Thanks for your time & help.

The answer is -- it depends. The key factor is how many continents you want to visit. Here are the rankings for the lowest costs for 3-6 continent trips starting in the country indicated. These are US$ and I have included Canada and the US for comparison purposes. Currency translations were done based on exchange rates as of 20 March 2002.

3 Continent

Sri Lanka 3454
India 3554
Korea 3695
Thailand 3758
Pakistan 3843
Gibraltar 3941
Euro (ex EI) 3972
Canada 4808
USA 6200

4 Continent

Namibia 3728
New Zealand 3979
Sri Lanka 4146
India 4265
Gibraltar 4370
Euro (ex EI) 4414
Canada 5314
USA 6900

5 Continent

Namibia 4209
New Zealand 4569
Sri Lanka 4767
Gibraltar 4898
India 4905
Australia 4939
Euro (ex EI) 4943
Canada 6137
USA 7800

6 Continent

Namibia 4896
New Zealand 5156
Australia 5466
Sri Lanka 5482
Gibraltar 5598
India 5641
Euro (ex EI) 5649
Canada 7086
USA 9000

(Euro = Euro based countries except Ireland.)

Visit FewMiles site for information on every country and the rules for RTW fares. Note that there are a few countries that look really cheap that either no longer are (South Africa) or that do not have any Oneworld flights (Slovokia, Slovenia, Iceland, etc.)

(Edited to add Canada and US info.)

[This message has been edited by ExMo (edited 03-21-2002).]

For 4-C A-class, NZ seems to be about USD1400 cheaper than CA. Any thoughts on how best to fly LAX-AKL in A without eating the savings and more? Even YEX costs USD979, plus a lot of miles to u/g (assuming QF even allows upgrades on upgrades). Otherwise if you elect to pay the whole bill with miles, they want 200,000, and even if you value them at only a penny per that it comes out much more than you save.

Air NZ is USD 799 LAX-AKL (june 1-aug 31, or USD 810 in May 1-31). So far QF has not matched this fare, though traditionally QF does match (presuming you want to stay Oneworld). Once CX finishes putting beds into business class it makes Oneworld business RTW quite attractive (beds in all long segments if you select BA/CX); now I buy AONEx instead to get the beds (which I view as essential for this kind of travel).

Thanks for the Info on getting to New Zeland. I can live certainly live with 799+.
A Quantas match is not all that important as Coach travel on them takes a 70% haircut.

Now if only the AA Code share on QF metal matched this price

CX in business via HKG for 100,000 miles or TN via PPT for 110,000 if you want to stay with AA awards. NZ or UA in business for 90,000 if you have some unused UA miles. I'm not sure about business but UA was impossible to book in first while NZ was no problem.

A 4 continent in business should yield about 80,000 Q points and 140,000 miles for a PLT/EXP. Thus, a net gain in miles plus you get to see the world and make it 80% of the way towards qualifying for EXP through 2/2004. For another $600 you can do 5 continents and end up with >100,000 Q points and >180,000 miles.

EXMO

Thanks for the up to date pricing in Biz that is very helpful! Would you happen to have up to date pricing in first as well broken down the same way?

I believe that the fares from Namibia were also increased at the same time as South Africa.

rich

Here are the 5 least expensive first class RTW fares for each continent category. Euro country fares (excluding Ireland), Canada and the USA are only included for comparison purposes. You can download the Excel spreadsheet with all of the fare conversions from FewMiles site. If you download the spreadsheet you will need to update the currency conversion information per the instruction provided therein. The fares below reflect foreign exchange rates on 20 March 2002.


3 Continent

Gibraltar 4711
Sri Lanka 4793
Korea 5254
Thailand 5356
Taiwan 5435

Euro (ex EI) 6002
Canada 6643
USA 8100

4 Continent

Namibia 4346
New Zealand 5614
Gibraltar 5711
Sri Lanka 5751
Egypt 6294

Euro (ex EI) 6620
Canada 7086
USA 8800

5 Continent

Namibia 4973
New Zealand 6174
Gibraltar 6567
Sri Lanka 6614
Australia 6957

Euro (ex EI) 7415
Canada 8161
USA 9700

6 Continent

Namibia 5669
New Zealand 6861
Australia 7489
Gibraltar 7567
Sri Lanka 7605

Euro (ex EI) 8386
Canada 9363
USA 11100


[This message has been edited by ExMo (edited 03-22-2002).]

>>> Big question, please. I understand the 70% haircut on Qantas on advance purchase fares which (sucks), by the way, but what about on the AA codeshare but on QF metal?
Would that receive full credit? I would be so happy if that answer is yes!

Also, kudos to all in the homework provided.

I have given thought to a RTW fare. It is much cheaper than a standard LA to Europe up front fare and the miles would have to be incredible! Thank you...



------------------
Michael
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
HH GLD, SCI GLD, MM SIL
LE PRESIDENT ETERNEL DE CAMAIR-CAMEROUN AIRLINES