By my reading of the rules, a change of date of the first segment--without a change of itinerary--is permitted without reissuance on a One World Explorer (continent based) ticket. There would only be a reissue if you are flying on a Global Explorer (mileage based) ticket.

Do I have that right?

With apologies - yes it appears that you do have it right for tickets issued in TC2 or TC3 (i.e. anywhere except the Americas). Not sure why I had it in mind that a reissue was necessary - this is only true from TC1 (Americas).

So now this has got me thinking... can someone please tell me why I couldn't go and buy a lifetime's supply of AONEx now from Cairo and keep modifying them until I need to use them. The validity is "Max stay 12 months" so that doesn't start until I actually take the first flight, but I could book, say, 20 tickets now and just keep shuffling them along.

What am I missing?

[This message has been edited by christep (edited Dec 23, 2003).]

I was always under the impression that a change-of-date of the first segment would trigger a re-issue and/or re-pricing-- that''s not the case? If not, I would instantly buy another ex-CAI AONE-- something I've been holding off doing since I didn't want to commit to a carved-in-stone starting date for late 2004.

I'm really curious too-- I always took it as "gospel" that changing the start date would be possible, but painful (assuming price had changed.) But then again my AONEs were issued in the US, ex-JNB. Now I'm confused.

A very critical factor: the ticket is only good for one year from the date of issuance. You must therefore fly that first segment within a year of purchase.

Don't be confused!

At the time of ticketing you must state a complete, valid RTW itinerary and a departure date, but only a departure date for the first flight segment. You can change the date of the first flight to a maxmimum of 355 days after the date of ticketing without charge.

You cannot change the itinerary of the first flight segment or the ticket will be reissued.

You can change the routing, other than the first flight, all you want. I believe the rule is that such changes are free of charge before the first flight and $75.00 per change after the first flight has been taken.

For changes "prior to departure", the rules for travel originating in Area 2/3 are a lot different than the rules for travel originating in Area 1. Since this discussion is about travel originating in CAI (Area 2/3), what you stated is incorrect according to the rules referenced below.

100N CHANGES
101N --------
102N .
103N PRIOR TO DEPARTURE
104N .
105N TRAVEL ORIGINATING AREA 1:
106N .
107N .
108N .
109N .
110N . BEFORE TICKETING DEADLINE:
111N .
112N . * PERMITTED WITHOUT PENALTY.
113N . * CHANGES TO THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT OR TO
114N . PRECEDING FLIGHTS REQUIRE TICKET REISSUE.
115N .
116N . AFTER TICKETING DEADLINE:
117N .
118N . * CHANGES TO THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT AND
119N . TO PRECEDING FLIGHTS ARE NOT PERMITTED.
120N . * DATE/TIME CHANGES TO OTHER FLIGHTS ARE
121N . PERMITTED AT NO CHARGE.
122N . * DATE/TIME AND ONEWORLD CARRIER CHANGES ARE
123N . PERMITTED WITHOUT REISSUE PROVIDED ORIGIN,
124N . DESTINATION, CONNECT POINTS AND INVENTORY REMAIN
125N . THE SAME.
126N . * CHANGES OTHER THAN DATE/TIME ARE PERMITTED AT A
127N . CHARGE OF USD 75.00. IF THE CURRENCY OF TICKET
128N . ORIGIN IS NOT USD, CONVERT THE USD AMOUNT AT THE
129N . BSR. THE TICKET MUST BE REISSUED.
130N . * CERTIFIED DEATH/ILLNESS OF THE PASSENGER, THE
131N . PASSENGER*S IMMEDIATE FAMILY OR AN ACCOMPANYING
132N . PASSENGER - REROUTING IS PERMITTED FREE.
133N TRAVEL ORIGINATING AREA 2/3:
134N .
135N . * UNLIMITED CHANGES PERMITTED WITHOUT CHARGE.
136N .

I don't mind being proven wrong, but the rules you listed are apparently applicable to area 1, i.e., U.S. departures, and my comments were directed at non-USA departures. What did I get wrong re: non-USA origination tickets.

The very bottom of the quoted section says:
133N TRAVEL ORIGINATING AREA 2/3:
134N .
135N . * UNLIMITED CHANGES PERMITTED WITHOUT CHARGE.

Again, this is all news to me-- albeit pleasant news.

Ahhhh!