Yes, of course you are right-- I should have mentioned that important caveat. But I was quite surprised with their answer-- I personally was also under the impression that that first date was "cast in stone" as well-- only to find out that it isn't the case. I'll start it up later in the year.

Even with one of my ex-JNB AONE6s purchased here (during the "good old days") I spoke to BA and they changed my starting date w/o any hassle whatsoever-- none. But in that case, BA was definitely acting differently that "the rules" from what I could gather.

Just slightly off-topic, but I do have a RTW-related question burning under my fingernails.

First, when I got my ticket, I already felt lucky that they allowed CAI-BCN LHR-DXB-LHR MAD-CAI on my ex-CAI DONE3. (They forgot to count a ground-segment). Then, I was able to use two coupons for DFW-PIT-DFW rather than DFW-CLE-DFW without reissuing. First flight I had to go to PIT directly because of an immediate death in the family, so they rerouted me at the airport for free. That was very nice. On the flight back I changed my res to fly back from PIT and was advised I would need a reissue. I got to the airport too late and was very lucky nobody really looked closely at my ticket. So, no reissue. Then I got the ticket reissued in LAX to go HKG-FRA LON-DXB-LON MAD-CAI. That was perfect, since I was getting in trouble to get from LON to Germany. I am very very happy that I was able to go to FRA. But I also just found out that in fact that was another extra ground segment that was over the limit.

Now, the bummer. Checking-in for my feeder flight to HKG (a day later than planned, I had missed the flight I was ticketed for I asked wether I could go straight to FRA without going to CMB, since I had to cancel that trip. (I had a HKG-CMB-HKG in there for the miles). She said fine, but you have to pay the local departure tax. Whatever. So I just skipped two coupons, and still have them. Oh, unfortunately they aren't open-dated anymore, since the agent in LAX didn't know how to do those.

My question is, how high is the risk of getting caught if I try to use HKG-CMB-HKG in a couple of weeks? Is that asking too much from my luck? What could happen worst-case?

Absolutely no chance, and you'll probably get blacklisted by CX if you try. Don't be a complete ****wit.

And you have the rules completely wrong - ground segments don't count, so nobody has made any mistakes so far except you, as far as I can tell.

Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it. I also would appreciate a little friendlier tone in your post ...

This is where I was told on this board that my itinerary was not legal because of two many ground segments, as they count as stop-overs.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...7&page=2&pp=15

Does anybody have personal or hearsay experiences with out-of-order coupons?

Best not to discuss in this very public forum. I'll drop you a P.M. (with a MUCH friendlier tone.)

Perhaps I am in a minority, but my purpose in being here is to extract maximum value from OW tickets whilst staying within the rules. Discussions on how to defraud airlines have no place here IMO (and presumably anyone partaking in such discussions is inherently guilty of conspiracy to defraud).

Count me in the minority as well. Max value within the printed rules. My concern is when the airlines don't follow their own rules.

Of course we are on opinions now, but I wouldn't have considered it fraudulent. After all, I paid for those coupons.

However, I do appreciate your opinion and totally accept it. Also, thanks for your advice. That's why I asked.

But when you bought the coupons you did so subject to the T&Cs of the ONE fare. If the coupons in question had been part of a full-fare unrestricted ticket then of course you can effectively use them out of sequence (in practice by getting a full refund and reissue).

Up about five or six posts, Christep states that ground segments do not count as stopovers on an OWE. Did I read that correctly? CAI-MAD // LHR-DXB counts as two segments, no stopovers (exept perhaps at DXB, depending on what comes next)?

Not a lifetime's supply, but you can stretch it to almost two years. I bought four ex-CAI AONEs before the big price rise in Jan 04 for travel beginning in Nov 04. The last segment must begin within 365 days of the first one, so theoretically one could purchase tickets on Jan 1, travel on Dec 31 with the last segment the following Dec 30.

Could I ask again if anyone knows where to find the LATEST OWE rules? Thanks.

No - that's not what I meant (although I see it could be interpreted that way). What I meant was that there is no rule limiting or based round ground segments per se. The rule is about stopovers. But a ground segment does imply a single stopover. Your example is two segments, one stopover, plus perhaps DXB.

I bought my OWE a few days ago, and I have the latest rules in hand. I also bought one of these the year before. Other than the maximum of 20 segments overall, and the switch from M to L for economy fares, I don't see major changes. The old rules have the right info regarding limitation on USA transcons, Australia flights to Darwin and Perth, 2 stops in continent of origin, extra transit stop between continents in NA & Asia, etc.. Until someone points you at a copy online, if you have a question ask here.