I was in the BA Travel Shop in Edinburgh today getting info on the oneworld Exporer RTW ticket. The agent mention ed he was attending a training course next week about the relauch of the Global Explorer ticket. He had very sketchy info but is seems to include most of the oneworld airlines plus a few others such as Air Pacific. It also mileage based like the *A RTW.

For some reason it is avavilable in 29,000 & 34,000 mile versions in Y but only 34,000 in C/J.

The prices ex-UK are quite high so I need to find out the price ex-CPH, AMS, ARN, etc. Anyone help?

I know quite abit about this product. This product is great for someone who needs to make lots of intracontinental stops. It is strictly mileage based and backtracking is allowed. Gulf Air and Air Pacific may be used, as well as AA, BA, QF, CX, IB, and the most of the other OW airlines. It is a very good product BUT very limited if you are looking to gain maximum Q points.

The Global Explorer fare existed BEFORE the OneWorld Explorer. It was cheaper for most people to initially buy the GE over the OWE until OW caught on. Then in March 2000, when there was a massive fare increase across all markets, when it basically made the GE fare almost identical to a OWE 4 Continent ticket, popularity sort of waned for the GE.

In any case for people who want to know:
Valid on - AA, AY, CX, DI, EI, FJ, GF, IB, LA, LP, PH and QF. (And it doesn't mean that FJ, GF, LP and PH will be joining OW anytime soon!)

Tickets are seperated by miles and minimum and maximum number of stops:

FIRST/BIZ :
34000 miles. 3 / 15

ECONOMY :
26000 miles . 3 / 5
29000 miles . 3 / 10
34000 miles . 3 / 15

No extra miles or stops can be bought.

I did a comparison with OWE in First and Biz. Basically if OWE 3 Continent is cheaper than Global Explorer. But the OWE 4 Continent fare and the Global Explorer fare is almost IDENTICAL in almost every city!

So unless you have interest to GO to various points not served by OW airlines but the above, you'd still get more miles out of a OWE ticket.

[This message has been edited by Guy Betsy (edited 09-16-2001).]

Thanks for the info.

I have compared the OW Exporer with the *A RTW and I find the latter better value. I am hoping the the relaunched Global Explorer is better. OW Explorer's restriction of only 2 segments (without the option to purchase more) in the continent of origin is very restrictive. Effectively this only allows me to fly from my home (EDI) or another European City (e.g. CPH, ARN, AMS) to LHR and then onwards.

Gaza, you get four segments and two stopovers. Even the latter is questionable if you are creative, but you still get four segments. Like I did BUD-LON...LON-DXB-LON-BUD.

Thanks Darren

I've reread the rules on FewMiles site and I seem to be getting my stopovers and segments mixed up! I have a couple of other questions.

1. I assume that an intercontinental departure does not count as one of the flight segments??

2. Is there a requirement to end the trip at the airport of departure??

3. Can additional segments in continent of origin be used after returning to that continent but not having arrived at the point of departure?

4. What is a segment? Is it actual sectors or does a flight with a single number transiting through another airport one sector? For example, flights EDI-FCO (single flight number) make a stop in BHX. Is this two sectors or one?

1. That is correct.

2. No, there is a requirement to end in the country of departure.

3. I am not sure what you mean. If you mean whether you can use the segments under four that you didn't use on the way out, then yes. If you mean whether you can buy more to get back home, I am not sure. Technically, not, but they might make an exception if you can show an itinerary with no realistic alternatives.

4. One. One segment is one flight number.

Have a good trip.

LP = Lan Peru. They are a full subsidiary member of OW.


... I note in the Zambian Air announcement that OW seems to be taking more interest in the subsidiary count saying they have 30 airlines in the alliance now...

Since my original posting I've also discovered another fare that BA don't publicide too much. It is called the Explorer RTW and is valid only on BA and Qantas. For 29,000 miles in C/J ex-UK the cost is GBP2550. As my itinerary is mainly around BA and QF destinations (BKK, SYD, CHC,AKL, LAX), It would be a good fit for my requirements. I would have to get a separate ticket for BKK-HKT-BKK, however, this would cost less than GBP100 in C. According to BA this is only available to Travel AGents and they cannot issue the tickets. Anyone know if it is available in aany other European countries?