OW RTW First Losing Allure & Covenience
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Palm Beach/Hungary 3.9MM AA EXP, UA GOLD 1MM, DL PLT, MARR LIFE PLT
Posts: 238
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.
#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.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,637
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.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
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.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA PLT/5MM; AS MVP GLD 75K; DL DM; EK SLV; HHonors DIAM; Marriott GLD
Posts: 4,092
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.
#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
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,560
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!
#9
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: MCO/TPA AA EXP / 5.2 MM
Programs: AAEXP/Marriott Life Platinum
Posts: 374
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.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,639
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.
#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
#12
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
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.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,639
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).
#14
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA PLT/5MM; AS MVP GLD 75K; DL DM; EK SLV; HHonors DIAM; Marriott GLD
Posts: 4,092
Originally Posted by virtualtroy
Mainly because its F cabin usually comprises just 5 seats - total.
#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)