I'm sure I'm missing something really basic here, but I do seem to be missing it. Looking for any clarification anyone can offer, please. I'm planning a DONE4 with the following routing:

SFO - SYD
SYD - LHR
LHR - IAH
IAH - MIA
MIA - SEA or SFO

I'm told this isn't possible due to the following rule:

"Two stopovers of greater than 24 hours permitted in the continent of origin and only one permitted in each direction within the country of origin. You can only make an extra stop if it is less than 24 hours."

But it seems to me that I'm not violating the rule...I have one stopover in Houston and a second in Miami. Appreciate any help from the experts out there.

PS - Yes, I realize this is a woefully short trip for a OWE ticket, but it's for biz not pleasure.

Are you using the online booking tool?

You're only allowed one outbound and one inbound in the country of origin - you have two inbound.

Be creative
LHR-MEX
(separate ticket MEX-IAH-MEX)
MEX-MIA (1st stop in USA)
MIA-SFO (end of ticket)

Still should save a bundle on the long haul segments

Happy wandering

Fred

Or start the whole thing in Mexico.

MEX-SFO-SYD-LHR-IAH-MIA-SFO-MEX

and throw away the last segment.

In which case I think you ought to look at a 34K mile Global Explorer ticket instead of a DONE4. The price in D is $99 more than a DONE4, but it doesn't have the stopover problem you'd have with a DONEx, plus - if this is of interest - you can use non-OW airlines in the itinerary, in particular AS, so you could go MIA-SEA at the end, or MIA-SEA-SFO, etc., without the stopover restrictions, prohibition on more than one transcon, blah blah.

A sample route for your trip would be something like SFO-SYD-LHR-IAH-MIA-SEA-SFO, which comes in at around 27,100 miles. You're allowed 34,000 miles with the business GlobEx, so if it were me I'd refrain from returning to SFO until you've seen if you have other travel needs within N. America for the rest of the one-year validity of the RTW, then have the ticket re-issued for $125 and use up the remaining 6900 miles. (If you hit the city of origin again the game's up.) Seems to me that the $99 purchase differential plus the $125 reissue fee (total $224) is a pretty good deal for almost 7000 miles of additional first/business class travel.

Either that or start LAX-SYD, which would let you return to SFO partway through the ticket.

And the rule:
http://www.oneworld.com/ow/air-trave...world-explorer

Now I'm totally confused. I'm planning a trip originating in Caracas and headed primarily for Perth and Singapore. If I go around the world I've got to stop in Europe which requires a DONE5 at a cost of $9500. I could also use a circle Pacific, DCIR29SA, and the cost of only $8000. But if I understand you correctly, I could essentially go around the world using a Global Explorer, DGLOB34, with fewer limitations that will cost $8499.

For example, can I route the following on a DGLOB34?
CCS-MAD-LHR-xSIN-xPER-xSYD-NRT-DFW-xMIA-xEZE-CCS

It seems I'd much rather spend the $499, and return to the US and save the remaining mileage of the ticket for future within South America. What am I missing?

The route you're listing comes in at 36K+ miles, so no good for a DGLOB34.

If you don't need to go via N. America you could buy a DONE4 and just rearrange your Oz/Asia segments, e.g. CCS-MAD-LHR-SIN-NRT-PER-SYD-EZE-LIM-CCS.

To fit it into a 34K mile GlobEx with a stop or two in N. America you'd need to fool around with routing options.

Thanks for the quick reply. So instead I could do the following:
CCS-MAD-LHR-xSIN-xPER-xSYD-NRT-DFW-xMIA-CCS

Which would just be cutting off the EZE trip, comes in at 30k miles for $8499 vs. a DONE5 at $9500?

Sure looks that way.

BTW by "x" do you mean stopover or transit? Normally "x" signifies transit and "o" signifies stopover. Regardless, you can turn any of your transits into stopovers if you want.

Thanks to all for the pointers. I didn't even think of the Global Explorer ticket, which suits my purposes much better. I'm actually originating in SEA but was just going to purchase a ticket down to SFO to get started since I can't use AS on a DONE4. Appreciate the help!