Thanks, yes the HEL was just to price this thing properly on the tool for indicative purposes. Hopefully starting with QR doesn't boost the YQ fees much.

Due to timings constraints we would have to do Asia after Australia, will have a look at going via Tokyo! Hopefully not too much YQ, and JL are v nice I've heard.

I meant NBO, typo! Good inference!
Sadly the connections in Africa are quite poor for OW, so would have to do an surface sector if adding something inside Africa itself, and can't visit South Africa or Mauritius itself either, so would look at Seychelles perhaps.

Thanks for the help. Is it best to book via AA RTW, or can a travel agent book earlier than the 330 days (need to secure some high demand dates around New Year's 2025). Any travel agents specialise in this kind of thing?

Sadly yes, Africa is a major hole in the network at the moment since the franchise of BA in South Africa went bust. Hopefully in the coming years Rwandair and / or Airlink will join.

But lots of options to add something inside of Africa with a surface segment. Seychelles are beautiful but like many island paradises, very expensive on the ground. WB (Rwandair) is a partner of QR and you can use Avios for them at a very reasonable rate, they are bookable on the QR app or website. Rwanda itself is a very nice country to visit, and they reduced the price of the Gorilla permit at the beginning of this year to be in line with Uganda's price, sadly QR gave up their KGL service and let's WB fly the DOH route now with a QR codeshare (not eligible for OW Explorer). Entebbe in Uganda is also nice along Lake Victoria, QR has a daily service to EBB. You could consider Victoria Falls, but to catch QR down there you'd need to make your own way to HRE or LUN, neither are particularly close but definitely do-able.

For booking, it depends on where you credit your miles to. If not AAdvantage, then definitely just use AA to book. If you do credit to AAdvantage though you likely don't want the required AA coded inter-continental segment, so that's where a travel agent would be better. I don't know this firsthand but have heard that finding a travel agent who can ticket on QR stock via Sabre can cut a lot of fuel surcharges out. There are some travel agents who lurk on this board but not sure any of them can ticket that way, none that have raised their hand anyway.

Ok super helpful, thanks so much! Changing to something like OSL-DOH-MEL//(Avios for internal QR flights) SYD-AKL-JFK. Might fit in some side trips here within North America. Then -DOH-NBO//LUN-DOH-MAD-TOS (for the Northern Lights)

That gives 4 segments for side trips in NA to be planned (can skip SYD to AKL and do that Avios if another is another segment needed). Hopefully when FJ joins OW I'll add in NAN, although it does mean 2 segments extra with the DFW stop.

I'll credit to BAEC, so I probably will do AA RTW booking

I used ITA Matrix, set the country of sale and currency to Norway and NOK, but can't see many fees for even the QF3 AKL-JFK flight which I would imagine has huge YQ/YR fees. Currently looking at QR, QF, CX (FJ hopefully!). Are there any tricks for dumping and checking the YQ/YR fees for these?

If any travel agents frequent this forum, feel free to DM me to see if you can help me out here with ticketing on QR or any stock that cuts these fees, I would be interested!

I think I've figured out a DONE4 route that works and has availability, but when I use the oneworld tool it thinks I'm trying to book a Global Explorer and tells me I've passed the mileage limit:

OSL - xDOH - oCMN - xDOH - oSIN - oHKG - oAKL - xSYD - xLAX* - oJFK - xMIA - oSJO - xDFW** - oHEL - OSL

* AKL-SYD-LAX-JFK not bookable as one ticket, but layover at LAX is < 24:00 (3:00)
** SJO-DFW-HEL not bookable as one ticket, but layover at DFW is < 24:00 (21:30)

Is it the tool? Do I have to call AA and feed every flight to an agent?

I went back to the oneworld booking site and it apparently doesn't see any QR segments, although ExpertFlyer shows D availability. Is this normal, and I have call it in?

The online tool sucks.
Period.

Any error (real or false) seems to give a "Global Explorer - mileage limit" message. As above to OW online tool is poor.
Guessing you have identified all those as non stop flights and having D availability.
Generally stop over vs transit mean little with these fares. Can effect real govt taxes
But airline married segments (~availability) can be a issue. Say ~10 years ago this was not an issue.

For oAKL - xSYD - xLAX* for also have MEL & BNE as an option. So oAKL - xSYD/MEL/BNE - xLAX*.
Also are BNE/SYD/MEL-DFW flights by AA(BNE), QF (SYD MEL)
AA fly AKL-DFW & AKL-LAX seasonably (southern summer)
Are other options for SJO : AS & AA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_S...tional_Airport

Thanks! Re SJO, I was running up against the Europe stop limit so wanted to be able to fly to HEL to get to OSL on the last leg, and wanted to avoid MIA if possible. I already had one transcontinental flight so was hoping DFW would work.

Just got off the phone with an EP agent at AA, and they’re saying they don’t see the first two flights as priceable (QR OSL-DOH, AT DOH-CMN), which is similar to the issues I ran into with the oneworld tool. I really don’t want to travel on BA/AT via LHR. Would a travel agent be able to see what I see in ExpertFlyer and put the ticket together?

It maybe the two DOH connections. Calling The AA RTW desk is the way I book.

What makes you say that?

I don’t think so, since I’m not traveling in the same direction between the two cities. But I just tried to see if I could book OSL-DOH-CMN on Qatar’s own website and it couldn’t find it. So maybe EF is wrong?

I tried to book two QATAR flights in the tool and it was rejected. I thought perhaps there is a special rule about DOHA like there is a bout Hawaii? I am not expert at all just asking a question.

Interesting. I can see OSL-DOH on qatarairways.com, and DOH-CMN on royalairmaroc.com. But OSL-CMN doesn't show up, via LHR or DOH, on either aa.com or ITA Matrix, and neither do the individual flights. ExpertFlyer screenshot below with the flights in question, which I guess I'll abandon.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...173d79f734.png

That QF3 flight you're wanting is available as an AA codeshare to avoid the QF YQ/YR, but availability on either QF or AA code is scarce. I have seen it, but it's scarce.

ITA matrix won't give you any idea about an RTW YQ/YR, they are completely different than standalone tickets. You need to start working with a travel agent or AA RTW desk.

If I recall correctly as well, you can't add FJ (or WY) to an already ticketed itinerary, you can only use the carriers in the fare rules when you purchased.

No special rule about DOH except the segment / stopover limit in Europe, depending on your point of origin.

The tool doesn't allow QR as your first carrier, that's why you're not seeing those flights. You have to book via AA (or another OW airline), or a travel agent to have OSL-DOH as your first segment.

I finally achieved a valid itinerary thanks to this thread!

OSL-DOH-SIN QR
SIN-HKG CX
HKG-AKL CX
AKL-JFK QF (I lucked out!)
JFK-MIA-SJO AA
SJO-DFW-MAD-CMN AA/IB (AA codeshare on transatlantic)
CMN-DOH-OSL QR

Taxes and fees are > $1,800, though. Would changing the QF flight to the AA codeshare lower fees significantly? How would that affect LP earning?

Compared to your original
Well done. Enjoy the trip. Starting - finishing when?
For AKL-JFK to AAdvantage QF flight number would earn on distance vs AA flight number on cost.
But from other posts in this & other threads AA earning can be hard to predict.
Is a dedicated AA forum thread--> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...age-miles.html

September - October 2025. I was worried about fuel surcharges on QF from NZ, but then I saw this post. So I think I’ll leave it as is.

With all the airlines doing discounts for Black Friday, I don’t suppose there is a Black Friday RTW discount somewhere?

Nope

LOL, one could only wish. But that would mean you'd have to be able to book on their website, which isn't possible. Even a good bit of the % off sales are economy class only.

Hi,
I am planning a RTW for next year and although I have a OTA at hand who claims they have experience with that I would like to inquire the collected wisdom of the forum for my intended routing.
I "think" it is a valid one however during a brief preliminary discussion with OTA she had some doubts about it.

So far it would look like this:
OSL - DOH - CMB - CGK
CGK - HKG - CTS
CTS - HND
HND - DFW
DFW - ANC
ANC - LAX
LAX - JFK - MAD - AGP
AGP - HEL - OSL

Real stopovers would be CGK, CTS, TYO, DTW, ANC, LAX and potentially AGP, others should all be possible as connections (less than 24 h according to my checks).

a) Is that a valid routing?
b) OTA seemed to be confused about the backtracking within USA to ANC but I think that should be allowed if I remember correctly?
c) Tbh, the only thing I am not so sure about is the end, if this MAD-AGP-HEL-OSL is permitted :confused:

So if anyone has any input it would be greatly appreciated :)

PS: Not sure if this is the correct thread, so feel free to move:D

See comments below:

I suspect you might mean DFW where you have DTW? DTW (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport) is a DL hub. DFW is AA, and oneworld.

There's nothing wrong with your 'backtracking' within the US, nor your European segments. You have 3 intra-Europe segments on the end and 1 on the front (OSL-DOH). You also aren't exceeding the stopover limit.

Oops, my bad, indeed it is supposed to be DFW of course (changed my post accordingly).

Thank you for confirmation, that was my count of segments / understanding of rules so far too.
Guess will show how expierenced OTA will be when we will discuss details, currently they are in "checking fare rules / availabilty" mode...

I suggest booking with the AA RTW desk (HND-DFW should be bookable as an AA codeshare which would make this possible).

Maxing BA tier points on a DONE3 or DONE4
 

Ok, maybe this is a little silly, but I want to make sure I am thinking about all the possible tricks.

Here’s my DONE3:

NRT-HNL-ANC-SFO-CUN-LAX-JFK-LHR-(DOH)-MAD-FRA-(DOH)-DEL-(HKG)-DPS-(KUL)-NRT

1940

Looks fine to me

• 16 segments total
• 5 in Nth America
• 4 in Europe
• 4 in Asia
• 2 stopovers in continent of origin (Asia)

NRT-HNL-ANC-SFO-CUN-LAX-JFK-LHR-DOH-MAD-FRA-DOH-DEL-HKG-DPS-KUL-NRT

Can you beat it though? :-)

Are you just trying to see how many TPs you can get on a DONE3 or do you have some certain cities that are a must ? If not the latter , YES you can do better. 2100+ is very easy. 2300 is the max ( ? ) but I am working on that as it is a slow day.

I think hnd-cmb-hkg-dps-hkg-lax-anc-lax-lir-lax-sjo-lax-doh-cmn-dxb-lhr-hnd should get you 2300 ( 13 segs at 140 and 3 segs at 160 ) if LHR-HND is credited at 160 as a list I found stated. It also stated that LHR-HKG was a 160 tp city as well. SIN is for sure but limited options for 2k+ flights out of it except to TYO.

I was just curious about the max. I guess 2300 should be impossible to beat, since it’s 160 on every intercontinental flight and 140 on every other. (With a DONE4, I guess you could somehow get LHR-SYD for 240 into the mix, but maybe not if that’s still two segments).

Is yours not too many NA segments though? I thought you only got 5, not 6 (Relatively new to this). (Edit: Nevermind)

can i know what is TPs? are these status points? for which FFP?
I am only on MH's Enrich and QR's Qpoints.

Tier Points... British Airways currency 😊

BAEC
TP = Tier Points for status
Avios - ff currency for awards - earnings .
https://www.oneworld.com/travel-benefits

Getting ready to call the AA RTW desk to get a flight for OCT 2025 set. I will still have to have the place holders for many flight from Dec 2025 thru Mar 2026. I think I will need to call about 3 times total to book the remaining real dates for my flights. Has anyone had to call and do this? Do they get annoyed with you? Any mistakes to avoid?
Thanks.

Only just finishing my second, but I’ve made at least this many calls on each ticket with no issues.

One issue you may face is that changing flights before the first flight can trigger a repricing. If first flight isn’t until October, and you are worried about availability (eg for flights around holidays) it might be worth waiting until schedule opens for those dates in a couple months. Others with more experience can probably advise better.

While I have purchased a number of xONEx tickets, I am considering a routing that is "somewhat different"
NRT-MEL(stop)-DEL(stop)- DOH-Europe-USA-SEAsia(stop)-(direct)NRT/HND as an xONE4
Europe and North America would be multiple stops and perhaps "long breaks" with 16 coupons total.
The alternative would require 2 early Asia stops and then direct to Japan from North America as an xONE3
or direct to Japan from Australia as an xONE4
I understand the rules say two entries are now allowed in SEAsia, but nothing specific is said about tickets originating in Asia....
Can someone clarify my attempted wandering
Fred

Hi Fred
The wording of the relevant rule is:
Your proposed itinerary is allowed under exception 2.

• It starts with an intercontinental departure (NRT-MEL)
• Followed by an intercontinental arrival (MEL-DEL)
• Followed by a second intercontinental departure (DEL-DOH)
• Then towards the end, a second intercontinental arrival (USA-SEAsia)

The rule is silent on stopovers/transits (old versions used to restrict stopovers). Because Asia is your continent of origin you are allowed a maximum of two stopovers there, which you have (DEL and somewhere in SE Asia).

Happy travelling Fred

Thank you, this is just the kind of information I need - especially that others have had to make the multiple calls. So far I don't think I will need to change a flight if that means the routing or airline. I just need to change the dates of the existing bookings. Can that trigger a repricing?

The first flight will be in March of 2025. Will keep in mind which changes to make before or after that first flight.

Any other thoughts? Thanks.

As long as you flew your 1st segment, any change of dates (but keeping Os and Ds) will not be charged with a fee. On rare occasions, airlines may change O & D, then this change shall not incur a fee (if they try, you insist it is involuntary).

Thank you, I am trying to keep changes before 1st flights to dates only. After the 1st flight which is next March, I will try make any O or Ds in one change to just get one fee.

When I called just now. I made my date changes and the rep said the date changes would be sent off and in 24 hours I could call back to see if the taxes changed. I kept all airlines and flight numbers the same, just date changes. Do taxes change?

FYI he said the AA rtw email was currently out of service and they are recommending people call back in 24 hours.