Hi guys! I'm totally new to flyertalk, but from what I have read, it seems like a great online community and I can't wait to be a part of it.

I'm in my mid 20's and planning my first RTW trip on OneWorld Explorer. I'm planning on getting the 5 continent option with two add-on segments for South Pacific.

According to the airlines' individual websites, all the segments I have picked out are valid flights (now let's just hope they stay that way). This trip has lots of overland segments, as you can see.

This is what I have so far:

JFK-SNN (SNN=Shannon)
ORK-AGP (ORK=Cork)
BCN-MUC
FRA-LHR-PEK
HKG-MNL
MNL-HKG-BKK
CGK-PER
PER-ASP (ASP=Alice Springs)
ASP-SYD
MEL-CHC
AKL-PPT (PPT=Pepetee)
PPT-IPC (IPC=Easter Island)
IPC-SCL
SCL-LIM
LIM-SCL-MEX
MEX-DFW

Then I'm taking the train from Dallas back to Eastern Canada on a railpass.

Any tips/advice anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated. Am I breaking the rules anywhere? Have I left anything out?

Thanks!

[This message has been edited by FlyBoyClyde (edited 10-22-2002).]

[This message has been edited by FlyBoyClyde (edited 10-22-2002).]

You can add 5 more segments for North America (you only have one, MEX-DFW). So you could do MEX-DFW-ANC-DFW-YVR-JFK for example, remember the ticket is valid for 12 months from the date of the 1st segment). Or you could do MEX-DFW and then BOS-MIA-LAX-ORD-BOS later, if you wanted to get home from DFW. Your RTW doesn't end until you return to JFK, it seems a shame not to use the remaining segments for another trip.

Unfortunately, AKL-PPT is operated by Air Tahiti/Polynesian and is therefore not allowed.

Number6, isn't it true that you can only use 2 segments in your continent of origin? I thought I used those up with SCL-MEX and MEX-DFW. If I'm wrong, then, yes, I will absolutely use the extra segments. Thanks for the tip!

P.S. - Am I to imply from your handle that you are a fan of "The Prisoner"? Be seeing you.

No - the only restriction is that you can only have two stopovers in your continent of origoin, where stopover = 24 hrs or more between flights. You are allowed 6 segments in N America (and up to two more for additional money). You are also allowed one more segment in each of Europe and Asia, and two more in S America (total 4 per continent not including the intercontinetal flights in and out).

Okay, this is all good info, but I'm still confused about one thing. I understand the difference between a segment and a stopover, and I know how many segments I am entitled to, but is there a limit on the number of stopovers in each continent after I leave my continent of origin? And with the segments that I am entitled to in North America after I come back, can I take a stopover after each flight, or am I limited to a certain number of stopovers?

Thanks for all your help

Not true. From OWE rules:-

[This message has been edited by Gaza (edited 10-23-2002).]

There is no limit on the number of stopovers except in the continent of origin. The number of stopovers is effectively limited by the number of segments.

For example in Europe you could do:-

SNN-LHR (1st free segment, 1st stopover)
LHR-CDG (2nd free segment, 2nd stopover)
CDG-EDI (3rd free segment, 3rd stopover)
EDI-LHR (4th free segment, no stopover)
LHR-DXB (1st additional segment, 4th stopover)
DXB-LHR (2nd additional segment, 5th stopover of direct connect to next continent)

When you return to the North America you are still allowed 6 segments but a only 2 stopovers. So, if you are after miles then you could do:-

MEX-DFW (1st stopover)
DFW-MIA (1st segment, no stopover)
MIA-LAX (2nd segment, no stopover)
LAX-STL (3rd segment, no stopover)
STL-MIA (4th segment, no stopover)
MIA-ORD (5th segment, 2nd stopover)
ORD-JFK (6th segment)

A stopover is defined as a break of more than 24 hours, unless there is not a connecting flight for a longer period. For example:

Assume AA only operate a once weekly ANC-JFK service on a Saturday at 11:00 am. In theory if you arrive in ANC after 11:00 on the Saturday and as the next connecting fliight to JFK is a week away you could stay for a week and it would NOT count as a stopover.

[This message has been edited by Gaza (edited 10-23-2002).]

Oops sorry - I stand corrected.

Okay, here is my revised plan. Thoughts anyone?

BOS-SNN
ORK-AGP
BCN-MUC
MUC-LHR
LHR-SVO
SVO-HEL
HEL-CDG
CDG-HKG
HKG-MNL
MNL-HKG-BKK
BKK-SIN
SIN-PER
PER-ASP
ASP-SYD
SYD-MEL
MEL-CCH
(arrange separate travel to PPT)
PPT-IPC
IPC-SCL
SCL-LIM-CUS
CUS-LIM
LIM-LAX-MEX
MEX-DFW-ANC
ANC-STL-NYC
NYC-BOS

Any comments/ideas are appreciated, as always

How strict is the 10 day rule?

Can you ticket with an original itinerary of more than 10 days and then make a regular reservation and show up with your paper ticket for a different day on the same last flight (winthin 10 days for your return/last leg) flight and be OK.

Or, can you continue with a non-important last segment leg as an unused last leg, such as:

Day 1: BOS-PEK

Day 5: PEK-HKG

Day 7: HKG-JFK

Day 11: JFK-BOS

Then buy a oneway seperate JFK-BOS segment on Day 8 outside of the itinerary?

Once the ticket is issued then very strict (the last sector will have the date in the "Not Valid Before" box). You only have two options - either persuade someone to issue the ticket with the minimum stay requirement waived (I have had this done once), or, better and easier, do what you sggest with the last segment.

Interesting - didn't know that. This could be a really good way to see part of a country without using up stopovers. Thanks for this

Am I right to assume that the minimum timeframe for an OWE is 10 days? Could be important to me for next year. Thanks.

46N MIN STAY/ TRAVEL FROM THE LAST POINT OUTSIDE THE
47N . COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MAY NOT COMMENCE PRIOR
48N . TO 10 DAYS AFTER DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST
49N . INTERNATIONAL SECTOR
50N . **EXCEPTION: ORIGIN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
51N . - FIRST/BUSINESS CLASS NONE
52N . - ECONOMY CLASS 7 DAYS
53N . **EXCEPTION: ORIGIN EUROPE
54N . TRAVEL ON THE LAST INTERCONTINENTAL
55N . SEGMENT MUST COMMENCE NO EARLIER
56N . THAN 10 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST
57N . INTERCONTINENTAL SEGMENT
58N . **EXCEPTION: ORIGIN HKG - FOR TICKETS
59N . ISSUED ON/AFTER 10OCT01 - NO
60N . MINIMUM FOR FIRST/BUSINESS CLASS
61N . NOTE: TRAVEL BTWN US/CA IS NOT INTL TRAVEL.

So strictly the JFK-BOS example is not actually valid - it is the international or intercontinental segments that count.

[This message has been edited by christep (edited 10-25-2002).]

Technically, there is not a "next-flight rule" on the OWE, but if you can get them to accept allowing the next flight rule, more power to you. The rules clearly state that it's a 24 hour limit, no more, no less.