Thanks a million for this feedback - if I can get what I "want" on the tool I'll probably just suck it up. My first segments will be RJ from CAI-AMM-CDG so I'm resigned to the QF ticket. I'll try and guess my dates right, but for the second "half" of the 16 segments my guess is dates will change...at least routing is firm now. I'll be relying on the Twitter team...and will of course report back.

Anyone know how fast it is from entering credit card on the tool to getting a ticket issued?

[QUOTE=ironmanjt;35680768]Wow - just spent a few hours reading this thread and LOTS of great info in here. I'm looking to book a DONE5 on very short notice (within the next week) and had wanted to start from CAI, but given the limited options out of BA and RJ may just start it from OSL. Priorities are:

• get the QF nonstops SCL-SYD-JNB....because yes, I'm a nerd and want those lines on my map
• squeeze in a DCA-EYW-DCA trip since buying that in business is ridiculous on its own
• maybe a sidetrip on QF to NLK or AYQ?

Advice how to improve (and quickly ticket? I assume OW website is quickest - is there any way to guarantee AA tickets it?) this:

OSL-HEL
HEL-JFK-DCA
DCA-EYW-DCA
DCA-XXX-DCA (not sure where yet)
DCA-MIA-SCL
SCL-SYD
SYD-NLK-SYD
SYD-JNB
JNB-DOH-OSL

...looks like 15 segments so pretty much optimized, but would love advice...[/QUOTE

dup info

QF is instant ticketing, or at least within a minute or two. Are you actually getting CAI-AMM to work? I couldn't get it on any date the other day, but I didn't try CAI-AMM-Europe, I was trying to get CAI-AMM-DOH, it wouldn't give it to many on any date I checked even with a stopover in AMM.

Yup, not having a problem unless I enter CAI-AMM as a segment - that chokes as a supposed violation of segments in ME/Europe. Doing CAI-Europe (as long as there's a same day via AMM) prices just fine.

Thanks folks for the instant ticketing...looks like it'll work online!

Hi again.

A quick question?

I am getting ready to try and book our RTW in about a month (once all the sectors are loaded and I can book the flights next Oct/Nov). The original plan was to keep back a few segments for a separate LHR>DOH>OSL trip to use up most of the segments but for a number of reasons this can’t happen now and we will have to put this into a single trip.

I am thinking of actually booking LHR>DOH>LHR>OSL and not flying the last segment to save me having to fly back from OSL and in doing so only using 15 segments.

The end of the trip would be HKG>CPT(via transit in DOH)>LHR>DOH>LHR>OSL. The tool does not like this as it says I’m making more than 2 stopovers in Europe/Middle East, but the intention is to have less than 24 hours in LHR between CPT and DOH and I make it I’ve only in theory got 2 stopovers in Europe anyway. Tool has no problem if I finish LHR>DOH>OSL.

Is this just a glitch?

TIA.

I was wondering what would happen if you do not use the last segment(s), should you cancel? I guess you are strictly breaching the terms and conditions of the ticket?

I can't remember the specifics right now but there are special rules for South Africa as well. I suspect that's the actual issue since you can do it without ZA in the itinerary. Since you're going via DOH anyway, test it with some of their other Southern Africa destinations that isn't South Africa. I'm pretty sure Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique remain, but Namibia is going away sadly. It's not exactly cheap to buy a separate ticket in the region but depending on what miles / points you have at your fingertips might still be ok. SA miles actually are useful for short haul flights but unless you've built some up before I don't know that helps you, they aren't a Marriott partner anymore sadly. It REALLY stings losing that BA franchise in JNB since that was the only OW option in southern Africa. HRE-JNB isn't terribly priced in economy with UA miles, but CPT isn't close enough to get the discounted rate. If you have G6 (GOL) miles then actually intra-Africa on ET is pretty cheap too, even in business class. I know these aren't exactly mainstream programs but might be a future strategy if you want some cheap mileage flights in the region. QR Avios are also great near Rwanda, but not so much as far flung as South Africa. (Also QR doesn't fly to KGL anymore, they turned the DOH route over to their close partner WB (Rwandair) on a 737 at that).

Thanks for the reply.

It doesn’t throw up any issues when I route HKG>CPT(transit in DOH)> LHR>DOH>OSL, so if I can’t book the last leg as DOH> LHR, I’ll just stick with that and book an Avios reward flight back to LHR, for the flexibility if anything goes wrong. We are having to cram the whole thing into 5.5 weeks so the end is a bit hectic! Basically lots of time in the air, not much relatively on the ground, to rack up theTPs to re-qualify as Emerald and use up the maximum segments,

Strictly, yes. In reality, it would not matter.

Am finding the oneworld tool frustrating, I have posted my latest issue in the xONEx online tool bugs thread. I am not able to fly from JFK-DOH directly (with a final flight of DOH-LHR). I am going to try American Airlines, who I understand are expert at booking RTW. I assume that I will be able to include my BA Exec card if I book through BA?

If calling from the UK, what is the best number to call AA for RTW bookings? The UK number is 0207-660-2300, will they be able to help or is there another number I should use? Thanks in advance...

Use Skype and call the US toll free number for the AA RTW Desk: +1.800.247.3247 which is free using Skype

Indeed the tool is super frustrating - definitely recommend the AA RTW desk. Their number is +118002473247. I recommend calling through Skype so it's free. No worries booking from the UK/playing in GBP/attaching any FF number, done so myself!

Hope that helps :)

Thanks newEUer and aaupgrade , will call AA directly. Even travel agents who advertise RTW don't seem to be able to book anything other than straightforward oneworld Explorer tickets, I wonder if they use the oneworld tool!

My last two DONE5 were booked with a TA who is/was a member here. My last one was the ex-SEZ deals and those caused A LOT of headaches for TAs who booked them because BA (who had the fare filed) decided they didn't want to honor them and threatened debit memos. That said, oneworld RTW tickets have been able to be autopriced in Sabre for many years and because of that Sabre gives a guarantee to TAs who use it; therefore, BA's debit memos would have been paid by Sabre. Sabre of course balked at having to pay $4,000-$5,000 per ticket, so it caused some serious headaches to the travelers and the TAs. I personally had zero problems with my ticket, but I know of several others that did. From my understanding the TA I had used lost/was going to lose the ability to issue BA tickets because of it.

So, yes, TAs can use a GDS to issue RTW tickets, but might have switched to using the website to avoid airlines deciding the price is too low post-purchase.

Hi ernestnywang , thanks for your help last time with the taxes calculations. I have flown the first 2 segments of the itinerary and am now finalizing the rest. Currently I am looking at this:

...-JFK-(AA)-MEX-(AA)-xDFW-(AA)-SEA-(AS)-HNL-(AS)-SFO-(AA)-JFK-(JL)-HND-(JL)-SYD-(QF)-AKL-(CX)-HKG-(CX)-BKK-(JL)-NRT-(QR)-xDOH-(QR)-OSL

These segments seem to be available as codeshares:

JFK-HND: JL5 or AA8402
SYD-AKL: QF145 or AA7337
BKK-NRT: JL708 or AA8412
NRT-DOH: QR807 or JL7995

Could you check what the difference in taxes would be if I managed to book these codeshares?