First time RTW purchase question...
 

Hello FT's,

First off let me say that I don't know if I should be thanking everyone or cursing everyone for introducing me to my new best/worst addiction. Since I found this forum a little over a month ago, I can count my full nights of sleep on one hand! Anyway, I was hoping that some of you RTW god/ess' could enlighten and correct me where you see fit. Are the following steps correct?

1) Confirm xONE4 Route w/ FT forum:

CAI-LHR (departing 11/27/2004)
LHR-JFK
JFK-(bkk or hkg)SYD
SYD-HKG
HKG-LHR
LHR-CAI

-is this valid, assuming I will make changes later for ~$75?

2. Get PNR from BA for CAI-LHR:

- If I do go with an economy fare, will I also have to book the LHR-LAX segment (there has been some confusion on the board about this in the past)?

3. Call Mrs Sobhi (+20 25 78 0742)to introduce myself and advise her of my intention to fax my route/credit card/etc.

4. Fax Mrs Sobhi (+20 25 74 7674) the following: valid route, pnr information, front/back copy of credit card.

-am I missing anything here?

5. Fly to CAI to pickup ticket/fly first segment.

-how long will the BA office in CAI hold this ticket once issued? How far in advance could I book a ticket for?

Thanks for everything!

cheers,

Noah

Hi Noah and welcome to the Oneworld forum. First let me answer you with a question: why would you travel to CAI, now that BA has revised up the prices? Or do you really need to go there (then it's perfectly OK to buy also a RTW ticket while you're there).

1) You should fly JFK-SYD without a stop in Asia, because you'll be stopping in HKG on your way to LHR

2) I didn't understand your question as I don't see a LHR-LAX segment on the itinerary you're proposing

3) and 4) it's good to introduce yourself but I guess you could also directly fax to BA Cairo. Wait for a faxed confirmation before faxing credit card details.

5) You can reserve now, the ticket can be issued just before you arrive to pick it up.

[This message has been edited by JuPe (edited Jan 13, 2004).]

Word is that BA will not issue any tickets at the current (pre-increase) prices unless you are there to pick them up personally before the increase becomes official. However, it appears as though EMECO (AA GSA) will so you may want to try them to get in on the current low fares.

BTW, welcome to the world of RTW addicts. Rumor has it that there is a sub branch of Mileage Runners Anonymous that will be starting up to aid those of us addicted to RTW trips. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Ok,

TO JuPe and ExMo: Thanks for the quick answers, I guess that I will try my luck with EMECO.
Can anyone tell me if this contact info for EMECO is correct, or is there a better method.

Phone
(202) 574-9360 / (202) 579-9544
Fax
(202) 574-4212 / (202) 574-9369
Email
[email protected] or [email protected]

thanks,

Noah

I believe you need a ".eg" at the end of the email address. For eg: emeco.com.eg

yet another couple of questions...

1)is this a valid MONE4?
2)is this enough information for EMECO to produce a fare?

FROM TO DATE FLIGHT
CAI LHR November 2, 2004 BA 154
LHR HKG November 2, 2004 BA 25
HKG SYD
SYD HNL
JFK LHR
LHR CAI

thanks,

Noah

This is a valid LONE4 (M was changed to L last year). Have you left HNL-JFK open intentionally? You could do a lot more with the LONE4 ticket: 4 flights inside Asia on Cathay Pacific, 4 flights inside OZ/NZ on Qantas, 6 flights inside North America with AA and 2 more flights inside Europe with AY/BA/IB/Aer Lingus.

I haven't been in contact with EMECO before, so I don't know if they understand that you can have open segments (segments without date).

thanks for the validation check... And yes, I know that I could do a lot more with this ticket. I am just want to get the fare locked in now, and then make changes (ala the gospel of christep) later when I know my exact route. Cheers!

Just to be safe, I would close the gap and include a HNL-JFK routing. These all would work:

HNL-DFW-JFK
HNL-ORD-LGA (no service ORD-JFK)
HNL-LAX-JFK
HNL-SFO-JFK

I would stay out of ORD - an article in the Wall Street Journal - only 50% +/- arrive on time.
And for some reason - THursday 6-8 om only 35% ish arrive on time.

They predict it will get worse.

Just a thought.

Hi again,

Thanks to you all for the advice/answers! An update for anyone whose interested is that I have (after speaking with a very helpful and friendly agent named Dalia at EMECO) spoken to the AA RTW (1-800-247-3247) desk and resevered a valid LONE4 ex-CAI. I then (as directed) emailed by PNR to EMECO and am currently awaiting to hear back (unfortunately they are closed on Fridays). Just as someone else has mentioned, they offered to mail my ticket to me at their expense.

One other thing I must say is that the AA RTW desk agent (Michael) that I spoke with was also very helpful and accomodating. He confirmed that the fare ex-CAI is still unchanged and that he didn't know when it would go up.