First Segment Carrier Issue
Apr 3, 2003 | 4:14 pm
#2
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: Boca Raton, FL DL FO/MM AA EXP SPG PLT
Posts: 968
If you are not originating on BA or giving them a long haul (e.g. between continents) then I can see why they don't want to issue the ticket. Lots of work for little reward.
I am curious as to why you are trying to issue through BA and not AA or maybe even CX.
I am curious as to why you are trying to issue through BA and not AA or maybe even CX.
Apr 3, 2003 | 4:38 pm
#4
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: Boca Raton, FL DL FO/MM AA EXP SPG PLT
Posts: 968
Cathay does have a RTW desk that has been given high marks by those here who have used it. You can probably reach it through their US reservations number, (800) 233-2742.
I assume you have pointed out to BA that you are giving them a long haul segment and that they should, therefore, be more willing to ticket you.
As has been mentioned in other threads, there is no reason to fear a hand written ticket, although I'll admit that getting one from AA is now tougher that the RTW desk no longer can write them.
I assume you have pointed out to BA that you are giving them a long haul segment and that they should, therefore, be more willing to ticket you.
As has been mentioned in other threads, there is no reason to fear a hand written ticket, although I'll admit that getting one from AA is now tougher that the RTW desk no longer can write them.
Apr 3, 2003 | 6:20 pm
#5
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Join Date: May 2000
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by uncertaintraveler:
..I would try to issue the ticket with AA except that my total segment count (flights and surface) is over 16, and so the ticket must hand-written, which is something I don't want. .</font>
..I would try to issue the ticket with AA except that my total segment count (flights and surface) is over 16, and so the ticket must hand-written, which is something I don't want. .</font>
Travel agents who use SABRE can issue tickets above 16 segments . Maximimum is 24 segments. As your first sector is with QF, let an agent issue through QF's rate desk.
Apr 3, 2003 | 7:00 pm
#6
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,593
I'm told that the airlines flying trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific get the bulk of the RTW revenue. Not really fair, but those are the rules the airlines have adopted. So AA and QF are getting most of the money for your ticket, BA and CX will not be thrilled at doing the work for their benefit. QF does a great job issuing tickets and uses Amadeus so you can actually check your trip (http://www.checkmytrip.com)
Apr 3, 2003 | 10:14 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,641
FWIW, I was on a similar mission with my TA, suggesting that she ask Qantas to ticket a trip that starts YYZ-LHR on BA and comes around to SYD-LAX on QF. Her opinion was that QF would not be willing to price the trip, for their own reasons, and although she could get BA to price it and then ticket it on QF stock, her agency would be on the line for a chargeback if Qantas disagreed with the BA pricing.
I mention this because some here have made fairly strong statements that we could ticket on any carrier that had a piece of the trip, or at least any carrier that had an intercontinental piece. That has some importance for those of us who use TA's and want to keep them happy and well-fed, as BA essentially pays zip for commissions.
So from where I sit today it looks like the story is that the first transcontinental carrier is required to price and ticket, and anything else that happens is luck or negotiating skill.
[BTW the codeshare suggestion sounds like a great one. Unfortunately doesn't help me as QF and BA apparently haven't gotten in bed together on the Atlantic.]
I mention this because some here have made fairly strong statements that we could ticket on any carrier that had a piece of the trip, or at least any carrier that had an intercontinental piece. That has some importance for those of us who use TA's and want to keep them happy and well-fed, as BA essentially pays zip for commissions.
So from where I sit today it looks like the story is that the first transcontinental carrier is required to price and ticket, and anything else that happens is luck or negotiating skill.
[BTW the codeshare suggestion sounds like a great one. Unfortunately doesn't help me as QF and BA apparently haven't gotten in bed together on the Atlantic.]
Apr 4, 2003 | 12:56 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,032
Find a new travel agent. My agent here uses whatever airline pays him the highest comission - and i never had any problems - more than 10 of these tickets in the past two or three years. It helps having an agent who does these tickets on a regular basis.
Apr 5, 2003 | 12:50 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Bellevue, WA - AA EXP 3MM
Posts: 2,793
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by number_6:
I'm told that the airlines flying trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific get the bulk of the RTW revenue. Not really fair, but those are the rules the airlines have adopted. </font>
I'm told that the airlines flying trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific get the bulk of the RTW revenue. Not really fair, but those are the rules the airlines have adopted. </font>
My sense has been that US-Europe routes are more expensive (for full J and F tickets) than Europe-Asia which are in turn more expensive than US-Asia. If that's right, then I'd ordinarily expect RTW tickets to share revenue accordingly. Or perhaps to share revenue according to where there's typically the lease excess inventory (which becomes available to RTW pax via A, D, and M buckets). Weird to think Europe-Asia just gets systematically shortchanged here. Hmm.
Apr 5, 2003 | 8:28 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: LAX, HKG
Programs: AA EXPLT, BA Gold, Shang Elite
Posts: 2,228
i thought the revenue sharing is based on certain formula desinated by IATA, which is mainly mileage based for such fares.
(i.e. transpacific portion shall get more share than transtalanic, and more than intra-continental, depending on the mileage. e.g. bos-jfk will get perhaps only $50 of the share)
of course, special arrangements with their own pre-set split (different from such formula) do exist, e,g AA-CX fare via NRT, CX-KA fare via HKG/etc. the CX-KA joint fare was discussed and disclosed in HK court recently when KA disputed the right for CX to fly into mainland
back to the topic, the issuing airline is just trying to steer you into flying them. this is not the intention of OWE. (i think they are violating the OW arrangement) in reality, you can have a coupon of, HKG-LHR issued in BA, and go to CX counter and take CX 25x without any hassle.
similar, if one follows OWE fare rule, one shall be able to go to AA counter at SFO, and redeem a coupon of BA SFO-LHR, in reality the AA staff are more stubborn and they always call RTW desk for interpretation. (and RTW desk may intentionally mis-interpret the rule).
my experience with AA has been: they tried to steer you, but they would allow BA transatatlantic if the AA schedule doesnt work (eg LAX-LHR, the AA flight are earlier, or if you picked a route that there is no alternative) --- what i was saying is, it is up to there discretion. they just refuse to ticket it, but they may not refuse to book it. TA can book you any airline. or you shall book with CX when your first intercontinental is transataltantic
----
btw, AA RTW desk issued me hand-written OWE tickets before. do NOT worry about number of segments!
[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 04-05-2003).]
(i.e. transpacific portion shall get more share than transtalanic, and more than intra-continental, depending on the mileage. e.g. bos-jfk will get perhaps only $50 of the share)
of course, special arrangements with their own pre-set split (different from such formula) do exist, e,g AA-CX fare via NRT, CX-KA fare via HKG/etc. the CX-KA joint fare was discussed and disclosed in HK court recently when KA disputed the right for CX to fly into mainland
back to the topic, the issuing airline is just trying to steer you into flying them. this is not the intention of OWE. (i think they are violating the OW arrangement) in reality, you can have a coupon of, HKG-LHR issued in BA, and go to CX counter and take CX 25x without any hassle.
similar, if one follows OWE fare rule, one shall be able to go to AA counter at SFO, and redeem a coupon of BA SFO-LHR, in reality the AA staff are more stubborn and they always call RTW desk for interpretation. (and RTW desk may intentionally mis-interpret the rule).
my experience with AA has been: they tried to steer you, but they would allow BA transatatlantic if the AA schedule doesnt work (eg LAX-LHR, the AA flight are earlier, or if you picked a route that there is no alternative) --- what i was saying is, it is up to there discretion. they just refuse to ticket it, but they may not refuse to book it. TA can book you any airline. or you shall book with CX when your first intercontinental is transataltantic
----
btw, AA RTW desk issued me hand-written OWE tickets before. do NOT worry about number of segments!
[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 04-05-2003).]