I'm in Rio trying to book a 4 continent OWE ticket. The following is the itinerary:

South America:
Start in RIO, then:
Seg 1 RIO-SCL (no stopover)
Int'l departure SCL-AKL

South Pacific:
Arrive in AKL from SCL then:
Seg 1 AKL-SYD
Seg 2 SYD-DRW
Seg 3 DRW-CNS
Seg 4 CNS-BNE
Depart continent BNE-SIN

SE ASIA:
Arrive in SIN from BNE, then:
Seg 1 SIN-BKK
Seg 2 BKK-HKG
Seg 3 HKG-Bali
Seg 4 Bali-HKG
Separt the continent HKG-LHR

Europe:
Arrive in LHR from HKG, then:
Seg 1 LHR-CPH
Seg 2 OSL-HEL
Seg 3 HEL-SVO
Seg 4 ATH-Madrid
Depart the continent Madrid-GYE

South America (Return)
Return from Madrid to GYE, then:
Seg 2 GYE-SCL (stopover)
Seg 3 SCL-LIM (stopover)
Seg 4 LIM-SCL-RIO (no stopover)
Note: If there is not a direct flight through SCL to RIO from LIM, I believe I would need to fly from GYE-SCL then SCL-RIO. Also not sure if return to GYE is considered a stopover since it is the return to the continent.


I'm having trouble getting this priced as I am getting inconsistent pricing from the OW pricing desk. Mostly surrounding counting 5 stopovers in Europe (although I have 4 segments) and not allowing overland travel. Any problems with this fitting into standard 4-continent OWE?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks - Bill

No, go to British Airways and have them do it.

You have 5 segments in South America, which isn't allowed. If you can change your order of places you need to stop, just do gye//lim-scl-rio and buy a ticket from guayaquil to lima, or usually the tix from lima to santiago are reasonable so drop that segment. Personally, I would do the former, as it's only about $200 without any sort of discount you might find and the flight is short. But there is nothing wrong with having "5 stopovers" in Europe, as you have have as many as you want.

.

[This message has been edited by hauteboy (edited 02-28-2003).]

Thanks for the feedback. I thought that's how it worked, but have been getting inconsistent info from the airline. Good advice on SA segments.

I'm actually going through LanChile. I think they just have someone working in their pricing desk who doesn't understand the rules. I had a previous itinerary for which he had initially tried to charge me for extra "stops", but after persisting, someone else at their pricing desk approved it. Bottom line is don't have Renato at LanChile in SA price your itinerary...

I talked to Qantas and they told me since I was originating in South America, I would have to go through LanChile. I guess I'll see one more time if I can get it done with them, and if not, will try BA. Thanks again.

Bill

Book the QF codeshare to Auckland, and QF will probably do it since it's the first longhaul segment. Who knows. LA probably just doesn't have too many people there who have actually done one of these, whereas BA and QF do them all the time. Go with LA, but if you don't get the answer you want, just go to one of the others. If you book the QF codeshare, you can always book onto a Lan Chile flight number since the ticket is endorseable within the alliance. And where you originate is irrelevant. QF can book it, it's more a matter if they will book it.

Darren - thanks. LanChile eventually got it figured out. Had to have the people in Sao Paolo go through the rules with the main OW office so they wouldn�t count entry into the continent as a segment. Finally straightened it out with them after much insistence (thanks for the advice) and then had to deal with the local Rio office - they were nice, but had trouble ticketing the route and had to do it manually. The Friday b4 my Monday flight, the supervisor was trying to tell be to come back on Monday prior to the flight to get the tickets. I begged, and they came to the realization that they had to do the tickets by hand (which would have hosed me on Monday). They were nice and had someone do it over the weekend from home. In the end, I think LanChile�s service is good, but they are very inexperienced with the OWE fares. It took 3 weeks to get this figured out) If using them from Brazil, talk to Elisabeth Shiobora to make the reservation - She will push to get the right answers... Thanks again.