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

<deleted>

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.

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.)

Thanks,

Sort of what I expected but hoped not - good to know though.

J

Ticketing CC Charge
 

Hi,

As mentioned booked my AONE3 a week + ago and noticed that my credit card was authorized (through Tal Aviation) with the large amount appearing on my online statement only to disappear a few days later.

So today have a ticketed AONE3 (with e-ticket number) but no charge taken. Is this something I should worry about? Or will the amount be taken at a later date?

Has this happened to anyone else?

UPDATE: CC was credited three weeks later

Thanks,

J

Is This Ticket Change Normal?
 

Hi,

Getting ready to set off on my AONE3 soon but had an aircraft downgrade and offered a free change I thought was not possible?

Basically CX downgraded aircraft on NRT to HKG to 330 with no other NRT alternatives. I wasn't happy as I go down to J.

So rang up AA RTW and was allowed to change airports and go on the CX F leaving HND. I thought this was considered a ticket reissue = $125? (luckily my AONE3 is 15 sectors - not that they asked).

Update: Was reissued with a new e-tkt number and payment type 'exchange'

Nevertheless am happy with the result from AA.

Also asked about any rules of compensation for downgrades after ticketing on a marketed F flight and was told - no way.

J

It was an airline initiated change - they can accommodate you outside the "rules" in such cases.

The number of sectors can indeed go over 16 in such cases.

*nods* This has happened to me before as well.
Had an LONE4 in 2008 ending with NRT-MEL. About a month after the trip was ticketed, QF dumped the MEL-NRT flight, so I was rerouted through SYD and reissued a paper ticket for a 17 sector trip (which was later reissued back to an eticket mid way through due to riots in BKK and bypassing that stop on advise of the airlines and government travel warnings).

Almost happened again the following year when the online booking tool allowed a QF coded AS flight. It wasn't picked up on until AA (the ticket issuer) called me to tell me about flight changes I already knew about. AA decided to "allow" it rather then reroute the LAX-PDX via DFW.

Thanks,

Didn't know this was possible but good to know and useful info for future hiccups.

J