The Oneworld Explorer User Guide
 

Hi everybody

I have created this User Guide Wiki as a replacement for the outdated Oneworld Explorer FAQ Wiki

Hope you find it informative and useful

After a feedback period, I propose to request the forum administrators:

- make this thread a sticky

- unstick and lock the old FAQ thread



Any and all comments/suggestions welcome

pandaperth

I'm making it sticky now.

Gardyloo
Oneworld moderator

Fantastic! :tu:
Thank you Pandaperth.
Will read through it later.

This was really helpful, thank you!

This really is incredibly helpful.

Can anyone recommend an itinerary starting from London that maximises the number of first class sectors flown?

nmm Welcome to FT

Even pre Covid-19 airlines/routes with first class were diminishing. Post Covid-19 will be even less

Link---> OW first class routes thread
Last post was Dec 2018 and last wiki revision was April 2018, so probably not up to date for say Jan 2020

There's a difference between maximizing the number of first class segments and maximizing the quality of the first class segments. Some airlines' first class is much better than others, and some (such as BA) have big differences on the different equipment.

I would like to fly as many sectors as possible before first disappears. I am very happy to have a broad range of experiences and part of the interest will be comparing products on different airlines and aircraft.

It is interesting that there appears to be little up to date information on who stills flies with a first cabin or the routes.

OW still offers RTW in first so there must be some demand but I am really struggling to work out an itinerary that has many first flights.

I just want to clarify something before I book. I want to book a particular route that doesn't have a ton of availability now early in my RTW and then I expect I'll push some of the later segments out because they're more than 365 days away from today, but not 365 days away from the first day of the ticket.

As an example, let's just say my route was JFK-LAX-MEL-SIN-LHR-JFK. If I changed the dates of the LHR-JFK flight before flying the JFK-LAX flight, would it prompt a reprice for the ticket fare? I believe from what I've read that if I wait until after I've flown JFK-LAX to rebook the date of LHR-JFK, it wouldn't prompt a reprice.

From the section in the wiki on Ticket Changes:

• If you are making the changes before departure, then changes to ticketed points or to the first segment (even just a simple date change) will result in a re-price if the fare has increased.

and

• Ticketed point changes are changes to the list of airports in the itinerary – dropping or adding points, reordering the list, and also changing stopovers to transits or vice versa.

Your proposed change is not a change to the first segment or to ticketed points
and so it will not trigger a re-price

A Work of Art
 

Pandaperth, thank you so much for this invaluable tool. Best. Wiki. Ever! I suspect it will eliminate many forum queries, especially in the early planning phase. The infamous booking tool (I tried it the other day) was so frustrating--no differentiation on direct, one stop, and multi-segment flights. All cities were represented by the same little round dot. There is a segment counter down at the bottom, but it just tells you how many cities you've entered and is wrong on the segments. No matter what city pair I entered, the map drew a dotted line between them, and the counter went up by one. Also, the Where We Fly Map has disappeared. I did find a helpful outside site, flightconnections.com. You enter a city and it will give you every nonstop destination available from that city. It has an alliance filter to boot!
Happy trails.

The tool doesn't know how many segment you are using until you pick flights.

That's very disappointing. I used that tool. I liked the visualization.

I haven't tried that site. I use ExpertFlyer to find what flights are possible to/from a city. It's a bit cumbersome but shows accurate information, including which airlines, which codeshares, flight duration, flight mileage, equipment, frequency, etc. It's under "Flight Timetables Search" then "Search By Departure/Arrival City" (pick either departing from or arriving into and the date), then when you get the results, click "Filter Search Results," then "deselect all" and then click the airlines in the OneWorld alliance that are listed (only airlines operating or codesharing are shown). You can click a column to sort by it.

When I'm planning an RTW, I build potential itineraries in a spreadsheet. I check the flights on EF, and put them in the spreadsheet, one flight per row. By entering the arrival and departure times, and an arrival day offset (i.e., +1, +2 for flights that arrive the following day or two days later), the spreadsheet calculates the connection time, if something is a connection versus a stop, the total flown miles, and the earnings. It helps me plan, including picking routes and flights that are more likely to be enjoyable (e.g., no short overnight red-eyes).

Thanks, anablolism. I'm a recreational computer user, plus EMR at work. I don't have a clue about spreadsheets, a real dinosaur. I subscribe to EF, too, and what I did was use flightconnections to build an itinerary with connections that wouldn't have more than one segment. I plugged the cities into the tool without using the interactive map and got a valid itinerary. I hadn't thought of it, but you pointing out EF for flight selection will probably save me a lot more time than trying to use the tool.
The tool used to have blue squares for direct connections. Maybe they were just updating, although this would be a lousy time to try to keep up.
How many of these have you done? Should I purchase, this will be just my third, but I've planned probably 20, all stashed in my oneworld account, but pretty useless as I use positioning flights to get to better priced departure cities and maximize my segments in home country..:)
I appreciate you guys who always seem to be here and the invaluable service you supply to FTers.

I've lost track of how many multi-continents I've flown, but I do at least one per year, some years two, mostly DONEx, but on occasion DCIRxx. I did an ex-US ACIRxx last century, when it was much cheaper.

I'm comfortable with spreadsheets, so I find it very helpful when planning. I can build an itinerary (one segment per row) and see how the connections look in terms of not being too short and not being too long, and play with them (e.g., making a connection an overnight so I can sleep in a hotel), and I can duplicate a sheet and then tweak it. I often have 15-20 versions of an itinerary as I play with different routings, dates, flights. I put the positioning flights and connecting separate itineraries in the same spreadsheet, in different colors. Then, when I'm happy with an itinerary, I copy the flights into my calendar program as events, put the hotel stays in there as events in a different category, and add "enjoyment days" for the full days of enjoying being wherever. That helps me visualize the full thing, with days flying, days enjoying being in a destination, and hotels I'll need to book. When I'm ready to book the trip, I can call the AA RTW desk and read off the flights one by one, or email the itinerary to a travel agent, or try the online tool. You could do much the same just with pencil and paper if you're more comfortable that way. Maybe used lined paper and put one flight or stay in a destination per line.

This is something I have much interest in doing, likely a DONE5.

Would someone mind answering two questions?

With regards to the 16 segments, say my goal was to have a stopover in Washington, DC and a stopover in Appleton, WI. The only available OW route is WAS-ORD-ATW via AA. Does this count as one segment since I am only connecting in ORD? Or is it two segments? EDIT - or maybe this counts as a 'free' flight segment?

Is there a tool to determine what is the best FF flyer program to credit the flights? I figure if I am going to do this, I may as well benefit with OW status with some airline.

(This is a great thread. I appreciate the time and effort it took to put this together!)

2 segments.

http://www.wheretocredit.com/

Every flight number counts as a segment. As does "ground" segments

FFP's with earning based status are hard to calculate
AA has dedicated rules and also a thread in the AA subforum
Some ffp's require X flights on own airline. AA does not. X often 4

Short flights in DONE's are poor value: a waste of a segment. Usually better to buy for cash. The same segment could be used on a 5000 mile flight
Great Circle Mapper

Thanking both of you. (I wouldn't actually use this for a WAS-ATW routing...it was a quick example that came to mind because it is a regular AA route for me for business.)

Minor Updates to the Wiki
 

Changed "one visit to ANC" etc to "one visit to State of Alaska" etc – see Changes to the xONEx Rule Sheet

Updated the instructions to go to the full rule sheet on the oneworld web site (they keep changing the url of the Rule Sheet - so have posted instructions on how to always go to current version)

US domestic flights on DONE4 fare
 

Apologies for asking a dumb question but can someone please confirm the rules regarding booking US two class domestic flights. Am I correct in assuming that on DONE4 fare one can book into A class where no business class is offered .

Up until a few years ago, AA two-class domestic flights used first class booking codes (F/A/Z) for the premium cabin marketed as first class for domestic flights and business class for international flights. Now business class booking codes (J/D/I/C/U) are used.

The DONEx product requires booking into D on AA and AS flights.

Where are you seeing a domestic US two-class flight with A inventory?

The booking into A for 2 class flights still exists for QR intra-ME 2 class flights but as noted above is no longer available for AA and AS.
See 5(a) of the rules here:
https://assets.ctfassets.net/m9ph4qv...d-explorer.pdf

On page 4, it says that "Ground transportation services operated by/for BA/QF may not be included as part of the oneworld Explorer." What are those ground transportation services? I have never heard of a BA or QF bus or train.

off topic (AU QF history !)

Those 2 words again from history :D :rolleyes:

My guess would be the chauffeur service both offer or did offer at one time.

For example, see:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...-ba-first.html
https://www.qantas.com/content/dam/q...drive-faqs.pdf

Many thanks to everyone replying to my earlier question, this thread is a great resource for anyone planning a one world explorer itinerary. I was also wondering if anyone has experience in what happens when schedule changes and route cancellations subsequent to ticketing require an itinerary to be changed.

I have planned a DONE4 itinerary using all 16 available sectors but it wouldn't surprise me if at least one of the city pairs I'm planning ceases to be offered as a non-stop. In this case any reroute would involve adding another sector and take me over the 16 sector threshold. In such circumstances would such a change be allowed and if so would the answer be the same regardless of whether travel had commenced or not at the time of route cancellation.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

This has happened to me a number of times, as it happens, always with tickets purchased on AA stock. Up until last year, there was never a problem adding more segments to work around it. If travel had not yet started, then as a work-around to be able to issue a ticket (an e-ticket can only have 16 coupons), AA deleted some segments from the middle, added new segments, and re-issued the ticket. After I'd flown enough, the deleted segments were added back and the ticket reissued. However, last year I was told that AA would not allow more than 16 segments, period, no matter why. I was allowed to pick a substitute city that still had non-stop flights, but if I did so and the original flights were restored, I was told I'd have to pay a reroute fee if I wanted to switch back. Other airlines may be more accommodating.

If the flights are subject to EU Regulation 261/2004, then the operating airline has to re-route the passenger. This can of course be difficult if the ticketing airline refuses to co-operate. Don't many other countries also have laws requiring airlines to re-route passengers at no cost for the passenger? I thought that United States DOT rules and Canadian rules required re-routing the passenger if at least one flight arrives to or departs from the United States or Canada.

What happens if you do nothing and just show up at the airport in time for the cancelled flight?

My understanding is that for airlines not based in the E.U., this only applies for flights departing from the EU.

The US DOT requirement is that the passenger be offered alternative flights or a refund.

Since you don't hold a confirmed, ticketed reservation on a flight, you wouldn't get a BP. The check-in agent would probably explain that your flight was cancelled and suggest you call your airline.

In the old days, the airline that cancelled (or changed) a flight might take over the ticket and make changes for you, but willingness to do so has declined significantly in the past five or so years.

Who’s responsible for cancelled flight
 

I noticed that one of my flights with AA/AS from Heathrow to San Diego (via Seattle) in November, the AA leg was cancelled recently without me getting any notifications. I contacted MH yesterday as the first leg of my itinerary is with them, and the MH agent told me to contact Oneworld directly as they couldn’t make any changes to non MH flight. As Oneworld doesn’t seem to have any direct contact number I tried calling AA to see if they could help. The AA agent insisted that she could see the flight and it’s not canceled but she couldn’t tell why I’m no longer booked on that flight. She said there is nothing she could do as the ticket is not issued by them.

I tried MH again today and it’s been a nightmare dealing with them. I called 5 times and each time I got cut off after waiting ages for the agent to come back to me. Most of them seemed to have no clue about the RTW product. The last person I spoke to said that I might need to pay extra charges and then disappeared for 30 minutes to investigate. She then came back and said that the earliest flight she could find without any extra charges is the same AA flight 8 days later. She also said who ever issued me the ticket made a mistake as the ticket shouldn’t have been issued by MH, which I know is completely bonkers as it’s clearly stated by Oneworld the airline that flies the first leg is the issuing airline,

My understanding of the fare rule is that any changes to flights shouldn’t incur extra charges as long as it doesn’t require route change. Or is changing the transit point considered as routing change?

I can see 16 flight options on that day with either BA or AA via different transit point on the Oneworld planning tool but only one BA flight (AA code share) that transits via Seattle. So if I choose the AA code share flight I shouldn’t have to pay any fees
or fare difference?

Also isn’t AA responsible for finding me an alternative flight since they cancelled my original flight?

Pharaohnz Welcome to FT

The full route of your *ONE* ticket would help. [assuming it is a OW *ONE* ticket]
*ONE* tickets do not have transits points. Just a series of flights. Guess you had LHR-SEA(AA) and SEA-SJC(AS). Changing SEA would be a reroute. An involuntary change can be treated different by some airlines/phone agents, as to cost and applying all the rules. For a seat to be available on a reroute or reschedule(date) need to be in the same fare class (L D A). In the past AA have had agents who were good & knowledgeable about *ONE* rules.
Good luck.

Thanks and yes you are correct my ticket is LONE4. I wasn’t aware that there is no transit point with this type of ticket as the fare calculation in the e-ticket shows this which seems to suggest that they price transit differently than a stopover ? MEL MH X/KUL MH TPE JL TYO JL LON AA X/SEA AS SAN AS ORL AA DFW QF MEL

Even if there is no transit point with *ONE* ticket surely MH should still be able to change the LON/SEA leg from AA155 to BA49 on 22 Nov if I can see it as available on the Oneworld planner?

Also since it’s AA that cancelled the flight is it true that they can’t do anything since the ticket is not issued by them or it’s all luck of the draw which agent you speak to?

The route-date can effect real taxes that are paid to governments~regulatory authorities. For example less than 24hrs between can have less taxes. The UK APD is a well know difference. So need a tax recalculation. But that does not change *ONE* ticket routing rules.

For AA155 to BA49 date/flight number change, on the same LHR-SEA segment, needs to be L class available. Seen reports some airlines (agents) want the $125 change fee for this. But some years ago I did a similar change at no cost. I would try AA again, as you have other AA segments. For AS *ONE* have read QF does the ticketing. But many QF phone agents are hopeless now, and would have little to no experience with *ONE* tickets.

http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=MEL-KUL...=bm&PW=3&DU=mi
You are only using 9 segments. Years ago I did a *ONE* that had a 9 month "stopover" in MEL. Basically got a trip to DRW for the cost of cheapie MEL-SYD & ADL-MEL flights. The *ONE* started in SYD and ended in ADL 363 days later.

I tried calling AA again and the agent said she had to check with their resolutions desk. The answer was as expected that they couldn't do anything since the ticket was not issued by them. I don't know if calling their US number would make any difference as the AUS number seems to always go to their call centre in the Philippines, and the agents there either have no clue about *ONE* or not willing to help. I saw on the forum before that some people were able to get assistance from AA RTW desk but I don't know how you can contact them directly or if the team still exists.

I'm now waiting for MH to get back to me. I had to call their elite hotline as the normal helpdesk agents all said they had no access to the system to view *ONE* availability. Even with the elite hotline agent I had to be quite persistent to get anywhere. First I was told that since my booking was done online I need to manage it through their website and she couldn't change anything for me. After telling her that their website doesn't let me change flights, she then said because only the AA flight was cancelled I have to stick with AS from SEA - SAN, and there is no AA flight to SEA until 30th Nov. I told her I could see 15 other flights on 22nd on the Oneworld website for LON - SAN but she said she couldn't see any on her end. After a bit more back ane forth she finally could see those flights but since these are BA flights and not transiting through SEA she couldn't book any of those for me. I told here the BA flights are actually all code shared with AA so couldn't she just book it under AA. She said she has no authority to book code share flights and had to wait for her manager. She got back half a day later and asked for couple more days as they need to pass this to another department to liase with other airlines to see if they can get the seats and there is no guarantee.

I wish I could use up all 16 segments but I will be travelling with a toddler and newborn. I only booked *ONE* because I have to go to DFW and flights are ridiculously expensive from AUS to DFW at 2/3 the price of *ONE*

I have noticed that the base fare for *LONE4* has already gone up by AUD$300 this month since I booked it. Otherwise I would probably be better off just cancel the booking and rebook with another airline.

The problem you have is the lack of detailed knowledge about *ONE* t&c's by the phone agents. Far more common post CV19 with most(all?) airlines.

Changing LHR-SEA-SAN to LHR-SAN (non stop) would be a reissue.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Di...tional_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattl...tional_Airport

Certainly is past times could book/change prime-codeshare flights on *ONE*, without cost. The earnings on A D L fare buckets could be different depending on the marketing carrier(flight number) and frequent flyer program. Was therefore possible to increase ff earnings by a change prime-codeshare flight.

Intending to Revise the User Guide WIKI
 

Hi all
It's been nearly three years since I wrote the user guide wiki
Time for a review I think
Nothing major (the rules haven't changed), but just a tidy up, correct a few minor errors, express some aspects more clearly, and the like
Comments/suggestions are welcome :D

Introduction:
You may wish to modify comments about other alliance products as SkyTeam RTW has been suspended for a while now: https://www.skyteam.com/en/round-the-world-planner

Ticket Basics:
Update January 2020 ticket prices to current prices and perhaps additional/different originating points (this one's probably already on your list)

Last flight
 

7. MAXIMUM STAY
Return travel from the last stopover point must commence no later than 12 months after departure.

Hmmm ... 'no later than 12 months'. What does this mean in practice? If my first flight was 1 June, can the last flight be the following 1 June or does it have to be 31 May? (I've cut it close before but never this close.) TIA.

IME (limited to one case and it was a BA ticket) it would have been 31 May. As always, other airlines / different agents might have a different interpretation of the rule.