First RTW - Any Advice?
 

Hi All - I'm going on my first RTW trip in May on a OneWorld Global Explorer fare in J. Here is my itineary:

AA: JFK-LAX-OGG
QF: HNL-SYD
LAN: SYD-AUK
AUK-SYD (LAN) - SYD-CNS (QF)
QF: CNS-BNE-SIN
CX: SIN-HKG
CX: HKG-DBX
BA: DBX-LHR
BA: LHR-JFK

Some questions:
- Would you suggest AA for the LHR-JFK leg over BA on AA's new 777s? I've never flown this route on either carrier, however from what I can tell on SeatGuru AA has the better seat.
- I decided on LAN for the SYD-AUK-SYD legs due to the plane (A340) vs. QF 737. Is LAN a decent choice? From what I can see in the LAN forum, there's many complaints. I've never flown them.

Any other general advice on the routing would also be appreciated. Thanks all!

AUK-SYD is a long way in 737 :) ;)
The LAN flight from AKL leaves at a very unsociable hour. At times its late coming into AKL from SCL, so leaves late. At worst the AKL-SYD-AKL just get cancelled

Is DBX Dubai [DXB]?

Your route

Thanks for the advice and for correcting my airport codes! Based on on-time performance, would you suggest QF over LAN?

Just a quick question as to why you're using a Global Explorer fare rather than a Oneworld Explorer? Your route is valid using both products, but the base fare for the Oneworld Explorer is $100 less and there's no mileage limit, so you could add some Asian or European segments (or if you returned to someplace besides NYC from London, a couple more North American ones) with the only additional cost being airport taxes or (oy) fuel surcharges on the "extra" segments.

Presumably you also know that you could save thousands of dollars by starting and ending somewhere besides North America, e.g. starting in the Euro zone would reduce the base cost by $2000 or so. Of course you'd still have to get to/from Europe at the ends, but maybe miles or ?

Since you're booking in J and have segments to spare (I count 13 including your OGG-HNL surface sector), I suggest a few tweaks:

Are you flying JFK-LAX-OGG in order to get a 767 JFK-LAX? Because one consequence is that LAX-OGG is on a 757. If you fly DFW-OGG, you'll get a 767. Much nicer plane for the long flight. You could go JFK-LAX-DFW-OGG, or LGA/EWY-DFW if you want to avoid adding an extra sector (but you have three spare).

LHR-JFK is a rather short flight. I'd suggest LHR-LAX instead. You can go LHR-LAX-JFK if you aren't flying JFK-LAX to start (only one transcon).

You asked about LHR-JFK. If you'll be in J and on AA's new 77W, I'd go with AA for the new J seats. If you do decide to fly on BA metal, ask for it to be an AA codeshare to save a few hundred dollars in fuel fines. However, keep in mind that you can upgrade AA and BA flights using AA miles or BA Avios. If this is at all possible for you, it'll be a much nicer flight and make it all the more reason to fly LHR-LAX. I'd take LHR-LAX in F on a current AA 777 over LHR-JFK in the new 77W.

So, my suggested itinerary:

AA: EWR/LGA-DFW-OGG
QF: HNL-SYD
LAN: SYD-AUK
AUK-SYD (LAN) - SYD-CNS (QF)
QF: CNS-BNE-SIN
CX: SIN-HKG
CX: HKG-DBX
BA: DBX-LHR
AA: LHR-LAX-JFK

You'll still have two sectors to spare if you wanted to add another side trip. Perhaps LHR-BCN-LHR? Or if you want to earn more miles, LHR-TLV-LHR.

Consider flying the QF A380 on this sector
(QF drops SYD/MEL-SIN-LHR on 31 March and commences SYD/MEL-DXB-LHR on 1 April)

I agrees that the LAN flight should be skipped. You will have a better experience with QF on its 737-8. Not a lie flat seat, but it is a short flight.

If you plan on the using the Global Explorer mileage fare, change your syd-akl-syd-cns-bne-sin flights to syd-akl-bne-cns-bne-sin. You'll save about 250 miles with no change in service.

Repeat after me:

"Auckland = AKL"
"Dubai = DXB"

Thanks all for the great advice! Now I have some serious thinking to do...

I had no idea QF flew this route...definitely making this change.

You have chosen one of the most expensive start points for DONEx. if you can position yourself to AMM or JNB you will save a ton on the fare.

Not only are LAN AKL-SYD-AKL flights being regularly cancelled, but their SCL-AKL-SCL flights (after they have already cancelled the SYD extension) are running very late. I suspect this will continue while their 787s are grounded and the rest of the fleet tries to fill the gaps.

I agree: avoid LAN at all costs. I had a problem with an electronic ticket in AKL last year (try to fix that at 5-am with uncooperative ground staff). And I flew SCL-AKL on LAN 10/26 in J. I'm still trying to get the miles posted to my account.

Thanks all, sounds like avoiding LAN is the way to go (especially since I'll be connecting to an Air New Zealand flight to Hawkes Bay from AKL).

Yup - would never connect to a flight on separate ticket if flying LAN