Enforcement of stopover rules on opendated tix
 

I was just wondering how the stopover limits (eg 2 per continent of origin) are enforced in practice with open dated tickets?

For instance my current DONE4 started in Aus. I used my 2 stopovers before leaving for NA. I now have remaining segments of LHR-MEL-SYD to take me back to city of origin. According to the rules, I can only transit MEL.

Now although I thought this was going to be an issue for me, it turns out it won't. But I am still left to wonder how on earth a check in agent (almost certainly unfamiliar with RTW rules) would know - eg I booked LHR-MEL and then MEL-SYD for a later date. When I checked in for MEL-SYD I am very doubtful whether the check in agent would know any better. I have the coupon - it's open dated and I have the reservation.

I can foresee a similar issue with transit rules for Asia en-route Europe to SWP (having been to Asia already).

Any thoughts?

The res agent is supposed to be the gatekeeper. If the one you call isn't familiar with OWE rules they typically send you to the rtw desk. Not that you can't get lucky.

I am in the exact same situation. My AONE5 originated in CAI and I used two stopovers in LHR and FRA before heading to North America. I have an open dated segment to DXB that I want to use sometime after I return to Europe from Australia. Since AA RTW made all the reservations and handled the ticketing, I am considering making the reservation for this last segment directly with BA, as I figure I stand a better chance of it slipping through that way. Do you think I have a shot?

I think your best bet is trying right at an airport, preferably a bigger one where the agents won't be too terrified, but also not one where they are too experienced.

BA might also work. Good luck!

BA probably won't be willing to mess with the reservation, as they don't "have" it. I've had luck getting CX to do a res for me on a BA ticket. They needed the ticket number for a PNR they created for that segment, and I got the idea they were more or less doing me a favor. A less enlightened carrier might have refused.

If AA's only rtw desk is at DFW I suggest you call when they're sure to be closed. If an ordinary agent is willing to help you, and you explain that you have this open-dated (first class?) ticket and now want to pick a date, they might think it was an inoccuous enough request to do it for you. I've had that happen with an ordinary BA agent on a BA ticket that did happen to be inoccuous (but he screwed it up.)

No doubt it will work out no matter who you talk to, but unless you're totally immune from worrying about anything, it's a crummy spot to put yourself into. Not that there's ever been a recorded instance of enforcement, but you will have violated the ticket conditions and the alliance will technically have your most prized possessions firmly in their grip, well within their right to squeeze as they see fit.

The transit segment will have a 'x' in the x/o box on the ticket. An alert check-in agent in LHR might notice that you aren't connecting in MEL and could refuse to check you in, until you either rebook your flights or get your ticket reissued. This won't require any knowledge of RTW rules.

My ticket is actually written with an "O" for the DXB segment, so on the face of the ticket, I am entitled to a stopover. AA RTW knows that I have not made a reservation for the DXB segment, and has not once said anything to me about it having to be a connection. My other option is to not make a reservation until after I am done with the rest of the ticket and then plead ignorance as the ticket does indicate I was entitled to stop over. Not sure this is a good idea, as it will definately alert them to the problem and, if they don't allow me to fly the last segment, they would have both a right to seek a higher fare and the knowledge of the problem.

I don't think they would catch this error unless you say something which makes either the reservation agent or the check-in agent research your whole itinerary (including previously flown segments), to see if it conforms to all the RTW rules.

You could call the AA RTW desk, point out their error, and ask for a reimbursement of GBP 40 in LHR airport taxes. That would be another option :).

But then since when has anyone on res frontline known the rules, let alone tarriffs (sorry, still bitter from recent AA experience)

If you have an o there then you have 0 problems - unless of course you need to have the ticket re-issued.

Perhaps ymmv, but AA has some experienced staff on their rtw desk that seem to know the rules as well as the FT wizards. By my limited sampling, only Cathay res compares with them for skill. BA seems to have lost its experienced people, and I'd swear QF is training their people to a whole different set of rules more advantageous to the carrier.

If "frontline" is non-rtw res, then agreed.

I bought a OWE ticket last year, and then again a few days ago, from the Qantas main office in Sydney. They were spot on with all the rules. I changed my ticket twice with American Airlines during the course of the year, and they were also totally on top of the rules.

Interesting that Qantas would have people trained in OWE rules manning a cto, where the walk-in trade would almost never include a pax needing that kind of skill. Or maybe not so, since Aussies are among the best-traveled people in the world?

Re-issuing an OWE at BA/LAX I got just the opposite response. The agent did the deed, but complained that "we never see these" and counted on me to assure her that what I was doing was okay and the only charge was the USD75.

My DONE4 has no x's nor o's in any of these boxes for any of the segments. Are these supposed to be there?

It sounds as if your ticket had been handwritten! I've seen some pretty horrific hand written RTW tickets in the past. I'm surprised that the airlines actually accept them that way. I wouldnt' if I'm an agent at the airport.