When I first read your post I immediately thought of this that somewhow in some alternate universe that they are counting flying SYD-JNB as some form of trans-Australia flight.

I'm having some real problems with the AA RTW desk on this topic, wonder if anyone can advise.

I am currently booked/ticketed: MIA-JFK-LAX on an AONE4 originating in Tokyo. The JFK connection is ~20 hours. When booking five months ago, I could not get JFK-LAX to ticket into "A", so I am in business (D).

Originally I hoped something would improve, but it hasn't, and I'm now 2 weeks away from departure. However, I have tried asking the agent via phone to change it to be later so this becomes a stopover, but even though:

• The RTW tool; Expert Flyer(EF); The AA website (Japan); ITA Matrix; show enough "A" seats, the agents cannot see availability in "A"
• You can see on EF that booking this as "one" MIA-JFK-LAX has no "A" seats; booking as 2x1 ways does. So this would seem likely to be a married segment issue.

I've tried asking the agent to change the JFK-LAX flight only +/- 2 days, without any joy.

Any ideas how I can force the change, so that I avoid the married segments? I'd presume I need 24+ hours stopover. So should I do this as a two step process, i.e. change the ticket first to have a 24 hour stopover (in business, ticket it), and then suddenly magically "A" will open up? Seems odd that the system isn't showing this anyway.

I am really keen to try the Transcontinental in F, since I'm paying for it....

You could always miss your connecting flight in JFK and force a no-show and reschedule. It's the same $125 fee, just be sure you have availability on the next day's flight (as a standalone).

I inadvertently had to do this which later affected me negatively but that's not the same in your situation. I overslept until 1 hour past my departure in CGK a couple of months ago (was supposed to be a 14 hour connection), so had no choice to reschedule it.

If you don't have checked luggage, AND you're willing to pay a night in an NYC hotel AND there is JFK-LAX A availability on the next day's flight then you could "miss" your connection and simply pay $125. But you have to consider that within 24 hours some other people might pay for or be given elite upgrades and the A space disappears.

Having been on AA's "real" F on the 77W, I seriously would not go through this much effort to experience the A321T in F vs. C. The true international F isn't so much different from C except the seat.

I do love the original idea here, alas with a party of 3 it probably isn't a viable plan I feel!

I am not exactly going to be blown away by the A321T in F I agree - or the flagship lounge, however on this trip since I made the move to pay real $$$ for first over business it grates to not get the class paid for, and I will of course earn many more miles & tier points (for my BA FFP) by doing that. I've been on the transcontinental before in business.

I've realised I have an alternative, to change the route a bit. JFK-SFO is sold out, but JFK-SAN, or BOS-LAX both appear to have space. Will try that tomorrow when I have the time and energy (appreciating, no good lounge, but should be able to get the flight)

I am having continuing discussions with my TA about the upcoming DONE3.
Apparently when re-scheduling, she must request from one stopover point to the next stopover point. And this is where the question of married segments does arise. Mrs WF's married segment problem (DEN-TUS-DEN) still exists, and the current connection times means that AA disability support had better be on their best behavior at DFW. These are the only segments she is flying solo.

Another reference point results from Iberia re-scheduling our LPA-MAD flight to be under MCT for the long haul QR flight. I think just selecting a better IB flight to replace that is possible (but means the departure time is now 0730). To reschedule the long haul flights to have a more reasonable start of the day apparently will require avoiding married segment issues all the way through LPA-MAD-DOH-KUL.

It should be easier to schedule wandering....
Fred

I am putting together a RTW ticket with Japan as a starting point this Fall. I would like to accrue as many AA Loyalty Points (LP) as possible before the end of the year. I have several questions:

1. If you book with HND/NRT as the starting point, are you automatically ticketed by JAL or can you elect to be ticketed through AA?
2. Are you credited with AA Loyalty Points as you fly each segment or only after the itinerary is complete? (I have a LP target I need to reach by 12/31/24.)
3. When you fly on AA metal are you credited with LP as if you purchased the ticket on AA or are you credited as any other OneWorld carrier?

This is the first time I've ever done the RTW ticket thing. This forum has been very helpful. Any other advice/tips for a first timer would be appreciated!

1. If you book using the awful, error-prone Oneworld online booking tool, there is no way to guarantee the ticketing carrier. Qantas appears to be the default, but it's possible that JAL will ticket if the first segment is JL-coded. If you want to be ticketed by AA, call the AA RTW desk.
2. As with any LP-eligible flight, you are credited with AA LPs after flying each segment. Of course, allow for time to post credit afterwards depending on the operating carrier.
3. This is more of a question about AAdvantage program rules and crediting, but it primarily depends on the flight number (marketing carrier). AA metal + partner flight number follows the partner's accrual chart on aa.com
AA metal + AA flight number likely* going to credit as revenue method. *there is no obvious determination as to whether this will credit as revenue or distance method, so safe to assume revenue method.

If you want to maximize AA LPs on a RTW ticket, the common sense advice is to maximize the long haul segments on partner flight numbers (not AA, BA, or IB) with higher D fare accrual percentages. This would be Finnair, JAL, Qatar Air, and Royal Air Maroc.

Starstruck1 welcome to FT
In addition to good post above look here ---> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...e-miles-7.html

Sadly it appears even going via BOS (EF showing A7+) didn't change the situation so I'm stuck with my original flights and probably regular calls to see if anything changes a bit closer to the time. Sigh. Combined with JAL F being blocked it is leaving a sour taste in my mouth, as I've got no way to monitor or work out what availability they are using, but blocking your own flights, when very open, is not on.

IIRC F in the 321T is the same hard product as J on the 777. I like it. I flew F on the 321T once, LAX-JFK. The meal was excellent, -- poached salmon in some type of butter sauce.


Fred, any particular reason you are not using the AA desk? I just give them my itinerary flight by flight, without worrying about which are stops and which are connections. Never had a problem with this.


Remember, however, the either TATL or TPAC must be AA marketed if you use the AA RTW desk to book the ticket.


But remember how much you are saving with this ticket as opposed to just buying a regular F ticket.

I have used her services for almost 20 years. And email with her is easier than telephone to the AA RTW team (who I have previously used).
I am considering a LONEx next year and UL issued with UL flights means bid for upgrade will be apparently permitted for those flights.
The stopover to stopover issue may be related to the GDS she uses (Galileo?)
almost wandering
Fred

Well to report back on this, a couple of days later and Stacy from AA (excellent service) was able to see A7 from Boston (MIA-BOS-LAX), so I now have the evening flight, and a chance to take the kids to Boston rather than NYC (which is nice as will add to their airport list), if no flagship lounge

As for the saving, indeed it is a massive saving - but only if you actually get the F seats when you'd like. I used to book things like this using miles, so am well aware of the challenges and flexibility you need to have :), but it is excellent value - the cost of a one-way HKG-LHR with CX in F is more than a Japan AONEx with ~14 segments.

I would like to recognise though: British Airways, Cathay and even American (across the oceans, and domestic outside of transcontinental) though as offering a fair amount of Ax, but way more Dx... when booking early

Perhaps a little off topic but I think my next few RTWs will just be in business class, booked via AA, as:

1. The continued shortage of F routes in general, if only CX would restore their SYD flights (am going HKG-SIN-SYD with QF to get my F fix)
2. These issues booking certain routes with this ticket (see more here)
3. I have started to realise that a lot of F flights now are very full a few weeks from travel, which limits the ability to use the flexibility of the ticket. When booking 6 months out there is plenty of space, but for example when I wanted to consider switching my LHR-MIA leg to either LHR-JFK or an alternative day for LHR-MIA, I realised that the AA and BA flights are pretty full in F (to be unavailable for 3 of us), so I stuck with my original route.
4. Many airlines only make A2 available (JAL on their transcontinental routes, Qatar Airways), and even months later of watching seems no indication they will ever release another seat, so one of the adults has to sit in business. This is definitely a "first world" problem as I appreciate most people travel in couples not with 3 or 4 seats, but means I need to wait till the kids are a lot older
5. I have started to appreciate, as the counter to #1, that the number of interesting A350 type routes giving me direct access to a city (particularly with BA club suites into the US) outweighs the perks of a UK-JFK-XXX in international F/domestic F), and when combined with the number of "business only" airlines, you get a lot more flexibility on creative routings
6. I now appreciate truly the AA RTW desk in comparison to using the online tool and random airline staff who have no idea on the rules: I've realised I have paid far more change fees than I ever needed to due to that lack of knowledge, plus multiple painful calls/re-dials etc.

Question on DONE4
 

I have booked a DONE4 ex Cairo as follows:
CAI-CMN-JFK-LAX//LAX-MEL//MEL-KUL//KUL-LHR//LHR-MAD-CAI
As far as I understand i can make changes subject to surcharges and taxes after the first leg is flown.
I am thinking of extending my stay in LHR until the start of my BA TP collection year with a view to earning some TPs for the new year. Can i please confirm:
1. Maximum number of flights in Europe/Middle East (inc Cairo) is 4?
2. I am restricted to one further stopover?

Can I choose whatever flights i like eg LHR-HEL, HEL-AGP, AGP-HEL, HEL-DOH, assuming i dont stay in HEL or AGP more than 24 hours? I presume i could backtrack between Europe and Middle East as well eg LHR-DOH, DOH-HEL, HEL-DXB, DOH-CAI?
thanks in advance

Need some advice,
​​​my wife missed one of the segment due to visa issue upon check in, when we manage to resolved it on the spot, it already passed the check in time.

Her next segment is in 3 days time, I am trying to get hold of QF for the no show charges, so that the remaining segment still active.

Is this possible? Or it's a gone case?