Oneworld booking and pricing experiences
#2101




Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: United Nations 193, UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 6,356
*S-21APR24CAI BA X/LON BA BER AY HEL AY X/SEA AS WAS AS
X/SFO AS ANC AS HNL FJ CXI FJ NAN FJ MEL QF ADL MH X/KUL MH
BKK QR X/DOH QR CAI2808.76NUC2808.76END ROE50.20 PD XF
HNL4.5
the "X/LON" indicates that segment is a connection, so it has to be available in D as CAI-LON-BER - which may have less availability than the individual segments.
Idk how accurate ITA matrix is, but I've still had cases where I find it on ExpertFlyer, but QF claims it's not there. You can HUCA, but I've found for some reason QF/OW don't always have all D availability available...can't say why...
edited: for readability/formatting
#2102




Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: BA DL
Posts: 196
I have had a similar problem several times recently booking DONEs with the AA RTW desk. I see D class availability on QF. AA agent also sees D class availability. But the seats come back “unconfirmed” by Qantas. No explanation given.
#2103




Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,536
We finally booked our first RTW yesterday (CX were vey late in releasing their timetable for a couple of routes), a big thank you for all the help from the forum in planning the trip, much appreciated.
I used a travel agent this time as this is actually a big holiday with my wife and I had a lot of other travel arrangements to make (and was on a learning curve with RTW), but I will likely do another RTW and book directly going forward. Below is what we finally booked and the cost for the DONE5 was 6280 per person. Would we have saved much doing it ourselves?
I should add that I was fortunate to have worked with a very good travel agent who was prepared to read/understand the rules, I have found that some agents and airlines just do not understand the rules and will not consider a route such as this.
OSL-DOH-NBO-DOH-PER-SYD-CHC-SYD-KUL-BOM-HKG-JFK-DOH-MAN-DOH-OSL
15 segments with one surface segment (in bold) and stopovers in red.
This equates to 1800 TPs and 51,295 miles. We have registered our BA exec numbers, will all our TPs and Avios automatically credit?
For future reference, what is the correct way (notation) of expressing a RTW trip to indicate surface segments, stopovers and transfers?
EDIT - we used the AA code for JFK-DOH as I will be GGL by the time we start the trip and this should give us access to the Chelsea Lounge.
I used a travel agent this time as this is actually a big holiday with my wife and I had a lot of other travel arrangements to make (and was on a learning curve with RTW), but I will likely do another RTW and book directly going forward. Below is what we finally booked and the cost for the DONE5 was 6280 per person. Would we have saved much doing it ourselves?
I should add that I was fortunate to have worked with a very good travel agent who was prepared to read/understand the rules, I have found that some agents and airlines just do not understand the rules and will not consider a route such as this.
OSL-DOH-NBO-DOH-PER-SYD-CHC-SYD-KUL-BOM-HKG-JFK-DOH-MAN-DOH-OSL
15 segments with one surface segment (in bold) and stopovers in red.
This equates to 1800 TPs and 51,295 miles. We have registered our BA exec numbers, will all our TPs and Avios automatically credit?
For future reference, what is the correct way (notation) of expressing a RTW trip to indicate surface segments, stopovers and transfers?
EDIT - we used the AA code for JFK-DOH as I will be GGL by the time we start the trip and this should give us access to the Chelsea Lounge.
#2104



Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,687
On FT we assume everything is a stopover, unless otherwise indicated, so:
Surface segments indicated with a comma (or a double slash '//')
ETA
And congrats on your booking
OSL-xDOH-NBO-xDOH-PER,SYD-CHC-xSYD-xKUL-BOM-HKG-JFK-xDOH-MAN-xDOH-OSL
Transits indicated with a lowercase 'x'Surface segments indicated with a comma (or a double slash '//')
ETA
And congrats on your booking
#2105




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold, Former UA 1K
Posts: 6,365
Personally I'd much rather do it on CX than MH, but CX is a morning departure from SYD and MH is a late evening departure. The CX experience is quite a bit better though, both flights are in their long haul configuration (A359 and 77W on the dates I referenced) while MH is an A330 (generally fine) to KUL but a 737 to BOM.
The CX F lounge is quite a bit nicer than the MH Platinum Lounge. Both have restaurant style dining from a menu and actually MH does have a pretty good menu in there. My biggest gripe about the MH lounge is they have no liquor in the lounge, the bar is in the business lounge and you have to request what you want from the lounge staff each time. I did notice them getting more proactive after a while and asking if I need a refill, but I prefer either self service or a bartender right there. The MH Platinum lounge is also significantly smaller than CX's F lounge, and CX has the complementary massage in the spa. MH is also a pain if you have to transfer between the satellite terminal (all long haul flights) and the regional one (main building) since their train has been broken for quite some time and no definite timeline in getting it fixed, so currently they are running busses between the terminals.
MH is certainly not a 'bad' experience but it's not nearly as good as CX.
#2106
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,913
We finally booked our first RTW yesterday (CX were vey late in releasing their timetable for a couple of routes), a big thank you for all the help from the forum in planning the trip, much appreciated.
<snip>
OSL-DOH-NBO-DOH-PER-SYD-CHC-SYD-KUL-BOM-HKG-JFK-DOH-MAN-DOH-OSL
15 segments with one surface segment (in bold) and stopovers in red.
<snip>
.
<snip>
OSL-DOH-NBO-DOH-PER-SYD-CHC-SYD-KUL-BOM-HKG-JFK-DOH-MAN-DOH-OSL
15 segments with one surface segment (in bold) and stopovers in red.
<snip>
.

You may be taking the train or driving, but SYD-PER is a good longish route in business class (~4:00hrs)
QF fly SYD-BLR Bangalore & SYD-DEL in India.
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=c%3Ablu...=bm&PW=3&DU=mi
AU east coast to NZ (~3:30hrs) can be cheap on a range of airlines,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...s_destinations
#2107




Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,536
Congratulations on the booking. These *ONE* can be be addictive. 
You may be taking the train or driving, but SYD-PER is a good longish route in business class (~4:00hrs)
QF fly SYD-BLR Bangalore & SYD-DEL in India.
A map from the Great Circle Mapper - Great Circle Mapper
AU east coast to NZ (~3:30hrs) can be cheap on a range of airlines,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...s_destinations

You may be taking the train or driving, but SYD-PER is a good longish route in business class (~4:00hrs)
QF fly SYD-BLR Bangalore & SYD-DEL in India.
A map from the Great Circle Mapper - Great Circle Mapper
AU east coast to NZ (~3:30hrs) can be cheap on a range of airlines,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...s_destinations
#2108




Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PER
Programs: AA LPLT, SQ Gold, QF, BA, UA, AS NB, Bonvoy LPLT, HH Gold
Posts: 398
AA Agent told me they are seeing this more and more with QR, QF, CX etc and find it very frustrating has been escalated at some level to try and resolve but I wouldn't be holding my breath
#2109




Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: PER
Programs: AA LPLT, SQ Gold, QF, BA, UA, AS NB, Bonvoy LPLT, HH Gold
Posts: 398
POINT OF INTEREST - for anyone who got on the recent ex-CAI deals but had to ticket with QF. I was on the phone to AA RTW desk making some changes to an ex-TYO AA ticketed booking and at the end of the call I asked if there was any chance they could help me with some difficulties in a QF ticketed DONE5. The agent was super helpful and said yep no problem and let's get that taken over by AA so we can get this all sorted.
30mins work and clean up of the QF Fiji call centre mess (4 x duplicated sectors on different dates, married segment issue etc and at least 10+ wasted hrs with QF call centre, and no promised call backs) and the ticket is now under AA control and the dates etc all fixed up.
So it can be done but caveat is that I'm AA llifetime Plat and the itin does have one intercontinental AA sector (DFW-SCL), not sure how much those things mattered.
30mins work and clean up of the QF Fiji call centre mess (4 x duplicated sectors on different dates, married segment issue etc and at least 10+ wasted hrs with QF call centre, and no promised call backs) and the ticket is now under AA control and the dates etc all fixed up.
So it can be done but caveat is that I'm AA llifetime Plat and the itin does have one intercontinental AA sector (DFW-SCL), not sure how much those things mattered.
#2110




Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: United Nations 193, UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 6,356
I suspect your status really helped you here... wonder if they'd be nice to an Alaska MVP100....
#2111




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold, Former UA 1K
Posts: 6,365
POINT OF INTEREST - for anyone who got on the recent ex-CAI deals but had to ticket with QF. I was on the phone to AA RTW desk making some changes to an ex-TYO AA ticketed booking and at the end of the call I asked if there was any chance they could help me with some difficulties in a QF ticketed DONE5. The agent was super helpful and said yep no problem and let's get that taken over by AA so we can get this all sorted.
30mins work and clean up of the QF Fiji call centre mess (4 x duplicated sectors on different dates, married segment issue etc and at least 10+ wasted hrs with QF call centre, and no promised call backs) and the ticket is now under AA control and the dates etc all fixed up.
So it can be done but caveat is that I'm AA llifetime Plat and the itin does have one intercontinental AA sector (DFW-SCL), not sure how much those things mattered.
30mins work and clean up of the QF Fiji call centre mess (4 x duplicated sectors on different dates, married segment issue etc and at least 10+ wasted hrs with QF call centre, and no promised call backs) and the ticket is now under AA control and the dates etc all fixed up.
So it can be done but caveat is that I'm AA llifetime Plat and the itin does have one intercontinental AA sector (DFW-SCL), not sure how much those things mattered.
#2112

Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,898
My experience with AA taking over an itinerary booked with OW was successful, but a bit hit and miss. Since I wanted a JL 1st seat that AA could not see, but the OW website did, I booked the itinerary on the OW web site. The website said to ticket thru JL. I called AA and with some effort got it all onto AA. So it is possible, though I suspect ex-CAI is going to be difficult while other origins not so much.
#2113




Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: United Nations 193, UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 6,356
Hopefully this is the right thread for this:
Looking to change 4 segments on my 34,000 biz RTW from HNL-CXI-NAN-MEL-ADL to HNL-SYD-xxx-xxx-ADL
Right now I'm thinking SYD-LDH-SYD-ADL mainly because LDH flights are outrageously expensive otherwise. The downside? Economy only. Which economy bucket would this book into? Y or lower?
I'm not looking to "max out" the experience because I'm pretty close to 34,000 and this routing would only leave me about 400 miles on the table. Other suggestions?
Looking to change 4 segments on my 34,000 biz RTW from HNL-CXI-NAN-MEL-ADL to HNL-SYD-xxx-xxx-ADL
Right now I'm thinking SYD-LDH-SYD-ADL mainly because LDH flights are outrageously expensive otherwise. The downside? Economy only. Which economy bucket would this book into? Y or lower?
I'm not looking to "max out" the experience because I'm pretty close to 34,000 and this routing would only leave me about 400 miles on the table. Other suggestions?
#2114
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,913
Hopefully this is the right thread for this:
Looking to change 4 segments on my 34,000 biz RTW from HNL-CXI-NAN-MEL-ADL to HNL-SYD-xxx-xxx-ADL
Right now I'm thinking SYD-LDH-SYD-ADL mainly because LDH flights are outrageously expensive otherwise. The downside? Economy only. Which economy bucket would this book into? Y or lower?
I'm not looking to "max out" the experience because I'm pretty close to 34,000 and this routing would only leave me about 400 miles on the table. Other suggestions?
Looking to change 4 segments on my 34,000 biz RTW from HNL-CXI-NAN-MEL-ADL to HNL-SYD-xxx-xxx-ADL
Right now I'm thinking SYD-LDH-SYD-ADL mainly because LDH flights are outrageously expensive otherwise. The downside? Economy only. Which economy bucket would this book into? Y or lower?
I'm not looking to "max out" the experience because I'm pretty close to 34,000 and this routing would only leave me about 400 miles on the table. Other suggestions?
5. RESERVATIONS AND TICKETING
<snip>
(b) Booking Codes
<snip>
NOTE: For flights where First or Business Class is not offered or available, passengers may travel in a
lower class, in the applicable booking code for that lower class.
Where the applicable booking class for the lower class is not available, passengers travelling on First
Class fares may book Y Class.
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class fares may book B Class (except AA) or H Class on AA.
<snip>
(b) Booking Codes
<snip>
NOTE: For flights where First or Business Class is not offered or available, passengers may travel in a
lower class, in the applicable booking code for that lower class.
Where the applicable booking class for the lower class is not available, passengers travelling on First
Class fares may book Y Class.
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class fares may book B Class (except AA) or H Class on AA.
#2115




Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: United Nations 193, UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 6,356



