I just noticed this BA/Qantas RTW offering which is somewhat more enticing than many of the offers they've had for this part of the world. Details can be found at http://www.bestflights.com.au/cgi-bi...indetails=2072 - but the bonus of getting to do all the BA legs in WT+ certainly makes the $3269 pricetag look pretty reasonable lined up against a LONE4 or the like. There's a limit of 7 stopovers, and obviously the available routings are limited compared to a full oneworld RTW offering, but it looks to be a cost effective option if the routings suit.

The sample routings show using AA flights on the fare (possibly QF codeshares as there are many, but LGA-YUL-ORD-HNL is a fairly unlikely QF codeshare route). Either this is a mistake, or it is really a BA/QF/AA RTW, which might make it considerably more attractive. Even if it is restricted to QF codeshares on AA, it would allow routings like LHR-MIA-LAX. It must also include QF codeshares on LAN if they really allow travel via South America (SYD-AKL-SCL is the only way without going through North America again, though maybe they allow LHR-EZE-LAX-SYD). Finally the booking code for the BA WT+ portions is likely to be W so earning full economy SC and 110% miles; and probably better availability esp if you are willing to downgrade. If the rules are really as described, this is quite a bit better than the LONE4.

Actually, QF DOES codeshare on LGA-YUL-ORD-HNL. Other unlikely QF codeshares include LGA-YYZ, ORD-YOW, etc.

From the examples listed on bestflights, it looks like ALL QF codeshares are eligible for this fare, e.g. the routings through PPT and NAN. Agree that this could be quite a lot better than LONE4, especially for all those who consistently try including Fiji on xONEx products. What's the catch, though? Are there any sector/transfer/mileage limitations for this routing? And what constitutes a stop? For example could this fare be (ab)used for a multi-sector MR within Europe on IB/AY/EI/BA with each connection under 24 hours?

I would be interested to know other opinions about this offer.
Would an itinerary like thisbe within the rules?

syd-scl-eze-mia-jfk-lax-lhr-fco-lhr-sin-syd

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BA does not fly EZE-MIA. The rules, as per the original link, say QF/BA only, therefore AFAIK the only way to route this fare via South America would be SYD-SCL-EZE-LHR...

It appears that BA codeshares are allowed as well because SCL-EZE is operated by LAN. You should also be able to do SCL-EZE-GRU-LHR as BA flies EZE-GRU several days a week.
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It does appear that all QF and BA codeshares are allowed on this fare, along with IB and AY within Europe. There must be an MPM or sector limit, otherwise you could do some long routings within the stopover limit. For example you could stay in orbit within the UK for a week without having a stopover, just fly within 24 hours on routings like LHR-MAN-EDI-LGW (routes having frequent service). Even without such gyrations it is easy to construct some very useful routings. An interesting sidelight to this fare is that QF and BA greatly expanded their codeshares in North America on AA flights, and some of these new codeshares made little sense except they serve to connect QF and BA metal endpoints (like HNL to YYZ). So the inclusion of codeshares would seem to be a marketing plan and not accidental. Too bad that there isn't a J version of this fare offered, in some ways it is better than OWE.

I wonder for mileage run, what sorts of itinerary could be possible. I couldnt care less about J class, having been used to travelling in economy. For me, I would be keen on jfk, madrid, london, singapore. All else is bonus. If Mumbai can be drawn in, that too would be bonus but I would prefer it only if it is in addition to singapore.

I note 7 stops including turnaround point. If itinerary could be done for this fare, I would then work out if my kids can join me on tickets using QF ff points...142500 points each for up to 35,000 miles.

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I wish I could provide greater clarification on the finer details of this fare, but after more than 15 minutes on the phone with an agent who refused to share the fare rules, insisting instead that I tell them what I want to do and they'll tell me whether or not it's possible, I gave up. I'll be sure to let everyone know if I have better luck in future (or if I find the fare rules from another source).

Just to follow up on this fare - the rules can be found at http://www.batraveltrade.com/cms/b2b...exi22Jun05.pdf - certainly not too many restrictions, the biggest being the MPM limitations (so roughly 26,000-30,000 miles, depending on the routing, as far as I can ascertain - but I'm sure others are more adept with the ins and outs of MPM).

Oh, and in regards to getting from South America to North America, BA helpfully has a codeshare from LIM-MIA, so there *is* a way to get between the two, and there's also a BA MAD-LIM codeshare too, so a couple of options for routing through Peru.

How do you travel between Peru and Chile/Argentina on this fare? surface sector?

Regarding surface sectors, but in reference to the OWE, I find this interesting:

I always thought a surface sector was a stopover, no matter how short. I wonder if the above rule also applies to the OWE?

Unfortunately I can't see any way around making the connection as a surface sector to link up with other BA/QF ports - no doubt that South America has the weakest coverage codeshare wise for both airlines, but at least there's a few options available.

Thanks for posting the rules, GibSpmuh. As a newcomer, I'm having difficulty seeing how it works. For instance on the first example given on bestflights (PER-JNB-LHR-BRU-MAN-LHR-JFK-YUL-ORD-HNL-SYD-PER) there seem to be more transfers than permitted 10 vs 8) and the total mileage is over 27000mi which is more than 50% greater than the PER-LHR distance. Can someone clarify what is permitted. Thanks.

Keep in mind you're allowed 8 transfers, plus 6 en-route stopovers, plus the destination stopover - that allows a maximum of fifteen segments if you use them properly. As for the total mileage, it's governed by the Maximum Permitted Mileage (or MPM) - unlike the other Global Explorer product which has set allowable mileage per tier (26,000 miles, 29,000 miles etc).

MPM is a weird and wonderful beast, which actually changes depending on your routing to the destination - thus if you were to fly to LHR via the US, the MPM is higher than if you fly via Asia. It's not just based on the Great Circle Distance. You'd have to check on your particular routing, but there's flexibility to exceed the MPM up to 25%, in 5% increments, paying an increased fare to match. Others can probably explain MPM better, but that's my rough understanding anyway.

Hi all
I am interested to hear other comments, itinerary suggestions on this offer. I wonder how many SCs (and QF FF points) would accrue with with max. number of sectors and mileage.