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Any tips about a goof agent (BA/AY?) in WAW that I could contact regarding a ONE ticket, seems the prices there are even lower than in CAI.

Thanks for your help!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

...Any tips about a goof agent...

As typos go this one is a dilly. :D

Try this thread.

Also have a look HERE.

Avoid BA at all costs. They are charging much, much more that AA.

From my exhausting if not exhaustive inquiries into ex-WAW ONEs it appears that the Sabre Star Files prices are wrong. I have been reliably informed that the correct prices appear in the Amadeus system and the incorrect price in Sabre. This both from BA and AY. The price increase occured in January this year.

OK, very confused now. Is it cheaper for me to book ex CAI or ex WAW? Any advice would be much appreciated as I plan to book the trip in the next 2 weeks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranmerechris

Is this "Amadeus" pricing something that is only available through some airline or booking agent or is it somewhere available for public? Seems very odd that the airlines (alliance) are not having the correct base prices for different countries available more easily and that it always involves an inquiry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranmerechris

I'm not so sure about this. I've been speaking to BA since the middle of last year and the prices have not changed. They are quoting the equivalent of around £1000 (including taxes and charges) than what I eventually paid AA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

Is this "Amadeus" pricing something that is only available through some airline or booking agent or is it somewhere available for public?

Amadeus is the Global Distribution System (GDS) used by airlines such as BA and QF. If you book through ba.com then you are using Amadeus. Obviously you are only using a fraction of its orverall capability.

Quote:

Originally Posted by QF Hammer

OK, very confused now. Is it cheaper for me to book ex CAI or ex WAW? Any advice would be much appreciated as I plan to book the trip in the next 2 weeks.

The prices are similar. My DONE4 ex-WAW was $5000. WAW was better than CAI for me for two main reasons.

(1) It is much easier to get to from the UK.

(2) It allowed me much more flexibility in how to use my two Middle East segments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaza

OK, fair enough but my real question was that are these correct prices available for normal customers somewhere or is the only way to make many querys to different airlines in different places...

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

OK, fair enough but my real question was that are these correct prices available for normal customers somewhere...

Not really, and in fact nor are the Star Files 'public'. It takes someone with access to Sabre/Amadeus to pull these files from their GDS terminals and publish them somewhere in the web, so the rest of us, the 'normal customers', can see them.

I think the WAW issue is limited to BA and (maybe) AY or others who may use/consult BA's rate desk for RTWs (if such is possible or done.) It also appears to be limited to WAW. We're ticketing through IST and BA there agree with the USD-denominated fare that shows up on all the star files (and QF website) that are floating around, so no peculiar cost inflation over the "published" xONEx fares.

My hunch is that for whatever reason, BA at one point converted a "strong" USD dollar into Sterling, then into Zlotych in order to price the tickets. Subsequently the USD tanked, but nobody at BA has bothered to address the issue, so the PLN rate reflects the dollar's previous strength and current weakness, hence the "increase" over the USD ticket that AA/Tal sold Gaza and others.

I suspect that there's just not enough business through WAW to justify BA undoing its decision, and American's relatively inferior transatlantic premium service means anyone planning on going west on their RTW has to choose between higher priced BA tix v. dealing with AA's GSA and having to ride AA as their transatlantic carrier. Idle curiosity leads me to wonder how Tal would be using their CX GSA hat for itineraries going the other direction.

Gaza - I certainly defer to your greater experience of this. It was an AY rep. in Warsaw who told me the price in Amadeus was updated in January. BA simply confirmed that the Amadeus price was correct. Incidentally, I actually showed a print out of the STAR file for ONE Explorer to the AY rep. and she was completely stumped as to how they could show a different price to Amadeus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaza

Gaza, do you know how much the AONE4 ticket costs ex-WAW? Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BA Loyal

Gaza, do you know how much the AONE4 ticket costs ex-WAW? Thanks!

As I said in response to your other post Spotwelder's Sticky at the top of the main Forum page is a good guide:-

Poland

AONE3 = £3,653
AONE4 = £4,029
AONE5 = £4,512
AONE6 = £5,103

If you are booking make sure you book through AA as BA are charging much higher prices. I would suggest booking an itinerary that has AA as the first leg after WAW-LHR even if it does not fit but then chnaging it once the ticket is issued. If you keep it to 16 segments or less then you shouyld be able to issue it as an e-ticket through Tal Aviation in WAW.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaza

If you are booking make sure you book through AA as BA are charging much higher prices. I would suggest booking an itinerary that has AA as the first leg after WAW-LHR even if it does not fit but then chnaging it once the ticket is issued. If you keep it to 16 segments or less then you shouyld be able to issue it as an e-ticket through Tal Aviation in WAW.

Is this actually necessary? Personally I am looking at flying in completely the other direction on a DONEx (ie via Asia) so putting an AA sector in will require me to go via NA first which is not practical for what I want to use the ticket for. Any suggestions would be most welcome on this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by QF Hammer

I don't know about WAW, but the AA agent in CAI will not issue an OWE unless at least one of the two transoceanic sectors is on AA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by QF Hammer

The key to all of this is getting the ticket issued. If you cannot get AA/TAL to issue the ticket with the first segments via Asia, I would suggest setting up an itinerary you have no intention of flying and once you ave the ticket in your hand rebook to the itinerary you really want.

OK, I know this is very, very basic stuff but as the search is down, I have the courage to post some novice questions:

Is this something that could be realistically done ex-WAW with Tal

1. Send them valid DONE ITN by email
2. They can book the flights and give the amad. res.number - booking confirmed for the flights that have dates
3. Some segments could be lefted open dated at booking (obvius, right?)
4. When ticketing, latest 21 days prior to dep. they charge my CC
5. They hold the tickets in their office for me to collect once trip commences from WAW
6. Price is only set when they do the ticketing/charge my card

From your experience, is this something that could work? Also, a little confusing is the rule can I change f.eg. WAW-HEL-JFK (1st 2 segments) dates after booking or/and ticketind until how close to departure date from WAW? I saw some different information about this on some threads.

Anything else to consider?

Sorry for asking some obvious stuff but any help highly appreciated

Cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

OK, I know this is very, very basic stuff but as the search is down, I have the courage to post some novice questions:

Search is working again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

Is this something that could be realistically done ex-WAW with Tal
1. Send them valid DONE ITN by email
2. They can book the flights and give the amad. res.number - booking confirmed for the flights that have dates
3. Some segments could be lefted open dated at booking (obvius, right?)
4. When ticketing, latest 21 days prior to dep. they charge my CC

Origin in area 2 or 3 means there is no advance purchase requirement. If you wait to purchase the price could increase. From the rules:

Quote:

74N RESERVATIONS/TICKETING
75N -----------------------
76N .
77N . * RESERVATIONS FOR THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT
78N . AND ALL PRECEDING FLIGHTS ARE REQUIRED AS
79N . OUTLINED IN THE CHARTS BELOW.
80N . * ALL OTHER SEGMENTS MAY BE OPEN.
81N . * TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED AS OUTLINED IN THE
82N . CHARTS BELOW.
. . .
106N ORIGIN IN AREA 2/3
107N .
108N X INDICATES NUMBER OF DAYS
109N .
110N ------------------------------------------------------
111N I FARE BASIS I RESERVATIONS I TICKET MUST BE I
112N I I ARE MADE X I ISSUED : I
113N I I DAYS PRIOR TO I I
114N I I DEPARTURE OF I I
115N I I FIRST FLIGHT I I
116N ------------------------------------------------------
117N I AONE I ANYTIME I 1 HOUR PRIOR TO I
118N I I I DEPARTURE I
119N ------------------------------------------------------
120N I DONE I ANYTIME I 1 HOUR PRIOR TO I
121N I I I DEPARTURE I
122N ------------------------------------------------------
123N I L-ONE I 22 OR MORE I 21 DAYS PRIOR TO I
124N I I DAYS I DEPARTURE I
125N ------------------------------------------------------
126N I - I 21 TO 8 DAYS I 7 DAYS PRIOR TO I
127N I I I DEPARTURE I
128N ------------------------------------------------------
129N I - I 7 DAYS OR LESS I PRIOR TO DEPARTURE I
130N ------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

5. They hold the tickets in their office for me to collect once trip commences from WAW
6. Price is only set when they do the ticketing/charge my card

Correct.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

From your experience, is this something that could work? Also, a little confusing is the rule can I change f.eg. WAW-HEL-JFK (1st 2 segments) dates after booking or/and ticketind until how close to departure date from WAW? I saw some different information about this on some threads.

From the rules (you are originating in Area 2):

Quote:

97N CHANGES
98N --------
99N .
100N PRIOR TO DEPARTURE
101N .
102N TRAVEL ORIGINATING AREA 1:
103N .
104N .
105N . BEFORE TICKET ISSUANCE:
106N .
107N PERMITTED WITHOUT PENALTY.
108N .
109N .
110N . AFTER TICKETING ISSUANCE:
111N .
112N . * CHANGES TO THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT AND
113N . TO PRECEDING FLIGHTS ARE NOT PERMITTED LESS THAN
114N . 7 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE FIRST TICKETED
115N . FLIGHT
116N . * DATE/TIME CHANGES TO OTHER FLIGHTS ARE
117N . PERMITTED AT NO CHARGE.
118N . * DATE/TIME AND ONEWORLD CARRIER CHANGES ARE
119N . PERMITTED WITHOUT REISSUE PROVIDED ORIGIN,
120N . DESTINATION, CONNECT POINTS AND INVENTORY REMAIN
121N . THE SAME.
122N . * CHANGES OTHER THAN DATE/TIME ARE PERMITTED AT A
123N . CHARGE OF USD 75.00. THE TICKET MUST BE REISSUED.
124N . * IF THE CURRENCY OF TICKET ORIGIN IS NOT USD,
125N . CONVERT THE USD AMOUNT AT THE BSR.
126N . * CERTIFIED DEATH/ILLNESS OF THE PASSENGER, THE
127N . PASSENGER*S IMMEDIATE FAMILY OR AN ACCOMPANYING
128N . PASSENGER - REROUTING IS PERMITTED FREE.
129N TRAVEL ORIGINATING AREA 2/3:
130N .
131N UNLIMITED CHANGES PERMITTED WITHOUT CHARGE.
132N .
133N AFTER DEPARTURE
134N .
135N . * CHANGES TO THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT AND
136N . TO PRECEDING FLIGHTS ARE NOT PERMITTED.
137N . * DATE/TIME CHANGES ARE PERMITTED AT NO CHARGE.
138N . * DATE/TIME AND ONEWORLD CARRIER CHANGES ARE
139N . PERMITTED WITHOUT REISSUE PROVIDED ORIGIN,
140N . DESTINATION, CONNECT POINTS AND INVENTORY REMAIN
141N . THE SAME.
142N . * ALL OTHER ROUTING CHANGES ARE PERMITTED AT A
143N . CHARGE OF USD 75.00 PER TRANSACTION. IF CURRENCY
144N . OF TICKET ORIGIN IS NOT USD, CONVERT THE USD
145N . AMOUNT AT THE BSR.
146N . * THE NUMBER OF CONTINENTS/EXTRA FLIGHT SEGMENTS
147N . MAY BE INCREASED/DECREASED. THE PASSENGER WILL BE
148N . CHARGED/REFUNDED ACCORDINGLY. --------------------
149N . -----------------------------------
150N .
151N . NOTE IF THE CHANGE
152N . RESULTS IN A REFUND, A MCO WILL BE ISSUED FOR A
153N . REFUND IN THE COUNTRY OF SALE. ANY APPLICABLE
154N . CHANGE FEE WILL APPLY.
155N . EFFECTIVE AUGUST 15, 2004 -
156N . WHEN THE REROUTING RESULTS IN A REDUCTION TO THE
157N . NUMBER OF CONTINENTS OR EXTRA FLIGHT SEGMENTS
158N . PREVIOUSLY CHARGED, NO REFUND WILL BE GIVEN.
159N . .
160N . * CERTIFIED DEATH/ILLNESS OF THE PASSENGER, THE
161N . PASSENGER*S IMMEDIATE FAMILY OR AN ACCOMPANYING
162N . PASSENGER - REROUTING IS PERMITTED FREE.
163N AT ANY TIME
164N .
165N . * IF THE CURRENCY OF THE COUNTRY OF TICKET ORIGIN
166N . IS NOT SHOWN, CONVERT THE USD AMOUNT AT THE BSR.
23NOV04 8BB7 04MAR03 252
* END OF STAR DATA *

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

Anything else to consider?

Sorry for asking some obvious stuff but any help highly appreciated

Cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

1. Send them valid DONE ITN by email

Yes. or do what I have suggested and call the AA RTW Desk and get them to set it up first. They are far more aware of the rules than TAL. Once AA have set-up the itinerary call or email Tal with the SABRE PNR.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

2. They can book the flights and give the amad. res.number - booking confirmed for the flights that have dates

Tal are AA's GSA so they use SABRE, not Amadeus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaza

OK, so when AA RTW has made the booking (Suppose you refer to their Dublin Office/Desk here?) is there a tool I can access the INT myself?

Thanks for the help, now I think I am very near to start booking this as everything seems to be clear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

...when AA RTW has made the booking...is there a tool I can access the INT myself?...

aa.com

Many thanks for all the tips and advices so far, my DONE4 ITN is currently waiting @TAL for them to get the price together, the ITN itself was setup by AA RTW so it should be ok what comes to validity etc.

OK, let's assume I get the price and all goes smoothly and I just wait for the right moment to ask Tal to do the ticketing:

1. How big of a hassle it is to modify the PNR at this stage? Shall I do it with AA RTW or with Tal directly? Can they easily apply the same pricing and just modify the taxes as needed or does it again require them to communicate with AA to get it sorted/validated?

2. aa.com shows at the moment that my booking expires March 31st if not ticketed by then? I thought DONE fares were good for ticketing just an hour before departure and did assume that the PNR wouldn't automatically expire? Is this something I should take up with AA already now?

Cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

2. aa.com shows at the moment that my booking expires March 31st if not ticketed by then? I thought DONE fares were good for ticketing just an hour before departure and did assume that the PNR wouldn't automatically expire? Is this something I should take up with AA already now?

Cheers

This is something you can negotiate with AA if you get close to the line (like I did) -- they'll move it if you say you're still trying to arrange ticketing, provided you don't contravene the actual ticketing rules of course.

CT

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

1. Every time you touch that itinerary it goes to Dublin again, to be re-priced.

2. You can, if you want, talk to AA and insist they change that date and hold the ticket right up to the day before departure. It might take a call to a supervisor, but they will do it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

1. How big of a hassle it is to modify the PNR at this stage? Shall I do it with AA RTW or with Tal directly? Can they easily apply the same pricing and just modify the taxes as needed or does it again require them to communicate with AA to get it sorted/validated?

Try to avoid doing this. They will get very pissed off if you keep making chnges and they have to resubmit it for repricing. You should only ask them to submit it when you are satisfied with it. Once you have the ticket issued there s nothing to stop you reissuing it as much as you want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWindowSeat

The expiry date may suggest that a price rise ex-WAW is on the way. Alternatively it may have been added by an agent unfamiliar with the rules. When I set mine up there was no expiry date.

Expiring inventory

It is normal to set an expiry date on the unissued bookings so that they can be released back into the system. Perhaps if you know the date that you are going to start at then you could nail that it and then open date the rest of the tickets whilst you get yourself sorted out. If you do not know your route, don't hold the seats as I might need them when I do know what I am doing!

Inventory management can get mighty fed up of holding off seats when there are better ways of using that inventory. They might just cancel your whole booking to get hold of one seat for a 1W emerald who is going somewhere on only one of your sectors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spotwelder

Inventory management can get mighty fed up of holding off seats when there are better ways of using that inventory. They might just cancel your whole booking to get hold of one seat for a 1W emerald who is going somewhere on only one of your sectors.

Point taken, I have just been familiar with local agents who are willing to hold even normal Eco bookings confirmed many months without ticketing so I was suprised a DONE ticket booking expires only after a month if not ticketed as the rules are clear that it can be done even an hour before dep. But maybe this has more to do with close to departure booking, not bookings made few months in advance, as is the case here. Anyway, it's a fairly safe to ticket it as there is ful l refund for tickets originating in Europe, right? Minus ofcourse some handling fee which I have no idea how much is it in Tal's case with a DONE4...