Austinrunner

You may have a maximum of one stopover plus two connections at SYD.

guv1976

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

If you are now planning a ROK//SYD open jaw on the award itinerary, then you are free to either stop over or connect during your first SYD transit. Unless there has been a recent change in the rules, the tail end of an open jaw (SYD in the case of a ROK//SYD open jaw) counts as neither a stopover nor a connection for Explorer award purposes.

uncommonsensical

I have a question about checked luggage on a Business Class Explorer Award. I'm surprised there is no talk of this in the thread.

Business Class gives me 3 checked bags with my trip originating in the US. It seems obvious that I would be allowed these 3 bags for my entire journey- but I wanted to be sure given my trip to SE Asia and Dragonair looks to be 3 segments of my itinerary. This trip is 7 months so I will be utilizing all of my 3 bags with the considerable weight allowed. As I'm sure many know, the local asian carriers charge by weight- so I don't want some gotcha to turn those 3 segments into $3,000 in excess baggage fees!

The additional question is when a flight has no business class. I understand I would then fly coach; but do my bags continue to get a business class allowance of 3 bags? Again, seems obvious that if I start with 3 the ticket would be for 3 bags from start to finish- but I cannot find anything that states such.

thanks!

captaincool

I started researching this back in Dec 11 for a trip starting in Jan 13. My original plan & routing were found with the help of pandaperth & austinrunner here

I have had to make a few changes since then due to AMM-NBO being cancelled as well as Kingfisher still not being bookable on the explorer award (to my knowledge).

tl;dr - I have an award reservation on hold until 9/12. We will be departing AKL in late January 2013 & the itinerary is:

http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=akl-syd...st-mad-ord-msp

AKL-SYD (QF) - biz
SYD-HBA (QF) - biz
HBA-MEL (QF) - econ
MEL-HKG (QF) - biz
HKG-BKK (CX) - biz
BKK-DEL (CX) - biz
DEL-AMM-CAI (RJ) - biz
CAI-AMM (RJ) - biz
AMM-IST (RJ) - biz
IST-MAD (IB) - biz
MAD-ORD(IB)-MSP(AA) - biz

I have a couple questions to the veterans:
1. How do I check the taxes/fees via ITA Matrix? It only allows ~6 segments max. Don't the fees change whether you are connecting or stopping over at airports?
2. I would like to change the carrier from MEL-HKG from QF to CX since the QF flight doesn't have full lie-flat seats. Is this possible without having to re-look for inventory for everthing else? The CX flight I would like is available.
3. Any final recommendations other than what I've asked? I wouldn't be opposed to changing things up if I get some good advice before actually ticketing this itinerary.

Thanks & sorry for the long read!

Austinrunner

On ITA, figure the taxes between stopovers (including the connections between stopovers). You don't have to enter the whole itinerary all at once.

You can make whatever changes you want before ticketing without affecting the other segments being held.

Happy

Seriously, you want to fly Kingfisher? That airline that is at the blink of going under and the main reason why it did not come in the fold of OneWorld as scheduled?

Austinrunner

RJ has been completely unreliable about the AMM-NBO route. Operated it for about 5 months earlier this year. Canceled it (without public comment). Loaded it for restart on 28 October 2012. Then canceled it again (also without public comment). Geez, RJ, you can do better than that.

captaincool

It's about the destination for me, not the airline....

mtkeller

With Kingfisher, your odds of making it to your destination are not very good at the moment.

MisterSelfish

Trying to figure out if this routing is possible, since it looks like getting to PPT is a pain otherwise.

Looks like QF doesn't fly to PPT other than through codeshares with TN?

Anyone know if this route is possible, and the best way to find availability?

MisterSelfish

Whoops, looks like going to AKL to PPT is possible on the one flight they do a week (I had the Partner Award checked instead of Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award).

No luck on BA or QF sites looking for a PPT to IPC flight.

Austinrunner

This is the Explorer awards thread, not the "oneworld and other airline" awards thread. Only oneworld members may be used on Explorer awards. The only oneworld service to PPT is on LA from IPC. Please read the first post in this thread or the website linked in my signature for detailed information about Explorer awards.

MisterSelfish

Ah, thanks for that. I was trying to make it work as part of an Explorer Award and got tripped up by the QF codeshare!

Austinrunner

Have you read the first post in this thread?

MisterSelfish

More thoroughly now, yep. Must have always skimmed past the code share section.