Qualify for EXP on AA in one RTW?
 

I have seen this asked before but haven't seen the specific answer so my apologies if I didn't search properly. What I'd like to do is do one herculean RTW in F to make EXP with one run. Ideally I'd like to do this in one shot over a 4-5 day period but if that isn't possible I'd like to make home (CRP) a stopover point and do one part over one 3 day weekend and the second part over another 3 day weekend.

I also suppose it would be possible to break the RTW up and use separate tickets to get home from wherever I am in the itinerary. What I'm wondering is, can anyone suggest an itinerary that would meet my needs? Honestly I have been reading about RTWs and am thoroughly confused about what qualifies, what doesn't qualify, etc. I'm assuming for this I'd need to do a Oneworld Explorer as I need to do continents vs. miles? HELP!!!!!

Here's one idea (I'm assuming DFW as the starting point):

Get a cheapo ticket dfw (AA) lhr (BA) jnb= 20,728 mls roundtrip = 10,364 Q-points

Get an F OWE ex-JNB with a routing like jnb-hkg-bom-hkg-del-hkg-jfk-sju-lax-dfw-anc-dfw-lax-lhr-dxb-lhr-hel-lhr-cpt-dur-jnb = 59,857 mls = 89,785 Q-points.

Total Q-points = 100,149 = EXP!

The fare is much lower ex-JNB than ex-USA, and you get your two parts of the trip automatically. You can do the outbound cheapo DFW-JNB + the OWE JNB-DFW in one (looong) weekend, stay in the US a while, then do the OWE DFW-JNB + the homebound cheapo JNB-DFW in another (looong) weekend.

If westbound travel is easier on your jetlag you can of course do the RTW in the opposite direction.

Have fun!

That should have read: DFW (AA) LGW / LHR (BA) JNB

And, note that DFW-ANC is a seasonal summer-only service.

Think I need some coffee... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

My suggestion would be to route jnb-hkg-nrt-hkg-jkt-hkg-lax-scl-rio-scl-lim-scl-lax-mia-ord-lax-dfw-lax-lon-dxb-lon-jnb. That's 65K miles, all in first, and you are paying only a small amount more to do it. The only reasons that I make the suggestion is because first, there are several flights a day on most of these routes. Since you are dependant on making everything fit like a puzzle, it gives you a little leeway. Second, it is all in first class. If you are going to pay for first, fly in first. Finally, you avoid the problem of multiple bookings. Example: I did LHR-DXB-LHR-DXB-LHR. BA cancelled both of my flights of the second trip because the computer assumed it was a mistake and that it was double booked. This trip would give you 97.5K points, so you would only have to make another 2500 to get EXP. Assuming you take HV's suggestion of using AA and BA to get to JNB, you will do that easily. If you cashed a few miles to get to JNB, then you could just add a LON-HEL-LON trip into the mess. Or Stockholm, or Istanbul, or Athens, or etc.....

Oh, the joys....

BTW, Stop, smell the roses, and enjoy at least *one* of these places. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Darren (edited 12-21-2001).]

Thank you ALL for your suggestions. Now all I need to do is find the time, and schedule it, and most importantly, BUY it. There's no problem doing SOTO, correct?

Also, just so I have this straight. I could go CRP-JNB, then JNB-HKG-NRT-HKG-JKT-HKG-JKT-HKG-LAX-(DFW-CRP-DFW-LAX)-SCL-RIO-SCL-LIM-SCL-LAX-MIA-ORD-LAX-DFW-(CRP-DFW)-LAX-LON-DXB-LON-JNB-(JNB-CRP) and do the first portion say in Feb or Mar, the second in May and the third in Jul or so? Note that everything in parentheses would be separate tickets.

[This message has been edited by kanebear (edited 12-22-2001).]

No, you can't split it into three parts. You can only stop over in North America before or after your South American flights. The other time all stops must be less than 24 hours.

The rule is:

1 INTERCONTINENTAL DEPARTURE AND 1 INTERCONTINENTAL ARRIVAL PERMITTED IN EACH CONTINENT EXCEPT AS FOLLOWS.
- 2 PERMITTED IN NORTH AMERICA. 1 MUST BE A TRANSIT WITHOUT STOPOVER BETWEEN SOUTH AMERICA AND ANOTHER CONTINENT

Right, but :

1. A STOPOVER IS A BREAK OF JOURNEY OVER 24 HOURS.
2. STOPOVERS PERMITTED ANYWHERE.
3. MAXIMUM 2 STOPOVERS PERMITTED IN THE CONTINENT OF ORIGIN.

So, as I read it if I wanted to leave off the RTW itinerary and use a separately purchased ticket to come from and return to the point of stopover this would be permissable? Using my previous example, if I stopped in SCL (and returned home to continue on a few weeks later) instead of going on to DFW it would be legal? I now see that I can't do two NA stops within the rules of the RTW.

I only wish I had time to spend in all these places but I don't. Yet. Fortunately, with the work I'm doing now, someday I'll be able to do this properly and take a month or more for an itin like this!

yes...your are right.
so if you lives in SXM (Netherland Antilles) then you can take a short trip to CCS and enjoy a lof more "stopovers"

however, you can break your trip into 3 segments
1. JNB---USA (1st intercont arrival, say DFW)
2. ther first 5 segments in N.A.
3. the 6th segment in N.A.-SA-(via NA, transit, can be 23 hours in DFW) to europe to JNB,

in your example, this would be legal:
1. JNB-HKG-NRT-HKG-JKT-HKG-LAX-(DFW-CRP-DFW)
2. DFW-LAX-MIA-ORD-LAX-DFW-(CRP-DFW)
3. DFW-SCL-RIO-SCL-LIM-SCL-LAX(max 23 hours)-LON-DXB-LON-JNB-(JNB-CRP)

the is the most you can do, without buying a intercontinent RT ticket to break it into more (e.g. CCS/UIO-DFW, or LHR-DFW)

[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 12-23-2001).]

So how much (ball park) would this ticket be?

I'll let you know as soon as I find out. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Between $4000 and $4050

That's an incredible deal! Making EXP for $4K! I (read: my employer...) pay more for a BC JFK-LHR ticket!
Are you sure the $4K is in FC??

I suspect the $4000 is for the RTW ticket in F, ex-JNB. There's also the cost of the positioning flight (in this case, DFW-JNB) and any hotels etc. on the way. But I agree, it's an amazing bargain, especially in F!!

andrew

CX rated the ticket and didn't have any problems with it! Unfortunately, I had to redo the South American portion as there weren't *any* flights that worked GRU-SCL, even on other airlines. Either they left too early or got in too late. So, off it goes again to the rate desk. Makes me SO mad. Oh well, the new routing gives me more mileage anyway. Here it is.

jnb-hkg-cgk-hkg-nrt-hkg-syd-lax-dfw-gru-scl-lax-dfw-lax-sxm-jfk-dfw-lhr-dxb-lhr-jnb.

My total mileage is 66236 miles which will equal 99354 Q points. I'll be making at least two DFW-CRP-DFW connections on my own which, at 500 Q points per RT, will put me over EXP easily. The old itinerary priced out at $4206 base fare, with taxes the total was $4402.60. Incredible for F considering I spent more than that for IAH-HNL-GUM-TPExHKG-EWR-IAH-CRP!

CX was really a pleasure to deal with on this, although I'll withhold full praise until the ticket is actually in hand. So far though, they've been very easy to deal with (I offered to fax the itinerary and they said they'd be happy to take it over the phone if I wanted to do it that way.) and all but one of the phone agents have had decent RTW knowledge. It took them exactly a day to price the itin, despite it getting requeued to the fares desk 4 times! Hopefully they have it done as quickly this time.

As far as getting to/from, JNB is rather time consuming to get to, but worth it! Luckily, I found a very inexpensive fare home on SAA JNB-GRU in F, and I'll use mileage to get home on AA GRU-CRP.

Oh, and I'll only be in a hotel one night in HKG. The rest of the time, it's fully flat sleeper beds for me. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by kanebear (edited 12-27-2001).]

Just a very minor alteration to your calculations - remember that flights from US to the Caribbean are in Business Class and not 1st so on LAX-SXM-JFK at 1.25 Q points per mile rather than 1.5 count on about 1000 Q points less than you've calculated. Don't let things get too close to the wire!

If you're flying out of Sydney after Feb 28th QANTAS will have recommenced direct flights SYD-JFK. So why not do SYD-JFK-DFW-GRU. It will give you a good safety buffer.

Is this RTW ticket available in the US for purchase or in JNB ?

YOu can call 1-800-247-3247 to purchase the ticket. This is the AA RTW desk

And it's done! $4900 with taxes. The extra LAX-DFW caused the price increase, but frankly I'm happy to have it OVER with. Cathay will be ticketing from their NYC office and will fedex me the tickets. I asked her about segment limitations and she said she hadn't heard of anything like that but she assumed these would be issued as 'conjunction' tickets and broken up into several books. As long as they can issue 'em, that's allll I care about.

I just got through reading this discussion and am amazed. This is a really great deal. I know where I'll be coming for advise when I'm ready for that RTW FC trip (it'll be a few years to save for that one).

Can something like this be done on Star Alliance?

Definitely! Visit www.fewmiles.net for more info and also check the Star Alliance forum.

Kanebear, how are you breaking up your trip into segments such that you spend only 1 day in a hotel? I am very tempted to do the same.

Kanebear,

Nice job. Since I am your next door neighbor I'll be interested to hear more about your experience.

Also - thanks for an idea. Taking all the time off was a concern of mine.

If I understand -- I could do a portion of the trip -- end up in DFW - stay home and work (bad sound to that isn't it?) stay for a while and then finish the RTW trip later.

Well done.
Frank

------------------
TANSTAAFL - but if you work it right, FF miles comes pretty close.

Here's how it all works. Note that for the originating leg I'm having to take off a Tuesday evening and am gone through a Sunday. The rest are all out Thursday eve back Sunday except for the end which no matter how hard I try gets me back to DFW early Monday morning. Legs in parentheses are positioning flights that are NOT part of the RTW. Non-OW carriers will be noted, those got paid for with miles. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

This is all on a weekend in March.

Tue - (CO CRP-IAH-LGW VS LHR-JNB arr Thur morning.)
Thur - CX - jnb-hkg
Fri - CX - hkg-cgk (overnight hotel stay)
Sat - CX - cgk-hkg-nrt-hkg-syd
Sun - QF - syd-lax-dfw-(aa CRP)

Note that if I didn't mind getting back on Monday morning I could have gone SYD-JFK-DFW and earned quite a bit more mileage but I can't let myself be gone that long and this routing gets me home (and in bed!) that Sunday night.

I then pick up two months later after hopefully calming my by-then wife and parent/boss down enough to let me go again. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

This leg, I take off on a friday afternoon/evening. I have a 9 hour layover in GRU, not sure what I'll do but I'm sure I can figure SOMETHING out.

Fri (AA crp-)dfw-gru
SAT LA gru-scl-lax
SUN AA lax-dfw-(crp)

Again, two months later, I leave on a Fri.

Fri AA lax-sxm (with 2 stops)
Sat AA sxm-jfk (I was wrong, this is another hotel night. I could probably get home somehow but I chose not to bother.)
Sun AA ewr-dfw-(crp)

And finally, in Sept, I wind all this up. This time, I also leave on a Thursday evening.

Thu (AA crp-)dfw-lgw
Fri BA lhr-dxb
Sat BA dxb-lhr-jnb (doing a Darren turn here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif and leave 2 hours after LHR-DXB. Arr jnb Sun)
Sun (SAA jnb-gru AA gru-dfw arr Mon)
Mon (early EARLY morning)(AA dfw-crp)

And it's done! Except where noted, I overnight on the plane and am back in CRP on Sunday night. It'd be even easier from a hub or larger city.


[This message has been edited by kanebear (edited 12-29-2001).]

Interesting trip but it seems to violate the rule that states only two international arrivals in NA, one of which must be an in transit stop between SA and somewhere else.

I am so proud. I have a "turn" now named after me. I wonder if this is how Kennedy got started? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

You're right, but CX didn't seem to have a problem with it at all. Different airlines seem to interperet the rules differently. From what I've read here, BA seem to err on the side of ignoring the rules and saying no, AA seem to follow the rules, and maybe CX gives a little leeway? If they're willing to rate it and ticket it, who am I to argue?

My brother (AA pilot) dropped off the latest (Dec 01) paper timetable the other day at my house and I was perusing the current 1-stop North American non-coast-to-coast allowable OWE mileage maximizer flights. It seems the big winner now is BGI (Barbados) to LAX with one stop at MIA. Comes in at 3,9XX miles! There are a few other new ones out there in CONUS that are above/around 2,500 miles. I can look them up if anyone is interested.

Why do I sense a re-route/re-issue in my future??? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I think if I were now planning a OWE trip it would be hard to resist including a Concorde leg from LHR to BGI then continuing on to LAX. Then 3 class hop back to BOS, etc. You get my drift.

Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't BGI-JFK-LAX be the winner with over 4500 miles?

Even if this was one flight number (I don't know whether it is or not), when you are dealing with direct flights, the miles are calculated from the beginning of the direct flight until the end, no matter where it connects. For example, American has a direct flight from LAX to Brussels which connects through Chicago. To calculate miles, you would do it from LAX-BRU, not LAX-ORD-BRU.

Darren, I'm not near as expert as some people in this, but the AA timetable does not bear out what you say. Now whether AAdvantage miles are awarded based on the timetable or your proposition I don't know.

However, there are several clear examples where the timetable mileage is not the point-to-point mileage when a enroute stop is involved.

MCO-RNO timetable: 2606
MCO-RNO direct: 2315

RSW-SLC timetable: 2370
RSW-SLC direct: 1984

and one of the best:

OKC-PSP timetable: 2368
OKC-PSP direct: 1081

They are based on the proposition, not the timetable. I promise... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Darren is correct. The AA timetable lists the flown mileage as:

(miles from Origin to Connection City) + (miles from Connection City to Destination

However you only receive AAdvantage miles for the point to point Origin to Destination.

In addition, if you book a 1 stopper now for anything in June or July there is an almost 100 percent chance when it comes time to fly the flight will no longer be direct. If you go to the gate the agent will print both boarding passes and attach the ticket to the second boarding pass. If you go to the ticket counter the agent will simply re-issue the 1 flight coupon. In either case it will still only count as 1 NA flight segment.

The main draw back to direct flights is that if you need to do a re-issue for a flight prior to that 1 stopper and that direct flight no longer exists you will need to re-do you NA segments to come in at 6 or under.

rich

Thanks for the clarification. Makes one wonder why they publish that mileage in the timetable if it's of little use to anyone (except, perhaps, MPM calculations.)

I have wondered why those numbers are there also. They seem to serve no purpose and yet probably cause much confusion.

Annnnd the ticket is HERE! Fare basis AONE6. And now that I get it I've been thinking about the entire D vs. A class mileage issue, and realized that I can get MORE mileage by flying DFW-SFO-JFK-SFO-DFW with one less segment than DFW-LAX-SXM-SJU-JFK-DFW AND get the F class fare bonus vs. the D class.... and have a bit of time in NYC to relax. Now comes the question, how hard is it to reticket/reissue? I'm loathe to touch it now that it's in hand!

BTW this was utterly painless. I phoned in my itin to CX, they gave me the fare basis, I gave 'em my card #, and a week later the ticket is fedexed to me. All 21 segs are printed so it's NOT necessary to find an AA uber-writer to get this done, just visit CX!

you have a small problem, 2 transcontinental SFO-JFK-SFO. the good thing about lax-sxm is that sxm is not listed as a transcont destination. (the bad thing being sxm-lax is not singkle thr' flgiht #)

so now your luck depends on the mood fo the CX agent http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif