OW RTW First Losing Allure & Covenience
May 24, 2004 | 5:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: All over 4.2MM AA EXP, UA 1MM, DL PLT, MARR LIFE PLT
Posts: 247
OW RTW First Losing Allure & Covenience
I am a big fan of the RTW first 5 continent ticket on OW but I must say it is losing some of usefulness. For example:
LAX-AKL - Qantas has no first class, you must go to SYD and back again.
HKG-JNB- No more first on Cathay 13hrs 15min
Perth or ADL-HKG - Never offered first
Transatlantic AA - Only LHR and FRA-DFW have 777's with a first class. (I need to fly AA)
What would you do? Buy 1st and fly LAX -AKL in biz or go via SYD. I have no choice but biz to JNB? Even SYD-JNB did not have first.
LAX-AKL - Qantas has no first class, you must go to SYD and back again.
HKG-JNB- No more first on Cathay 13hrs 15min
Perth or ADL-HKG - Never offered first
Transatlantic AA - Only LHR and FRA-DFW have 777's with a first class. (I need to fly AA)
What would you do? Buy 1st and fly LAX -AKL in biz or go via SYD. I have no choice but biz to JNB? Even SYD-JNB did not have first.
May 24, 2004 | 6:04 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
Originally Posted by jm0754
Even SYD-JNB did not have first.
I'm booked in F JNB/SYD on July 10th. Let's hope it exists. When I flew SYD/JNB in 2003 the F seats were sold as J.
May 24, 2004 | 8:01 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,901
Originally Posted by jm0754
I am a big fan of the RTW first 5 continent ticket on OW but I must say it is losing some of usefulness. For example:
LAX-AKL - Qantas has no first class, you must go to SYD and back again.
HKG-JNB- No more first on Cathay 13hrs 15min
Perth or ADL-HKG - Never offered first
Transatlantic AA - Only LHR and FRA-DFW have 777's with a first class. (I need to fly AA)
What would you do? Buy 1st and fly LAX -AKL in biz or go via SYD. I have no choice but biz to JNB? Even SYD-JNB did not have first.
LAX-AKL - Qantas has no first class, you must go to SYD and back again.
HKG-JNB- No more first on Cathay 13hrs 15min
Perth or ADL-HKG - Never offered first
Transatlantic AA - Only LHR and FRA-DFW have 777's with a first class. (I need to fly AA)
What would you do? Buy 1st and fly LAX -AKL in biz or go via SYD. I have no choice but biz to JNB? Even SYD-JNB did not have first.
May 30, 2004 | 9:13 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-PP, HL-DM, MR-LTP, HY-LTG
Posts: 26,017
QF really cannot make up their mind as to when and if they will put F on the JNB-SYD route.
First they did. Then they didn't. So all seats had to be reassigned for a friend and his partner.. and then lo and behold, one day, QF decided that they will fly with F that day. Just as well that my friends have F class tickets.
First they did. Then they didn't. So all seats had to be reassigned for a friend and his partner.. and then lo and behold, one day, QF decided that they will fly with F that day. Just as well that my friends have F class tickets.
Jun 3, 2004 | 3:18 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA EXP/5MM; DL DM; HHonors DIAM; Marriott GLD
Posts: 4,132
Another couple of problems:
1) LA tends to be stingy with availability of F class seats for RTW's.
2) AA similarly can be difficult on int'l sectors, even when flights are showing plenty of availability for F fare bucket seats. Previously, I was able to get the EXP desk to pry a seat open... but I'm no longer EXP.
1) LA tends to be stingy with availability of F class seats for RTW's.
2) AA similarly can be difficult on int'l sectors, even when flights are showing plenty of availability for F fare bucket seats. Previously, I was able to get the EXP desk to pry a seat open... but I'm no longer EXP.
Jun 4, 2004 | 12:43 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2002
Programs: QF Platinum (OW Emerald); QF Lifestime Silver; BD Diamond Club Gold (*A Gold)
Posts: 4,786
Originally Posted by HKG_Flyer1
LA tends to be stingy with availability of F class seats for RTW's
Jun 8, 2004 | 9:54 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,588
On North America/Chile flights, I have had much better luck getting an "A" seat using the AA codeshare number on the LAN flights. I think LAN codeshares with IB on the Spain route, maybe the same would work for that flight. As for the Australia/NZ flight, I got an "A" seat on SYD-AKL in 2002 (dated, I know), under the QF number.
For LAN, always try the codeshare number!
For LAN, always try the codeshare number!
Jun 9, 2004 | 5:51 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: MCO/TPA
Programs: AA Life EXP 5.8 MM / UA Life Gold / Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 380
Agree
Originally Posted by jm0754
I am a big fan of the RTW first 5 continent ticket on OW but I must say it is losing some of usefulness.
Only 4 segments per continent also sucks, especially when it's necessary to go to a connecting hub like LHR or HKG.
Jun 9, 2004 | 7:26 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,641
Originally Posted by lpeterman
This Saturday I will start my 5th RTW AONE3/4 this year. I was not even able to get NRT-DFW, although there were plenty of F seats available. Had to do NRT-SJC on the return. LHR-HKG no problem.
Only 4 segments per continent also sucks, especially when it's necessary to go to a connecting hub like LHR or HKG.
Only 4 segments per continent also sucks, especially when it's necessary to go to a connecting hub like LHR or HKG.
Jun 10, 2004 | 3:44 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Ireland
Programs: AA PLT 2MM, IHG Plat
Posts: 3,566
Originally Posted by lpeterman
This Saturday I will start my 5th RTW AONE3/4 this year.
Last edited by oiRRio; Jun 10, 2004 at 3:47 am
Jun 10, 2004 | 5:19 am
#12
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,593
Originally Posted by lpeterman
Only 4 segments per continent also sucks, especially when it's necessary to go to a connecting hub like LHR or HKG.
Jun 10, 2004 | 7:25 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,641
Originally Posted by number_6
You can purchase 2 extra segments per continent very cheaply (but it doesn't increase the 20 segment limit for the entire trip, and no extra segments allowed in the continent of origin).
Jun 11, 2004 | 8:21 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA EXP/5MM; DL DM; HHonors DIAM; Marriott GLD
Posts: 4,132
Originally Posted by virtualtroy
Mainly because its F cabin usually comprises just 5 seats - total.
Jun 21, 2004 | 10:46 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: OW Emerald
Posts: 1,452
Originally Posted by jm0754
Transatlantic AA - Only LHR and FRA-DFW have 777's with a first class. (I need to fly AA)