My first RTW
Dec 2, 2012 | 7:07 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Moscow
Programs: BA G , SPG Plt
Posts: 123
My first RTW
Going to buy my first RTW.
Start and finish in Moscow, Russia. I need to visit Hong Kong, San Francisco, New York. I would like to be in First class. There is only one flight with First class from Moscow - to London.
So I have some questions
1. How is better to fly - eastbound or westbound?
2. London - New York. BA or AA? And 747 or 777?
3. New York - San Francisco. Direct or with connection? 767-300 or 767-200?
4. San Francisco - Hong Kong. AA or CX? 747 or 777?
5. Hong Kong - London. CX or BA? 747 or 777?
Thanks for help. I am newbie with OW. In the past I used *A.
Start and finish in Moscow, Russia. I need to visit Hong Kong, San Francisco, New York. I would like to be in First class. There is only one flight with First class from Moscow - to London.
So I have some questions
1. How is better to fly - eastbound or westbound?
2. London - New York. BA or AA? And 747 or 777?
3. New York - San Francisco. Direct or with connection? 767-300 or 767-200?
4. San Francisco - Hong Kong. AA or CX? 747 or 777?
5. Hong Kong - London. CX or BA? 747 or 777?
Thanks for help. I am newbie with OW. In the past I used *A.
Dec 2, 2012 | 4:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QF Gold LTG (ow Saph), HHon Silver, Marriot Gold
Posts: 3,007
General feeling that West is best, as you just extend your day. But all depends on how long you are spending in each city.
I think generally in F - CX>BA>AA
With BA you want to try and pick flights with a greater probability of next gen F. I think 747/777 have similar rollout
Personally prefer the 747 over 777 with noise etc the same. You might also consider JL 787 for US to Asia (albeit only Business class), or add HKG-SIN and fly QF A380 SIN-LHR (until end March)
JFK-SFO - depends what you are after. Many on this board will try and max out the *ONE* fares so would go indirect.
I think generally in F - CX>BA>AA
With BA you want to try and pick flights with a greater probability of next gen F. I think 747/777 have similar rollout
Personally prefer the 747 over 777 with noise etc the same. You might also consider JL 787 for US to Asia (albeit only Business class), or add HKG-SIN and fly QF A380 SIN-LHR (until end March)
JFK-SFO - depends what you are after. Many on this board will try and max out the *ONE* fares so would go indirect.
Dec 2, 2012 | 5:30 pm
#3
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 12,520
Dec 2, 2012 | 6:16 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QRPC PLT/OW EMD; Bonvoy LT Titanium
Posts: 14,571
P.S. There's a lengthy debate between those who favor the 744 and those who favor the 77W for F. You can see which camp I'm in. Either way, you can't lose with CX F.
Dec 2, 2012 | 10:56 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 9,122
Many people here prefer BA F to AA F, but you'll find quite a few who prefer AA F. Tons of discussion with lots of details elsewhere, but in brief, AA has better hard product while BA has better soft.
Also, you'll pay significantly more in BA fuel surcharges if you book flights with a BA code (regardless of which carrier operates it -- BA or AA).
Also, you'll pay significantly more in BA fuel surcharges if you book flights with a BA code (regardless of which carrier operates it -- BA or AA).
Dec 2, 2012 | 11:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AS Platinum, AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,668
CX F is vastly better than either BA or AA.
The BA/AA F decision depends in part on when the trip will be taken, and whether the new AA 777-300s are running yet. The AA F Suite provides greater space/privacy than BA's F seat, but the older 777-200 Suites are being held together with duct tape. [That said, some of BA's cabins are really filthy dirty.]
I agree the suggestion about travelling westbound --- the eastbound JFK - LHR overnight flight is really too short for a proper sleep (often just 5 or so hours in flight time).
The BA/AA F decision depends in part on when the trip will be taken, and whether the new AA 777-300s are running yet. The AA F Suite provides greater space/privacy than BA's F seat, but the older 777-200 Suites are being held together with duct tape. [That said, some of BA's cabins are really filthy dirty.]
I agree the suggestion about travelling westbound --- the eastbound JFK - LHR overnight flight is really too short for a proper sleep (often just 5 or so hours in flight time).
Dec 9, 2012 | 1:38 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 9,122
Dec 9, 2012 | 2:58 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QF Gold LTG (ow Saph), HHon Silver, Marriot Gold
Posts: 3,007
Should be possible but you can generally only upgrade on the carriers own metal (eg QF points only on QF, Avios (I think) on BA, IB and AA) but allow depends on fare class booked and the particular rules.
Dec 9, 2012 | 2:58 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Japan
Programs: NH Diamond, JL JGC Diamond, BA Gold Guest List(Gold for life), CX Diamond
Posts: 1,580
Wow, BA disallowed ?
CX/Asiamiles permits upgrade from business to First of CX flights of DONEX.
However, if a ticket is not issued by CX, practically very hard to sort out e-ticketing issue of award booking/ticket and original booking.
Recently I have read a thread about AA-RTW desk's handling of CX's upgrade reservation about this.
Edit:
Asismiles permit roundtrip upgrade from D class to First on BA and AA but not for oneway.
This is a tricky part for upgrade of RTW.
I have no real experience, but theoretically, Asiamiles permit upgrade for AA/BA's roundtrip flights within a RTW.
CX/Asiamiles permits upgrade from business to First of CX flights of DONEX.
However, if a ticket is not issued by CX, practically very hard to sort out e-ticketing issue of award booking/ticket and original booking.
Recently I have read a thread about AA-RTW desk's handling of CX's upgrade reservation about this.
Edit:
Asismiles permit roundtrip upgrade from D class to First on BA and AA but not for oneway.
This is a tricky part for upgrade of RTW.
I have no real experience, but theoretically, Asiamiles permit upgrade for AA/BA's roundtrip flights within a RTW.
Last edited by Wasabi Tofu; Dec 9, 2012 at 3:07 am
Dec 9, 2012 | 4:58 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,416
Going to buy my first RTW.
Start and finish in Moscow, Russia. I need to visit Hong Kong, San Francisco, New York. I would like to be in First class. There is only one flight with First class from Moscow - to London.
So I have some questions
1. How is better to fly - eastbound or westbound?
2. London - New York. BA or AA? And 747 or 777?
3. New York - San Francisco. Direct or with connection? 767-300 or 767-200?
4. San Francisco - Hong Kong. AA or CX? 747 or 777?
5. Hong Kong - London. CX or BA? 747 or 777?
Thanks for help. I am newbie with OW. In the past I used *A.
Start and finish in Moscow, Russia. I need to visit Hong Kong, San Francisco, New York. I would like to be in First class. There is only one flight with First class from Moscow - to London.
So I have some questions
1. How is better to fly - eastbound or westbound?
2. London - New York. BA or AA? And 747 or 777?
3. New York - San Francisco. Direct or with connection? 767-300 or 767-200?
4. San Francisco - Hong Kong. AA or CX? 747 or 777?
5. Hong Kong - London. CX or BA? 747 or 777?
Thanks for help. I am newbie with OW. In the past I used *A.
2) BA
3) Direct and 767-200 in middle seat to avoid having to climb out over a neighbour
4) Definitely CX and definitely 747
5) CX 747
That would be my personal choice
Dec 9, 2012 | 5:37 pm
#15
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, DL PLT, UA 1P, SPG Gold
Posts: 415