Okay. First, I would like to take a minute and thank everyone who helped in putting this thing together. Pointing out one rule out of 2000 that I missed, putting up with stupid questions, etc. I appreciate that very much. I wanted to post my final itinerary, and give an open invitation to anyone who would like to have dinner or a drink with me along the way.

This is the "raw" itinerary with connections and all.
BUD-LHR-xBKK-xSYD-xPER-BNE-PER-SYD-xHKG-BKK
BKK-xHKG-DPS-HKG-xYVR-xJFK-xMIA-SJO-xMIA-PTY
PTY-xMIA-LAX-xLIM-xSCL-CCS-xSCL-xLIM-CUS-xLIM
LIM-SCL-xLAX-xLON-CAI-xLON-BUD then on to Zurich, Geneva, Paris, and Brussels, where I leave to come home.

These are the dates of where I will be.
Feb 24 - 27: Brisbane
Feb 27 - Mar 1: Perth
Mar 2 - Mar 5: Sydney
Mar 5 - Mar 10: Bangkok
Mar 10 - Mar 18: Bali
Mar 18 - Mar 20: Hong Kong
Mar 21 - Mar 28: San Jose, Costa Rica
Mar 28 - Apr 1: Panama City, Panama
Apr 2 - Apr 8: Los Angeles
Apr 9 - Apr 16: Caracas
Apr 17 - Apr 24: Lima and Cuzco
Apr 24 - Apr 27: Santiago, Chile
Apr 29 - May 4: Cairo
May 4 - May 17: Zurich, Geneva, Paris, Brussels, Antwerp. I don't know the exact dates, yet.

Lots of flying, but I have been blessed with the gift of very little jetlag. Only had it once on a miserable LH trans-atl flight, that was so packed that I couldn't sleep.

Thanks again.



[This message has been edited by Darren (edited 01-24-2001).]

I just ended the first part of a similar RTW (BUD to LAX) - i was able to get it still for the old price (HUF1666400 - approx 5500 USD). My routing is/was:
BUD-LHR-MEL-XSYD-NAN-SYD-XHKG-NRT-XTPE-XHKG-DPS-HKG-LAX-XMIA-RIO-SCL-UIO-XMIA-JFK-XCHI-SNA-XCHI-FRA-XLON-CPT-XLON-BUD.


My travel agent mentioned that after i bought the ticket the rules have changed slightly and i would not be able to do the same again.
First, there is a rule that you cannot transit one city more than twice (in your case HKG), also you need to to LON-SYD on one single flight number.
Also not sure about more than two intercontinental departures from the US. Is this possible now?
Also, it looks like you have too many segments in europe.

Unterwegs,

That single flight number to Sydney comes and goes and depends on who you talk to. It is NEVER enforced by Cathay, but always by BA in my experience. Others I am sure have different experiences.

The two transfer rule keeps coming up, but was not enforced when I bought my last ticket (2 weeks ago), so I wonder who has this rule.

Also you got lucky since you seem to have two intercontinental arrivals in Europe (CHI-FRA-LON-CPT-LON-BUD) which is completely against the rules unless you originate from certain parts of Africa. However, you are not alone, as others I know have gotten this exception approved and ticketed.


Darren,

Hope you have a great trip. Did you buy First in the end? When are you heading over to London. I will be there for Presidents day weeeknd.

rich

pps. The SEZ origination continues to drop with their currency. Now at 6.4 to the dollar and a 6Con FC under 6K!!

Okay....
First, I have had the trip since November. Life governed that I couldn't concentrate on it more closely until now. I got in (barely) under the old rules and pricing, and quite frankly, I don't know what all the rules have changed to. Hard enough for my feeble brain to understand all the old ones! So the transit point issue wasn't a problem.

Mmm...lon-syd is on a single flight number. BA9

Segments in Europe is 4. bud-lon, lon-cai, cai-lon, and lon-bud.

Yes, you got lucky with cpt. Had they done that for me, I would have done a 6 cont.

Yes, Rich, I bought first, and I am very (very, very) excited about it. I just got back from Cleveland, but flew into Columbus on the cheapo UA fare and rented a car to get to CLE, which I enjoyed very much, btw. Since I will be married to AA for a while, I decided to use my miles and upgrade the trip (especially since I had 6 total flights). DEN-LAX was on a 744, which I sat upstairs for the first time, and I loooooved it! I still get excited about things like that, since I primarily fly coach (including a trip to Richmond, VA tomorrow morning). The top was very cool, and the seats were great. Got me even more excited about flying 90K miles coming up!

I didn't put London on the list for a reason. I will only be there overnight, and will actually be in Reading with a friend of mine and his wife. To answer your question, though, I will be there the evening of the 20th. Too bad, since I would have really wanted to meet you. Your insight to this board is invaluable.

Maybe in 3 years, I will try to go on another one, and hopefully, I will be less price sensitive at that point. I will begin law school in September, so no long traveling for a while. Will try to make a trip or two a year to Europe in the off-season, though. Make use of the vip2's. Flying biz for $300. Gotta love it...

I amended my original message, and added x's on the transfer points. I didn't know how to clearly point out where they were, which might have lead to a little confusion about the routing.

Thanks

Hi Darren

Glad to hear that you are finally going on your long awaited trip- also you're lucky to get it from BUD for the old price.
It's a big Thank You to you for all your informative posts on this board- although the BUD price rise beat me to it, I'm doing an OWE from South Africa soon.
Enjoy your trip!
Salt.

Thank you, Salt, I appreciate that very much. I hope to have some interesting trip reports when I get back. I am still at a point in my life that I am not completely jaded when it comes to flying, and certain silly things still give me a thrill. I have never flown inter-continental first, so I am very excited about the experience. About a week ago, I flew DEN-LAX in United's 747-400. Since I will be on AA for a while, I am burning some of my UA miles with upgrades. The trip was actually ONT-DEN-ORD-CMH-DEN-LAX-ONT, so it was worth it for me. Anyway, I was put upstairs on the 744 and was goofing around with the seats, just thinking to myself how neat it was to be up there. I think I need a lobotomy...

BTW, sorry I didn't respond sooner, as I just got back from flying all over the country for a various number of reasons (not milage runs). The CMH trip was only a third of the flights. I still need to go to DFW, but I don't really feel like it, so I am going to shine it off until the summer.