My question is whether one can start in SW pacific then go to asia then to US, then to Europe and back to SW pacific.

In other words does going from SW pacific to asia mean west, or is it simply a 'neutral' (in terms of direction for the purposes of Glob Exp and/or OWE) north?

Neutral, you can go either way. SWP-Asia-NA-Europe-SWP or SWP-Asia-Europe-NA-SWP are both ok.

FewMiles..

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How about SWP-NA-Europe-Asia-SWP! Is this necessary that Asia be the first continent out of SWP?

Thanks
Prasad

That's OK too.

No. The rules are simply that you cannot enter each continent or each IATA area (*) more than once, with the exceptions of:

- a second entry into Asia if one of them is a transit without stopover between SWP and Europe (a minority interpretation, but one which it seems will sometimes be ticketed, would also allow two in Asia if one is a transit without stopover between SWP and NA)

- a second entry into N America if one of them is a transit without stopover between another continent and Latin America

- a second entry in Europe if one is a transit without stopover between Ghana or Nigeria and another continent.

(*) in airline terms the world is divided into three IATA areas:
1: the Americas
2: Europe, Middle East & Africa
3: Asia & SWP

You may also only fly across each of the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans once.

[This message has been edited by christep (edited 08-29-2002).]