RTW flexibility
May 24, 2001 | 3:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 13
RTW flexibility
Hello,
I know i might be dreaming, but are there RTW tickets out there that do not oblige you to fix a precise itinery with dates before departure? I would love to just pick some countries I want to go, buy a ticket and then travel and make reservations when i feel like it. I know you can change dates and everything but this seems a bit of a hassle and pricey.
Great site by the way. I hope to become as expert as you one day, speaking in 3 letter codes and knowing the lounges of every airport. Happy travels,
I know i might be dreaming, but are there RTW tickets out there that do not oblige you to fix a precise itinery with dates before departure? I would love to just pick some countries I want to go, buy a ticket and then travel and make reservations when i feel like it. I know you can change dates and everything but this seems a bit of a hassle and pricey.
Great site by the way. I hope to become as expert as you one day, speaking in 3 letter codes and knowing the lounges of every airport. Happy travels,
May 24, 2001 | 4:03 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MI, USA
Posts: 154
Jerantut, most RTW fares included OW's only require you to fix and not change the first sector (sometimes on certain RTWs the first sector upto leaving the continent). You will need to fix your route though. You can change the dates as and when you please (after the first sector) as long as you meet the routing and expiration constraints (1 yr expiration for most fares).
You can usually change your OW ticket routing for remaining sectors (as long as they stay within the rules after the change) with a change fee of US $75 to US$100 or equivalent. Beware that ticketing, especially if you need a lot of sectors can be a pain and mistakes are prone to occur. Cross-check after every routing change.
I did not know much about RTW until a few years ago and FT was a main source of learning (by lurking here). Also, you can search for "RTW" on internet search engines (Google, etc.) and find some othe useful links. If you are interested I can post some of the links I collected from the various threads on FT.
You can usually change your OW ticket routing for remaining sectors (as long as they stay within the rules after the change) with a change fee of US $75 to US$100 or equivalent. Beware that ticketing, especially if you need a lot of sectors can be a pain and mistakes are prone to occur. Cross-check after every routing change.
I did not know much about RTW until a few years ago and FT was a main source of learning (by lurking here). Also, you can search for "RTW" on internet search engines (Google, etc.) and find some othe useful links. If you are interested I can post some of the links I collected from the various threads on FT.
May 24, 2001 | 4:08 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MI, USA
Posts: 154
Forgot mention an important factor if you are planning on travelling during busy season and expect to make date changes. The inventory in all classes is tight during peak travel or on convenient flts. It is usually much better than the inventory for award travel (even with elite status) but still far worse than corresponding F, J or Y farecodes. So, if you want to be impulsive about dates travel during off-peak season. (M class in coach is particularly tough)
Most of the times they release some decent inventory a week to a month before a flt on international travel and as it gets closer to the travel date, they release the inventory for award travel and upgrades so it vanishes.
Most of the times they release some decent inventory a week to a month before a flt on international travel and as it gets closer to the travel date, they release the inventory for award travel and upgrades so it vanishes.