?? As was explained earlier if ORD-DEL is transatlantic then you have "touched" three continents NA-EUR-ASIA. You cannot backtrack between continents (see the rule cited by Viajero) unless there is an exception (e.g., the rule cited about two entries in Asia when SWP is included). You must also travel continuously between TC1, TC2, and TC3. Therefore you have included EUR as a continent (because you cannot purchase the fare unless you travel through each of the zones and pay for them) and you cannot return to EUR (because there is no exception allowing two entries to EUR).

And thanks to Viajero for adding the specific rule.

As others have said, as well as this rule:

Dupe - deleted.

The two that Number Six and Viajero mentioned plus one more. Let me give three examples. The exact quoted rules are in there somewhere.

Trip #1 (Number 6 rule).
ORD-DEL-LHR-HKG-LAX-ORD

This breaks the rule that you can only enter/exit Asia once (rule regarding Aussie flights aside). You enter Asia when you go to Delhi, you exit Asia when you go to London, you enter Asia again when you go to Hong Kong and you exit Asia again when you go to Los Angeles. Thus, you have two entries/exits from Asia, which isn't allowed.

Trip #2 (Viajero rule).
ORD-DEL-HKG-JNB-SYD-LAX-ORD

North America is in TC1, Europe and Africa are in TC2, and Asia and the SWP are in TC3. There is no problem with the aforementioned entry/exit rule. But the trip goes from TC1 through TC2 to TC3, back to TC2, back to TC3 and up to TC1. Or more specifically, TC1-TC2-TC3-TC2-TC3-TC1. While the fare gives a lot of latitude, you must go TC1-TC2-TC3 or v.v.

Trip #3 (one trans-atl/pac flight rule)
ORD-DEL-LHR-ORD

Barring a minor exception, the rules say you have to make one transatlantic and one transpacific crossing. ORD-DEL is transatlantic and LHR-ORD is transatlantic, so you have two transatlantic flights and no transpacific flight.


As far as whether the rules say that ORD-DEL is transatlantic or transpacific, I don't think they explicitly do. However, there are two things that lead me to believe that AA clearly is interpreting this as a transatlantic. First, anectodal evidence from the board. It was a bit unknown at first, but the flight is now consistently being interpreted and quoted as transatlantic. Second, AA has listed their surcharges as "AA TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHTS EXCEPT ORD-DEL" separately from their surcharges for "AA TRANSPACIFIC FLIGHTS EXCEPT: TICKETS ORIGINATING IN JAPAN, FOR FLIGHTS BETWEEN JAPAN - US." I believe a logical reading of AA's categorization leads to the conclusion that AA wants this to be a transatlantic flight.

As I said, I don't agree with the interpretation for the exact reasons that this is being debated in this forum. You pay for a continent you don't touch and it makes things that much more complicated. But AA has their reasons and more power to them. Really, imo, what needs to happen is in their next rule update to add a rule stating, "ORD-DEL IS A TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT" if in fact they want it to continue that way. Makes me wonder if they are not still considering the issue and might eventually make it transpacific. I don't know. But from my logic, if a nonstop flight begins in TC1 and ends in TC2 (or v.v.), it should be transatlantic. If the flight begins in TC1 and ends in TC3 (or v.v.), it should be transpacific. Every other flight follows this logic and it makes sense from a practical point of view that this one would too, irrespective of the actual flight path.

I believe the only slim ray of hope for not "wasting" Europe with ORD-DEL is an idea first posted by christep: it will be interesting if someone tries to do a OWE like this: ORD-DEL-SYD-SCL-ORD. The rules say "A MINIMUM OF A 4 CONTINENT FARE MUST BE CHARGED". so the question is: would such an itin be a ONE4 or a ONE5? The rules don't say, so christep thinks that maybe it will fly as a ONE4, and thus Europe would not be "wasted". Personally I think AA will call it a ONE5, but readily adimit that it will not be clear until tested.

...and, not that it matters much, but to make it even more interesting, as far as the OW Planner is concerned ORD-DEL is transpacific.

Thanks to all of you for explaining this transatalantic rule. I think that I have it now.

Would it make sense to use a *ONEWC3 instead, to include Asia, Australia and Africa? The Circle Pacific would not work for me because one cannot go further West than Thailand (IIRC). Are the *ONEWC3 prices differentiated by country of orign in the same way as *ONE* fares, and how do they compare?

Nope, you must include Africa, and cannot include NA.

Sorry, I am getting too sloppy. I meant for Africa, Asia and Australia (JNB, DEL, MEL).

Yes, by continent and start point.

http://www.hardlink.com/~markdu/OWFiles/OneCirInd.html

There is a link for the fares. Maybe they are a little higher, I don't know.

Thanks Darren. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Has anyone figured out or tried to see if they will issue an Asia-India-NA-SWP-Asia ticket as a ONE3 yet? Or are they enforcing the TC1-TC2-TC3 rule?

I see it as that should be a 4 continent.

i.e. TC3[Asia(inc. India) Continent 1]->TC2[DEL-ORD, ("EUR") Continent 2]->TC1[NA (Continent 3)]->TC3[SWP (Continent 4),Asia (Continent 1)]

I'm afraid I don't agree - 4 continents still need to be paid for, completely consistent with the rule provisions posted above. Even though no TC2 point is being touched, the cost for visiting TC2 has to be included. It's still a cr@p rule of course.

Fully agree! (I did not notice my edit did not take earlier)

The TC1-etc. rule plays a part but it's not the reason. The key here is the way the ORD-DEL rule is worded: you have to pay for Europe regardless, even if you never touch it. After you pay for Europe the TC1... rule then comes into play in that it prevents you from going back to Europe to 'use' it.

IMO AA framed this rule deliberately to discourage OWE users from taking this flight.