OK,

I have my routings down, and I am ready to order

Questions:

1) I am doing the AA Plat challenge, so can I book the code-share AA flights (QF metal)? I figure AA code = more miles and Q-points

2) if #1 is possible, would it make any difference if I go through the AA, QF, or BA CTOs?

3) If #3 is yes, which is better? I hear that BA likes to charge you the re-issue fee even when it's not legal.

4) I understand the flights on the first continent is fixed (fee req to change), so I am booking the rest as open segements. Question: What do I do when I on the 2nd continent? Do I call the airline that I want to fly with and tell them I have a OWE ticket and would like to get a seat? or do I need to call the airline that I bought the OWE ticket from and tell them that I want a seat on a different airline?

5) My first flight on the OWE should be sometime in March. How long before my first flight should I call the CTO?

Thanks!

Alex

1) Yes.

2) No, but why do you want to go through a CTO? Assuming you are originating somewhere that AA has a ticket office, you should do your original booking through the AA RTW desk (800) 247-3247.

3) BA charges a service fee for reissuing a ticket, OWE or any other. It is not illegal, just not very customer friendly. Unless you are changing your routing, you do not need to reissue.

4) If you are originating in the Americas then changes to your first international flight (or preceding flights) will require a total ticket reissue and potentially a 10% penalty if the change is made after the ticketing deadline (generally seven days before departure). Once you have embarked on the trip, you can call the OW airline that flies the segment you want to book and make the booking, giving them your ticket number. The longer you wait to book, the more risk you run on inventory not being available (economy is booked in L class on all OW carriers).

Edited to add:

5) Book early. There is no advantage to waiting if you have your routing finalized. The longer you wait the more potential problems with availability.

[This message has been edited by ExMo (edited Feb 03, 2004).]

In my (limited) experience, bookings for open AA segments need to be made by calling the AA RTW desk. For instance, when I called the EXP desk to book an open AA segment, I was referred to the RTW desk. Is this also true for other OW carriers?

I am currently in Tokyo. I will start the trip ex-NZ. Is there a AA RTW in Tokyo? If not, I guess I would have to call New Zealand?

Which airline has the best RTW/CTO in Auckland?

Alex

There are no RTW desks in Auckland -- or Tokyo. Most CTO's have little or no idea when it comes to RTW ticketing. They need to pass the request along to their RTW operations.

Decide what airline you want to ticket on (AA, QF, CX, BA,...)and contact them locally in TYO or in AKL or in their home country (US, Australia, Hong Kong, UK). Doing the latter might get you connected to their RTW operation.

I'd probably try TYO first as it is local for you. Tell them you want to originate a OWE RTW ticket with them, buying the ticket in New Zealand. See if they will book your itinerary and pass it to their fare desk for pricing. Be sure to emphasize that you will be originating in NZ and buying your ticket in NZ (this has a major impact on the price you will pay).

If that doesn't work then I'd try the NZ office for the airline you will ticket with. Generally, the airline with the first international segment or most of the long haul segments will be most amenable to helping you and ticketing you.

BTW, the comment I made previously about locking in your first international flight doesn't apply for originations in NZ. You can change things up to an hour before flight time. Of course, this may still require a ticket reissue and a recomputing of the fare and taxes which could take days to do.

The trouble is some airlines' non-rtw-desk agents don't know the OWE rules, so don't know how to figure out if your request is valid. You could for instance be asking for a flight time change that creates an illegal stopover, etc.

Other airlines cope with it quite well, perhaps because I'm calling a small foreign office where there aren't many staff and they're all highly trained.

I've also had "helpful" ordinary res mess up an owe itin. The rtw desk folks are often pretty good (to GREAT, esp at DFW) so having an excuse to talk with them can be to your advantage.

I didn't know that CTO agents aren't trained in RTW tickets. Oh well.

So, does anyone know f AA has a RTW desk in NZ or Tokyo?

I will be trying to fly on as many AA flights as possible, even if it a code-share.

Alex

As I said previously, there are no RTW offices in AKL or TYO. If you want to have AA ticket you in AKL, first try visiting their CTO in TYO. Have your itinerary with you and make sure they know you will be actually buying your ticket in AKL.

If that doesn't work try calling the US RTW desk at +1.800.247.3247. I don't think they handle RTW tickets done in NZ but they should be able to help you get this done.