Help with DONE3 questions
 

I was hoping for some advice on a DONE3. I've read through the stickies and a lot of threads but could still use (a lot of) help with some questions.

1) I'm thinking about starting in BKK but am in HKG right now (BKK looks like the cheapest starting point in East Asia that has nonstop service to Europe). Can a HKG-based travel agent set that up or do I need to get it issued in BKK by CX/BA/AA or a TA? (I believe it is the latter but just wanted to double check)

2) Is there any benefit of going through a TA versus an airline RTW desk? Could I call the airline to set up the reservations and have the TA pull the record and book it (and get the commission)?

If I book through an airline desk, which one is better at handling RTW tickets: CX, BA, or AA? Do they all follow the same procedures with regard to fuel surcharges and service fees? (On award tix, AA does not charge whereas CX and BA do.)

3) When accessing each airline's inventory, am I always looking for the "D" bucket to confirm if there is a seat? Sometimes, I see D zeroed out but both C and J available.

4) After I start traveling, I understand I can make changes to the routing for a fee ($75/$125). If I use a travel agent, do I have to go back to the travel agent or can I just go straight to the airline to make the changes?

5) Here is the itinerary I am thinking about, depending on the availability:

BKK-LHR-DFW-MIA-JFK-HKG-ICN-HKG-BKK (yeah, lots of unused segments :()

Since I started in BKK, I understand I have to end in BKK.

I understand that I am allowed two stopovers in my region of origin, Asia. Can both stopovers be the same city (say I want to milk a use up the extra available segments to rack up status miles)? I think CX has a nonstop to DEL from HKG, could I do a return trip the way many folks fly LHR-DXB for fun (although CX's J configuration in an A330 is not quite BA's 777)?

Alternatively, let's say I take the last flight from ICN to HKG and book the next morning's flight to BKK from HKG (to satisfy the requirements of the ticket). Can I throw away the last segment?

6) Based on my itinerary, should I have any problem getting an e-ticket issued? I want to keep the connection in BKK as brief as possible.

7) Is there a rule of thumb about paying for extra segments on a DONE3 versus buying a separate return ticket? If I add additional segments in Asia after the four that are allowed, am I also allowed extra stopovers? If so, could I stopover in the same city again (and again)?

Thanks!

1) If you buy it in HKG then you will pay the HKG price. Buy it in Thailand.

2) In that part of the world, the benefit would be that you would probably get a discount if you pay with cash. Worth it? There are some downsides as well such as misinterpretation of the rules and occasional difficulty in changing flights. CX and AA are best at issuing the tickets, but given you're not in the US, I would use CX.

3) You didn't ask a question, but if you're wondering if you can access C or J, the answer is no.

4) You can go straight to the airline, but some airlines have been known to not like touching tickets issued by TAs and plated by another airline. They usually relent, but they can get touchy about it. CX doesn't care and AA doesn't care.

5) You have to end in Thailand, which IIRC is either Bangkok or Phuket. Your itinerary is fine. Your question involving DEL is really up to whoever tickets it. Technicallly, what you're talking about is fine as long as you're under 24h, but there have been reports occasionally of things like that being denied, no doubt because the denier doesn't understand why the person would do something like that.

6) Never had an E-ticket so I don't know.

7) You can buy extra segs in your continent of origin, but it doesn't add to the 2 stop limitation. So if you started in BKK and wanted to visit Manila and Seoul, you could (and I think would have to) buy extra segments, but you still have only two stops. You can stop in the same city again with certain restrictions. The first is the two stop rule. The second is that you're not allowed to reenter your country of origin after you leave it. So if you start in BKK, when you get back to Thailand, your trip is effectively over. But if you start in BKK and you're in the US and want to make three trips between JFK and MIA with stopovers every time you land, more power to you.

Advice: Don't bother trying to maximize in your continent or origin. The rules are set up to specifically keep you from doing what you want to do. Just my two cents.

Darren, who is usually very knowledgable is wrong on this per the star files:

92N . 4. 2 ADDITIONAL FLIGHT SEGMENTS WITHIN EACH
93N . CONTINENT, EXCEPT THE CONTINENT OF ORIGIN MAY BE
94N . PURCHASED. EACH ADDITIONAL FLIGHT SEGMENT MAY BE
95N . PURCHASED AT A CHARGE OF:

Since AA & CX have CTO's in both HKG and BKK, why not set it up in HKG, but actually buy the ticket when you get to BKK. You would need to fly AA London-Dallas for AA to be involved, though. And it is $125 for reissues. As for the e-ticket, if it can be done, it will be issued as an e-ticket. Not sure if there is a charge for a paper ticket in this instance,

And both AA CTOs are actually IN CX CTOs in both HKG and BKK!

I stand corrected, thanks. I view this like baseball. If I am right a third of the time, that's still pretty good. ;)

Thanks for the replies.

Sounds like I need to have the ticket issued in the country of origin. I've seen some threads where folks have gotten tickets issued in various African countries in advance of their arrival and therefore didn't have to stay at the originating country for more than the few hours needed to catch their connection.

Is this possible with the CX or BA CTOs in Bangkok or Manila or Taipei (or do I need an accomodating TA)? Ideally, I can arrange the ticket over the phone and send a credit card authorization via fax and have an e-ticket or paper ticket waiting for me at the airport counter. I was hoping to start travel on a Sunday evening (presumably after all the CTOs have closed, if they are even open on a Sunday), but I'm worried that isn't really feasible if I have to arrange the ticket after I arrive.

Any recommendations for a good TA who can handle DONEs in BKK (and MNL and TPE)?

Thanks again.

Indeed, but you are too modest, your batting average is a lot better than that. Anyhow, to make a mistake here, and watch how it takes only a few nanoseconds for someone to correct it, is one of the things that makes this board interesting.

I'm sure that if you wait long enough (or PM) Dave Noble, he has posted such information. Look for the thread,
Recent DONE4 ticketing experience ex-BKK,
from about 3 weeks ago. I'm a klutz when doing searches and inserting url's.