This is probably a silly question, but I didn't find it (admittedly I just skimmed the beginning and ending of the thread): If I check on expertflyer for a fare, it typically doesn't include the phony "fuel charges." Will I be assessed these charges on a RTW explorer? If so, on what basis is it assessed:

a. Airline who books the ticket.

b. On a segment by segment basis.

c. Based on which airline flies the first segment.

etc.

Not silly at all, and it's one of the great mysteries (and sources of grief) in the whole business.

Answers:

a. Yes.
b. Yes.
c. Yes.

Usually, (a) and (c) are the same, and (b) is increasingly contingent on (a.) In particular you will likely be charged more in fuel fines - total - by British Airways if they're ticketing and/or flying the first segment, as they will assess surcharges "downstream" on other carriers' flights.

AA is less prone to do so, although they will happily pass through fuel surcharges on BA-flown segments (with or without AA codeshare designations.) I don't know that the data base is broad enough to speak in general terms on tickets issued by other OW airlines. AA does proxy booking on JL and RJ - initiated RTWs, but the online tool is very buggy in these cases, so while it might seem like those tickets suffer less from fuel fines, actually consummating the sale online with these carriers is problematic.

As of now, nobody has cracked the code on how best (which also relates to where best) to avoid excessive fuel fines - a lot of it is trial and error using the (buggy) online booking tool. In addition, of course, the possible permutations of itineraries (with and without stopovers, open segments, etc.) is in the ?millions? so a comprehensive road map is probably out of the question.

Anecdotal experience with having the AA RTW desk issue tickets irrespective of the first carrier (i.e. as a work-around for the online tool) is mixed; I've had them quote me a higher total (related to more YQ) than the online tool on the same itinerary, also less. Quite frustrating, in fact.

Please help me save taxes of $1,966 on fare of $1,296
 

Thanks to earlier tips, in particular to Himeno, I finally got an ex Khartoum LONE4 (excludes Africa and North America) to work on the online site. However taxes are enormous probably because of a couple of BA flights?

Itinerary:
Khartoum-Amman (RJ)-Barcelona(RJ)-Madrid (IB)-RIO(IB)-Santiego(Lan)-Sydney(QF)- Auckland (QF)-Brisbane (QF)-Darwin(QF)-Perth(QF)-HK(CX)-BKK(CX)-HK(RJ)-DEL(CX)-LON(BA)-DXB (BA)
* Lon-Dxb leaves the same day as arrival from DEL so the London tax should be avoided.

Of the $1966 - $894 is "Airline Fuel Surcharge", $277 "Multiple Surcharges" SDEM -$129, Australia Passenger movement charge $115, Australian Passenger Service charge $94.

Also any tips on improving the itinerary to make better use of segments welcomed as well as reducing the taxes.

Finally, I thought that the 7 day advance booking requirement was only if the trip started in US? The online planner wont let me book anything departing earlier than 28th.

Thanks for your help.

KRT-AMM-MAD-RIO-SCL-SYD

you could do

LA SCL-JFK
QF JFK-SYD (unless u want to completely avoid USA)

PER-HKG-BKK-HKG-DEL-LHR could be changed to

CX/QF PER-HKG
CX/RJ HKG-BKK
CX BKK-DEL
JL DEL-NRT-LHR

Thanks Fumitani. Its been a good days work. I have managed to reduce the $1,966 to just under $1,000. The main culprits were 2 BA flights and a Qantas flight - the exact same flight under Lan was over $300 cheaper in taxes. itasoftware was very useful in checking taxes for the same flights under different carrier.
I now have:

Cabin Class : BUSINESS

Number of Continents 4
Number of Segments: 15
Number of Stopovers : 11
Routing: KRT (RJ)-AMM(IB) -MAD (LAN) -LIM (LAN)-SCL--SCL(LAN)-SYD (QF)-BNE (QF)-DRW(QF)-PER(CX)-HKG(CX)-BKK(JL)-NRT(JL)-DEL(AY)-HEL(AY)-DXB
I really wanted to get back to London but the taxes for BA flights are extortionate.

Any suggestions for improvement greatly appreciated.



Questions I have left are

1. Does "Canada Pricing" still result in a much lower fare? Online, I have got to $2788 +$1,002 for a DONE4 EX Khartoum. I am in the UK. If Canada Pricing works, what do I need to do?

2. Online, I get all the way to the credit card page for a DONR4 ex Khartoum. Has anyone managed to buy it online? I saw some posts with issues.

3. Which mileage programme should I use for this trip - AA or BA to accumulate the most useful points - I have no status anywhere. I dont have any AA flights as I am skipping North America. Is there a website which will calculate for me?

4. Lastly, I have quite a few stops in Australia - would I do better to fly some of these segments using a low cost airline and save some for say China?

Thanks again. I think I am nearly there.

You might want to avoid that Finnair HEL-DXB flight. I looked at the same thing earlier when I was planning my trip for this year. When I asked about the flight in the Finnair forum, they said the avoid it due to the aircraft config. You could look at something like HEL-DUS-AUH.

This is the "Canadian Exception" as noted in the fare rules.
In order to make use of it, you either need to go to Canada and buy it there yourself (many people in the US do this, fly into a Canadian airport, go to the AA ticket counter, pay, then fly back to the US) or via a Canadian travel agent. There are contact details in this forum for an agent in Toronto who will provide this service. You will need to call the AA RTW desk and set up the ticket, telling them it is for sale in Canada. Then once that's done, contact the agent and give the PNR. They'll then take over the booking and accept payment, along with their service fee.

The problem is related to AA ticketing for JL and RJ. When AA tickets, but they don't operate the first flight, the tool tends to fail.

Try checking out http://www.slfft.org/0.95022/award.htm

Himeno
Thanks for your continuing help. Please can I play back my understanding of the Canadian Exception.

I have setup an online itinerary starting out in Sudan for the cheap price. It comes to $2788+taxes. Because the first flight is on RJ I won't he able to book on line. I am in London UK.

If I then call AAs RTW team they will charge me the price for starting from the UK and I will lose the advantage of the low price for starting from Sudan. However if I ask them to set it up for it to be ticketed in Canada I will pay in C$ the equivalent of $2788+taxes. Correct? Is Naseem the agent to use in Canada?

Finally, if my credit card details do magically work online on the AA website, will I be charged the $2708+taxes or the London based price.

I have my Sudanese visa and I am good to go!

You should be able to, in theory. The is a bug in the tool (for at least the past 16 months) preventing such bookings from completing.

More or less.
If you ticket it over the phone with the RTW desk, or at the AA ticket counter at LHR, you will pay the UK price.
You call the RTW desk in Dallas (+1-800-247-3247, Mon-Fri 0700-2000, Sat&Sun 0900-1730 UTC-6) tell them what flights you want and say that you will be paying in Canada.
They will give you the PNR and send it to their rates desk to get priced.
You can use the PNR to look up the booking on aa.com to review it. If there are any issues, call them back to fix.
Email naeem ([email protected]) with the PNR AA gave you.
Naeem will take control of the booking from AA and will contact you with the price. He will add his agency service fee. When I went to him last year, the fee was $75CAD.
Once he has confirmed the price, organize payment.

The taxes you get quoted via the AA desk will likely be a little more then what the tool tells you.

Thanks Himeno. I understand now.

Why can't I?
 

Why can't I book LAN operated LA 801 SCL-AKL (5 OCT)? The only option the online planner gives me is QF322. The taxes on this are over $300 higher! Any suggestions on how to get round this?

Similarly I notice that quite often the AA codeshare doesn't show up although I can see it on ITA Matrix. I am considering paying for a Platinum Challenge (the route totals 40k miles so should be worth it) but as the early flights are on SJ and LAN I am missing out on a lot of mileage. Will the AA agent be able to choose the AA numbered alternative flights instead?

My revised trip is as follows. I am avoiding the US to keep it to 4 continents. I have revised it significantly to make use of low cost carriers (AirAsia for eg) rather than burn one of the RTW segments. My taxes come to $1400 (two biggies - BA to London and SCL-AKL above).

Any final improvements welcomed. I am hoping to book this evening.
Thanks for all the help.
Joe

Cabin Class : BUSINESS

Number of Continents 4
Number of Segments: 16
Number of Stopovers : 12
Routing: KRT-AMM-LHR-LIM--LIM-IPC-SCL-AKL-SYD-DRW-PER-SIN-NRT-PEK-HKG-HEL-DXB


Sector 1
From/To: KRT - AMM
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 09/09/2012
Arrive Date: 09/09/2012
Flight No: RJ 511 (operated by Royal Jordanian)
Depart Time: 05:25
Arrive Time: 08:15
Booking Class: D

Sector 2
From/To: AMM - LON
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 09/11/2012
Arrive Date: 09/11/2012
Flight No: RJ 111 (operated by Royal Jordanian)
Depart Time: 11:50
Arrive Time: 15:25
Booking Class: D

Sector 3
From/To: LON - RIO
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 09/12/2012
Arrive Date: 09/12/2012
Flight No: BA 249 (operated by British Airways)
Depart Time: 13:15
Arrive Time: 20:55
Booking Class: D

Sector4
Other means or transportation chosen for this leg of your itinerary From/To: RIO, BR - LIM, PE


Sector 5
From/To: LIM - IPC
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 09/30/2012
Arrive Date: 09/30/2012
Flight No: LA 848 (operated by LAN Airlines)
Depart Time: 01:20
Arrive Time: 06:55
Booking Class: D

Sector 6
From/To: IPC - SCL
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 10/03/2012
Arrive Date: 10/03/2012
Flight No: LA 848 (operated by LAN Airlines)
Depart Time: 07:55
Arrive Time: 14:40
Booking Class: D

Sector 7
From/To: SCL - AKL
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 10/05/2012
Arrive Date: 10/07/2012
Flight No: QF 322 * (Qantas operated by LAN Airlines)
Depart Time: 23:25
Arrive Time: 04:35
Booking Class: D

Sector 8
From/To: AKL - SYD
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 10/12/2012
Arrive Date: 10/12/2012
Flight No: LA 801 (operated by LAN Airlines)
Depart Time: 06:05
Arrive Time: 07:45
Booking Class: D

Sector 9
From/To: SYD - DRW
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 10/19/2012
Arrive Date: 10/19/2012
Flight No: QF 842 (operated by Qantas)
Depart Time: 11:25
Arrive Time: 14:35
Booking Class: D

Sector 10
From/To: DRW - PER
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 10/26/2012
Arrive Date: 10/26/2012
Flight No: QF 793 (operated by Qantas)
Depart Time: 14:20
Arrive Time: 16:50
Booking Class: D

Sector 11
From/To: PER - SIN
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 11/02/2012
Arrive Date: 11/02/2012
Flight No: QF 77 (operated by Qantas)
Depart Time: 12:20
Arrive Time: 17:40
Booking Class: D

Sector 12
From/To: SIN - TYO
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 01/10/2013
Arrive Date: 01/10/2013
Flight No: JL 710 (operated by JAL)
Depart Time: 01:55
Arrive Time: 09:40
Booking Class: D

Sector 13
From/To: TYO - BJS
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 01/12/2013
Arrive Date: 01/12/2013
Flight No: JL 863 (operated by JAL)
Depart Time: 10:35
Arrive Time: 14:00
Booking Class: D

Sector 14
From/To: BJS - HKG
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 01/23/2013
Arrive Date: 01/23/2013
Flight No: CX 391 (operated by Cathay Pacific Airways)
Depart Time: 13:30
Arrive Time: 17:10
Booking Class: D

Sector 15
From/To: HKG - HEL
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 01/31/2013
Arrive Date: 01/31/2013
Flight No: AY 70 (operated by Finnair)
Depart Time: 01:20
Arrive Time: 06:20
Booking Class: D

Sector 16
From/To: HEL - DXB
Stops: 0
Depart Date: 01/31/2013
Arrive Date: 01/31/2013
Flight No: AY 965 (operated by Finnair)
Depart Time: 09:45
Arrive Time: 18:00
Booking Class: D

The online tool will only show flights which have the needed booking class available. If D on LA801/5OCT is not available, the tool with either offer a downgrade to L, or nothing. Try a different date.

Like I said before, you might want to consider avoiding that flight. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/finna...dubai-75w.html

Thanks again Himeno.

Yes you did warn me about the HEL-DXB flight but I am really struggling to get back to Middle East to end the trip. HEL-DUS-AUH you suggested costs an extra segment. Chances are I will finish in HEL and throw away the last segment. Ideally I'd like to get back to London or close but that adds hundreds to the taxes.

Re. "The online tool will only show flights which have the needed booking class available. If D on LA801/5OCT is not available, the tool with either offer a downgrade to L, or nothing. Try a different date."

OK - I didn't realise that each codesharing airline has its own quota and you are right LA801/5OCT is not available but QF322 is. However if I check on flightstats for LA801/6OCT it shows D availability of 4 but it still doesn't come up on the planner:
http://www.flightstats.com/go/Flight...areClassCodes=


(LA) Lan Airlines 801
Departs:11:50 PMSCL Arturo Merino Benitez Airport
Arrives:4:00 AMAKL Auckland International Airport
Equip:340

0.15 out of 5
Available Seats:
First: n/a Business: 9 (at least) Coach: 9 (at least) Other: n/a
Fare Classes: J/4 D/4 I/9 Y/9 B/9 H/9 K/9 M/9 L/0 V/0 S/0 N/0 Q/0 O/0 X/0

Himeno
Thanks for all your help. Made the booking by calling the RTW desk. The agent was not happy as there is no AA segment but finally made an exception when I suggested AA do the booking for RJ - she said they don't anymore.

When I look up the booking on AA.com it shows up as a hold. However it doesnt display the fare and the taxes - "We are unable to access the fare summary for this reservation. Please contact AA Reservations." and needs to be ticketed by 31st.

Is the fare and tax info going to be updated online - if so how long does it take? I wanted to check before sending to Canada agent for ticketing.

The only reason they "don't any more" is because the tool fails when anyone tries it. Oneworld still maintains that AA tickets for RJ and JL.

I doubt it. In my experience, if a booking is made offline, the online booking management is limited. You can call them back later (after it has been returned from the rates desk) to get the final price, or you can send it to the agent and he will let you know the price.


As for availability... Different markets have different availability. I could view a flight for purchase in Australia and see different availability then someone in SIN looking at the same flight.
Last year, I had to replan my trip while on the phone to the AA RTW desk because the online tool and Expert Flyer saw the RJ JFK-AMM flight as available (D1) while the AA desk saw both the RJ code and AA code as booked out.

Thanks again. What do you mean by "(after it has been returned from the rates desk)". The agent gave me a PNR and I received an email as well. How do I know its been returned from the rates desk? - how long does it typically take. I made the reservation close to Dallas RTW closing time.