Who to book AONE3 with ex CAI?
 

My last RTW was bought from BA direct. I've seen some posts recently suggesting that they may be reluctant to sell outside of the country.

I'd prefer to book through BA as it's easier to get changes done en-route, though I'd take a TA ticket to save the cash.

Please let me know your recent experiences.

Thanks in advance,
M-P.

Some have suggested that BA may, once again, be playing ball. Your alternative is to use AA's agency: EMECO. Do a search under this to learn more.

My experience with the latter was good; the problems kicked in when I subsequently decided to re-route, requiring re-issue of tix and the intervention of AA's Dublin office: this is where the problems started.

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Ms. Sobhi at BA/CAI sounds almost anxious for your business these days, and even can be reached by email now. I haven't discussed payment options with her, though. A fax'ed c/c used to do the job. Check the archives or pm if you want her email - sorry it's not with me at the moment.

In the past her tickets have been handwritten and lacked tax etc information, frustrating re-issue, but Emeco did exactly the same thing to me. My experience has been that BA is much better at handling reissues in these cases than AA, but it's a big YMMV depending entirely on the agent.

I've just picked up my second RTW from Emeco in Cairo. I'm very pleased with their helpfulness. FYI, on this ticket, they have stapled the fare calculation to the back coupon of each coupon booklet.

I agree with the EMECO recommendation. They have done 3 AONE3s for me now, and they are very helpful in terms of taking CC details by email, meeting you off the plane if you are doing a BA trunround, and so on. And as SanDiego1K says - very detailed and explicit tax calculations now included as well.

Happy to add my endorsement to EMECO, however you may run in to problems if you have to re-route (ie re-issue tix) via AA's European operation in DUB (they're hopeless).

Does anyone have experience of EMECO issuing OWE tix on the stock of other carriers, eg CX or QF?

I have only used Emeco to issue tickets on AA. I had trouble getting my last RTW reissued. Then I went back to Emeco (via email) with the changes I wanted. They sent the information to Dublin for repricing. Dublin prepared a repricing mask. I was able to get the ticket reissued by AA in Charlotte (happened to be there on a trip) in two minutes. Stunning.

Not exactly, but I have had no major problems having EMECO tickets on AA stock being reissued by AA in JFK (via the AA RTW desk), BA at LHR, or CX in HKG.

Another Endorsment for EMECO
 

They've done fine for me with both issuing and reissuing AONE5s.

I've had an EMECO issued AONE5 reissued by AA twice, once at the NYC Park Avenue CTO and once at the ticket counter at Bradley Airport in Hartford. Both were somewhat time consuming (mostly due to tax calcs), but ultimately successful. Before having BDL do the reissue this last time, I contacted EMECO via e-mail askign them to reissue and they were happy to do so. Problem was that I thought there would not be enough time to send the ticket to CAI and get it back.

Bottom line, in the past year, EMECO has gotten very good and very experienced at issuing XONEX tix. I would not hesitate to use them.

Well, there are the odd occasion when I'd have to QC the fare pricing from Dublin. They have been known to be unreasonable in reroutes.. ie JFK-HKG is considered JFK-YVR-HKG for example. Rather than argue our case, I just asked my client to reissue at BA.

Many thanks for all the help....
 

Again I'm amazed by the speed, helpfulness and depth of knowledge of the FT community.

I'm going to drop BA at CAI an email, and see if they can do the ticket. Reasons: More miles on the BA Amex Card, another 3.5K to my next 2-1 voucher, no currency charges - last time I was charged in GBP, also ability to call BA direct for the changes. I may also score my 1st e-RTW, as BA can (apparently) interline with AA and CX. We'll have to see.

If BA won't play ball, EMECO will certainly be my 1st port of call. I'll post my progress in this thread.

I'm finalising my route, which will include CAI-LHR-SFO xxx ANC xxx JFK-HKG-SIN xxx HKG-LHR CAI. Just need to find a few interesting flights for the xxx's. I'll probably book next week.

Thanks again,
M-P

Don't forget that the first xxx includes a lot of Central American choices, and of course the Caribbean. If you have the inclination, you can rack up quite a few miles with the 6 or 8 NA segments. (The cheap JFK-LGB service used to be a great way to cover open jaws, but I guess it is no more. Are there alternatives?)

From SIN, CX fifth-freedoms to BKK, thence CMB and BOM, interesting ways to avoid extra extra segments getting to HKG over and over. If Sri Lanka doesn't attract you and equatorial islands do, CMB is just USD100 or so from Male. And you know you're allowed to end it all in DXB, don't you? HKG-DXB frees up a European segment, should you want it.

ex CAI
 

The big run to ANC is the summer only 757 off DFW. All other flights are probably Alaskan codeshares which are not allowed on xONEx. I would recommend the end of season in September as the best time to visit.

If you are into aviation, I would recommend that you walk all the way around Lake Hood which is in the middle of ANC airport and have a look at the floatplanes. I think that this is the largest collection in one place in the world. If not, it is second to the other floatplane base in Anchorage. You can always stop at Pipers for a big meal and drink on the way round. A truely aweinspiring way to get some fresh air.

Can you post what class you are travelling in, the FF programme you are a member of and if miles or status points are important to you. That will help the advice line operators.

The LAX-SJO nonstop is over 2700 mi (good for QFers, less important for BA?) and is not listed on the proscribed transcon pairs; so LAX-SJO-JFK is a good mileage option for coast-to-coast, better than DFW or ORD as a connector.

Also note that while the ORD-ANC and DFW-ANC service on AA is summer only, you could, if you wanted to step outside the OWE box for a minute, or the seasonality doesn't work, ride AS to ANC any old time, earn BA miles (not sure about tier points - doubt it) and see what is indeed the largest float plane base in the world. (Counted as one base, Spotwelder, albeit with two common names.) Nonstop service from ORD, LAX and SEA, all of which are BA gateways.

The deal is done
 

All completed through email with Mrs Sohbi in CAI + a fax of my updated CC details. All in all, a pretty relaxed process, but it took a while to finalise the route and correct a couple of errors/omissions.

Final cost is US$6460 for an AONE3:

CAI-LHR-LAX-LAS-DFW-ANC-ORD-SFO-surface-LAX-JFK-HKG-BKK-HKG-NRT-HKG-LHR-surface-MAN-AMS-LHR-CAI.

I'll be flying to CAI for the ticket in Feb, on the back of my last AONE3, doing the US in July/Aug, then the CX elements later in the year. I've wiped out the last of my VS miles on the SFO-LHR return, as I wanted to give the suites a go. Also, the points/miles up to SFO will tip me nicely into BA Gold again for next year, and I can start the new year with a healthly stack of points from the far east.