onobond

From what others posted, and RJ, this is not a TWOV, since you're not transitting. I would personally not chance on this. KRT does not seem to be a place to ask for favors late night/very early morning

anabolism

From what deepbluesky posted upthread, it sounds like this is doable with an "airport entry permit" (see post #160) although deepbluesky actually used the "airport entry permit" to enter the airport and apply for an entry visa on the spot, to stay in the country for a few days before starting the AONE4.

So far, I'm not aware of any reports of anyone using an "airport entry permit" to enter and depart, but it sounds doable.

BTW, here is a report I found of someone using the "airport entry permit" to enter and get a visa on the spot, for $150 USD cash at the airport.

JohnAx

Thanks, interesting piece. I suppose finding the right TA is a bit of a chore.

jerry a. laska

Uh, you do know that this link is to a report by deepbluesky and not a different person?

anabolism

I think deepbluesky had info on the agent he used to obtain the airport entry permit.

I suspected, but didn't know. Thanks.

BrewerSEA

Thanks for the link.

After reading this I feel a lot more like visiting Sudan. I have never seen better hospitality or felt more welcome than in Kurdistan. Hmm...

srs507

I would like to visit too, but I'd steer clear for now considering there's a war going on.

Nasenrudel

Unbelievable - using the online tool the base fare for an AONE4 is now 3872USD.
Small disadvantage: the taxes are higher than ever - 2200USD in my case (without stopover in London:-)

pandaperth

The fare in SDG is unchanged at 20,400 for an AONE4
What has changed is the SDG/USD exchange rate - from xe.com is appears that on 3 July the currency collapsed from 2.67SDG per USD to 4.42SDG per USD

JohnAx

Presumably the $2200 is mostly what the airlines usually call a "fuel surcharge". Given the common assumption that only governments can impose taxes, it's not a tax. Nor is it a fuel surcharge, but rather a de facto component of the basic fare, set by the carrier.

2old4coach

What routing did you use? Where are your stop overs? What carrier did you book for your first OB trip? All of the above will have an effect of the taxes/fuel surcharges. It seems as if $2200. is on the high side for RTW taxes. I believe my last AONE4 from JNB, was about $1000- $1200. in Tax/Fuel surcharge including the highway robbery taxes in London of $287. ( Priced out by AA, Mind pearl, in CPT) ( I will look for the exact quote for the Aone4 to check the taxes and surcharges)

JohnAx

Since AA has fallen in cahoots with BA re surcharges (on some routes) it's harder to get a cheap ride. A trip that begins KRT-AMM-MAD-JFK attracts about $450 in charges, including about USD120 for a Sudan stamp, $175 to AA for "YR", $30 or so at Madrid, $80 to get through AMM, about $50 for various U.S. arrival fees. And so it goes around the world...

Edit: those numbers were for economy, with an AA flight number on the TATL, and for whatever reason the construction didn't attract anything from RJ. A calculation for biz flights and TATL on IB adds another $200 in YR/YQ from RJ, and $300 into IB's coffers. So the $2200 is starting to seem cheap.

Nasenrudel

The routing was

KRT-AMM-ICN-HKG-SYD-HKG-LAX-DFW-ANC-DFW-LAX-JFK-BGI-JFK-LHR-AMM-KRT (early summer 2013)

I have now reduced it to an AONE 3 itinerary (have to go to MIA)

KRT-AMM-LHR-HKG-ICN-HKG-BOM-HKG-LAX-JFK-BGI-JFK-MIA-IAH-LHR-AMM-KRT (early summer 2013).

The online tool calculated taxes of 974USD which is really good but unfortunately the bug the prevents the final step of the booking process still exists. I asked RJ for a quote and their taxes for the same itinerary came back as 1550EUR!! = more than twice the amount - all of it for additional fuel surcharges…..

Very frustrating… Not sure what to do now - the price in CAD is still quiet a bit higher than in EUR/USD

JohnAx

If you give the route to ITA (and select the class you're flying) it will give you a list of every tax, fee, and charge for every segment. I can't see why these would be different when the segments are flown as an RTW.

A stab at it comes up with these charges converted to USD. Business class or higher. Trip begins in June and everything was probably considered a stop-over, since I spaced days to avoid thinking about them. ITA made me do six segments max, hence the groups

KRT to BOM:
$861.69 Sudan Stamp Tax (SD)
$149.06 (YR)
$5.25 RJ YQ surcharge (YQ)
$6.81 Sudan Passenger Service Charge (NY)
$602.68 BA YQ surcharge (YQ)
$6.62 Jordan Civil Aviation Transfer Fee (KJ)
$265.82 United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty (GB)
$55.27 United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB)
$31.91 Hong Kong Departure Tax (HK)
$157.24 CX YR surcharge (YR)
$25.10 Rep. of Korea Intl. PSC, Dep. Tax (BP)

$2,167.45 sum for these six (reduce APD if LHR is a transit)

BOM-HKG (forgot it in the groups of six)
$80.24 Indian Service Tax (JN
$124.42 CX YR surcharge (YR
$4.18 Indian Passenger Service Fee (WO
$12.11 Indian Development Fee (YM

$220.95 sum for BOM-HKG)

HKG to IAH
$10.06 USDA APHIS Fee (XA)
$14.18 US Immigration Fee (XY)
$11.09 US Customs Fee (YC)
$33.53 US International Arrival Tax (US)
$125.46 AA YR surcharge (YR)
$15.47 Hong Kong Departure Tax (HK)
$15.47 US September 11th Security Fee (AY)
$1.55 Barbados Airport Facilitation Fee (DI)
$16.76 US International Departure Tax (US)
$4.51 US Passenger Facility Charge (XF)
$27.72 Barbados Passenger Service Charge (JG)
$2.58 Barbados Security Fee (JH)

$278.39 sum for HKG to IAH

IAD* TO KRT
$300.00 AA YR surcharge (YR)
$4.00 Toronto Airport Improvement Fee (SQ)
$0.50 Canadian Harmonized Sales Tax (ON) (RC)
$16.70 US International Departure Tax (US)
$5.00 US September 11th Security Fee (AY)
$7.50 US Passenger Facility Charge (XF)
$26.90 Cyprus Airport Service Charge (CY)
$0.60 Cyprus Passenger Service Charge (JX)
$2.40 Cyprus International Passenger Terminal Facilities Charge (JW)
$210.50 United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty (GB)
$38.60 United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB)
$0.60 Cyprus Passenger Service Charge (JX)
$56.50 Jordan Embarkation Tax (HQ)
$8.50 Jordan Passenger Terminal Use Fee (NH)
$678.30 sum for IAD to KRT

This last group meanders a bit and the IAH confused me, as ITA didn't find a direct route. Maybe day specific.

That all adds up to $3,345.10, half again higher than the Eu1550 you mentioned. The Sudan Stamp Tax and BA's YQ in the first group look suspicious, and of course transiting LHR will save perhaps $300.

ernestnywang

Some airlines do not charge YQ / YR when you have some other airlines' segements on their TKTs.