We have 4 LONE4 tickets on hold at the moment. One set was done with the Cathays office in Joburg. We also have another set done with AMEX platinum service in Toronto which have been sent to the AA rtw desk for pricing on Friday.

I had to do this because the online oneworld tool did not go through on the last screen with credit cards. The first flight is on JL operated by CX. AA rtw desk couldn't get the same flights we needed that were available online?

Here's the issue
* online price was 2700
* CX will likely be around 3900
* AMEX will be priced as a CDN ticket 5000?

I have a record locator number with all the flights I can see on the AA site. If I can find a South African ticketing office I can have them access the AA record locator and get it priced properly for payment in Rand - a significant savings. AA or JL will price the ticket lower than CX because of fuel charges I believe.

Mindpearl doesn't exist anymore I think. Any other suggestions to pay for this ticket via South Africa??

Thanks Kevin

This isn't exactly true. The AA GSA in South Africa still exists (and is still mindpearl) and still issues tickets. You can find their phone number at aa.com. That they were no longer issuing tickets was, iirc, based upon one report, and since then others have issued tickets.
See, e.g.:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...ight=mindpearl
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...x-fares-2.html
There was a CX office in SA that has been used, iirc, by others in the past. A search of the forum should find those reports. I sort of remember from the reports that they were difficult to work with. You say you set up at least one of the tickets with them, why don't you issue with them?

Some people have found success using the tool but reducing the number of segments and then adding the additional segments later.

Just call AA in Cape Town on +27214406440. They will issue your ticket for you at the official ex-South Africa price (recently increased, by the way). You can book your itinerary over the phone with the AA around-the-world desk in the US and ask them to price it in rand.

That was my plan as of yesterday. I tried calling the number and it was working....just have to wait for Monday morning.

Will let everyone know if it works out OK.

Kevin

If I try decreasing the number of segments and it works for paying online....do I contact JL or CX to add segments? The first flight is a JL flight on CX metal. CX has a number for the flight and so does JL.

Would I pay a $150 fee to change the ticket to add segments? This may be worth it if I can use the Oneworld tool.

Kevin

Usually you would do the change with whoever the ticket is booked with. You would have to pay the change fee for adding segments (and certain airlines - QF - have an extra fee they charge to tinker with a rtw ticket). Most people wait to add the segments until after the first international flight but a few have reported doing it before (provided you don't change the first flight you shouldn't have a problem).

Some have reported a problem with the tool (especially with AA) when the first flight is a codeshare.
Take a look at the online tool bugs thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...thread-16.html

Yes- any routing changes, such as adding segments, triggers the fee - which is USD125. Plus the taxes and surcharges are re-computed.

The rules is that if, prior to departure, you do a re-route or make any change to the first segment, then if the fare has increased you pay the new fare.

For the OP, since fares ex-South Africa have just increased, it is very unlikely that a change before departure will cause any issues

I agree but it seems that the OP is hoping that he can just add the additional segments simply. While we are used to AA wanted to reissue tickets for seemingly any change, not all airlines do. But if you change the first segment (for tickets other than xonex, I have never tried to change the first international segment of an xonex) in my experience other airlines are probably going to reissue a ticket which might complicate things or slow things up for the OP.

Just an update: Tickets booked, positioning flights booked (exBUD)

I booked and paid for the tickets this morning.

Here's what happened:

• Had Cathay book flights for me when online tool didn't work
• Called AMEX Platinum service in Toronto to book the flights for me (first flight was a JL flight on CX metal) - not very knowledgable but I helped her through it
• Once AMEX had it in the system I was able to see Record Locator on the AA.com website
• Called AA in South Africa at 3am in the morning and they could pull the record from AMEX and then they duplicated the routing on 3 tickets (two diff itin's)
• Had CX rate it.....Had AA rate it
• AA was $600 less for the 4 tickets so booked with them
• AA south africa actually called me on my cell at the cottage to confirm tickets had been rated (Pablo was the agent --- excellent customer service)

I used this number.... +27 21 440 6440 AA South Africa

I had great service from both AA and CX in South Africa. CX did everything by email which made it very easy. Payment for AA could be done over the phone, and payment for CX would require signature, passports, and email/fax (they could easily split costs between card if needed).

Hope this info helps others in the future.....