I am also curious if anyone had recently started a xonex from KRT.

I think the exchange rate may complicate the issue, since it appears to differ from bank to bank.

Well, I did try a AONE4, routing of KRT-AMM-DXB-LHR-SFO-HKG-AKL-SYD-LHR -MCT. Base was $7603 US + fees of $1620 (735 YQ + 380 SDEM + others). An end anywhere in the Middle East is valid without any problem.

Seems that there is an exit tax of some type ex-KRT that is high. Just dropping the KRT-AMM flight removed the SDEM tax, but that is all. I was surprised that the YQ's were so high since the website used was AA's amedus site in the UK. No AA flights though. There are 3 BA long-haul flights which would account for all of the YQ's, so maybe more non-BA flights will bring the YQ down.

My estimate is that with all of the taxes + fees, the savings on just the air fare is $1600-1800 US. A definite YMMV as to whether it is worth the savings.

BA YQ charges
 

Thanks for the update on your ex KRT RTW!
I am still looking at KRT. It works quite well for AONE4 or AONE5 because of the lower base fares. I have done quite a few Aone4's from JNB and BKK. Looking back over the YQ charges it appears that adding in the BA segments does increase the YQ charges. Also the LHR stopover taxes flying in F have made LHR a very expensive transit. When EK/UA had a RTW fare, the extra taxes an a similar itinerary were less than half, But more to the point I priced an identical
Routing (same flights, dates, etc.) with CX, then AA and the taxes and YQ came out $700 (usd) cheaper. But the AA option might not be available ex KRT!

I am looking at an Aone 4 from JNB now since the rand seems to be weakening. Also there is a great GSM in CPT that represents AA.
An AONE4 from JNB/CPT is 72900 rand plus taxes.

Keep us posted!
Happy trails!

I'm actually thinking of doing this in December - or at least, I'm planning on visiting Khartoum and Juba, and this looks like a good way back out. I've found a travel agency that is helping with the visa, so if that comes through, I'll likely proceed.

Every thrifty first-class-traveler's dream - keep us apprised, and good luck.

Oops!! :eek: I did not actually fly that RTW, just was exercising the online booking interface. Sorry about that...

Hello all.

I'm in early-planning part of AONE4 ex Khartoum (wish to do it in early 2013). The route should be something like this:
KPT->AMM (RJ: D)
AMM->DXB (RJ: D)
DXB->GRU (2 BA: A via LHR)
GRU->SCL (LA: D)
SCL->IPC (LA: D)
IPC->SCL (LA: D)
SCL->AKL (LA: D)
AKL->SYD (QF: D)
SYD->VFA (QF: A to HKG, CX: A to JNB, Comair: D to VFA)
VFA->CPT (2 Comair: D via JNB)
CPT->AUH (2 BA: A via LHR)
Total: A - 6 flights, D - 10 flights, ~ 41K miles.
Total price shown at RTW planning tool is 8923(fare) + 2092(taxes)=11 015 USD.

Have several questions:
1. If my route is going via HKG - is it counts as "+1 continent" and base fare increasing? Is this route AONE4 or AONE5?
2. Is stopover available in HKG? I didn't choose HKG as point while planning.
3. Am i right, that only BA First class from LHR to Soith America is to Sao Paolo? Any ideas when BA starts FirstClass to Buenos Aires?
4. Are there segments which can be easily changed from "D" to "A"? May be with some route change.
5. Is there any ways to break the price down by changing carriers or smth else? (still wish to have "A" on longhaul and at least 4 BA operated flights)
6. Can i buy this ticket at BA site? (I have co-brand CC with BA, so it would be more miles for purchase)
7. Any comments on route itself?

Thanks in advance.

Just looking at the routing it did not look legal, but milage monkey said it was a valid routing. It does look like an Aone5.

However I do not think anyone has been able to fly a RTW from KRT recently.

Let us now how you are doing.

PS Welcome to Flyer TALK!

Novos,
Welcome. First thing to work out is can you get a Sudan visa easily (has put off most of us here who are not quite willing to risk a denied boarding before attempting a transit without visa).
On your questons.
1/2. I think it will be an AONE5 - the Asian exception only applies to EMEA-SWP (ie basically LHR-SYD/MEL) on single plane/ transit. This should mean you can stopover in HKG.
3. unsure
4. soth america is not great for A routes. maybe do a few more in asia if you want them (CX still runs A on a limited number)
5. change in price will be limited to fuel fines and UK APD (if only transiting LHR this will save a bit). fuel fines governed by ticketing carrier. AA may be cheaper
6. no

The itinerary will certainly be an AONE5
there is no exception that allows an itinerary to 'touch' Asia - even just a transit - without paying for that continent

The exception you refer to allows a second vist to the continent; something which is generally not allowed
Also the exception is not restricted to the LHR-SIN/MEL direct flights, but to any transit without stopover.
IIRC someone recently reported being allowed the transit on an Africa-SWP transit of HKG

I recently started a DONE4 from KRT, and did a TWOV from SHJ. I was going to use FZ but they retimed their flight so that it was over six hours from the RJ flight leaving KRT.

In any case, check-in at SHJ was fine after the agent consulted with a supervisor who in turn had to call in for an answer. Upon arriving at KRT I was told to wait in the immigration hall until the RJ check-in was open, at which point airport staff led me to the check-in desk and back again.

So it works as advertised but it definitely isn't for the faint-hearted.

2old4coach, moa999, pandaperth - thanks for help.

First of all, my above route is definitly AONE5, so i did some changes - remove HKG as connection point and choose direct flight SYD-JNB in "A" (thanks God fo QF!). It's dramatically lowers the price of the route - now it only 7 612 (fare) + 2 050 (taxes) = 9 662 USD.

Getting Sudanese Visa, according to forums, don't looks like big problem for Russians, so it can be done.

Ok, i think the route is quite fine for me. When is the optimal time to buy it (not too early and not too late), if i want to start 1st jan 2013?

Ticket validity is from first flight, not purchase date, so factors might be currency variations (unknown?), price increases (certain?), OW membership changes (afaik locked in at purchase), route changes (QF may not even exist in 2013, and there may be other route changes that might make you wish you'd waited). If you book before schedules are posted you'll have to leave segments 'open'. What are the cancellation terms? Used to be no charge before departure, but of course that would subject you to re-purchase under new prices/rules so not usually an option.

Glad it worked out!

Keep an Eye the QF SYD-JNB aircraft changes. It sometimes changes to a 2 (3) class config. with no F (A). The EZE-SYD QF flight has also been withdrawn. Keep an eye on QF for many route changes may be made next year.

Let us know how it works out!
Thanks to TUAPHI we know Sudan works for RTW.
It sure saves a lot of money.

There are many more routings that have more first class service, but that routing much of the First class has been downgraded.

Moa999 also mentioned:"5. change in price will be limited to fuel fines and UK APD (if only transiting LHR this will save a bit). fuel fines governed by ticketing carrier. AA may be cheaper"

He is spot on about that. I have had CX charge more that $1000 usd than AA for the same Aone4

Sounds as though everything went swimmingly. Whaddya mean?

Well if you like hanging around in immigration halls in countries like Sudan, then sure it will be just lovely :D

Actually, as the new airport in Khartoum is supposed to open next year, the transit environment may well improve. Although I'm not sure whether I would do the TWOV again myself (the AA agent I got refused to terminate my ticket in DXB) so I may just throw away the last segment.

What reason was given for the refusal?
Was is that SUdan is not regarded as part of the Middle East?
(the on-line tool appears to allow an itinerary that starts in Sudan to end anywhere in the Middle East - so it at least thinks Sudan is part of the Middle East - but when I did my high school geography it was regarded as part of Africa:p)

More important, that OneWorld RTW description says, that:
So, there is another geography for aviation :) Or, at least, it can be read this way.

Exactly. I was tired and didn't want to argue or call back.

Indeed the online tool allows terminating in DXB but I wasn't able to get it to work outside of Canada as it fails right after you hit the page with the credit card details.

I have a theory that somehow the error is dependent on your source IP address. So if anybody within Canada can let us know that they too are affected with the online ticketing problem for these itineraries that would be really useful.

As has probably been mentioned elsewhere one can use the open-source project Tor and the associated host of proxies to adopt an IP practically anyplace in the world. Doesn't do much for the credit card billing address, though.

I don't think the billing address matters. I've successfully booked one of these tickets using the online tool while I was in Canada with a non-Canadian card and billing address. The same itinerary failed with errors before/after my Canadian trip.

One probably needs a better booking agency for that - I tried to buy ex-Europe BA tix at the UK price on aa.com and all worked well until the c/c details when the computer chided me to provide a card with a uk address.

I probably need a less critical place to buy tix, but the airlines seem to be working aggressively to drive traffic to their own web sites by making agency-sold seats second-class merchandise - seat selection, olci, flight notifications, ticket changes can be threatened.

If Khartoum is part of the Europe, Middle East region, why the OW RTW booking tool always enforce the AONE4 fare for an itinerary that does not go out of the 3 regions of MEand Europe and North america and Asia ?

Example: KRT-AMM-DXB-LHR-YYZ-HKG-LHR-RUH

So from above I still in the range of 3 continents but the computer is quoting me the 4 continents fare :confused:

How to solve this issue ???

I don't know what they'll tell you but lacking a more informed response you should simply present your route to one of the better airline rtw desks (e.g. American Airline's)

Is there a dedicated number at AA with experienced staff who are well informed of all the rules and save me time in explaining that KRT is in the EuropeMiddleEast region not in Africa ?

Call AA reservations (or the number on your Aadvantage membership card) and ask to be transfered to the Around-the-World desk.

Note that it was the AA ATW desk that knocked me back from terminating my ex-KRT ticket in DXB.

I suspect the problem is that Sudan, while being in Europe/Middle East according to the ticket rules, it is NOT regarded by AA at least as being part of the Middle East.

I've PM'd tauphi , who seem to have recent experience of starting a xONEx from KRT. Anyone else with the same information, please post or PM

I am working now on getting one. Not yet finalized my plans. Very complicated and hard to manage especially when making a booking using the online tool.

The funny thing is that the online system have quoted me different prices for the same itinerary :D

FWIW I booked two tickets out of KRT, one with the online tool while I was in Canada and one with AA by phone. The itineraries were almost the same and the ticket by phone priced in CAD turned out to be $1000 cheaper than the one booked online which was priced in USD, YMMV. It would appear that they were using different exchange rates for SDG.

After reading this thread out of curiousity, other than providing food aid, doing something diplomatic or visiting relatives, why would anyone want to visit this airport?? Particularly the comments on Sleepinthe airport. Wow! Forget about third world, this sounds like sixth world ! The airport sounds like the airport and nation that Christopher Walken went through in the movie Dogs of War.

Can anyone confirm if they have found a way to buy an ex-KRT xONEx recently?
I will visit Sudan as a tourist in the coming weeks and would like to start a DONE4 when there.

Has the online tool worked for this (not in Canada), or has anyone found an agent in Sudan or elsewhere that can book for the right price?

Also, what is the pricing rule when you start/finish the ticket in different ME countries? I know Sudan will be accepted as a ME location for this, but when I price online it changes the base fare dramatically if ending elsewhere, and can only get the proper Sudan fare if starting and ending in KRT in seems. Is this right, or could this be re-routed later for the same base fare?

tauphi is the only person that has reported purchasing an ex-KRT xonex. It appears he issued both using the Canada exception. He was also unsuccessful ending somewhere else in the ME when issuing the ticket. You might PM him to see if he has been able to reissue his ticket and end elsewhere.

As for issuing in KRT, RJ has an office there:
http://www.rj.com/en/rj_offices.html
Also this link seems to suggest that CX has (or had) a gsa there:
http://www.travelindex.com/Detailed/...GSA_78919.html

That can be done and online tool does accept it easily: start your journey in Khartoum and end it in DXB or MCT or AUH

So were you able to actually issue an xonex using the tool with this routing?
As tauphi related in this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17460100-post99.html
the tool would accept a ME end but the tool would fail when he tried to issue a ticket.

I don't think the failure was necessarily related to ending the itinerary outside of Sudan, since the same itinerary that I bought successfully using the online tool while in Canada failed when I tried repeating it after leaving Canada.

If I price out an AONE5 KRT-AMM-......AMM-KRT online I get a price of $US8923 + $1385 taxes. The base price corresponds to the price given on EF. If I price the same ex-KRT itinerary but drop the last segment and end in AMM it tells me it is a vald itinerary but I get quoted $US13531 + $1623 taxes. The $US13531 doesn't correspond to the base price in any country on the itinerary.

Thanks for responses on this. As others have reported, I also cannot get the tool to issue this. I will try and set up with the RTW desk and ticket in Canada - will report if that works!

I have seen the same as 3544quebec reports with different fares for different ME end points. My reading of the rules is that it should depend on country of origination/sale - I can't see anything specific for the cases where you can end in different countries. Does anyone with more detailed knowledge of the rules know what this should be? I may try to issue with start and end in KRT, then change after, but would not want the fare to be increased!

If you are going to be in KRT, why not try to contact CX and see if they still have a KRT gsa and, if so, have the CX KRT gsa issue for you?