Advice Needed On My Upcoming AONE3!
 

Hi all,

I'm hoping to get some feedback on an upcoming AONE3 that I'm ready to book for this summer. I've reviewed all of the recent threads on this board and have just a few specific questions. Also, I'm hoping someone could comment if they see any glaring mistakes.

This summer I need to travel to Dubai and Tokyo with a month in between home in Washington DC. Since I want to complete this trip as economically as possible while still sitting in a premium cabin, I decided to make use of the OWE RTW that I've been reading about here for over two years. Additionally, I hope to make AA ExPlat for this first time (I'm currently at 35k EQMs) this year.

Reviewing all of the prices and options with my schedule, I decided it would be best to fly from the US to UAE using a Business class OW115C OneWorld award through AA, and begin my AONE3 there. Doing this, I could complete a RTW in First cheaper than an RTW ex-USA would cost me in Business class.

Here's my intented AONE3 itinerary, which has been validated by Jordan Hargrave's invaluable validator:

1: DXB-LHR: 1st of 4 (Europe)
2: LHR-LAX: intercontinental
3: LAX-JFK: 1st of 1 (North America Transcon)
*3: LAX-JFK: 1st of 6 (North America)
4: DCA-DFW: 2nd of 6 (North America)
5: DFW-ANC: 3rd of 6 (North America)
6: ANC-DFW: 4th of 6 (North America)
7: DFW-DCA: 5th of 6 (North America)
8: JFK-HKG: intercontinental
9: HKG-NRT: 1st of 4 (Asia)
10: NRT-HKG: 2nd of 4 (Asia)
11: HKG-DPS: 3rd of 4 (Asia)
12: DPS-HKG: 4th of 4 (Asia)
13: HKG-LHR: intercontinental
14: LHR-BUD: 2nd of 4 (Europe)
15: BUD-LHR: 3rd of 4 (Europe)
16: LHR-DXB: 4th of 4 (Europe)
Congratulations!! Valid itinerary!!! - (47092 miles)

Overall, I think this is a pretty good amount of miles for a AONE3 without being a pure mileage run. Plus, it will give me a great chance to sample some premium long-haul flights as well as American's flagship transcon in P. I'd really welcome any thoughts on how I could maximize this even further though!

I also have a few specific questions I was hoping some of you OWE gurus could answer.

1) My understanding is that I can book this through AA's RTW desk (who will hold it for about a month) and then have it ticketed through an agent in UAE to get the UAE rate. Must I physically be in the UAE to get this ticketed, or can I do it over the phone using my credit card with an agent in the UAE? Also, does anyone have any recommendations of what agent I can use in Dubai?

2) Would you choose BA or CX for the HKG-LHR leg? Although CX probably has slightly better F service, I'm actually leaning towards BA due to their arrival facilities in LHR and the fact that I'll be connecting onto another BA flight in LHR. Your thoughts? Also, of the many flights (both BA's and CX's) that depart HKG at night (all within two hours of each other), is their any advantage over which flight to choose?

3) For the LHR-DXB and return flights (I'll actually be flying this leg 4 times including my AAward), I have the choice of either the daytime or night flights on the 777 in each direction. Which would you prefer?

4) Does one receive pajamas on daytime BA/CX long-haul flights, or only the overnight flights? Also, what about pajamas on the intra-asia 3-class flights in F on CX?

5) I'm debating whether or not to fly AA or BA LHR-LAX. Obviously, from a service perspective, this is a no-brainer. But... I'm really not sure I want to sacrifice all of those AA miles by flying BA. Your thoughts? Is the BA F experience worth loosing over 8,000 AA EQMs?

6) Regarding CX lounge access, although the DPS flights only have 2 classes, would I still be entitled to use the First portions of the Wing and Pier since I'm on an A-class RTW ticket (that is assuming I'm not connecting to/from CX first, in which case I'd be allowed access)?


Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks in advanced for any suggestions you might offer. I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences with all of you once I return!

Thanks again,
FlyerBeek

2) I'd go with CX. The inflight service is a lot better, it will be more convenient for you to use the CX lounges at HKG (because the BA gates are a long way from The Wing), and when you arrive in London you can use the BA departure lounge at T1 before the BUD flight (albeit only the Business Class section if you are not Emerald - but that still gets you a shower, and you'll have had breakfast on the CX flight). The later flight is marginally preferable since the early flight often arrives at LHR before anything is working there (inter-terminal bus etc.).

4) On CX you get PJs on all long haul flights. You don't get them on the intra-Asia flights.

5) No - I reckon transatlantic AA F is not far short of BA's so long as you get a Flagship Suite flight. The AA FS is the best F seat in OneWorld IMO, and the food is not at all bad. On either airline you could get a good or a bad set of cabin crew. Take the EQMs.

6) Formally the answer is no. But people have reported that you may be able to get a supervisor to authorise it, particularly if it is just you (no guests).

Yes, sometimes AA will hold it only for a month or so, but if you insist they will extend the hold right up to the date of departure.

You have the advantages down and christep spoke of the lounge. That's about it. Just make the decision accordingly. I personally think it depends on whether youre connecting and where to. If youre connecting so that you can use the concorde lounge in T4 then I would do Cathay. But if youre not then I would consider BA. I tend to prefer Cathay but that's just me.

Depends on whether 5 hours of sleep is enough for you and whether you sleep on planes at all. There is full meal service, but few actually take it. But it's one of those obnoxious flights that's too short to get a full nights sleep. Personally, if it means a little more time in Dubai then I am all for it. BA's food isnt all that good, in my opinion, and I can do 5 hours even if I am a bit groggy.

On daytime flights you do and I can't remember about the three class but I don't think so. I believe it's based on flight time. My guess is 5 hours.

Christep has several good points but I want to put in a very big word of caution. This route is notorious for plane changes. I spoke with AA about it and after making me feel like a piece of sh!t the lady kept repeating over and over that they didn't guarantee planes and that people don't fly on a certain airline for a certain seat. It was a bunch of hooey and if she stopped with the rhetoric for two minutes she might see things from a customer's perspective. Keep in mind that the ticket is endorsable and if youre ticketed on one airline that you can still take the other. So if you ticket on AA and want to go to BA you can if there is availability.

You wont know until you try.

Have a safe trip.