RTW inside an RTW
 

A quick question. I'm planning a OWE RTW that will take me to NZ to visit family originating from ZRH. While there I'd like to buy another OWE RTW originating in AKL to take advantage of the lower cost. The usage would look something like the following:

RTW-1: ZRH.....AKL
RTW-2: AKL.....ZRH.....AKL
RTW-1: AKL.....ZRH

Is this allowed?

This looks like back-to-back ticketing on an explorer! Sure is legal, and you'll actually be travelling both tickets entirely.

The one caveat - as with back-to-backs - is that while legal the airlines will probably frown on this. They often go as far as denying boarding on back-to-backs once they find out what you're doing. You have to threaten legal action etc. As with back-to-backs, get around this by mixing and matching which airlines you are flying, and only put your FF number into reservations after you have traveled.

Otherwise go for it! Sounds like a great idea.

Guy Betsy is an expert on this practice. I am forever teasing him as to the number of RTW tickets he has purchased, and is using sequentially and entertwined. I can barely wrap my mind around the current 6 continent RTW OneWorld ticket that I am using. Your plan of dropping a RTW within another RTW is completely legitimate. You simply have to be careful to finish all of your travel within 12 months of the first date of travel on each ticket.

I wouldn't call it back-to-back at all. There is no front and no back on an RTW, you're travelling one way. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

People here do multiple simultaneous RTWs frequently. I don't know how they manage to keep their tickets and itineraries straight, but I've heard of people having two, three, or even eight RTWs at once!

FewMiles..

------------------
[ FlyerTalkers' Resources on the Web ]
[ Unofficial Guide to AAdvantage ] [ Unofficial oneworld Info Desk ]

I thought that I was nuts maintaing 4! 8!!!!!!!

Yeah, but just because there are even bigger nuts around doesn't necessarily mean you aren't one... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

LOL... at least you know there's a bigger one out there. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

FewMiles..

------------------
[ FlyerTalkers' Resources on the Web ]
[ Unofficial Guide to AAdvantage ] [ Unofficial oneworld Info Desk ]

I allways nest multiple RTWs and combine them with other trips in between. Never had a problem. Currently i have two RTWs open and for sure get a new one before i am finished with both of them.

Not only do I still have about 6 more RTWs to contend with, I add my itineraries together. So I sometimes end up with something like 65 segments on a single PNR. Good for me, a nightmare for most airlines looking at my PNR.

I'm just amazed that you manage to keep track of all those itineraries. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

FewMiles..

------------------
[ FlyerTalkers' Resources on the Web ]
[ Unofficial Guide to AAdvantage ] [ Unofficial oneworld Info Desk ]

SOOOOO True http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Man 6 @ one time !!! I'm with SanDiego1K it took me long enough to get one 4 continents together never mind 6 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

GuyBetsy how do you find time to work with so many flights needed within a year ? How to you keep track of them - Excel or something similar ? My hat's off to you http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Ok. So this is legal and I'm not as insane as Guy Betsy. I know, thats subjective, so sue me. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Thanks for all the responses, btw. Question is is there a difference or advantages / disadvantages booking an RTW directly through a respective airline? I'm Gold with BA but have no status directly with AA but the AA RTW desk provides such good service compared with BAs anemic EU customer service. Should I just give in and call AA to plan this? Are there other airline numbers to call.

Is Oprah responsible for the whole situation?

I don't think it makes any difference what airline you book through, and if you prefer AA's customer service go ahead.

I'm booking my RTW without my FF number in the res and will add it into segments once I've figured out what I need to do to retain BA Gold.

I'm just starting to think about a RTW trip, but I'd be looking at it as a long vacation. this nested RTW is the most intriguing, but I have some questions. What I'm thinking is actually 2 x (A or D) OWE3(4)'s consisting of different continents. For example, have one NA/Europe/Asia (ex-US), and one Africa/SA/Australia ex-CAI. this way, I can take advantange of the CAI pricing for part of it, still get 6 continents, and (more importantly) get 40 segments. my thinking is that I can cheaply get from somewhere in europe to CAI while in europe, then do the inner one from there. Has anyone done a similar trip, or have ideas about it?