AONE3 Planning and Suggestions
 

Hi,

Am currently in the process of putting together an AONE3 as a special treat for myself in August for up to 3 weeks(when the other half is visiting her parents), and was hoping for some ideas and suggestions from the knowledgeable members of this board.

I will be starting the journey from TLV where my main interests / targets include; surfing, sport fishing, fine dining, first class flying, miles collecting and a little gambling.

So far my route includes:

TLV-xLHR-NYC-MIA-LAS-SJD-HNL-NRT-HKG-xLHR-TLV

F - BA, CX, AA,
J- JL, AA
BA Tier points: 1,440 (Will use BA card)

Queries:

1) Any additional ways of getting in more F flights? (I realize that visiting HNL takes away the opportunity of trying F on JL from the US.)
2) Any other destinations I need to add with my interests and limited time scale?
3) Is there an F option from HNL to Asia?
4) I am planning to book with BA via the phone - is there a more preferable option for booking
5) Not used to travelling alone for extended periods - any tips?

Have I missed anything out?

Thanks for your help.

J

If you want to maximize F flying HNL is a bad idea. I would take CX from the US to Hong Kong - 15 hours - long enough to eat, sleep, eat. CX F is superior to JL F. You could take JL to Europe at the end.
Same for LHR-NYC. The flight is too short. Go to LAX or SFO (BA, don't take AA) and then backtrack thru the US to NYC, then take CX to Asia.
AA has some flights LAX-MIA on the 777, i believe you would end up in one of the F seats.
You could swap HNL for some beach location in Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Bali).
You could add two more sectors in Europe.

I am not sure what the cost of starting the ticket in TLV is, but check CAI, KRT and possibly even JNB (makes it more difficult to position, but you could sqeeze a second trip out of the ticket.

It will be high season, but fly into Nice and visit Monaco if you've never been.

Do you have time and miles to include Australia?

Thanks,

Yes I will be sacrificing an F leg by going to HNL but the lure of south shore surfing is too great - at least I will increase my BA tier points.

As for costs TLV is surprisingly one of the least expensive places to buy an AONEx.

Monaco is a fave of the other half so would never hear the end of it if I went.

I have also made a few minor adjustments to the routing.

TLV-xLHR-NYC-MIA-LAS-SJD-xLAX(or other)-HNL-HND-xHKG-DSP-xHKG-xLHR-TLV

J

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LAX-HNL is all 757s now - bad, but you could instead go DFW-HNL on bigger equipment for a better F experience.

Also there's no LAS-SJD service (LAX or DFW).

Finally, why not an F segment on QF's A380? So add SIN-LHR.

Revised: TLV-LHR-NYC-MIA-LAS-LAX-SJD-DFW-HNL-HND-HKG-DPS-HKG-SIN-LHR-TLV

Thanks - 380 is something I hadn't considered.

Looking at the timetables both CX and QF leave around midnight for LHR. It feels a bit of a waste to get on a plane, eat a dinner so late and then to bed in F.

I wonder if a better option would be to take JL which leaves at 11am (NRT) enjoy the full service (if older sky sleeper solo seat) and then go to bed in London?

J

Well of course there are many ways to skin this cat, all with positives and negatives.

For example TLV-LHR-YVR-JFK-MIA-DFW-SJD-LAX-HNL-HND-HKG-DPS-HKG-SIN-LHR-TLV would get you CX's F on YVR-JFK, but you'd need to hit LAS outside the RTW (very short, very cheap flight or a few hours in a car). I would think the A380 suites on QF would be ideal for a long overnight segment.

Or, you could play with reversing the route and see if the timing is more to your liking on some routes.

Thanks,

YVR is great idea - I didn't know about.

J

While the A380 is nice, I still prefer CX F.

CX F wins in food, service, seat comfort, and in the case of lounges ex-HKG vs QF ex-SIN.

QF A380 F wins in new/novelty, AVOD (very close on this one, + QF good as you can watch it until you get to the gate, - their AVOD did reboot in the middle of a movie on 2 of the 3 flights I have flown), controls (from a coolness perspective although they take a bit of getting used to and are a bit bulky). Lighting and window shades are real nice touch.

I don't drink so can't comment on the alcohol offerings.

HKG-LHR is about 11.5 hours flight time, so time for a nice meal, 2 movies, 6 hours sleep, and a nice leisurely breakfast (eggs cooked to order on CX).

SIN-LHR is about 12 hours flight time, so time for a nice meal, 2 movies, 6 hours sleep, and a nice leisurely breakfast.

I have only flown JL F once and hated it. I am a big guy 6'3", 245 lbs and their seats were terrible. Flown QF A380 F 3 times, CX F 10+ times.

Ever thought of dropping HI and adding on OZ? The price difference between an AONE3 and AONE4 is only $1200 USD.

From what I understand there is great surfing all around Sydney and up the gold coast, although it is winter there. You would know more about that than I. Then you could fly US-HKG CX F | HKG-SYD A380 F (Thu-Sun) | SYD or MEL - LHR QF A380 F. For your SYD or MEL departure to LHR make sure QF has your mobile number as they will call the day before your departure to set up your spa appointment. A nice half hour massage before departing. Also MEL and SYD F lounges are by far the nicest OW lounges out there IMO.

TLV-xLHR-NYC-MIA-LAS-xLAX-SJD-xLAX-xHKG-DSP-xHKG-SYD-OOL-MEL (or SYD)-xLHR-TLV

OOL is Gold Coast, Australia (Coolangatta). If you did the above you definitely want to do at least 3 nights in Sydney, and probably more. Such a cool city and lots of beaches and surfing. You may also want to consider doing 3 nights in HKG and/or MEL if you have never been there before. You don't have to do MEL, you could always come back to SYD for your flight to LHR.

Booking Options

Do Not book with BA as their fuel fines are infamous. It also helps to avoid BA flights as much as possible. To avoid most fuel fines book with AA Round The World Desk as they are generally considered the best service for RTW tickets and the best prices. Their number is +1.800.247.3247. Call them and have them set up your booking. They will put it on hold for up to 21 days unless you are close to date of departure. If they do not allow you to pay for it over the phone, then go to the AA GSA office in Tel Aviv and take care of ticketing there. Their office is open Sun-Thu 0900-1400. More information may be found here: http://www.aa.com/i18n/aboutUs/where...ets/israel.jsp

Tal Aviation LTD
29 Ben Yehuda Street
Tel Aviv 63807
P.O. Box 26429, Tel Aviv 61264
Phone: 9723-795-2122 (Reservations)

If I overlooked anything above, hopefully someone else will jump in and provide useful info.

Wow - Thanks
 

Many thanks aaupgrade - It is much appreciated.

Especially with regards to F experiences on the different airlines (I too am over 6ft) and booking suggestions in TLV. I have not thought of adding SYD but as you rightly point out it is only $1200 extra. Funnily enough I have been playing on EF and have seen that JL are so stingy with their A availability that HNL may need to be struck off, so Aus may be a good substitute (though have surfed there in the past - great apart from my fear of sharks).

I didn't know I could hold a booking for 21 days so will sort it out in the next few days - and will report back with final routing etc.

Thanks,

J

I sorta tweaked it around a bit..so you get a couple long hauls...

TLV-LHR-LAS-LAX-SJD-LAX-MIA-JFK-HKG-DPS-HKG-SYD-OOL-MEL-LHR-TLV

If you don't mind buying side track tickets (I'm thinking most time in F)...

TLV-LHR-LAS-LAX-SJD-LAX-MIA-JFK-HKG-NRT-CGK-NRT-SYD-OOL-MEL-LHR-TLV

CGK-DPS-CGK (domestically)

Hi,

Thanks fumitani,

After further thought I have decided to leave my trip as an AONE3 with the following tweaks to my routing:

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

BA F
AA F
CX F
QF F
JL C

I dropped SJD to concentrate on surfing in HNL and DPS, sport fishing MIA and DPS, gambling LAS, good eating TYO, HKG, YVR.

The only booking danger is that D availability out of HNL on JL is terrible so may need to change that part of the trip.

I did notice that on the oneworld online booking tool taxes come to $1,100. I am hoping that booking through AA will lower these costs.

J

It should. Call them up and have them book it. After they book it, then they submit it to ticketing and will have a price for you a few hours later or the next day. The price quote will be in ILS.

When you have them on the phone ask about payment, whether you can do it on the phone or need to go downtown. If you do it on the phone you will need a Israeli bank issued CC and address. If you don't have that, then I wouldn't even ask and just have them set up the ticket for purchase at the Tel Aviv AA GSA noted in my previous post.

The established tariff for xONEx fares ex-Israel is in USD, not ILS. So if you buy it through TAL (which is a great outfit) it will still go to AA's rates people (who are no longer in Ireland, I believe) where it will be priced in USD. And unfortunately AA now seems to be passing through BA fuel fines even when AA issues the ticket.

In addition, I'd try to book at least one over-water segment to/from the USA (thus LHR-LAS or HNL-NRT) using the AA code as an incentive to AA to issue the ticket.