OK, so I got my pricing confirmed out of GIB. Thanks to all those who helped.

For info, BA confirmed the AONE5 fare as GIP4599+Tax - pretty good.

I have one question though: I am taking a direct flight LHR-SYD. It stops over in BKK but basically to refuel/clean. Its the same through flight, same flight #. I'm being told however that this counts as a continent stop, taking the fare from an AONE4 to an AONE5.

Can anyone confirm this? Seems to push the definition a bit. Elsewhere, BA confirmed to me a plane change on SYD-JFK in LAX from QF to AA (with the same QF Flight #) did NOT constitute a stopover and would not burn a NA segement.

From the rules:

TRAVEL BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND EUROPE
ON A SINGLE FLIGHT NUMBER IS CONSIDERED TRAVEL THROUGH 3 CONTINENTS. SW PACIFIC-ASIA-EUROPE

Thanks Hagbard. Where did you find these rules? Is there an official source?

I believe however this is the ONLY such exemption on the whole OW route network

I think it is also the only place on the OW network where you have flights passing throught the continent on the same flight #. Now I have to pay GBP600 more for the privilege of taking a shower in BKK, I think I'll change my plans some and use up those 4 free sectors that come with it. This costs OW more than just letting you pass through without stopping...

Not an official source, but pretty close. Check out: www.fewmiles.net/oneworld

Don't forget if you fly LHR-SYD without stopover in BKK you can return to Asia to use up your 4 segments.

Can you then do SYD-LHR-DXB-LHR-IST-LHR-HKG and ude your 4 segments in Asia?

Nope. To do this and maintain your required westbound direction you would have to return HKG-LHR which would result in 2 intercontinental arrivals/departures in Europe which is not permitted (except the Ghana/Nigeria exception).

my all time favorite exception

GOOD NEWS - you can back track

BAD NEWS - you need to go to Lagos

[deleted]

[This message has been edited by christep (edited 10-31-2002).]

Christep, you constantly give fewmiles' site, you need to start reading it. It is very explicit in the rules that jrussell is correct, and it has been this way for several years.

152N . - 2 PERMITTED IN ASIA. 1 MUST BE A
153N . TRANSIT WITHOUT STOPOVER -OR- ON
154N . DIRECT SINGLE PLANE SERVICE BETWEEN
155N . THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AND EUROPE.

Help me out here. Does this mean on my ex-JNB issued AONE4 I could reissue to do:-

JNB........LHR - Stopover
LHR-IST-LHR-DXB-LHR - 4 X European segments
LHR-LOS - Europe/Africa Intercontinental? No stopover.
LOS-LHR - Africa segment 1?
LHR-CPT - Africa segment 2 or 2nd permitted intercontinental? No stopover.
CPT-DUR - Africa segment 2 or 3 (depending on above). Stopover 1.
DUR-CPT - Africa 3 or 4. Stopover 2
Surface
PLZ-JNB - Africa 4 or 5? (If 5 then I know I cannot do this)

I would assume my ticket would have to come to an end in CPT as I would have reached my maximum number of stopovers?

The good news with the timing of the LHR-LOS flights is I could do this as a day trip with an immediate turnaround. I would need to tie it in with my trip to CPT but the extra miles and Tier points make it an attractive option.

Do UK Passport holders need a Visa for Nigeria?

[This message has been edited by Gaza (edited 10-31-2002).]

As far as I read the rules, the above is not allowed:

1 INTERCONTINENTAL DEPARTURE AND 1
INTERCONTINENTAL ARRIVAL PERMITTED
IN EACH CONTINENT EXCEPT AS FOLLOWS.
- 2 PERMITTED IN EUROPE TO/FROM/VIA
GHANA/NIGERIA. 1 MUST BE A TRANSIT
WITHOUT STOPOVER BETWEEN GHANA/
NIGERIA AND ANOTHER CONTINENT.

(non-relevant exceptions omitted)

Going back to Europe after Lagos would be fine, but, there is no exception that I can find in the rules that allows more than 1 intercontinental departure from Africa.

Don't know how strictly the rules are enforced or what you can get away with if you talk to the "right" agent, but the way the rules are written seem to not allow what you suggest.

Gaza, if you start in Africa, you can't take advantage of that rule unless you open jaw to another African destination. The rule exists because for those who want to go to Lagos or Accra, they have no choice but to connect through London, but you also lose all of your African segments. Hope that makes sense. I only wish that they allowed the same thing for Mauritius, which is effectively barred from a OWE without an open jaw. Here are two different simple itineraries where the rule can be used, both starting in Sydney.

SYD-LAX-LON-ACC-LON-SYD (from, to Ghana)
SYD-LAX-LON-ACC//JNB-LON-SYD (via Ghana)