Max miles on OWE
 

I was just curious to find out what was the maximum amount of miles someone managed to earn on a OWE?

goodo

It would also be interesting to post general strategies for OWE planning. One example is doing Europe/Pacific(Oz & NZ)/Asia, rather than Europe/Asia/Pacific. As you can see, I am definitely not much of an expert, but I'm sure that there are people out there who are.

Some starting points for you:

http://www.flyertalk.com/pasttalk/ft...ML/000731.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/pasttalk/ft...ML/000760.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/pasttalk/ft...ML/000826.html

There have been numerous discussions regarding maximizing miles/points on a OWE. Here are a couple:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum83/HTML/000945.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum83/HTML/001052.html
If you use the search feature on both this forum and on this forum in Archives you will find many more including these:
http://www.flyertalk.com/pasttalk/ft...ML/000313.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/pasttalk/ft...ML/000731.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/pasttalk/ft...ML/000374.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/pasttalk/ft...ML/000329.html

Hi,

I didn't want to start another topic for this question, so I'll ask it here. Travel must be in a continuous forward direction, does that mean that on a 5 or 6 continent OWE, could I do SYD-JNB-HKG-LHR (the general direction, not the exact stops) or would I have to go to HKG first then onto JNB and LHR?

Also would I be right in assuming that the flights flying from one continent to another do not count as a sector within the continent?

thanks
goodo


[This message has been edited by goodo (edited 12-02-2002).]

In general you can only enter each of the the three IATA zones once. They are:

1: Americas
2: EMEA
3: Asia & SWP

so you cannot do what you suggest because HKG is in the same zone as SYD. SYD-HKG-JNB-LHR-JFK-SCL-SYD is fine, as is SYD-JNB-LHR-SCL(transit NA)-JFK-HKG-SYD.

Correct.

Are child-fare discounts available for these?(usually pay 75% for international roundtrips)

Yes, children 2-11 pay 75%

This might be close to the max. for a three continents OWE; I just did SIN-LHR-IST-LHR-DXB-LHR-LAX-MIA-BGI-MIA-DFW-ACA-DFW-NRT-HKG-KUL-HKG-SIN for around US$2650. Total elapsed time 18 days, with 4 nights London, 1 IST, 2 DXB, 1 MIA, 2 BGI, 2 DFW, 2 ACA, 1 HKG and 1 KUL; 3 days of excellent sunny beaches: DXB, BGI and ACA Total miles, without bonuses, 42,078.

I'm in the process of ditching *A and stating up with OW, and have decided to kick off a serious mileage run and have this route confirmed:

osl-lhr-dxb-lhr-dub-lax-mia-sxm-sju-dfw-pdx-
dfw-lax-hkg-cgk-hkg-per-syd-bne-syd-nrt-lhr-
osl

All in C/D/F(us) class and done in a month travel http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Does anyone know how this will pan out with BA ExecClub and tier points?

It does depend a bit on which BA scheme you join as far as the miles go, but the tier points will be the same. For mileage accrual I would recommend joining the UK scheme initially for this trip since the mileage accrual will be the best ( 2x for business and 3x for 1st ), whereas to attain Gold status you will need to join the mainland EU scheme

You can download the handbooks at https://www.britishairways.com/execclub/handbook/ and study

Tier credits will be around

Any scheme other than Continental Europe

60 , 100, 100, 30, 160, 150, 30, 30, 100 getting to DFW which will get you silver status ( OW sapphire )

45, 45, 45, 120, 100, 100, 100, 100, 30, 30, 100, 160, 60 giving a total of 1045. This will be enough to renew your Silver status for the following year but not enough to attain gold.

If you join the Continental Europe scheme
60 , 100, 100, 30, 160 will give you Silver
150, 30, 30, 100,45, 45, 45, 120, 100, 100, 100 will give you Gold status

Dave

Thanks for the quick reply. Im joined as a Norwegian resident, and that should be the same scheme as the continental one I believe... i.e. I'm getting gold status from this trip http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The only problem with that one, the rules in the book state 4 segments on BA metal for change of tier, and since there are only 4 segments on BA for the whole trip (OSL-LHR-DXB-LHR and NRT-LHR), does that mean I need to do another trip with 4 segments to get the gold card?

If you are signed up as a Norwegian member then , yes you are fine as far as the tier statuses go.

You will need to do 4 BA sectors to get the Silver status plus 4 for the Gold after attaining silver which could actually mean that you wouldnt get your silver status until you get to LHR. Perhaps you could change your route a bit and do OSL-MAN-LHR-DXB-LHR to guarantee meeting the sector requirements.

Codeshares do count towards the 4 BA sectors required and BA do codeshare on SYD-BNE , so perhaps you could use BA on SYD-BNE, BNE-SYD as well as NRT-LHR and LHR-OSL to ensure Gold status which will save you doing another trip to get it.

Dave

[This message has been edited by Dave Noble (edited 12-07-2002).]

I'm time constrained on this trip, so I do not have much room for this; I'm doing the morning flight from OSL til LHR and following on with LHR-DXB at lunchtime and back on the same aircraft I'm flying out to DXB on before heading off to DUB with EI.

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?

"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... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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

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 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Maaany ideas http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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

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. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

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

First, you are going to africa twice.

Second, if you were a customs officer in Santiago, what would you think about someone going to Bogota *twice* without stopping?

Third, are you stopping anywhere? Seems like you are mileage running the entire trip.

All I can say is have a good trip and pack a butt donut, because that's a *lot* of flying. But just be careful and use your head. These are countries you are going into, not just letters on a page.

Hi,

Has anyone been to CCS recently? Even though it is in Spanish, the CCS airport website says departure tax is 29600 Bolivars which comes out to around $22.50 USD. I assume this is irrespective of passport, and must be paid for each international departure. At Columbus Guides, it says that passengers in transit are exempt from this tax. Is this correct?

I'm definitely not mileage running the whole trip. mel-drw-per-???-akl-hkg-cmb-hkg-cmb-hkg-jnb-lun-nbo-lun-jnb-lhr-tlv-lhr-lpa-lhr-lax-sxm-dfw-anc-dfw-bos-lax-eze-ccs-scl-ccs-scl-jfk-syd is my current routing and I'd probably stop in JNB first, then LHR, TLV, possibly SCL, then JFK and SYD.

goodo


[This message has been edited by goodo (edited 12-09-2002).]

[This message has been edited by goodo (edited 12-09-2002).]

A couple of months ago I paid a little less than 45,000 Bs to get out of CCS.

You could be right about transit pax but you should check the schedules to make sure you can do a turn around. LA currently only operates 2 flights per week, M and F, on the SCL-CCS route. The SCL-CCS flight arrives at 1545 but the return CCS-SCL flight leaves at 1220. Makes it a bit tough to connect. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Sorry about the IPC suggestion. I must have been thinking of something else or maybe it was my intense dislike for CCS (the airport not the city).

goodo, your latest itin has you going twice to Colombo, which is not permitted under the rules.

Well Darren is wise here dude...

Just look at what you're doing. This is foolish and you're visiting airports. And doing that in M class is just insane. (Though like me, I suppose you don't have the choice)

Do you realize how you will feel after a LHR-LAX ? And you're doing a LHR-LAX-SXM-DFW-ANC-DFW-BOS-LAX-EZE-CCS-SCL in a row....eeerk.

At least get a break in SXM on the beach and breath some fresh air in the mountains nearby ANC rather than the fuel in the tarmac.

If you really want to do that I really suggest you do a medical check up before and after and try to get some sponsoring from the NASA to study cumulative flying effects in coach class. :-)

Could you enlighten us as to which rule prohibits this? It looks OK to me.

BoSoxinBKK: I thought you were able to fly twice to the same city on condition that a)the second was not a stopover, and b) it wasn't the city of origin.

Bearaway: I did the Star Alliance 55k promo earlier this year. Given it wasn't 100k that I would be doing now (that is IF I end up doing this trip), I did fly for 3 days/nights straight and look how I turned out, I wanna do it again! I would time it that my stops are spaced along the trip. MEL-PER-DRW-SYD stop SYD-AKL-HKG-CMB-HKG stop HKG-CMB-HKG-JNB stop JNB-LUN-NBO-LUN-JNB-LHR stop LHR-LPA-LHR-TLV stop. The only thing I haven't figured out yet is where to stop from lhr-lax-sxm-dfw-anc-dfw-bos-lax-eze-ccs-scl-ccs-scl-jfk-syd, other than JFK which is a definite stop and SCL is a possibility also. I am a student on a limited budget, so until now I've really been selecting places where I know someone that I could crash by.

BTW, you got any connections in NASA http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif?

goodo

goodo, it's fine that you want to fly a lot, but I am just cautioning you of a few potential problems. First, some of these countries are not going to understand what a mileage run is, and you run a severe risk of getting hassled. I stood and watched hk-umich get nailed one time at the gate in Santiago, and it wasn't fun. I have had my fair share of agents hassling me, including the good ol' USA, pre-9/11. You are talking about going to places that are not pinnacles of stability and lawfulness, and doing something that looks awfully fishy to someone who doesn't get paid enough to give a hoot about your mileage account. Second, there is far more to planning one of these things than just deciding what is furthest away. For example, Caracas has had a schedule for a long time that keeps people from doing turnarounds because the return flight leaves before the arrival. Same with Easter Island. Or in the case of Sri Lanka, you have to stopover in Bangkok, so a 5 hr flight quickly becomes 7 or 8. Customs aside, a non-stop Delhi flight becomes potentially more attractive. Okay, here is another. Visa issues. Last time I looked, you needed to secure a Kenyan visa ahead of time, even for a transit. There is a $30 reciprocity fee in Chile for you if you choose to stop. There is also a $20 departure tax, which often is not put on the ticket. Some places will force you to pass customs when you arrive, which means you will have to pay fees when you leave.

Darren, thanks for the heads up. I've never been to Africa or South america before so I guess I didn't really think about all the probs they can give me.

When I have time I'll go through everythin that you mentioned, so stand by.

goodo

Sorry, dupe post.

goodo

[This message has been edited by goodo (edited 12-09-2002).]