

(3) Using an Explorer award for a year-long trip will be very difficult to book because: (a) all flights on the award must be completed within one year of the original ticketing date; and (b) no flight can be booked more than 330 days in advance.

(4) To me, HKG -> BKK (CX) -> SIN (CX) -> DPS (QF codeshare on JQ flight) -> MEL (QF codeshare on JQ flight) -> SYD (QF) -> NRT (QF or JL) -> LHR (JL) makes more sense. But maybe that's just me.

We can't help unless we know which locations you are going overland.

Austinrunner

An Explorer award can begin anywhere and end anywhere. Different continent. Same continent. Different airport. Same airport. You choose. But there are lots of rules to comply with. Refer to the first post in this thread (or the link in my signature).

azgirlnnyc

(1) I have a Mac, which explains whey the mapper doesn't work.
(2) Sorry - VFA-JNB would be on BA, not CF
(3) I plan on doing this all in a year, believe it or not.
(4) The routing I'd used accounts for me being in SE Asia for December through mid-Jan (not sure where exactly overland yet, but can get back to whatever airport I need to) , but then I must fly to Melbourne for the Australian Open in mid-Jan plus Sydney after. Going through Bali seems like a good idea after SYD, except I hear the weather is nightmarish until about April/May, so am routing back up to SE Asia first and then going back down to Bali near end of trip.

Can't get there truly overland, but would like to add Cebu and Guam/Micronesia somewhere. Not sure if makes sense to buy flights locally, or try to add into this ticket?

Another itinerary I was toying with which accomplishes similar goals but gets me around Europe this summer (assuming availability):

FCO-BCN (IB)
BCN-LHR(IB)-NYC (BA)
NYC-AMM (RJ)
AMM-DXB (RJ)
DXB-AMM-BKK (RJ)
BKK-HKG (CX)
HKG-JNB (CX)
JNB-HKG (CX)
HKG-MEL (QF)
MEL-SYD (QF)
SYD-SIN (QF)
SIN-NRT (JL)
NRT-LHR(JL)

Circle mapper says 15 segments and 49,829 miles. What do you think?

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

"FCO-BCN (IB)"

IB does not fly this route on its own metal. The route is operated by Vueling, which cannot be used on AA awards.

aktchi

For One World airlines, the following works just fine on Macs. You don't need to install anything on your computer.