I learn something new every day. I had thought the established tariff for my ex-AMM AONE4 was in USD ($10018), but I guess it was actually in JOD since that is what the AA RTW desk came back with when I purchased it a month ago. I guess that makes sense since that is RJ's home country. Based on that assumption (my bad) I thought an AONE3 ex-TLV would be the same. Bad assumption on my part.

Gardyloo, you're right, on my AA purchased AONE4 I also had YQ of around $700 for 3 flights on BA; DXB-LHR, LAX-LHR, and LHR-FCO.

While it won't help me now, can one avoid the YQ by ticketing through CX? FWIW, I have absolutely no experience ticketing with CX.

From anecdotal evidence as a result of reading these threads, QF adds fuel fines of its own so not a good choice to the best of my knowledge.

Can you tweak your routing a bit more (for maximum useage of AONE3)?

from
TLV-xLHR-LAS-xDFW-YVR-xJFK-MIA-xDFW-HNL-NRT-HKG-DPS-xHKG-SIN-xLHR-TLV

to something like

TLV-XLHR-LAX-LAS-xDFW-YVR-xJFK-MIA-xORD-HNL-NRT-HKG-DPS-xHKG-SIN-xLHR-TLV ?

YVR Transit?
 

Thanks for the continued advice and suggestions.

One quick query if I decide to LAS-xDFW-xYVR-xJFK-MIA, will 2:20hrs be enough to transit at YVR.

Looking through search on past posts I will need to exit through immigration/customs and check back in.

Is it possible and will immigration allow me to do this? I hold both US and British passport and only have carry-on.

One other question: If I miss the flight is it a basic re-book (date change) via the AA desk/phone?

Thanks,

J

If you arrive before 8:30 PM there are in-transit procedures, but in all likelihood you may well not make that deadline.

You will need to go through Canada immigration/customs, US immigration/customs, and Security. As far as checking in, If you don't have your boarding pass from when you checked in at LAS then yes, you would have to do that too.

It could be tight.

Transit-wise it seems to me that it is sufficient time, assuming it is AA to CX.

However I believe that you will not be able to purchase this in 1 TKT, as certain rules prohibits you from going between 2 destinations in the U. S. with a transit in Canada. Since you will be buying separate TKTs, you might not be protected if you miss the connection.

I vaguely remember something about that restriction too. Prior to making my last post I actually checked the ONE Explorer rules and US-Canada-US transit restriction, if it exists, is NOT specific to xONEx. Now that doesn't mean this restriction does not apply to the OP, as it may well be pertinent.

I am sure when the OP tries to build this in the online tool and/or ticket with AA RTW desk that they will be fully aware of this restriction if it applies to the OP's desired itinerary and let him know accordingly.

Jonnny, while FT is a great place to get started, you really have gotten to a point where it might be best to contact the AA RTW desk and build you itinerary. Details like this will be weeded out in the process and you would have a definitive answer. That way you can put it on hold, mull it over and call back and make changes as needed.

The worse case scenario is you have to overnight in YVR, which IMO would not be bad thing as it is an awesome city.

Thanks for all the advice,

I will be contacting AA RTW in the next few days to book and finalize details.

With regards to the YVR transit it is seen as doable on the Oneworld planner as long as it is not booked as two tickets i.e LAS-xDFW-YVR and then YVR-xJFK-MIA.

I will inform back what AA think about a USA-YVR-USA transit.

J

USA - xCanada - USA can be cabotage, or it might not. IIRC if both legs were on AA it definitely would be cabotage - two US destinations with a foreign connection without stopover; however I believe the fact that YVR-JFK is on another airline means it dodges the cabotage rule. As suggested, the RTW desk (more specifically the tariff/rates people) would flag this if it were an issue. But as I say, I don't think it is because the carriers are based in different countries.

You can certainly protect yourself on this by making YVR a stopover point.

I have done this exact transit twice on two AONEx's, going from AA to CX. If I recall correctly, the CX flights were booked on AA flight numbers with no problems.

In other words, it does work. However, note that you'll want to allow a good amount of time for the connection, because you do need to clear immigration, go through arrivals and to departures again, etc.

Speaking of immigration, the line/queue can be long (on one of transits I waited a full hour, though the other was just 15 minutes). There is a pathway to skip immigration and transfer directly, but on both visits I asked and was told that I needed to complete the full process.

The night flight is short and you'll probably arrive JFK bleary-eyed, but hey, it's CX First.

Have fun!

Something must be wrong. Even though AA code-shares on CX888 (HKG-YVR-JFK), the AA code-share (AA6124) is only bookable HKG-JFK. Both HKG-YVR and YVR-JFK can only be booked on CX number.

Ah, perhaps I was wrong about the AA codeshare. I do book the AA flight numbers whenever they're available, but in this case it was indeed probably booked as CX.

Same flights and same transit experience, though.

Outrageous Taxes?
 

Hi,

Reached a very friendly RTW AA desk on Saturday and reserved the itin very quickly (thanks to EF).

It did take them 4 days to return on taxes but have to admit I am surprised as they have quoted me $1,256!!

Their limited breakdown was: YQ = $582 and YR = $412 UB = $81 (those were the three highest amounts).

This is more than the one world planner which is booked via BA!

I realize that there are two transits through LHR but playing around on the One World Planner and taking them out did not make a big difference.

Other info given: Rerouting and reticketing = $125 + tax change, Cancelling = 5% of the ticket.

My Itin:

TLV-xLHR-LAS-xDFW-YVR-xJFK-MIA-xDFW-HNL-TYO-HKG-DPS-xHKG-SIN-xLHR-TLV.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

J

The transits through London (if under 24h) wouldn't attract UK air passenger duty, so the big fuel fine numbers are mainly BA for the segments flown (TLV-LHR, LHR-LAS and LHR-TLV.) You might also be hit for YQ on SIN-LHR regardless if it's BA or QF metal.

If it's cheaper online, then you could go ahead and book it there. The days of AA's RTW team ignoring BA fuel surcharges are long gone.

Otherwise I don't think your taxes/fees total is terribly unusual.

Quick Update
 

Hi,

Have bitten the bullet and booked my AONE3 Adventure.

Final routing:

TLV-xLHR-LAS-xDFW-YVR-xJFK-MIA-xDFW-HNL-NRT-HKG-DPS-xHKG-SIN-xLHR-TLV.

Will be leaving mid-August so if anyone is on the road and same locations would be happy to meet up for a beer. I have placed my itin in the section under community on the website and plan to write a trip report.

Two questions have since arisen which I wonder what the answer to is?

1) Can I make date changes only (i.e. no fee) for same city but different airport changes (NRT to HND)

2) What happens if (or can) I change the date of xXXX transit destinations so they become non transit time wise? (for example staying a few more days in LHR without APD charges)?

Thanks to all who helped,

J

1. Changing airports will require a re-issue, and will also require an additional segment.

2. Changing transits to stopovers will also require a re-issue and a re-computation of taxes, and you'll be hit with UK APD if the transit > stopover change is in the UK (or comparable departure taxes in other countries.)