your DONE3 will qualify you for QRPC Platinum, these AA earnings on QR flights is not the worst thing that can happen in the booking process. (712 Qpoints total, w/306 on QR (only 120 needed to be on QR))

QF seems to be default ticket issuer for many OW Tool generated RTW's.
My understanding is QF have call centres in Hobart, Auckland, Cape Town, Manila and Fiji. Any "local" phone numbers and emails can be directed to anyone of these. Manila seem to handle a lot of the emails. Hobart is used for top tier QF status holders. From reports Manila was the issue for this data breach.

Just called the AA RTW desk to check availability for a DONE4 itinerary that I was pretty sure was valid:

OSL-HEL-LHR-YVR-NRT/HND-SYD-SIN-HND-TSA/HND-BKK-HND-LHR-TOS/OSL
(stopovers in bold, surface segments marked with /)

To my surprise, I was told that after having stopped in NRT and SYD earlier, I cannot stop in SIN or anywhere else in Asia -- I can visit Asia again but only for transits.

I asked the agent which rule this was violating and she couldn't give me an answer other than "computer says no"... I pointed her to 4(e) which states that two intercontinental departures and two intercontinental arrivals are permitted for Asia, but she wouldn't budge.

Am I missing something? I've re-read the rules twice and cannot find anything wrong with my routing.

My understanding of the rules is the same AA desk. The 2nd visit to Asia only as transit (<24hrs)
By having a 2nd stopover is Asia you are not in a "continuous forward direction", even though the 2 continents Asia and SWP are TC3

You may have trouble with the last ground segment TOS-OSL, as may not be ticketed, but can end in same country as departure


http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=c%3Ablu...=bm&PW=3&DU=mi

Edit
Rule changes over time
Rule 3015 2019 04 01 v129_oneworld_Explorer_1Apr19
Rule 3015 2025 07 01 oneworld_Explorer_1July2025

Hmm, aren't Asia and Australia (SWP) both in TC3 though? I am travelling from Europe (TC2) to North America (TC1) to Asia/SWP (TC3) and returning to Europe (TC2) with no backtracking between TCs. The Oneworld Explorer User Guide (section "Second visits to northern hemisphere continents") seems to agree with this interpretation.

I've also just managed to get this priced on the oneworld RTW website, though we all know that doesn't mean much given how buggy it is.

Had no idea the TOS-OSL segment could be a problem -- as you can see, the agent and I only got halfway through the route before we hit a problem :(

Edit: found a post by pandaperth that suggests that this is a HUACA kind of situation.

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Looks like we both came to the same conclusion! I have to say though, I'd heard a lot of good things about the AA RTW desk but this first interaction with them didn't really leave me impressed...

If this rule change was literally a week ago, I wouldn't get too up in arms about it.
But you decide with your wallet -- take your business elsewhere. ;)

Please let us know the outcome
 

Please let us know the resolution. HUCA is a pain but sometimes that's what it takes.

Firstly, there are six "continents" defined for the oneworld explore fare. Europe/Middle East, Africa, Asia, South West Pacific, North America and South America.

I suspect the AA staff member was citing a rule that had been in place for at least 20 years.

Before a post COVID rule change. you could only visit a continent once (one arrival and one departure for each that you visit), however, you could transit some continents (including Asia) while travelling between other continents. "Transit without stopover" was the term.

The contemporary rule is:
As indicated, #2 used to read something like "Two Permitted in Asia where one is a transit without stopover ...". This is no longer the case.

Did some digging and the aforementioned rule change actually happened over two years ago!
I think what bothers me is not just the fact that the agent didn't keep up with a not-so-recent rule change, but also how convincing she sounded even after I mentioned the current wording of 4(e)... Makes you wonder how many people have been misled.

I will try again later today.
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The first agent I spoke with when I called today agreed there was no issue with stopping over in Asia before or after visiting Australia. Unfortunately the call got disconnected about halfway through the itinerary though, and then we had to start all over again...

No issues getting the second agent to send OSL-HEL-LHR-YVR-NRT/HND-SYD-SIN-HND-TSA/HND-BKK-HND-LHR-TOS to the rating desk, and they were even okay with booking a BA operated SYD-SIN as a Finnair codeshare (though they mentioned that they usually prefer not to). Finding available flights for BKK-HND-LHR was a bit of a pain because as expected the availability didn't match what I could see on ExpertFlyer, and this cut both ways -- sometimes I would see D0 on EF but the RTW desk could see available seats. We managed to grab HND-LHR as a JL codeshare but only in BA Club World which I was hoping to avoid... oh well, guess I can always try to change it for free if availability opens up. Overall, the agent was professional and very helpful.

So yeah, I guess HUACA is the name of the game. Just waiting for the rating desk now...

LOL, no surprise there, they have to award FAR fewer miles to AAdvantage members on the BA code.

Oh, so that's why they asked me which program I was planning to use when I politely insisted on using the AY code... Guess they're fine with BA having to award more nTPs and Avios :D

Have the base costs for DONE tickets gone up from Oslo? I was pricing a DONE3 up on the website and it gave a base price (excluding taxes) of NOK57,359.00, whereas when I've seen others (eg Matt's planet) booking them they get a base price of NOK52,398.00

Not sure whether the prices have gone up or whether I've messed up somewhere

57359 NOK is a global explorer fare
52398 NOK is the Oneworld explorer fare DONE3