Hello

We are a family of 4 taking a year off to travel beginning in September.

From Toronto, we intend on flying to London and then we'll hop around Europe and North Africa using a combination of
budget airlines trains and ferries until we get to Egypt.
Then we will embark on the following ITN:

CAI-LHR,(Separate tickets: LHR-DXB & DXB-NBO)
NBO-JNB-HKG-DEL,BOM-BKK,SIN-HKG-PEK,NRT-CNS,SYD-ZQN,
AKL-SCL-GIG,EZE-LIM-CCS-MCO,MIA-PTY,SJO-LAX,SFO-YYZ-LHR-DXB

Please also answer the following questions:

1)I know we have only 19 segments. I am still hoping we can also get to
Fiji. Is it possible? The validator says we can't but the OW timetable says we can. What givies?
2) Assuming Fiji doesn't work out, what would be the best use of the remaining unused flight in my ITN?
3)Can I drop the final flight and just head back home to Toronto?

1. On an OWE ticket you have to fly on the metal of one of the OW airlines and certain selected partners. I do not believe that any such carriers fly into Fiji as Air Pacific is not included in the OWE partners - although it is for the Global Explorer - a mileage based ticket.

2. depends - what is best for you? mileage? interesting places?

3. You will need to have a coupon back into the middle east. Whether you fly it or not is a different question. Remember that the ticket is valid for a year and if after you've returned to Canada your plans change......

WF

2. One possibility: CAI-MAD-LHR...
3. It is against the rules, but it has been done.

First, some comments on your routing.

NBO-JNB is not possible any longer on an xONEx ticket - Regional Air had its buttons pulled off and sword broken last month.

SFO-YYZ is two segments best I can determine. So that would have taken care of your extra coupon, except now that NBO-JNB is off the table, you still have one.

So to answer your questions (some you already know) -

1. You still have an extra coupon because of the NBO-JNB thing. Fiji is out as previously explained, although you might look at just buying a separate RT from AKL. It's too bad you aren't buying the ticket in the SWP - apparently there's a rule change that eliminates the prohibition on transoceanic surface segments for tix bought in the SWP (haven't seen it but search this forum) that would allow you concievably to fly one-way to PPT (Tahiti) and than pick up Lan's PPT-IPC (Easter Island)-SCL flight, which would be highly cool for a family. Do check it out, though.

2. We can't re-plan your holiday for you, but I was wondering if you might look at CAI-DXB-CAI on a side ticket, then start the RTW CAI-LHR-NBO//JNB etc. I'm thinking it might be cheaper all in but don't know. As for where to use your "extra" segment, I'd be inclined to look at a US transcon, or maybe an extra leg in Europe, e.g. not YYZ-LHR-middle east but something like JFK-HEL-LHR for a bit of northern or eastern Europe. But your pick. Remember because of the NBO thing you might have 2 extra tickets, not one.

3. If you start the trip in the Middle East you can end in any other Middle East city. Otherwise you have to end in the country you start. If you don't, there may be some exposure to additional costs, although nobody seems to be able to point to cases where they actually went after someone. On an L fare I doubt they'd be as unhappy as if it was an A- or DONEx.

Happy planning.

You may also want to check whether SYD-ZQN is operational. I understand it's seasonal (for the ski season). I don't know when you'll make it down here during your trip, but since Sept is beginning of the end of the ski season, it may not be working then.

If the flight isn't operational, you can try SYD-CHC then make your own way to Queenstown. Domestic flights are cheap, you can then fly or drive for CHC-ZQN then fly from ZQN-AKL to resume your trip.

This is exactly what I just did in January. The drive from Christchurch to Queenstown, about 5 hours or so with some short stops, was SPECTACULAR (well, about half of it anyway). We had to purchase ZQN-AKL as we already had 4 other OZ segments, but it was fairly cheap. Both QF and NZ fly the route.

Thank you for your valuable feedback.

Interesting places. Hopefully my family feels the same during 10 overlands
How about nbo-lun,lvi-jnb?
If our budget permits,I will definitely consider this.
I saw this as costing us 2 segments and 2 extra flights as opposed to 1 segment(CAI-LHR) and 2 extra flights to end up in NBO. I guess this will depend on whether I have the segment to spare.

Back to the drawing board!

For your side trip from Egypt to DXB, you can use the LCC Air Arabia from Alexandria to Sharjah, other things equal. Check to see if the ground transportation SHJ-DXB is included or has something like a AED10 charge for the bus.