Yes, I don't redeem on AA, just partners so that's advantageous as they do have a good award chart and low fees on everyone except BA. But I also don't live in North America nor redeem to / from North America, so actually partner availability is very good. Having said that I also keep a stash of Avios because there are great use cases for them in some markets that are a lot better than redeeming AAdvantage, plus QR has Rwandair which is a REALLY good redemption considering the cost of business class intra-Africa.

I think crediting to QRPC you have a pretty solid itinerary, you might squeeze in a few hundred more miles but not a ton. For example if you change Spain to Morocco, CMN is ~250 miles further from DOH than MAD. Changing LHR to DUB or EDI gives you ~200-250 miles more. I think on an ex-Japan itinerary that's about it without adding continents, naturally going down to AKL or SCL would add a lot of miles but on ex-Japan it also adds a fair bit of cost.

Ex-CAI the base cost differential between DONE3, 4, 5 (even 6 really) is absolutely minimal... a lot less than ex-Japan BUT there are a lot more YQ / YR variables. Ex-Japan doesn't have YQ (if I understand my last 2 e-tickets correctly), just some YR which is a lot lower and offsets the higher base price. As long as you're not worried about which partner code is used, you can definitely lower the ex-CAI YQ / YR significantly by using certain codeshares. (Like AA codes instead of BA for example, AA instead of QF if going from OZ or NZ).

I would encourage you to price out an ex-CAI and sub in something like SCL and AKL as side trips from North America and Asia and see how it prices for you. AA is pretty much your only choice for South America, but for New Zealand or Australia, you have a lot of options. I'd prioritize CX myself with QF and MH slightly behind them, I guess if you have an ex-CAI ticket then JL is also an an option to Australia for you, but I still like CX better than JL as long as you don't get stuck on their craptastic regional 777-300 or A330.

Excellent idea. I totally forgot about the U.K. departure tax which I believe would be ~₤250 on DOH-LHR-DOH.

Hello fellow travelers!
I see so many familiar contributors to this forum. Dr. HFH, Jarry Laska, Gardyloo.Pandapert etc
hello again.

I have not been keeping up on RTW forum, but trying.
In the past I have done many RTW( 12-14?) however I we went back to work during the pandemic and started to use up miles.
Now we need to build up status and buy tickets to places we can't get to via miles in first.
Who are you booking with now for RTW? AA, Tool? Other?

I did my last 3 on the One world "tool" ex CAI.. It has been 5 years.
I am looking at any EX Japan AONEX trips would like to visit Australia again.
Has any one recently taken an AONEX from Japan recently and what routing has been successful, and where did you book it?

Thank you so much in Advance!!!

Many people are booking via AA. The tool has recently made it easier to book directly with airlines but seems to send the ticket to less desirable airlines for RTW management (notably QF).

Plenty of routings should be successful from Japan on AONEX tickets - it really comes down to where you want to go besides Australia. If you have a TPAC or TATL flight on AA, you should have no trouble booking the flight with AA.

Yeah, the UK and French departure tax are offensive, so I'd avoid CDG as a departure point as well. In France it's actually labeled as a 'solidarity tax" LOL. Best to go out of Ireland, Belgium, or the Netherlands if possible. It's rare that you can't get a flight or train to one of those for far far less. Shortsighted or tunnel visioned government policy I reckon.

SteveHolt.
Thank you for the quick reply!
Does the RTW desk still have a direct phone number?

At one time the AA around the world desk used to insist that the first segment was on AA if AA flew that segment, do they still insist on that?
The goal of the Aone4 I want to book is to fly QF first again for a reasonable price and of course visit Australia.

Do you find that the tool does not give first class availability even though Expert Flyer shows lots of "A" ?
My Last two ex CAI RTW ( 2019) were booked through the tool with BA. Working with them was hit or miss on any modifications and a total miss if the call was routed to India....
Thank again

Wow that’s a small surprise, but also not why I’m writing at the moment.

Anyone know how baggage allowances work on AONE3 tickets that have short segments in business (such as JFK-MIA or LHR-NCE)? I would expect the allowance to be the same for the whole itinerary, but I’d like to know for sure. When I study the matter all I find is one allowance for economy RTW tickets.
I am pretty sure all my long haul segments are already at 3x32 since they’re in First, but it’s the short hauls which are not direct connections that I’m concerned about.
Paying as much as US$150 a pop for all the small segments like JFK-MIA, MIA-JAX, JAX-ATL, LHR-NCE, NCE-LHR… would add up to an extra 10% to my AONE3 out of Japan.

From the Oneworld Explorer rule sheet:
So those 3x32 that you're seeing must be the individual airline allowances for first class passengers.
And for short segments in business class, you will need to look at the individual airline allowances for business class passengers.

Wish I’d found this guide earlier!

Frustratingly bad experience Global Explorer with QF for ticket changes after booking direct via oneworld website after BA kept on failing to price via their back office. Wish I’d persevered as Qantas customer service / IT is non-existent / terrible. QF agents just don’t understand these fares and getting changes made seems to be a constant battle with their IT systems.

more here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...l#post36014030

RTW desk's phone number is 1-800-247-3247.

First segment doesn't need to be on AA, but usually an overwater segment does need to be.

Keep in mind QF's flights over the water have significant surcharges attached. The cost savings between flying AA in J and QF in J on the same LAX-SYD route for me on my RTW ticket was about $1200 US - guessing it'll be similar for F.

I would not rely on the tool for availability. I would use ITA Matrix and force search on each leg using A class availability.

Ex-Japan seems to be an exception with QF surcharges. I've had QF long haul segments in my past 2 tickets and the charges were minimal. So far as I can tell, there's no YQ ex-Japan, only YR. For ex-CAI and OSL though I agree, QF code does add some nasty surcharges.

many thanks!! I will use expert flyer and call aa. the tool will not give me BA flights SFO-LHR even with A6. I will give me D to FRA or CDG.
Glad to have the AA number Thanks

Interesting topic (AY forum)--> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/finn...ess-light.html

Do you have three stops (FRA, MAD and LHR) in your continent of origin, or is one only a transit?

Very disappointing!

I wonder if it had something to do with AY fare coding. Usually "I" is the lowest business category. Not "D". It must be AY coding.....No seat selection also???
I wonder if you would get the lounge benefit at QR ?

Your experience is a wake up call for usingDoneX tickets.

Let us know what you are able to find out!

Sorry for inconvenience. A real hassle after spending $$$$$