I’m thinking about a RTW in J in the Autumn with cost being the main driver

Indicative itinerary is UK – South Africa – South America – US – NZ – Aus – Far East – India – UK

Is UK starting point the best idea ? and is South Africa - South America possible with oneworld.

Any suggestions/thoughts welcome

Your itinerary is six continents (Europe/Middle East-Africa-Sth Am-Nth Am-South West Pacific-Asia)

For Business Class, the base fare is:
- ex-UK GBP7900
- ex-SA ZAR80500 (about GBP3700)

So there is a substantial saving if you start in South Africa
(note to the base fare must be added the various taxes, fees and surcharges - but these will be about the same no matter where you start)
Remember that you would have to get yourself to South Africa at the start; and the rules will require you to finish your RTW back in Africa*

Yes Africa to South America is possible:

• the Brazilian airline TAM is planning to commence Sao Paolo to Jo'burg flights sometime this year
• even if you start in the UK, the rules allow you to return to Europe/Middle East from Africa on your way to another continent such as Sth America; you are only allowed to transit Europe/Middle East, meaning no longer than 24hrs. And you cannot transit through your country of origin (in other words the UK). Iberia is recommencing JNB-MAD flights mid-year, so you could fly JNB-MAD-Sth America. Qatar Airways is another possibility - it flies form CPT and JNB to DOH and from there to Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires
• if you start in South Africa then there is no issue travelling via Europe/Middle East to Sth America

(* the fare rules define Nth Africa to be part of Europe/Middle East, so nowhere there can be your end point)

Feel free to post your proposed itinerary here - plenty of us are willing to make suggestions

Dedicated thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...cket-faqs.html
https://www.oneworld.com/flights/where-we-fly
https://rtw.oneworld.com/rtw/

Note there have been/are payment problems for *ONE* ex South Africa when issued by AA. AA are the cheapest due no/lower carrier imposed surcharges. Other carriers may (or may not) apply carrier imposed surcharges on *ONE* tickets.

Many thanks - your response generates a few more questions ....

1 - where do you find the 'base' fares (I couldn't get the oneworld booking engine to price)

2 - how much does it reduce if I only did five continents ?

3 - Rather than starting in SA, is there still a good saving going ex-EU (eg Oslo ??)

4 - Do the base prices vary - are there sale fares sometimes ?? - or is it solely distance related

5 - Re the question about the SA - South America leg, would I be better looking at reversing the journey (Europe - SA - India - Far East - Aus - NZ- US -Europe)

Thanks

1. ExpertFlyer
2. ex-SA from GBP3695 to GBP3116 for 6 to 5 continents.
3. Nothing close to SA.
4. Very rarely there are some sales, check the threads linked
5. Possibly up to you what works best and that fits in the routing rules.

Egypt is next best, around Ł4000 for five continents, Ł4675 for six. Oslo is Ł1500 more for both.

Rarely, and it's not distance-based, it's based on the number of continents touched. No mileage limits.

That route would have you crossing the Pacific Ocean twice, in opposite directions, thus not allowed. Europe - India - E. Asia - Australia - NZ - South America - North America - Europe would be the available eastbound routing.

Oneworld has a distance based RTW Global explorer https://www.oneworld.com/flights/rou...obal-explorer/
Most people on FT like the continent based RTW oneworld Explorer https://www.oneworld.com/flights/rou...orld-explorer/

.. more questions !!

How do you actually book - using the online booking engine ?

Does the online booking engine allow you to book ex-CPT or ex-CAI (what is the issue with booking/paying ex-CPT ?)

I assume that if I go to a TA in the UK then I will pay the UK fare even if I start/finish from CPT ?

Is the booking with the first carrier ?

I suggest you read through the dedicated thread linked above.

If you go to a TA in the UK you will pay the UK fare. The booking doesn't have to be through the first carrier.

I did which is why I had more questions !!

If you can use the booking engine to book, and it prices in the local currency of departure, then why does there appear to be an issue with ex-SA fares ? .. the FAQ's also don't say who the ticket is actually with ? (Is it one airline - if so what determines it ?)

Sorry if being naive but just trying to understand the process before I look at itineraries in detail.

Thanks

There's a lot to take in. Give yourself some time in soaking up the info in the FAQ and some recent/active threads. To give some form of answer to your questions:

The booking engine will I believe always price based on local pricing. That is mostly in local currency though a handful of locations are universally priced in USD. The issue is that the booking engine can't ticket all itineraries: it has some bugs and can't cope with a handful of itineraries + it refers you to ticket with an airline for some. Plus some airlines charge a bit more in fuel charges for a given itinerary than others.

For ex-SA itineraries, the online tool usually works OK for itineraries beginning with BA, CX or QF. It does not work for itineraries beginning with QR (and it tells you "please contact the airline" - good luck with that). For IB itineraries it been reported the tool fails right at the end - when entering your credit card details.

Historically people have preferred to book ex-SA itineraries with AA (and pay through its general sales agent there - Mindpearl). This is because AA has tended to have lower surcharges and it has been easier to deal with when wanting to make changes during the life of the ticket. But AA is now imposing a new policy that requires an SA billing address on the credit card used (this is not part of the rules and is essentially an arbitrary policy imposed by AA).