Perhaps someone has some experience or info with this issue. I'm scheduled to do RTW trip in August, JFK-HKG-SIN-LHR-JFK in First. For now I'm waitlisted on the JFK-HKG flight on CX. The agent was extremely vague about how the waitlist works and what the chances are of making the cut. Her only comment was "Well, you are Executive Platinum on AA, so..." Who knows what that meant?! For now, ITN shows A0 and F4. Does CX usually release some seats as the date gets closer? I noticed in another thread a comment that CX is a little tighter with F inventory since the Betsy seats were introduced.

BTW, this trip is a fantastic bargain. Point-to-point in J was about $7500; RTW in F is just over $7000.

FWIW: I wouldn't trust ITN's inventory when it comes to OW RTW. When I was checking QF inventory, AA RTW desk had no problem (i.e. instantenous) in getting me SIN-LHR when ITN shows no inventory in D.

Which segment are you waitlisted on ? JFK-YVR, YVR-HKG, or both ? If it is just YVR-HKG, then try to get on the second YVR-HKG flight (which means overnight in YVR) also a 747 thus should have the new Betsy seats.

[This message has been edited by hsi.chang (edited 06-21-2000).]

jAAk,

why not start your trip by buying a seperate LGA - YYZ flight on AA and then get to HKG via YYZ. You can save close to 20 percent by originating your RTW in Canada. In addition the YYZ - HKG flight is offering a 20,000 mile bonus vs. 10,000 on JFK-HKG. As a final plus the YYZ-HKG flights are far easier to get in A class then the JFK - HKG flight!!

rich

A can be hard to snag on CX. They are offering 'fly roundtrip in business, upgrade one direction to first' which has to be booked in A.

IF F doesn't sell up to expectations (which, on CX, can be a big if), then they will release.

But, take hsi chang's advice. Start the trip in YYZ. You will save more in airfare than it will cost you for a one way F from LGA to YYZ. In addition, you get a free LGA YYZ to use to start up your next RTW within the next 12 months.

Wrong attribution. I didn't advice him to start in YYZ because the A340 lacks the Betsy seats, which I believe from other threads that is a desirable feature.

It was mentioned early on that USD7000 was a bargain for a first-class rtw. I suppose it depends on how the allowable routing fits your travel desires, but imo one of the best bargains is an SQ/BA pairing (see SQ's Americas web site) for around USD5800 (U.S. departures).

Besides being limited to those two carriers, a downside is that SQ is quite stingy with their version of Betsy's Bed, so this works best for solo travellers. But's it's a real bargain if it fits.

Unlike the OW fares that seem to allow churning around a continent, SQ doesn't allow significant backtracking. They do throw in a sidetrip from SIN (don't know the limits, but DPS is fine) and one from LON (more limited, with a fee for much beyond adjacent countries.)

I was recently waitlisted on several American Setctors - they seem to have precious few A seats to anywhere domestic US anymore - but when AA came to ticket it, their fares desk spoke to inventory control and cleared all the sectors I needed.

The odd thing was YVR-DFW where I was waitlisted for weeks and weeks, cleared on ticketing, then the plane left with 4 empty seats, but AA think I was on an upgrade and so have only given me the basic miles!

I had the same problem with a *A RTW in Biz. The AKL-LAX-LHR legs on Air NZ showed zero availability in 'D'. My agent called Air NZ and they released seats. It seems to be a bit of a lottery.

For the summer, CX is extremely TIGHT about releasing "A" class seats. They feel that with their new reputation of having the best first class product around, they can afford to see full fare "F" class.

I have a similar flight myself and I'm still on waitlist for travel in late August.

However, priorities on oneworld - emerald etc seem to do little to budge CX's decisions.

The highest priority is CX's Diamond. CX's Gold members have the SAME priority as other OneWorld Emerald members, and if a seat comes through, it usually goes to CX's customer first.

There really isn't anything anyone can do - other than just sit out and wait. Usually CX starts releasing their inventory a week prior to departure. But then, as in the case of their LAX flights, they do not need to sell "A" class seats when their "F" class are being snapped up just as fast!

Thanks for all the great info, everyone - even if it's not all good news. ;-)

Would really like to clear the waitlist on CX, but it also looks like they do a pretty good job of selling their F seats. I kinda hate to wait until a week before departure to see if I clear. Anyone got any tips on who to call to see if they can get a seat cleared? The EXP desk, of course, doesn't deal with RTW; and the agent I talked to at the RTW desk didn't seem to be the most knowledgeable. I suppose I could call back and hope for someone better.

Flying through YYZ isn't all that appealing, as I really want to get the Betsy seats.

The SQ/BA RTW is a great idea, and the price is even better than 1W. It works for me, schedule-wise, but I do lose lots of elite bonus miles that way - I can only get AA miles on the SIN-LHR segment. The SQ segment I could apply to DL, but the transatlantic segment is just lost miles. A bigger downside is the A inventory looks just as bleak on SQ as it does on CX.

It's very disappointing to hear that CX rates 1W Emerald the same as CX Gold. Kinda defeats the purpose of the whole thing, IMO.

I guess for now I just have to hold my breath and see what happens. I am going to call the RTW desk again, though, and see if they can do anything at all.

Thanks again for the great tips!

Well I made 3 calls, one to the EXP desk, one to the RTW desk, and one to CX directly. Jeez, it's hard to get any info out of these people! The EXP desk was no help at all, though they did connect me to an RTW supervisor. She, unfortunately, only offered to protect me in J class or re-route me through NRT on AA. JFK-DFW-NRT-HKG-SIN isn't too appealing, though... ;-) The gentleman at CX was quite polite, but couldn't offer much help. He did tell me, though, that while my chances were pretty good as 1W Emerald, if I do clear it probably won't be until the week of travel unless another RTW pax cancels before that. He couldn't tell me what number I am on the waitlist, so I have no idea if I'm first or tenth.

It's a little frustrating, this process is. 1W is definitely my first choice, but the question is should I wait and hope for the best or try to book through *A. Hate to lose double miles for EXP status, but I'd much rather fly F than rack up more miles than I'll use in a long while.

When are you travelling?

I am waitlisted in "A" class for HK-LA next week (July 1st) , protected in J, and CX still has 3 F class seats left. The Marco Polo Club has sent a telex to "control" and the res agent seems to think that even one week to go - it's too 'early' to tell. Basically I am getting a 'special' first class ticket on Cathay. If worse comes to the worse, I will go in J as I have already booked on that one. But as one knows, the preference is for Betsy seats - and CX food!

The control and releasing of seats won't come from AA - it will come from CX. And if CX won't even confirm to their own elite members, think of what chances other partner airlines will do.

My advise is to call CX's res and tell them that you're an Oneworld Emerald member, and ask if they can send a message to 'Control' to release that one seat for you. It won't hurt to at least try. But chances are, you might have to wait till literally a week before you travel. And oh yes, having issued a ticket and advising CX of your ticket number helps a lot too. CX is very adamant about getting tickets issued. If you've already issued your ticket, they might be more willing to release that "A" space.

Well, I'm a nervous wreck. I am travelling from HK to LA this coming Saturday (1st) and I'm still waitlisted on "A" class. Inventory on their system shows at least 4 "F" class seats which Cathay is holding on for dear life in the hopes of selling full fare to some poor schmuck who will fork out the big bucks. Meanwhile "A" class people including the scores who have bought RTW tickets have been regulated as 'unimportant' revenue. I have been calling The Marco Polo Club everyday (and every few hours) and screaming to a whole bunch of nitwits. Yes I am on Priority waitlist they say but they cannot say how many are on waitlist.

If I am already holding the equivalent priority of other airlines oneworld emerald status and it is still not clearing can you imagine other airlines' sapphire trying to clear the seat?

I suggest us OneWorld Emerald members bombard Customer relations email with complaints about this sort of treatment.

Meanwhile I can only wait....and wait... and wait.

I also am on a wait list for a July 7 flight from YVR-HKG in first. BUT this is my first segment in another RTW. Maybe since I cannot be ticketed until my first segment is cleared CX will take pity!!

If you don't have a ticket number on file by a certain date, CX will cancel the reservation regardless.

Pity.

I am sure they could use the revenue.