Oneworld booking and pricing experiences
#1351



Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 632
Do you have to use at least one AA over the water flight ?
#1 No segments on AA for us to ticket the DONE5
#2 Yes one longhaul is required
#3 The ticket must be issue by the first international carrier ? !!
With the answers all over the place , it appears they don"t have their act together.
#1352

Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 46
Originally, when the RTW was being planned at first, there didn't seem to be an issue with selecting the AA codeshare, but when it came back from Fares team, it was moved to QR and can't be moved back to AA since. It actually means that AA have ticketed my DONE5 without any overwater segments on their code.
I'm a bit baffled - I wonder is there some issue with codeshares on QR flights, where QR aren't allowing them to be used for RTW segments. I'd really like to get those 2 segments on AA as I will be crediting to BAEC and it will be a lot more valuable to me Avios wise to book on AA codeshare.
#1353




Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 294
I tried a well known TA to price the following routing:
OSL/LHR/BDA/MIA/LAX/SAT/LAX/HNL/NRT/SIN/SYD/HBA/SYD/PER/DOH/xLHR/OSL
They said it fails on two counts - you can't visit the same place twice (in my case LHR, SAT and SYD) and the BDA/MIA/LAX legs there was availability as two sectors but because there was no married availability (same day flights), it wouldn't price
It would appear that they are using Sabre, so might not be able to use them.
Is this definitely a valid routing and if so who do I use - Carrier BA, AA, QR or suggestions on a TA ?
OSL/LHR/BDA/MIA/LAX/SAT/LAX/HNL/NRT/SIN/SYD/HBA/SYD/PER/DOH/xLHR/OSL
They said it fails on two counts - you can't visit the same place twice (in my case LHR, SAT and SYD) and the BDA/MIA/LAX legs there was availability as two sectors but because there was no married availability (same day flights), it wouldn't price
It would appear that they are using Sabre, so might not be able to use them.
Is this definitely a valid routing and if so who do I use - Carrier BA, AA, QR or suggestions on a TA ?
Last edited by petez; Jun 16, 2023 at 7:11 am Reason: .
#1354




Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 294
So I assume that if you have already been to Asia (in my case Tokyo and Singapore) on my way down to Australia, you can't use QF9 as it it counted as going back to Asia ?
#1355




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold, Former UA 1K
Posts: 6,365
I tried a well known TA to price the following routing:
OSL/LHR/BDA/MIA/LAX/SAT/LAX/HNL/NRT/SIN/SYD/HBA/SYD/PER/DOH/xLHR/OSL
They said it fails on two counts - you can't visit the same place twice (in my case LHR, SAT and SYD) and the BDA/MIA/LAX legs there was availability as two sectors but because there was no married availability (same day flights), it wouldn't price
It would appear that they are using Sabre, so might not be able to use them.
Is this definitely a valid routing and if so who do I use - Carrier BA, AA, QR or suggestions on a TA ?
OSL/LHR/BDA/MIA/LAX/SAT/LAX/HNL/NRT/SIN/SYD/HBA/SYD/PER/DOH/xLHR/OSL
They said it fails on two counts - you can't visit the same place twice (in my case LHR, SAT and SYD) and the BDA/MIA/LAX legs there was availability as two sectors but because there was no married availability (same day flights), it wouldn't price
It would appear that they are using Sabre, so might not be able to use them.
Is this definitely a valid routing and if so who do I use - Carrier BA, AA, QR or suggestions on a TA ?
Last edited by dvs7310; Jun 16, 2023 at 10:56 pm
#1356



Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,687
BUT that is allowed
So you can take the PER-LHR flight even if you have already been to Asia
The relevant rule is:
4(e) Only one intercontinental departure and one intercontinental arrival permitted in each continent except as follows:
1. Two permitted in North America.
2. Two permitted in Asia.
3. Two permitted in Europe/Middle East for travel to/from/via Africa. If travel is to/from Europe in both directions, itinerary may not include Mauritius/South Africa.
1. Two permitted in North America.
2. Two permitted in Asia.
3. Two permitted in Europe/Middle East for travel to/from/via Africa. If travel is to/from Europe in both directions, itinerary may not include Mauritius/South Africa.
#1357




Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: land of aahhhhs (ICT)
Programs: EXP LTPlat 2MM
Posts: 530
Questions about choosing airlines/codeshares
I'm in the midst of my third DONE3 (from CAI) and planning a 4th as it is probably the most advantageous way to get home from Cairo. I am not sure how AA credits the flights on an Explorer fare. I've always ticketed them through AA's RTW desk. Does the whole trip then fall under the cost of fare x cabin bonus x status bonus? Or do they somehow sort it so the partner flights accrue LPs based on distance? If so, would you want to use AA code shares on shorter flights, partner codeshares on longer ones when available? Is there still an advantage to maximizing distance on partner flights? It's been so much less stressful "blowing" segments on getting to and from my "spoke" hometown--no worry about missing my nested flight to get to the hub.
#1358




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold, Former UA 1K
Posts: 6,365
Hi all.
So I've priced up a DONE5 Oneworld Explorer ticket (details below), and I have a question about the taxes and charges. The total is running at about 41% of the base fare, which is a bit higher than I'd have expected. On looking at the breakdown on AA.com (also copied below - the block of text is the various taxes, which totals about $450, which is fine), I can see that $1,508.70 of the total of $1,961.19 is down as "Carrier-imposed fees". I don't have any more detail as to which carrier or which flight and the AA rep wouldn't send me any more details.
Would anyone have any idea or recommendations as to how I could potentially reduce these carrier fees (would anyone know which legs are driving the highest ones)? Sorry I'm not sure of the proper way of showing all the details on the below, so I've written it out underneath also for clarity. AA may have grouped them slightly differently as I was just booking them on dummy dates (e.g. grouped Chicago to Honolulu via Anchorage as one flight with a stopover) - not sure if that matters?
Thanks!
CAI(QR)-xDOH(QR)-xDFW(AA)-SCL, BAQ(AA)-xMIA(AA)-ORD(AS)-ANC(AS)-HNL(JL)-xHND(JL)-SYD(QF)-NAN, AKL(MH)-KUL(MH)-DEL(BA)-xLHR(BA)-AMM
Cairo to Santiago, transiting Doha and Dallas Fort Worth (Qatar flights on CAI-DOH and DOH-DFW; I asked to be put on American Airlines codeshare but they said they couldn't) (AA on DFW-SCL)
Surface segment to Barranquilla
Barranquilla to Chicago via Miami on American Airlines
Chicago to Anchorage on Alaskan
Anchorage to Honolulu on Alaskan
Honolulu to Sydney via Haneda on Japan Airlines
Sydney to Nadi on Qantas
Surface segment to Auckland
Auckland to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian
Kuala Lumpur to Delhi on Malaysian
Delhi to Amman via Heathrow on British Airways
Adult (per passenger)
$4,700.00 USD
CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES$1,508.70 USD
PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGE (UNITED STATES)$9.00 USDSEGMENT TAX (UNITED STATES)$14.40 USDTRANSPORTATION TAX (UNITED STATES)$52.80 USDUS APHIS USER FEE (UNITED STATES)$7.66 USDUS CUSTOMS USER FEE (UNITED STATES)$13.04 USDUS FEDERAL INSPECTION FEE (UNITED STATES)$14.00 USDUS SECURITY FEE (UNITED STATES)$22.40 USDPASSENGER MOVEMENT CHARGE (AUSTRALIA)$40.50 USDPASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (AUSTRALIA)$46.90 USDAIRPORT TAX (COLOMBIA)$49.00 USDDEPARTURE FEE (EGYPT)$1.60 USDDEVELOPMENT FEE (EGYPT)$9.70 USDEMBARKATION TAX (EGYPT)$25.00 USDSERVICE CHARGE AT CAIRO AIRPORT (EGYPT)$2.00 USDSOLIDARITY TAX (EGYPT)$13.00 USDPASSENGER SERVICE FACILITIES CHARGE (JAPAN)$10.90 USDBORDER CLEARANCE LEVY (NEW ZEALAND)$3.30 USDPASSENGER SECURITY CHARGE (NEW ZEALAND)$10.70 USDPASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (NEW ZEALAND)$11.20 USDAIRPORT FEE (QATAR)$16.50 USDPASSENGER FACILITY CHARGE (QATAR)$16.50 USDPASSENGER SAFETY AND SECURITY FEE (QATAR)$2.70 USDPASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (QATAR)$0.50 USDPASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (UNITED KINGDOM)$53.20 USDOTHER TAXES & CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES$5.99 USD
Total$6,661.19 USD per person
So I've priced up a DONE5 Oneworld Explorer ticket (details below), and I have a question about the taxes and charges. The total is running at about 41% of the base fare, which is a bit higher than I'd have expected. On looking at the breakdown on AA.com (also copied below - the block of text is the various taxes, which totals about $450, which is fine), I can see that $1,508.70 of the total of $1,961.19 is down as "Carrier-imposed fees". I don't have any more detail as to which carrier or which flight and the AA rep wouldn't send me any more details.
Would anyone have any idea or recommendations as to how I could potentially reduce these carrier fees (would anyone know which legs are driving the highest ones)? Sorry I'm not sure of the proper way of showing all the details on the below, so I've written it out underneath also for clarity. AA may have grouped them slightly differently as I was just booking them on dummy dates (e.g. grouped Chicago to Honolulu via Anchorage as one flight with a stopover) - not sure if that matters?
Thanks!
CAI(QR)-xDOH(QR)-xDFW(AA)-SCL, BAQ(AA)-xMIA(AA)-ORD(AS)-ANC(AS)-HNL(JL)-xHND(JL)-SYD(QF)-NAN, AKL(MH)-KUL(MH)-DEL(BA)-xLHR(BA)-AMM
Cairo to Santiago, transiting Doha and Dallas Fort Worth (Qatar flights on CAI-DOH and DOH-DFW; I asked to be put on American Airlines codeshare but they said they couldn't) (AA on DFW-SCL)
Surface segment to Barranquilla
Barranquilla to Chicago via Miami on American Airlines
Chicago to Anchorage on Alaskan
Anchorage to Honolulu on Alaskan
Honolulu to Sydney via Haneda on Japan Airlines
Sydney to Nadi on Qantas
Surface segment to Auckland
Auckland to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian
Kuala Lumpur to Delhi on Malaysian
Delhi to Amman via Heathrow on British Airways
Adult (per passenger)
$4,700.00 USD
CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES$1,508.70 USD
PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGE (UNITED STATES)$9.00 USDSEGMENT TAX (UNITED STATES)$14.40 USDTRANSPORTATION TAX (UNITED STATES)$52.80 USDUS APHIS USER FEE (UNITED STATES)$7.66 USDUS CUSTOMS USER FEE (UNITED STATES)$13.04 USDUS FEDERAL INSPECTION FEE (UNITED STATES)$14.00 USDUS SECURITY FEE (UNITED STATES)$22.40 USDPASSENGER MOVEMENT CHARGE (AUSTRALIA)$40.50 USDPASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (AUSTRALIA)$46.90 USDAIRPORT TAX (COLOMBIA)$49.00 USDDEPARTURE FEE (EGYPT)$1.60 USDDEVELOPMENT FEE (EGYPT)$9.70 USDEMBARKATION TAX (EGYPT)$25.00 USDSERVICE CHARGE AT CAIRO AIRPORT (EGYPT)$2.00 USDSOLIDARITY TAX (EGYPT)$13.00 USDPASSENGER SERVICE FACILITIES CHARGE (JAPAN)$10.90 USDBORDER CLEARANCE LEVY (NEW ZEALAND)$3.30 USDPASSENGER SECURITY CHARGE (NEW ZEALAND)$10.70 USDPASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (NEW ZEALAND)$11.20 USDAIRPORT FEE (QATAR)$16.50 USDPASSENGER FACILITY CHARGE (QATAR)$16.50 USDPASSENGER SAFETY AND SECURITY FEE (QATAR)$2.70 USDPASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (QATAR)$0.50 USDPASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (UNITED KINGDOM)$53.20 USDOTHER TAXES & CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES$5.99 USD
Total$6,661.19 USD per person
#1359



Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 632
I'm in the midst of my third DONE3 (from CAI) and planning a 4th as it is probably the most advantageous way to get home from Cairo. I am not sure how AA credits the flights on an Explorer fare. I've always ticketed them through AA's RTW desk. Does the whole trip then fall under the cost of fare x cabin bonus x status bonus? Or do they somehow sort it so the partner flights accrue LPs based on distance? If so, would you want to use AA code shares on shorter flights, partner codeshares on longer ones when available? Is there still an advantage to maximizing distance on partner flights? It's been so much less stressful "blowing" segments on getting to and from my "spoke" hometown--no worry about missing my nested flight to get to the hub.
#1360




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold, Former UA 1K
Posts: 6,365
I'm in the midst of my third DONE3 (from CAI) and planning a 4th as it is probably the most advantageous way to get home from Cairo. I am not sure how AA credits the flights on an Explorer fare. I've always ticketed them through AA's RTW desk. Does the whole trip then fall under the cost of fare x cabin bonus x status bonus? Or do they somehow sort it so the partner flights accrue LPs based on distance? If so, would you want to use AA code shares on shorter flights, partner codeshares on longer ones when available? Is there still an advantage to maximizing distance on partner flights? It's been so much less stressful "blowing" segments on getting to and from my "spoke" hometown--no worry about missing my nested flight to get to the hub.
When crediting to AA, basically for max mileage / LPs, the pecking order is
1) QR, BA, IB, AY codes
2) AA codes only if Special Fare
3) QF codes on flights to / from North America
4) Pretty much everything else since I think all other OW carriers credit D at 125% (+status bonus) to AA
5) AA codes if cost base
#1361
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 16,677
Originally Posted by skipaway
I'm in the midst of my third DONE3 (from CAI) and planning a 4th as it is probably the most advantageous way to get home from Cairo. I am not sure how AA credits the flights on an Explorer fare. I've always ticketed them through AA's RTW desk. Does the whole trip then fall under the cost of fare x cabin bonus x status bonus? Or do they somehow sort it so the partner flights accrue LPs based on distance? If so, would you want to use AA code shares on shorter flights, partner codeshares on longer ones when available? Is there still an advantage to maximizing distance on partner flights? It's been so much less stressful "blowing" segments on getting to and from my "spoke" hometown--no worry about missing my nested flight to get to the hub.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35223293-post1297.html
But, your question is about earning in the AAdvantage program so is probably best addressed in the AA forum.
Last edited by jerry a. laska; Jun 18, 2023 at 9:07 pm
#1362



Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 632
I've seen reports of both, some people said they only got cost based credit and LPs from AA and I suspect that's going to be true if AA ticketed. Also of note, AA won't use partner codes on AA metal flights. My RTW last year had 2 fairly substantial AA segments on it (DFW-GRU-JFK) and fortunately they credited by miles flown as special fares (so base + cabin bonus + elite bonus). Mine was a QF issued ticket and suspect that does matter. I had one other AA domestic segment but managed to get it ticketed on the QR code.
When crediting to AA, basically for max mileage / LPs, the pecking order is
1) QR, BA, IB, AY codes
2) AA codes only if Special Fare
3) QF codes on flights to / from North America
4) Pretty much everything else since I think all other OW carriers credit D at 125% (+status bonus) to AA
5) AA codes if cost base
When crediting to AA, basically for max mileage / LPs, the pecking order is
1) QR, BA, IB, AY codes
2) AA codes only if Special Fare
3) QF codes on flights to / from North America
4) Pretty much everything else since I think all other OW carriers credit D at 125% (+status bonus) to AA
5) AA codes if cost base
#1363

Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 46
This is a super interesting one for me, glad you posted the full breakout like this. I was looking at a somewhat similar itinerary but was comparing doing ex-TYO and ex-CAI. The base price of ex-CAI is a lot less but looks like you're getting hit with a lot more YQ and your total price is quite similar to the last ex-TYO I priced out. I'm doing Africa this time instead of South America (did that last year). I'm getting between 960,000 JPY to about 1,100,000 JPY depending if I use QF or AA for New Zealand to North America (QF cheaper interestingly but VERY hard to find D availability), so that's just a hair more than your ex-CAI itinerary and I wouldn't have to deal with positioning flights to CAI (I hate that airport).
I possibly could have moved a few other flights around to reduce the surcharges a bit more, but I ended up booking this when EUR-USD rate was briefly up over 1.10 USD to 1 EUR, so I got a decent deal I think.
#1364




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold, Former UA 1K
Posts: 6,365
That is interesting. Just FYI for full disclosure for you, when I changed the flight times around to get the stopovers vs transits correct, and changed the DEL-LHR-AMM on BA to DEL-DOH-AMM on QR, I was able to reduce the surcharges a bit. The full final prices was $6,383 ($4,700 base fare plus $1,683 taxes/charges).
I possibly could have moved a few other flights around to reduce the surcharges a bit more, but I ended up booking this when EUR-USD rate was briefly up over 1.10 USD to 1 EUR, so I got a decent deal I think.
I possibly could have moved a few other flights around to reduce the surcharges a bit more, but I ended up booking this when EUR-USD rate was briefly up over 1.10 USD to 1 EUR, so I got a decent deal I think.
I just went back to my card statement from the DONE5 from last year, it was 991,280 JPY ex-TYO when ticketed, that was at the time $6740. I did some changes during an involuntary change by QR and shifted some other non-related flights at the same time. During that I changed one set of flights CGK-BKK from MH via KUL to CX via HKG, that should have upped my total price a bit as CX has higher fees than MH but they didn't charge me for it since I had it processed together with the invol. Looks like in terms of JPY a DONE5 is coming out nearly exactly the same now (~960,000 - 1,010,000 JPY) but the exchange rate has been unstable, today it's fairy close to my previous ticket but with the 1 year validity it's too early for me to ticket to take advantage of the current rate. This could easily swing up (or down) another $500 or so before I'm within range of when I want to ticket. I think November will be ideal but may get tempted a bit sooner if the JPY rate gets more favorable to USD, plus I think if I find the TPAC QF flight I want with D availability that may force my hand regardless because it's seemingly so rare to find.
#1365




Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SORT OF HOMELESS
Programs: 14 years AA exp, but no more; & 1MM+, QR-PLT (ow EMD) MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 8,104
On the subject of "pricing", I also tried to figure out the oneworld xONEx online booking tool (which I determined that it was almost totally useless). That said, I worked on a simple 7 segment ex-HND DONE3.
I found out some interesting "fees, surcharges, taxes and whatnots). Below is a screen shot. Note US & UK. I only transit LHR (less than 24 hours) once. When I tried to remove LHR and put in DUB, the tool went wonky.
I found out some interesting "fees, surcharges, taxes and whatnots). Below is a screen shot. Note US & UK. I only transit LHR (less than 24 hours) once. When I tried to remove LHR and put in DUB, the tool went wonky.



