Hi. Went to book my big RTW last week, good news, the TA has confirmed that all 19 segments fit into the rules. Hooray.

The bad news is that trying to go SYD-LAX in January 2006, I am already waitlisted.

I don't want to start panicking yet, but I just wanted to get some idea about people's experiences regarding getting onto flights when they are waitlisted. Assuming it might help, I am QC Silver.

The other 19 segments won't be much use to me if I can't get out of Australia.

Thanks for any advice!

TM

I picked a random date in Jan '06 - 15th - and had a look at L availability. It seems you are requesting 107 which has L0, whereas any other flight on that day (149, 11 or others via MEL) all have L9. Are you sure you have asked for the TA to check all SYD-LAX flights that day? If you post your exact preferred date of travel we can give you more exact L availbility on that date and dates around it.

The date is Jan 5, tried to book on QF149 to connect on to MIA (AA280) and Panama (PTY) (AA959). Was told that seats either side of that day were no good either. So are there other flights that I could take which might require a stopover in LA but will at least get me there?

If I have to fly out of MEL I will, I will just buy a cheap flight down from SYD.

I might need a new TA :-)

Jan 5 - both 149 and 107 have L0. I think this may be due to the season and closeness to new year.

Seems that 93 MEL-LAX is also zero'd out in L, as is 25 BNE-LAX (via AKL). Doesn't look like they want you to fly to LAX that day ;-)

The only other option you may have (if that date is not flexible) is to fly CX SYD-HKG-LAX - there have been posts about whether this is a permissible transit through Asia on a xONEx......

Only other option is to wait and see whether the waitlist clears

Right, well thanks anyway for your help Alect. Not wedded to that date but sometime that week would be nice. SYD preferable, but if it's BNE/MEL I can live with that...

Hopefully at some stage we might get bumped up from the waitlist, but it seems like a bit of a black art that no one knows much about!

I'll look into going via HKG but not sure if this is allowable under the rules. I guess that would add an xtra continent?

Cheers
TM

I have one other option for you:

SYD-HNL-LAX. There is L availability for that entire week. I am not sure whether you have already planned to use all your 6 NA segments - the downside of this option is that HNL-LAX counts as one of your NA segments.

OK, thanks, I could consider that. Had planned to use them all but could always buy an extra sector. Better than being left behind completely.

I might try to take some other option like this but stay waitlisted on the direct flight.

Cheers

My initial plan was to go:

SYD-LAX-MIA-Panama, SJD-DFW-YVR-DFW-JFK-DUB (6 NA segments).

If I go via HNL, then I could possibly do:

Syd-HNL-DFW-MIA-Panama, SJD-DFW-YVR-JFK-DUB (6 segments)

Trying to find a direct flight from YVR-JFK. Is there one? I seem to have found a CX flight (CX888). Can I use this on a RTW ticket? Any reason why not?

CX888 is certainly permitted on an XONEX, and offers much better service than SEA-JFK on AA, which is your other option from that part of the world. Depending on which frequnt flyer program you're with, an if you care about the 2000 or so miles, might help make your decision for you.

The other thing is that you should be carefulo about purchasing the extra segment to go LAX-(HNL)-SYD: unlike in previous years, now, if you reroute an XONEX, and the new routing doesn't include the extra sectors (or continents), the extra fare paid in now NOT refundable. I was sorely disapointed when this new rule kicked in, and I'd hate for you to find out the hard way.

good luck with your trip...

Thanks for the info, SEA-JFK was the other option, but would prefer to go from YVR. Points will be with QF so I think I get them either way.

I don't think the extra segments will affect me as this way I should be able to keep it to 6 NA segments, as in the first option I was going via SYD-LAX direct, then LAX-MIA, but YVR-DFW-JFK. Now I will go SYD-HNL-DFW-MIA which will use an extra NA segment, which I will save by being able to go transcontinental from YRV-JFK direct.

Glad to have found the CX flight, had given up hope when AA didn't have one!

Thanks all for your help, great people, great site.

PS. I know people like these things so the whole trip is (over 12 months):
HBA-SYD-HNL-DFW-MIA-PTY//SJD-DFW-YVR-JFK-DUB//LHR-IST//BUH-LHR//LGW-DBV//WAW-HEL//SVO-HEL-NRT-HKG-BKK-SYD-HBA. 19 legs, purchasing an extra Europe one.

QF inventory management have twice converted higher class availability to L for me when I booked LGLOBxx tickets. Both times these were Aust-NZ flights, but I had no status so you would be trying a tougher route (SYD-LAX) but with more status. It cleared after 24 hours on the waitlist each time.

When I put you itinerary in OW Validator get
1: HBA-SYD: 1st of 4 (Southwest Pacific)
2: SYD-HNL: intercontinental
3: HNL-DFW: 1st of 6 (North America)
4: DFW-MIA: 2nd of 6 (North America)
5: MIA-PTY: 3rd of 6 (North America)
6: SJD-DFW: 4th of 6 (North America)
7: DFW-YVR: 5th of 6 (North America)
8: YVR-JFK: 1st of 1 (North America Transcon)
*8: YVR-JFK: 6th of 6 (North America)
9: JFK-DUB: intercontinental
10: LHR-IST: 1st of 4 (Europe)
11: BUH-LHR: 2nd of 4 (Europe)
Error!!! No oneworld service exists BUH-LHR

You may wish to buy HBA-SYD and SYD-HBA separately (e.g. on JQ), and use the freed up segments on more expensive routes.

I presumed BUH-LHR was really BUD-LHR and the plan is to take the real Orient Express from IST-BUD ... now that train really is an adventure.

see post #17