"However, if I booked the EI flight LHR-DUB on the BA codeshare, then I'd have my 4 segments on my way out of Europe, and then I'd only need 4 segments some other time to attain the gold card? I am flying BA on NRT-LHR-OSL too, so putting myself on the BA codeshare on SYD-BNE-SYD would solve the 4-segment problem ont he way home?"

Sure would. BA OSL-DXB-LHR-DUB would do the silver card requirement. The BA codeshares in Oz would sort you out nicely there too for the Gold requirement

Dave

I checked out, and BA has limited codeshares on SYD-BNE with QF, and nothing with CX on the stretches I'm doing, so I'll just take a weekend in London during spring to get the 2 extra segments or so, then I'll be equipped with a gold card for the summers repeat performance...

I've used this trip to get into the OWE product and rules and after ahving read here and spoken with my travel agent I now know a lot more what I want to do on next trip, although the LHR-DXB-LHR seems to something that I'll do on every trip on my way out of Europe

Apart from that, flying over to LAX and then do a backtrack to some point in the Caribean and then back up to ANC, that should reap a few miles there, and since LAX-SXM isn't considered transcont, then I could do ANC-DFW-LAX-JFK and use CX ex-JFK to Asia Maaany ideas

Christep, what you said about visiting the 3 IATA zones only once, does that mean If i fly with in the zone before leaving, I can't fly more with in the zone at the end of the trip? eg. fly around Oz then off to Africa, and on the way back fly around Asia and then back to Oz.

What I had in mind, although I haven't really looked too deeply into the rules and possiblities (so don't please dont start flaming me if i get it wrong), was MEL-around OZ using up my coupons, then Africa around Africa, then to LHR-TLV-LHR-IST-LHR-LAX-SCL fly around SA, back up to NA with the segments to maximise (can i run up to ANC and back or only one way?) then to HKG-CMB-HKG-DEL-HKG (Are these the 2 furthest cities without a 9 hour layover in BOM and besides KHI??) then back to MEL.

goodo

[This message has been edited by goodo (edited 12-08-2002).]

[This message has been edited by goodo (edited 12-08-2002).]

Sorry if I casued confusion. You can't enter each IATA zone more than once. Your plan is fine - you start in IATA 3 and finish there, but that's only one entry. You can only enter each continent once (with a couple of specific exceptions - see the rules), so you can travel around your continent of origin both at the start and at the end, but limited to 4 segments and 2 stopovers in total.

Yes - that looks fine in principle as a xONE6 - the LXA between LHR and SCL must be a transit only. I think you've got the longest runs in Asia, though it seems a shame to pay for a whole extra continent and not stop at least for a few days to see some of it!

Well I think I've got a 6 continent: mel-drw-per-syd-akl-hkg-khi-hkg-bom-hkg-jnb-wdh-jnb-lun-jnb-lhr-tlv-lhr-ist-lhr-lax-sxm-dfw-anc-dfw-bos-lax-scl-ccs-scl-bog-scl-jfk-syd.

Total miles: 100570 according to Great Circle.

Could I just confirm: 1) HKG-KHI-HKG-KHI-HKG or JNB-WDH-JNB-WDH-JNB or SCL-CCS-SCL-CCS-SCL would not be allowed even with no stops due to backtracking through origin.

2) open jaw is allowed, ie. start MEL, end SYD.

thanks
goodo

[This message has been edited by goodo (edited 12-08-2002).]

Just remember those trips to London will have to be on a ticket that qualifies for miles and tier points! Discounted economy won't do.

These 6 continents are booked in M class. What does that mean mileswise (I know this is a bit off topic).

With AA whats the difference between Q points and Q miles? Other than 70% for discounted economy on QF, are there any other restrictions, such as for CX?

What's BA EC like? I couldn't find much info on their website. What is the price for an award Oz-USA in coach? Do they give 100% miles for all airlines in discounted economy?

I hate QF's program so I won't even ask.

What about Asia Miles? What is the price for an award Oz-USA in coach? Do they give 100% miles for all airlines in discounted economy?

thanks alot from a ow newbie.
goodo

Yup, knew about this one. I've read a lot of BA and OW rules over the last two weeks, but the scheme is beginning to settle in. The only problem I'll face is everyone which I have (rightfully) moaned about having to fly through LHR over the years...

Are LHR and LGW co-terminals, i.e. could I fly into LHR and fly out of LGW?

goodo

1. The segments you list are OK. The backtracking through origin limitation is for the origin of the trip, MEL in your case. Note that you can get more miles doing a SCL-IPC-SCL run. Also, CCS has, IMHO, a usurious airport departure tax of about US$50, payable in cash before they let you out of the country.

2. Yes, you can start and end in different cities in the same country.

A few other observations:

You can fly in and out of LGW and LHR in any combination, along with any other airport (e.g. CDG, DUB, etc.). However, it is your responsibility to get between airports. These are known as surface sectors and are not limited nor do they count against your segments used in a continent.

You can get more miles by doing LHR-DXB-LHR than LHR-TLV-LHR.

Although I'm not familiar with all the FF programs you mentioned, M class will get you reduced or no credit in some of them. For AA, M class will earn miles for OZ residents except 0 CX and EI, 70% on QF and 30% on IB. No AA miles can be earned on BA across the Atlantic. Q-points are based on miles flown times a factor for class of service. For discount economy that factor is 0.5 so you will only earn half as many Q-points as miles flown. However, status can be achieved with miles or Q-points.


[This message has been edited by ExMo (edited 12-08-2002).]

1. The segments you list are OK. The backtracking through origin limitation is for the origin of the trip, MEL in your case. Note that you can get more miles doing a SCL-IPC-SCL run. Also, CCS has, IMHO, a usurious airport departure tax of about US$50, payable in cash before they let you out of the country.


?? ipc is 2000-somthing miles, ccs is over 3000. Both stink for turnarounds, though, as they don't turnaround until a dest further along. In fact, I believe that turnarounds in SA stink in general either because of taxes or suspicious customs agents. They seem to have a few issues with drug smuggling down there, and for whatever reason take it pretty seriously.

Oh and yes, in CCS the fee is terrible and the airport is terrible. Some would argue that the city is terrible, though I have enjoyed my trips.

I've fixed it up to: mel-drw-per-syd-akl-hkg-cmb-hkg-cmb-hkg-jnb-lun-nbo-lun-jnb-lhr-tlv-lhr-acc-lhr-lax-sxm-dfw-anc-dfw-bos-lax-scl-bog-scl-bog-scl-jfk-syd.

I changed to CMB instead of KHI becuase I'm a bit worried about Pakistan. What about NBO and ACC? and BOG - is there also a ridiculous airport tax there, i'm bit concerned about columbia?

No AA miles for CX M class? That's a letdown. Its 20000 miles! I would go
with QF if not for the fact that MEL-JFK costs 110,000 miles.

How about Asia miles?
goodo
goodo

It may happen that you could be forced to relocate to Canada just before taking your CX flights. These things can happen these days...

Read the posts here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum83/HTML/001181.html

Thanks Bearaway, you're a legend!

Now because for QF I only earn 70%, I could us AA and BA codeshares for PER-SYD-AKL, meaning I'd end up with 100455 base miles, or thereabouts.

woohoo!
goodo

Just one more question. Would my routing be allowed? I see now there are 2 intercontinental departures/arrivals in Africa. Europe is no problem if I'm going to Ghana, but africa would be I assume?

goodo