I'll probably try it and post back what the agent says...

Report back from post #120: I attempted to book a DONE5 ex-JNB with the online tool following suggestions from brahms77 successful experience. Only thing, my first flight was with IB and last flight with CX, which I sense is the opposite of brahms77 itinerary. I was able to get to the credit card page, but the tool would not accept two of my credit cards. I had previously contacted both credit cards to inform about the large purchase, so that should not have been the problem. I am not sure why, but there was no way to get it to verify the credit card info and process the booking. I contacted CX in JNB via email, asked if they would make the booking for me. They replied promptly, suggesting to contact IB as it is the carrier for the first flight. And I am now waiting to hear back from IB, although I have little hope based on the various phone calls I made and the different numbers and emails I was given to book a xONEx with them. It appears they do not have a proper option to make these bookings. I will keep trying with IB, but might have to reconsider and see whether I can manage to swap direction and start the itinerary with CX, a bit difficult for me as I am interlocking the end of a DONE3 ending in Asia. Will report back if I am successful at getting IB to book the DONE 5.

Any update re: AA ticketing?
 

Has anyone been able to successfully ticket an ex-SA xONEx with AA? Mindpearl definitely seems to be sticking to the new CC rule. I've got an itin ready to ticket.

BA seems willing to ticket, but I'd much rather do it with AA. BA seems not so competent on RTWs -- they're not even able to confirm availability on a BA flight that clearly shows D9 on EF (AA had no problem getting me a seat).

Have you asked Mindpearl if they would accept a wire transfer?

I did; they said they could only take CC.

They pressing for that South African billing address?

Yes, it is required.

The tariff group is now putting a code directly in the fare quote dictating need for an SA address. It doesn't "prevent" ticketing but all of the agents are abiding by the rule. In talking with a couple of the more senior folks on the RTW desk even they appear to have been actively schooled/updated/directed on the SA ticketing rules.

Based on this, I highly doubt (at least until the Rand is a little less volatile) that we are going to get around this...

Sorry everyone...just FYI. When I tried to book the AA codeshare was D0 so I had to book the BA prime flight :(

I will try again another time.

With all the issues related to Mindperl, can an itinerary be put on hold for 3-5 days, then paid for at the JNB/CPT airport ticket counter? I can't see how the airline can refuse to issue the ticket at the ZAR rate in this case regardless of the billing address.

They definitely can. I'm not sure they would or should...

Only if the Fare Quote is with BA or QR - since those are the only two OneWorld carriers with physical presence at CPT.

If with the former, it can anyway be done using the online tool; if with the latter, well, good luck.

From JNB, there are a few more options: CX/QF for now, and eventually IB/JJ

And in case anyone was wondering: no you can't go into the Mindperl office and pay. I've tried it. Others have tried it. Couldn't get anywhere near it (beyond being in the same building). It's not customer facing.

Just a data point for an AONE5 ex CPT I tried to pay for through the BA GGL but they declined telling me I must call the BA bookings line in South Africa. That is what I will be doing in the morning.

One more note; I had posted a bunch about getting a DONE4 booked with BA since AA/Mindpearl stopped allowing it with credit cards from US. I was able to get it booked am in the middle of the trip now; I needed to make a small change to an AA flight so I called AA RTW and had them make the change and re-ticket on AA stock... so for those of us that prefer dealing with AA seems you can get it booked with another airline and then have AA take it over and re-ticket.

I am not sure if this requires that 1 or more segments to be flown or not, but this is likely my plan for future XONEs.

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The online booking tool is unbelievably cluncky at the moment. it frequently hangs at the stage where you are asked to give the names of the travellers and produces a 404 error - or it hangs between booking the flights and pricing them. it is driving me mad and I am not looking forward to doing all this manually on a call to the [pretending to be] South African call centre.

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