RTW DONE4 ex Thailand.
 

After lurking on this board for some time I now feel brave enough to ask for help. The plan is to purchase 2 RTW DONE 4 ex BKK ( using FF points to get to BKK). Then BKK-PEK, PEK-KIX, surface NRT- MEL. Then over the course of the next few months, MEL-DRW, DRW-MEL, MEL- BME, BME-MEL and then the final part of the trip MEL-JFK ( transit HKG), JFK-DFW, DFW-BOS, BOS-SFO, SFO- LHR, LHR-CAI, CAI-LHR, LHR-IST, IST- LHR, LHR-BKK.
The plan is to buy the tickets from CX in BKK paying with AMEX to activate their travel insurance. If I contacted CX prior to arrival in BKK would they hold seats on the Asian part of the trip, as I am concerned re availability in D. The rest of the trip I would leave open. Would I then have to book the other sectors through CX in Australia? The main purpose of the trip is a holiday, split into 3 segments, but I would also like to maximise status credits with Qantas. Any comments gratefully received.

Welcome meadowfield,

A few comments about your plans:

When purchasing from BKK, you do not have to pay until th eticket is issued and the only requirement on a DONE4 for ticketing is 1 hour before the first departure. But you can hold reservations for any valid flights for as long as you like before ticketing, and seats can be allocated at the time of reservation not ticketing.

But we know from experience that the ticketing process for a comples DONE4 is not trivial and will likely take several hours, so allow enough time. But feel free to start the reservations as early as you like.

I can't find a BKK-PEK direct service on a OneWorld carrier. The best I can find is two sectors being CX to HKG and the DragonAir to PEK. DragonAir is not a OneWorld carrier and hence cannot be used on a OneWorld Explorer ticket.

Similarly, I can't find a PEK-KIX option for you on OneWorld Carriers.

You have two US Transcontinental flights included. MEL-JFK is not a single flight, so you either take QF93 MEL-LAX and QF107 LAX-JFK (using the US Trans-Continental) or a domestic MEL-SYD and the QF107 SYD-JFK in which case your US Trans-Continental is still available to you for BOS-SFO as planned.

Also note you can only do one Australian Trans-continental flight. These include flights between SYD/BNE/CNS and PER, as well as MEL/SYD and DRW. You have MEL-DRW-MEL which is two trans-continentals in Australia. Although MEL-BRM is not currently listed as a trans-continental flight, don't be surprised if it does get included now that QF are offering this as a non-stop service.

You can fly CX to PEK via HKG on Tues, Thurs and Sun.
BKK-HKG-PEK-HKG-KIX

deleted...

From my count of it there looks to be exactly 20 segments required for the flights listed (counting BKK-PEK as 2 segments, PEK-KIX as 2 segments and MEL-JFK as 2 segments).

Something that will be an issue though is this rule:
So you can fly from MEL-DRW, but can't come directly back unfortunately (though no exclusions have been added for BME......yet).

There has also been some debate in the past about the exact wording with the transit rule on Asia:
I haven't tried personally, but the consensus seemed to be that the transfer without stopover could only be used between SWP and EUR - but I'd say give it a try anyway for MEL-HKG-JFK - the rule is written in such a way that you could argue it, but you might have to settle for going MEL-LAX or MEL-HNL instead (but be sure to let us know if they allow MEL-HKG-JFK :) ).

Looks like you've done some great planning for the trip overall though, you're really maximising the miles and SC's, that's for sure! :D

BTW, meadowfield, you do not need to contact CX in each country to do your booking.. you may in fact do your entire booking with CX from where you're at now.. and just issue the ticket with them when you get to BKK. It's better that they have the entire intinerary with them when they issue the ticket. If you decide to leave any segments OPEN, you'd have to tell CX as well .. so that they know.

RTW DONE4 ex Thailand.
 

Many thanks for all the help so far. The Australian sectors obviously need changing. Am I correct in saying MEL-BME, BME-MEL , MEL-CNS, CNS-MEL at this point in time would be ok ?. Also, assuming the MEL-HKG-JFK with CX is not allowed,would the QF option SYD-JFK be the next best? Also, does anyone know if there is a web site where you can check D availability for flights? I can find sites that show business class availability, but not C or D as such. Thanks again for your help.

Yes, as far as I can see, these would be permitted under the rules. But expect MEL-BME to be added to the "one flight" list at some point in time. Note that MEL-PER is permitted, so many people use SYD-PER-MEL as the routing to the west.
Yes, if you use QF107 SYD-JFK it is seen as a single sector, even though transit through LAX. The benefit is that the LAX-JFK component is not seen as being your North American trans-continental flight, so you can still to BOS-SFO later. If you are short of sectors in SWP, you can just buy a cheap red-e-deal MEL-SYD to get you to SYD.
I use ITN for this. It is generally pretty good and if you go far enough through the reservation process you can see the available seat map which can help determine exactly which aircraft config is scheduled to operate a particular flight on the given day.

One other thing to keep in mind if you're looking to maximise SC's (at the expense of comfort) is if they let you have the Asia transit you'd get extra SC's if you went MEL-NRT-JFK - of course there's no sleeper beds on either segment in Business Class, so I guess it comes down to what would matter most for you. :)

The LHR departure tax will be huge (GBP 40 ?) - you may be best transitting LHR for your last flight.

Maybe paranoya, but I reckon QF will put DeathStar on the BME run sometime soon - especially now the A320s are rolling in and BME may not have the market to sustain J/D class.

I don't think it's paranoia at all - they've indicated future destinations for DeathStar include BME (along with other tourist destinations like AYQ and ASP in the outback - I'll be interested to see if DRW goes all J* though - that would certainly cause some issues if it did). Given BME doesn't have that many flights going there, it would be tough for them to split them between QF and JQ. Hmmmmm, methinks I'd best get up there sooner rather than later as well - roll on my next RTW! :D

DeathStar to DRW would be the absolute pits. It's bad enough in WHY at any time, but LRIWHY (less room in WHY) would be a nightmare - or a goldmine to Vermin.

Re: 2nd Asia stopover
 

I have tried to do a second Asia stopover at HKG twice, with opposing success. I tried to route back LHR-MEL after having already stopped in Asia, on an AONE4 issued by BA, and no matter how hard I tried with BA, it was absolutely refused. But I tried to have a second connection through Asia at HKG routing JFK-NRT on AA, then CX NRT-HKG-SYD on a DONE4 issued by CX, and asked QF to re-issue the ticket in SYD with that routing, and they did so. In general, I have found that BA is the least flexible in interpreting the rules, AA is somewhat flexible, and QF depends entirely upon the agent you get; most of the QF agents aren't that familiar with the RTW rules, and you can often bend them a bit. But if you get a really seasoned agent, you're likely out of luck.

The routing is now finalised BKK PEK ( via HKG), PEK KIX( VIA HKG), KIX MEL( via HKG), MEL BME, BME MEL, MEL CNS, CNS MEL, SYD JFK, LGA DFW, DFW BOS, BOS SFO, SFO LHR transit LHR CAI, CAI LHR transit LHR IST, IST LHR, LHR BKK, which I think uses all the segments. I have booked seats on the Asian and Australian segments using the Cathay office in Mel. So far , so good. But 2 weeks ago I emailed the routing to Cathay in BKK, and they replied that they would get their ticketing office to send a quote, which I am still waiting for, despite a couple of reminders. Traveller 2000 agency has sent 3 or 4 emails back asking to clarify the routing which I have tried to do, but they still can't seem to understand it, and Charlie connection hasn't replied at all. Am I missing something here?. All I want is a price. Should I try a different travel agent or oneworld ticket office? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

You only get 4 sectors in Asia and I add up more than 4:

BKK-HKG-PKK is two sectors (eg CX754 + CX 318)
PEK-HKG-KIX is another two sectors (eg CX317 + CX502)
KIX-HKG-MEL is another one Asia segmer KIX-HKG

making 5 Asia segments where only 4 are allowed.

I have just (literally) had a DONE4 ex-BKK ticketed and share your pain. Some place were happy to provide a quote via email. Others asked for routings and began arguing with me about validity - what that has to do with a price quote I don't know.

Then I decide to proceed with a TA and he started working with QF office in BKK to issue - they said they can't issue as I am not there - many phone calls to QFpremium desk etc... no idea why QF BKK was thinking they were issuing my ticket - all I wanted was for the TA to take over the reservation and ticket for me.

Anyway in the end I went with a TA - DONE4= 206750THB with approx 17000THB in taxes. There were cheaper quotes but either they were not responsibe (and I was coming up against a ticketing deadline by CX) or would then tack on a 3.1% cc fee. Above price does not incur a cc fee and is payable by Visa or MC.

I agree - this isn't a valid routing. You can't buy extra segments in the continent of origin.

QF status runs
 

Hi,

If I were on a QF status run, then I would be tempted to buy a single within Asia on the KIX to NRT and then take the 5000+ mile sector NRT to MEL as this is great for the status points. This would cost around US$500. The HKG to PEK return would cost around US$600 and HKG to KIX around US$900 return.

I assume that you want to go to CAI, there are a lot of Europe originator who start there but it is not the best value for status points with QFs as the Middle East Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat,Saudi, Kuwait all trip the 2700 mile mark on the long haul aircraft.

You will only pick up one departure tax from LHR as the others are all covered by transit rules, this being on your BKK sector.

If you have it issued already, what the hell...

Enjoy and I hope that you are not "done for" at the end of the trip.

Spotwelder

Thanks for the advice. I wanted to take the CX flight back to Mel, but forgot about the 4 segment limit. I'll change it to NRT MEL on QF. Spotwelder, surprisingly I actually want to SEE Cairo, rather than just get miles, but thanks for the tip, your right though, I'll be exhausted at the end. Now, if anyone can help with a travel agent in BKK I'll be eternally grateful.

Personally I'd just deal direct with CX:

Bangkok 11/F, Ploenchit Tower, 898 Ploenchit Road, Pathumwan, Lumpini, Bangkok 10330
Reservations: 66(2) 263-0606
Res. Fax: 66(2) 263-0622
Ticketing: 66(2) 263-0616
Ticketing Fax: 66(2) 263-0631

[QUOTE= Traveller 2000 agency has sent 3 or 4 emails back asking to clarify the routing which I have tried to do, but they still can't seem to understand it, and Charlie connection hasn't replied at all. Am I missing something here?. All I want is a price. Should I try a different travel agent or oneworld ticket office? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.[/QUOTE]

What was "Charlie connection" I am in Bangkok now looking into the issue of an RTW or two... talking to Traveller2000 but happy to look at competitve offers...

Let me know details and I can try to push a response

Unless you actually want to spend time in Bangkok visiting airline offices, I wouldn't deal direct with CX. I would recommend doing what I did earlier in the year. I held and priced flights with AA ( though any OW carrier would do ) and then had it taken over and ticketed by the travel agency "Circle of Aisa" in Bangkok who then sent the tickets to me via DHL. There was no need to spend a day in Bangkok; just flew the BA flight MEL-BKK on 1 ticket and continued on to London on on the same flight with the OWE ticket

Dave

Dave, I emailed " Circle of Asia" a few weeks ago and got the following reply

"First of all we are sorry to inform you that we are not the airline GSA so we do not issue the airline ticket. To make the confirmed reservation, ticket must be issued in advance as per date set by the airline. We may charge you by credit card but due to our VAT government tax and service charge you may find that our airfare is not cheaper that what you expect. "

retrav1K, Charlie connection details as follows, but I haven't received a reply from him.

Charlie Connection Travel & Tour Ltd.

office: +66 2 629 4260-2
Fax: +66 2 629 4261
E-Mail: [email protected]

49 Tanao Road Pranakorn
Bangkok 10200
Thailand

Yesterday I finished ticketing a DONE4 ex-BKK using Circle of Asia as per Dave Noble's recommendation. If it makes any difference my reservation was originally made with QF. If interested in direct contact details of agent you can PM Dave Noble or myself.

If you phone +662 254 1333and speak to Anant Kumar you should have no problems. I found him v professional and dealt with the ticketing in no time. Now you mention it, I do seem to recall that when I phoned the CoA number on the website they did give me another number to call

Dave

Sorry, I have yet another question. With the DONE4 ex BKK, would a valid routing in Asia be BKK-PEK ( via HKG) PEK-KIX( via HKG) KIX to HKG using JAL FF points not using the RTW ticket, and then HKG-MEL on CX? This will use 4 flight segments, not counting the HKG-MEL segment. Thanks in anticipation.

4 flight segments seems OK. I presume you will fit in the 2 stopover in continent of origin rule by stopovers in PEK and KIX whilst all visits to HKG will be <24 hours and therefore transits only - even when you run down to MEL?

If you wanted to stop in HKG, that would seem to be a problem, as that's 3 stopovers in continent of origin.

If you aren't staying in HK, then it may be in the gray area, as you'd have 2 stopovers plus an open-jaw. Does the open jaw count as a stopover? Very possibly, but I don't see anything in the rules that says one way or the other.

Here's what you could do: You could fly BKK-(HKG)-PEK, then PEK-(HKG)-NRT on your RTW. Take the fast train to wherever you want to go in the Kansai. If you wanted to visit Hong Kong, use that JL frequent flyer ticket to go KIX-HKG-NRT; if you didn't want to stay in HKG, take the train back to Tokyo. Then, fly QF NRT-MEL.

I disagree. An open jaw is one stopover, not two. So as far as the OW Explorer ticket is concerned you have:

BKK-xHKG-PEK <stopover>
PEK-(x)HKG-KIX <stopover>
HKG-MEL

That is OK on a OW Explorer ticket in my opinion.

Its ok in my opinion and that of the fare rules also. The KIX-HKG is seen as a "ground sector" for the purposes of OWE and part of the KIX stopover.

But as you have used all Asia segments and stopovers, you must return to BKK directly from the last continent, which is pretty simple with direct flights from both London, Sydney and Melbourne.