Seems like a good project for someone to try out, along with (if my memory is correct), Air Berlin still being the only OW carrier for which EF will quote for RTW flights out of Karthoum ;)

Anyone know how much the circle-Pacific fares are exHKG?

AB pulled that fare.

You might be able to get someone like Amex Travel to do it, or find a local agent in MPT.

AS = circle Asia and Southwest Pacific (13 k or 17 k miles)
CIR = circle Pacific Explorer (22 k or 26 k miles)
CIR29SA = circle Pacific Explorer + South America (29 k miles)

As far as I can tell, EF seems to be showing the same prices for purchases in London and Hong Kong. This seems strange. Does anyone know if CX or BA in Hong Kong will issue this ticket with a non-HK credit card? In the past, I got circle ex-HKG fares from the AA office in HK, but I assume that doesn't work anymore.

That's right. This "don't sell the fare cheaper" rule is not implemented in the GDS system. The airline could publish each tariff separately by city but it's probably not worth it for the small volume of sales they make. Remember the rule is "sell at the local rate only if the local rate is more expensive than the fare in the originating city" ... it's not that easy to do.


Yes, BA will even accept cash if you want ;)

I am thinking of taking UL flight with the route PVG - CMB - BKK as part of my round the world ticket. In order to get to PVG i would need to fly on separate ticket with JL. UL has only 1 flight per day and my connection time in PVG will be 2 hours 20 min, just shy of MCT of 2 hours. If I miss the UL flight due to delay on my previous flight and would need to reroute my flight to BKK via different connecting city (say, KUL or hKG) will this be treated as route change & ticket reissuance and incurring fee? Will the staff at the airport knowledgeable enough to do this whole thing? Just afraid as this would be midnight and PVG is not known as the most punctual airport...

Yes. UL may waive the fee ... or they may not. Strictly, a no-show fee applies.

Quite possibly not. The UL staff will be local contractors and may not have deep knowledge of RTW ticket rules.

May not? I don't see any chance at all that local contractors, non-UL employees will have any idea what a DONE4 is. Heck, most staff at OW member carriers don't.

If the local contractors are able to read fare information, they will see how to reissue the ticket properly in the voluntary changes category.

If the local contractors are KA/CX or JL agents, they will already know how to do it :)

I agree that it would be unwise to rely on either of these possibilities :D especially if you do not have permission to enter China.

Okay, this is making me nervous.. I've missed one RTW flight before but as there was another direct flight departing later by the same carrier (BA) they simply changed the ticket for free. But what happens in this case, if there's no knowledgeable people around?

A phone call to back office, if the contractors are still at work.

If all oneworld check in / ticketing staff have gone home, you wait until the next morning. Potentially (I don't know this for sure) you would not be allowed to go airside again without a ticket and you would have to wait in the international transit area (!)

There are worse airports to do this --- it's safe, although often very cold at PEK T3 --- but unless you have unrestricted entry to China/Beijing, it wouldn't be at the top of my list.

Thanks for all the info. Given that PVG is not a OW hub and the JL/knowledgeable OW people aren't likely to be there as it's way past their last flight, I'm thinking that maybe I should endure the 8 hours transit in PVG, although it would probably be very painful with the bad lounge and everything. Although, looking at Expertflyer seems like the outbound UL flight has horrendous on time track record with only 23% on time and average 35 min delay.....

My response to both of these statements: Theoretically.


If you can enter China, there's lots you can see and do with a few hours in PVG.

I have been to shanghai some 7-10 times and will be spending 5 days in Shanghai a week before my arrival this time, buying a separate ticket to go back to TYO for several days to take care of work before returning to PVG and resuming the journey on RTW tix.. As such I don't think i have enough desire to see Shanghai any more this time!

doesnt oneworld have rule to protect mis connection on oneworld carrier even on a different ticket?

American Airlines does have such a policy but I don't think oneworld has an alliance-wide policy.