Cheapest DONE4 now that KRT is closed?
Nov 27, 2012 | 12:46 pm
#1
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Cheapest DONE4 now that KRT (Canada payment loophole) is closed?
I've seen JNB mentioned as cheapest start for AONE4 now that KRT is closed, what about for a DONE4? Any good places in the Middle East to begin other than CAI?
Last edited by ocdb8r; Nov 28, 2012 at 7:00 am
Nov 27, 2012 | 4:27 pm
#2
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RUH is usually one of the cheapest, but the hassle involved, particularly if you're female, makes it almost unworkable (overnight stay required unless you want to run the risk of being detained by soldiers with guns as we were - no in transit facilities)
Nov 27, 2012 | 7:22 pm
#5
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Pretty sure KRT isn't closed
It's just that the great RTW fares from there are no longer available
Right now, South Africa and Namibia seem to be the cheapest places from which to start a DONE4. This is fine if you actually want to go to Africa, but if you don't then it adds an additional continent to your itinerary meaning precious segments being used to depart from/return to Africa and of course more money for the extra continent
Originating in Egypt is about $1300 more expensive for a DONE4 - but I'm watching the EGP exchange rate to see if suffers a significant fall due to the latest round of troubles there
It's just that the great RTW fares from there are no longer available
Right now, South Africa and Namibia seem to be the cheapest places from which to start a DONE4. This is fine if you actually want to go to Africa, but if you don't then it adds an additional continent to your itinerary meaning precious segments being used to depart from/return to Africa and of course more money for the extra continent
Originating in Egypt is about $1300 more expensive for a DONE4 - but I'm watching the EGP exchange rate to see if suffers a significant fall due to the latest round of troubles there
Nov 28, 2012 | 6:39 am
#6
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Hey everyone, thanks for all the replies. I didn't mean to imply that KRT itself was closed, but rather the loophole of purchasing via Canada (plus, as you mention, fares are no longer competitive).
I did some playing around last night based on the old fare spreadsheet and for some reason I could never get CAI to price out anywhere close to what is mentioned. RUH always came out substantially cheaper (and much closer to the expected base fare) despite the rest of the itinerary being identical. Also, with current fx rates, a DONE5 out of JNB still came up cheaper than a DONE4 out of RUH (but as noted, ends up wasting segments as Ideally I'd like to start in the ME and do Asia, SP and S. America). I may wait a while to see how things shake out once MH joins. Any idea if they will be loaded into the booking tool right on Feb 1 when they join (assuming that stays the official join date), or does it take some time for that to get integrated?
I did some playing around last night based on the old fare spreadsheet and for some reason I could never get CAI to price out anywhere close to what is mentioned. RUH always came out substantially cheaper (and much closer to the expected base fare) despite the rest of the itinerary being identical. Also, with current fx rates, a DONE5 out of JNB still came up cheaper than a DONE4 out of RUH (but as noted, ends up wasting segments as Ideally I'd like to start in the ME and do Asia, SP and S. America). I may wait a while to see how things shake out once MH joins. Any idea if they will be loaded into the booking tool right on Feb 1 when they join (assuming that stays the official join date), or does it take some time for that to get integrated?
Nov 28, 2012 | 7:54 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2008
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The fares out of Egypt are quoted in EGP. According to KVS they are:
[KVS Availability Tool 7.0.8.R1 - Sabre: Fares/DotRes/AU]
How do they compare to your "old fare spreadsheet"?
[KVS Availability Tool 7.0.8.R1 - Sabre: Fares/DotRes/AU]
Code:
CAI Cairo Intl EG [HECA] RTW 01 Jan 2013 | 08 Oct 2013 | All Carrier From To Fare Cur Fare Basis/TD --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------- BA CAI CAI 16280 EGP LCIRAT17 BA CAI CAI 16400 EGP LGLOB26 BA CAI CAI 16400 EGP LONE3 BA CAI CAI 16400 EGP LONEWC3 BA CAI CAI 18590 EGP LCIRAT21 BA CAI CAI 18800 EGP LGLOB29 BA CAI CAI 18800 EGP LONE4 BA CAI CAI 18800 EGP LONEWC4 BA CAI CAI 21780 EGP LCIRAT25 BA CAI CAI 22000 EGP LGLOB34 BA CAI CAI 22000 EGP LONE5 BA CAI CAI 26100 EGP LGLOB39 BA CAI CAI 26100 EGP LONE6 BA CAI CAI 36500 EGP DONE3 BA CAI CAI 36500 EGP DONEWC3 BA CAI CAI 38170 EGP DCIRAT17 BA CAI CAI 40900 EGP DONEWC4 BA CAI CAI 40900 EGP DONE4 BA CAI CAI 40900 EGP DGLOB34 BA CAI CAI 42790 EGP DCIRAT21 BA CAI CAI 48100 EGP DONE5 BA CAI CAI 50270 EGP DCIRAT25 BA CAI CAI 52140 EGP ACIRAT17 BA CAI CAI 54500 EGP DONE6 BA CAI CAI 62920 EGP ACIRAT21 BA CAI CAI 73700 EGP ACIRAT25 BA CAI CAI 79764 EGP AONEWC3 BA CAI CAI 79764 EGP AONE3 BA CAI CAI 90264 EGP AONEWC4 BA CAI CAI 90264 EGP AONE4 BA CAI CAI 90264 EGP AGLOB34 BA CAI CAI 102413 EGP AONE5 BA CAI CAI 119454 EGP AONE6
Nov 28, 2012 | 9:10 am
#8
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The Egypt fares you list are comparable to the old Spreadsheet and the amount quoted by Gardyloo above (about $6725 according to today's fx rates). However, when using the online booking tool the base fare prices out at $8519.
Using the EXACT same itinerary with the booking tool, solely replacing the first leg to start in RUH, rather than CAI, I get a base fare price of $6831 (which is comparable to what Gardyloo indicates above).
Both out of CAI and out of RUH I am using RJ into AMM as my first leg. I can't see why the ex-CAI itinerary doesn't price out as the fare listed with Expert Flyer. The price difference from RUH should be minimal, but CAI is probably a much easier place to start (depending on how the political situation evolves).
Itin below if it might help decipher what is going on...
CAI-AMM-CMB-SIN-HND-HKG-BKK-SYD-CNS-SYD-AKL-SCL-GRU-LHR-DXB
Using the EXACT same itinerary with the booking tool, solely replacing the first leg to start in RUH, rather than CAI, I get a base fare price of $6831 (which is comparable to what Gardyloo indicates above).
Both out of CAI and out of RUH I am using RJ into AMM as my first leg. I can't see why the ex-CAI itinerary doesn't price out as the fare listed with Expert Flyer. The price difference from RUH should be minimal, but CAI is probably a much easier place to start (depending on how the political situation evolves).
Itin below if it might help decipher what is going on...
CAI-AMM-CMB-SIN-HND-HKG-BKK-SYD-CNS-SYD-AKL-SCL-GRU-LHR-DXB
Nov 28, 2012 | 1:30 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2002
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I think the online tool has a problem with ending the itinerary in a different city than the origin, even though it is permitted in the rules.
I was pricing some RTWs ex KRT a couple of months ago, and it always priced correctly if I ended the itinerary in KRT. However, if I tried to end in a different Middle East city, it would price correctly with some, but almost double the price with others. If I remember correctly, it was a problem when ending in DXB or MCT, but priced correctly when ending in DOH.
No idea why.
I suggest you try pricing your itinerary with CAI as the end point and see if it prices correctly. Then play with different end cities and see if one of those works for you. If not, then ticket it with CAI as the end point, and then change the end point to the one you want after you have started the RTW. It will cost you US$125, but that's still a a lot less then the "wrong" fare that the online tool is quoting.
Happy Travels.
I was pricing some RTWs ex KRT a couple of months ago, and it always priced correctly if I ended the itinerary in KRT. However, if I tried to end in a different Middle East city, it would price correctly with some, but almost double the price with others. If I remember correctly, it was a problem when ending in DXB or MCT, but priced correctly when ending in DOH.
No idea why.
I suggest you try pricing your itinerary with CAI as the end point and see if it prices correctly. Then play with different end cities and see if one of those works for you. If not, then ticket it with CAI as the end point, and then change the end point to the one you want after you have started the RTW. It will cost you US$125, but that's still a a lot less then the "wrong" fare that the online tool is quoting.
Happy Travels.
Nov 28, 2012 | 1:56 pm
#10
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I think the online tool has a problem with ending the itinerary in a different city than the origin, even though it is permitted in the rules.
I was pricing some RTWs ex KRT a couple of months ago, and it always priced correctly if I ended the itinerary in KRT. However, if I tried to end in a different Middle East city, it would price correctly with some, but almost double the price with others. If I remember correctly, it was a problem when ending in DXB or MCT, but priced correctly when ending in DOH.
No idea why.
I suggest you try pricing your itinerary with CAI as the end point and see if it prices correctly. Then play with different end cities and see if one of those works for you. If not, then ticket it with CAI as the end point, and then change the end point to the one you want after you have started the RTW. It will cost you US$125, but that's still a a lot less then the "wrong" fare that the online tool is quoting.
Happy Travels.
I was pricing some RTWs ex KRT a couple of months ago, and it always priced correctly if I ended the itinerary in KRT. However, if I tried to end in a different Middle East city, it would price correctly with some, but almost double the price with others. If I remember correctly, it was a problem when ending in DXB or MCT, but priced correctly when ending in DOH.
No idea why.
I suggest you try pricing your itinerary with CAI as the end point and see if it prices correctly. Then play with different end cities and see if one of those works for you. If not, then ticket it with CAI as the end point, and then change the end point to the one you want after you have started the RTW. It will cost you US$125, but that's still a a lot less then the "wrong" fare that the online tool is quoting.
Happy Travels.
Nov 28, 2012 | 6:28 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2008
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But if you make the change before you take the first flight and the fare has increased then you have to pay the new fare.
Once you have taken the first flight, then fare increases are not collected.
(I am in this situation - I want to change the end of my ex-KRT DONE4, but to do so before I take the first flight (in April 2013) will cost me about $8K!!!)
And for completeness - if you want to make any change to the first flight and the fare has increased then you have to pay the new fare (even if it is just a date/time/carrier change)
Nov 29, 2012 | 3:59 am
#12
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Pretty sure KRT isn't closed
It's just that the great RTW fares from there are no longer available
Right now, South Africa and Namibia seem to be the cheapest places from which to start a DONE4. This is fine if you actually want to go to Africa, but if you don't then it adds an additional continent to your itinerary meaning precious segments being used to depart from/return to Africa and of course more money for the extra continent
Originating in Egypt is about $1300 more expensive for a DONE4 - but I'm watching the EGP exchange rate to see if suffers a significant fall due to the latest round of troubles there
It's just that the great RTW fares from there are no longer available
Right now, South Africa and Namibia seem to be the cheapest places from which to start a DONE4. This is fine if you actually want to go to Africa, but if you don't then it adds an additional continent to your itinerary meaning precious segments being used to depart from/return to Africa and of course more money for the extra continent
Originating in Egypt is about $1300 more expensive for a DONE4 - but I'm watching the EGP exchange rate to see if suffers a significant fall due to the latest round of troubles there
So far have removed a portion of the fuel as well.
Nov 29, 2012 | 3:14 pm
#14
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Thanks to everyone for all the tips and suggestions. Very much looking forward to my first DONE4.
Dec 2, 2012 | 11:21 pm
#15
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Sorry, I can't figure out what you are saying -- can you explain, please? How can one get even a Y fare sub-$1,000 for an ex-US xONEx? And how have you managed to remove a portion of the fuel surcharge?