RTW ex LHR
 

Hi, after spending a few hours researching through all the posts i think i have finally come up with a route. Can you please tell me if this is allowed? I think this is right!

So for a AONE5


LHR-YYZ-DEN-LAX-LAS-MIA-MBJ-MIA-HNL-SYD-ALK-HKG-NRT-TPE-ICN-HKG-BKK-SIN-HKG-JNB-LHR

Stop-overs are in bold and buying 1 extra seg in N.america

1) Is that allowed?
2) Is MIA-MBJ-MIA are correct route - i used a link on another website and it kept erroring it.
3) Can anyone see a way to improve this route?

Thanks alot in advance.

7 segments in Asia; 4 are permitted. Can't make heads or tails of your stopovers, as the bolded cities make no sense (unless maybe you have confused stopovers with transits and v.v.).

AA flies MIA-MBJ-MIA so that is fine.

A few problems:
- As noted above, you have far too many Asia segments.
- There is no OW carrier that flies YYZ-DEN nonstop, so it would take two segments. This would also push your total segments above 20.

Also, the stopovers are of no consequence. The only rule on stopovers is that you are allowed only 2 in your continent of origin, and you are OK there.

A question to the experts here:
Since MIA-HNL is a one-stop flight, does that count as 1 segment, or two?

One if it's AA283, plus the city pair is not on the proscribed transcon list, so doesn't count against that total either. Of course one can't return to the mainland on a OWE ticket (so must continue to SYD.)

chudsy, you should also be aware that there are only a few international first-class segments on this itinerary. On all your listed N. America flights on AA a D-class ticket would book into A inventory (FC) and AA's Canadian and Caribbean services are labled as business rather than FC. LAX-LAS is all economy on Eagle. Qantas' HNL-SYD flight doesn't offer FC, CX doesn't offer it to JNB, and only a couple of CX's intra-Asia flights have a first class cabin. Not to discourage your subsidy of the airlines, but if you want an A-class ticket you might want to check out where it would offer the best value.

AKL-HKG is another sector with no F cabin.

chudsy, a great tool for checking the validity of your itinerary is one developed by hauteboy. You can find it at http://jph.bytestacker.com/award.htm.

Ok going through Hawaii was causing me too many problems so i have changed my plan. i think finally its 3rd time lucky.

LHR-YYZ-ORD-LAS-LAX-MIA-JFK-GRU-SCL-AKL-MEL-DRW-PER-SYD-NRT-HKG-BKK-SIN-HKG-JNB-LHR

Can any1 see how i can improve this to max value using a AONE6?

The website link http://jph.bytestacker.com/award.htm seems to think this is ok.

Thanks in advance for all the help. I'm currently only a Virgin FF, i am planning to get a BA card is that going to be the best for me? Seeing as im from the UK i think im much more likely to fly BA than AA,CX,LA,QF.

Be aware, SYD-NRT doesn't have F service, but only C service.
SCL-AKL has F service, however, it is very hard to get a class A fare seat.
As mentioned by many people,
HKG-JNB has F service during only summer season of south hemisphere (OCT to MAR ?)

Thanks.

I can get around the SYD-NRT by taking SYD-HKG-NRT-HKG and having to miss out singapore which doesnt bother me too much. Making the new route -


LHR-YYZ-ORD-LAS-LAX-MIA-JFK-GRU-SCL-AKL-MEL-DRW-PER-SYD-HKG-NRT-xHKG-BKK-xHKG-JNB-LHR

Is that correct and allowed? I'm not passing through HKG too many times..am i?

Im planning to travel the HKG-JNB leg sometime between (OCT-MAR) so that shouldnt be too much of a problem either.



Thank alot

Richard

That was what I thought, but I wasn't sure. Thanks!

Are MEL-DRW and PER-SYD considered 2 Australian transcons? Those rules always confused me. If the RTW validator says it's ok, I imagine it is, but figure I'd raise it anyway.

That's fine. Do you need to go to YYZ for any specific reason? You might also consider YVR for extra miles and more time to enjoy the F service. YVR is a great city, particularly in the summer. The rest of the year its cool and rainy, but will still be lots warmer than YYZ... I think AA flies YVR-ORD in the summer, if not, you can do YVR-DFW and sub DFW for ORD.

You might also consider dropping the LAS-LAX leg since it's Eagle on a regional jet (all-coach), and purchase that separately, either on AA or any other airline, that would free up another N. Amer segment for you to maximize mileage and service. So maybe LHR-YVR-DFW-ORD-LAS, LAX-MIA...

Then, consider substituting GIG (Rio) for GRU, there is a 1-stop direct JFK-GIG, and I assume LA will fly GIG-SCL (If not, then stick with GRU or purchase GIG-GRU separately). GIG is much more of a tourist destination than GRU. Alternatively, EZE is a really great tourist city. No F service on JFK-EZE, but you can tweak your routing: ...LAX-JFK-MIA-EZE-SCL... You'd probably lose some miles vs. the GRU/GIG option, but that should be omre than made up by flying your N.Amer. transcon on LAX-JFK in 3-class "flagship" service, which will be much better than LAX-MIA, even if you get on the 763 on that route. Good chance of seeing a celebrity too...

See, I told you we could be more helpful if you did your homework first! ;)

Hey, thanks alot man you've been a great help.

Can i just run this by you.. I'm keen to go to YYZ cos i have a friend there. And i cant change the GRU-SCL cos GIG stops at GRU then goes onto SCL.


LHR-YVR-DFW-LAS,LAX-MIA-ORD-YYZ-JFK-GRU-SCL-AKL-MEL-DRW-PER-SYD-HKG-NRT-xHKG-BKK-xHKG-JNB-LHR

So. I need to buy a ticket for LAS-LAX. And a return for GRU-GIG.

Just one thing than i cant seem to work out. For SYD-HKG-NRT-xHKG-BKK-xHKG-JNB. I want to STAY for more than 24hrs in SYD-HKG-NRT in that order and then go from NRT via HKG (spending less than 24hrs in HKG) - on to BKK then back to HKG to catch a flight to JNB. So the total for that section is 5 sectors or is it 6? I dont know how to work it out.

OR

taking your lax-jfk link in.

LHR-YVR-DFW-LAS,LAX-JFK-MIA-ORD-YYZ-JFK-GRU-SCL-AKL-MEL-DRW-PER-SYD-HKG-NRT-xHKG-BKK-xHKG-JNB-LHR

1) Is that more than 20? I can tell using that program on http://jph.bytestacker.com/award.htm
2) Clearly for that route im going to have to purchase 1 extra segment in N.america correct?
3) Can i make one of those JFK's a (less than 24hr visit - cos i dont want to be stuck there for min 10 days twice!)

Its finally coming together.

Thanks again,

Richard

136N . 7. WITHIN AUSTRALIA - 1 NONSTOP OR SINGLE PLANE
137N . FLIGHT PERMITTED BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING
138N . CITIES:
139N . * BNE/CNS/SYD AND PER
140N . EXCEPTION - NO RESTRICTION BETWEEN SYD-PER
141N . FOR
142N . PASSENGERS ORIGINATING PER OR NEW ZEALAND
143N . WHEN IN
144N . CONJUNCTION WITH TRAVEL TO/FROM AFRICA
145N . * MEL/SYD AND DRW
146N . * MEL/SYD AND BME
147N . EXCEPTION - NO RESTRICTION BETWEEN SYD/MEL-
148N . PER
149N . FOR PASSENGERS ORIGINATING IN PER WHEN IN
150N . CONJUNCTION WITH TRAVEL TO/FROM
151N . JNB/BOM/SHA/PEK

The by all means, go ahead!
This isn't a problem -- the GIG-SCL flights on LAN stop in GRU, but they are "direct" flights, with a single flight number (e.g., LA#751, LA#755). That is the key on the OWE fares in terms of the segment limitations (4 per continent / 20 total max). In terms of the ticket, it doesn't matter if it is non-stop or one-stop (on the same flight number), it still only counts as one segment. So you can still do JFK-GIG-SCL and it will be only 2 segments, even though it's actually 4 "legs" -- JFK-(GRU)-GIG-(GRU)-SCL.


Nope, see above.
It doesn't matter how long you stay in a city, except for the rule that limits stopovers in your continent of origin, which isn't a problem for you since your first segment is transcontinental. The number of segments is determined by the number of unique flight numbers in your itinerary. As there are no direct, single flight number flights from NRT-BKK (via HKG), you will need to use two segments, one NRT-BKK and one BKK-HKG. So in total you are using 6 segments for SYD-JNB.
That's 22 segments. Count up the "-"s

Yes, you have 5 segments in NA. But you also have 22 total, so that needs to be worked out first.
It doesn't matter. I don't know what you mean by being "stuck" there.

Very very slowly. ;) Apparently you also have a problem with your intra-Australia segments, as per my post and the response above. At least I think there is a problem. I won't be much help on that front.

What is it now that suddenly many different people are mixing xONEx fares with those 24h stopover limits...maybe something needs to be checked with the stickies...or maybe some people are just too lazy to read them through... :)

The 24h limit is only relevant in 2 cases:

1. within continent of origin where only 2 stopovers are allowed.
2. when having second entry to a certain continent(s) which has to be a transit

Hey. I really appreciate what you have cleared up for me ijgordon.

And cheers for that also nowindowseat - i think the sticky is a little bit confusing. I was reading a post that was talking about LHR alot - which clearly i cant travel to..due to starting at LHR.


Right - the only way to sort the 22 segments out is to go from PER-NRT in D class and avoid the PER-SYD-HKG-NRT route. It means i miss MEL out but i can easily get to it from SYD if i really want to visit it.

Now if im not breaking rules on the SYD-DRW-PER route - which i dont think i am doing from reading a previous post in the sticky then im going to go


LHR-YVR-DFW-LAS,LAX-JFK-MIA-ORD-YYZ-JFK-GIG-SCL-AKL-SYD-DRW-PER-NRT-HKG-BKK-HKG-JNB-LHR


If not, then im more than happy with the one below - missing out DRW and adding in SIN.

LHR-YVR-DFW-LAS,LAX-JFK-MIA-ORD-YYZ-JFK-GIG-SCL-AKL-SYD-PER-NRT-HKG-BKK-SIN-HKG-JNB-LHR

Which ever way i know take i still need that extra seg in N.America


Please please please...surely this is correct?!

Many thanks for all the help so far!

An AONE6 originating in the UK is just about as expensive as it gets. Again, it's your business or money, but consider the following tweaks -

If you went to Gibraltar to start the trip, you'd save something like £1,700 before taxes; if you started in Istanbul you'd save £2,400.

The above uses non-OWE flights for the open segments. LAS-YVR on AS (Alaska Airlines - BA miles but no tier points) is US$135 in Y; or for something unusual you can fly to Vancouver on Philippine Airlines (PR) in J for US$350 or so. Between LA and Vegas there are umpteen cheap flights, or you can skip airport hassle and rent a car - 5 hours and around $100.

I think it hits all your key stops. It cuts out a couple of plane changes (mainly ORD and DFW) but that's not a terrible thing IMO. You could also go NYC-YYZ and save the DFW flight; just go LGA-YYZ instead of JFK-YYZ; that way you can ride up front on an MD-80 rather than an Eaglet. Maybe you could use that coupon to add back SIN to your itinerary, e.g. AKL-MEL-PER-DRW-SYD-SIN-BKK-HKG etc.

You could also save an additional segment by going MIA-GIG in a 767 with quite good service. If it were me I'd cut out MIA-JFK and go MIA-GIG, then use that coupon for JNB-CPT-LHR at the end.

You can use your two European stopovers in London going and coming, to help with your timing if that's a concern.

Just some thoughts.

Wow!

Thanks alot - i want to save as much money as possible! I will do some tweaks and see how it goes!

Thanks.

Richard

Not exactly sure what you mean by "not OWE". American Eagle is, AFAIK, an approved oneworld affiliate of American Airlines, so LAX-LAS should be ok as a NA segment, perhaps not the best use of a segment, but valid, I think.

Is there a reason then to have a Aone6?

If I see this correctly, you do want to have JNB and something in Southamerica - I don't know for how long you are going, but it may be cheaper to think about an smaller AONEx?

I believe Gardyloo meant don't do it as part of the One World Explorer ticket, because, as you say, it's not the best use of a segment, certainly not on an AONEx or DONEx, as it's all coach, and not vis-a-vis the proposed itinerary, as it's probably the cheapest of the segments to purchase separately.

Can't speak for the OP, but generally I don't believe the AONE6's are very good value. The price differential over an AONE5 is pretty large (larger than the 4-5 dif., I think), and you are still subject to the 20-segment max, which limits you to less than 4 segments on several continents, so you're really only getting one additional long-haul flight. Yes, you can probably get more total mileage on a xONE6 than a xONE5, but I don't believe the extra cost justifies it. JMHO.

If you count the segments, you'll see it comes to 22. I meant that using a OWE coupon for an Eagle segment is unwise (IMO) just as adding in doglegs (LAS-DFW-YVR) is silly just because of AA's cr@ppy hub structure and lack of presence on the west coast. Fly on AS between the two, save two segments that can be better used elsewhere.

The same goes (IMO) for JFK-YYZ. $30 cab ride to La Guardia and you can ride on an MD-80 in F (so 60 tier points and happier knees) instead of an Eagle Y flight from JFK.

In the weird world of xONExs, all flights are valued equally, whether they're CX first class flights from LA to HK or Eagle RJs to Vegas. Not equal IMO.