LONE5: what EXACTLY is a segment? and a couple of other dumb questions.
 

Planning RTW from Australia. Thought I had the whole thing sorted, but looks like I have more planning to do from trawling through some of these posts.

Already Platinum, so I care more about points than SC's. Also keen to use all 20 segments.

Questions:
1. What eactly is a segment? I think I am right in assuming that it is one segment so long as the flight number doesn't change - eg LA 601 LAX-LIM-SCL is one segment, not two???
2. Best way to come back from the US to AKL?
3. QF codeshare on AA flights seem to be resticted to trabnsfers from longhaul QF flights - correct? Are there any other code share options available on AA within US worth exploring.
4. My strategy is to maximise QF flights, avoid BA and AA, and use others as a compromise where necessary. Makes sense I think?
5. Anyway to get to SGN or anywhere in Indochina (CX flights b/w HKG and Vietnem are excluded).

Any other tips gratefully recieved. Many Thanks.

1. Correct, this is one segment. As long as the flight # doesn't change it is considered one segment, even if there is a change of plane. Of course you will only get mileage/status credit from A-C, not A-B and B-C.
2. Several options here. LAX-AKL is the easiest, also LAX-SYD-AKL or even LAX-HNL-SYD-AKL. You could also do LAX-HKG-AKL (better for status credit) but only if you do not stopover in Asia on the way to Europe. You could also go via south america, LAX-SCL-AKL (SCL-AKL is a QF codeshare and LAX-SCL will earn miles in L).
3. You should be able to use any QF codeshare on AA if using a RTW ticket.
4. Makes sense, best for mileage earning if only flying on a LONE.
5. Flying into BKK/SIN and buying a separate ticket may be the only choice here.

Hauteboy - thanks for speedy response.

On 3, QF website says

"This service is operated by American Airlines. Bookings cannot be made on Qantas for Internal USA Domestic flights, unless they are booked in conjunction with a Qantas International service to/from the USA".

I should be fine, probably going LAX-? on QF. QANTAS say no, but I'm inclined to put that down to a below par consultant at QF.

Thanks again!

you may enter Asia twice on SYD-LHR and then back LAX-SYD but getting the TA's to agree is a bit hard..

Note that if you start in Australia, you can't return LAX-SYD-AKL-Australia or USA-HNL-SYD-AKL-Australia. You cannot leave the country of origin twice. So your only option to hit NZ on the way back to Australia is LAX-AKL. This also means HNL is not an option for you since you can't back-track to the USA mainland after HNL and there is no flight option HNL-NZ.

But you can do NZ on the outbound journey. Something like Australia-AKL-HKG-Asia-Europe-USA-Australia or Australia-AKL-HKG-USA-Europe-ASIA-Australia.

Definately look to use AY for European sectors and use HEL as a hub (at least for their summer months). You can still go to/through LHR using QF or CX from Asia and then AY LHR-HEL. AY can also get you trans-Atlantic into JFK.

Okay, the plan has progressed a little. Thanks for all your help so far!Comments on the following, please:

Seg1................PER-SYD
Seg2................SYD-BKK
Seg3................BKK-LHR
Seg4,5,6...........(internal Europe)
Seg7,8..............HEL-HKG-Vancouver (transit only in HKG)
Seg9,10,11........(still working on internal Nth Am)
Seg12...............JFK-SCL
Seg13,14,15,16..(internal Sth Am)
Seg17,18...........SCL-LAX-AKL (transit only in LAX)
Seg19...............AKL-SYD
Seg20...............CBR-PER

Particulrly interested in views oin validity of Seg3 and Seg7,8. I'm pretty sure it would be fine if BKK in seg3 was just a transit stop, and HKG in seg 8 was a stopover, but I want to do it the otherway around if possible (ie stopover in BKK on the way to Europe rather than HKG after Europe.

Also, seen a few comments like, "might be hard getting your TA to agree". Any suggestions about tackling travel agents.

Thanks in inticipation of more good advice.

Thanks

make sure you take a copy of the rules with you,

syd-lhr would also be 1 seg not 2 if you transited on a sgl flight no.

"syd-lhr would also be 1 seg not 2 if you transited on a sgl flight no."

but not if I stopover in BKK, right?

yes

if you have to route SYD-LHR
can you not do HEL-BKK-HKG this would not use any more segs.

thanks, but i have just realised I have a more fundamental problem ... proposed itinery crosses pacific twice ... I might sleep on it and try again tomorrow. thanks for yr help ajinlondon.

You cannot do SYD-LHR (via Asia) and do HEL-HKG-YVR. The SYD-LHR is heading west, while HEL-HKG-YVR is heading east.

For a OneWorld Explorer, there are basically three areas that are of concern to routing. These areas are:

• South West Pacific (Aust + NZ) and Asia
• Europe and Africa
• North America and South America

You have to move between these areas in an eastward or westward direction.

Also note that a sector is actually one coupon in your book of tickets. So if you are ticketed on QF1 SYD-BKK on one coupon, and then QF1 BKK-LHR on another coupon, even if its the same day, same flight continuation, that would still be two sectors. So you need to ensure that it is booked as QF1 SYD-LHR and not QF1 SYD-BKK-LHR (if you don't intend to use BKK as a stopover).

it would be ok for you to enter asia after the US.
i wasn't really thinking about the specific rule about HEL-HKG etc

Yes, remember the RTW is "round the world". You basically have to cross the Atlantic once and the pacific once (your itinerary doesn't cross the atlantic at all). I think there are other products such as the Circle Pacific fare that might suit you better, though I'm not sure if you can do Europe on that one.