RTW or Circle Pacific?
 

Hi all,

I'm taking a trip to Asia in 2 weeks, and since I've never tried booking a RTW or Circle Pacific before, I did a lot of reading on the OW site as well as FlyerTalk, but would still like to get some opinions from people who have done this before or have some tips.

Goal: Get a low cost, mileage earning route involving multiple stopovers in Asia
Required stopovers: SAN, SYD, MNL, HKG, PEK, pretty much in that order
Ideal stopovers (can pay additional): TPE, and SAN on the way back

1. Intended RTW US-originating LONE4 itinerary:
ORD-SAN-SYD-MNL-HKG-PEK-FRA-SAN-ORD
note: FRA is just used as a connector to SAN, all others are stopovers
This itinerary is allegedly $4100 USD right?

2. Intended RTW SYD-originating LONE4 itinerary:
Take a one-way from SAN-SYD for about $1000 USD
SYD-MNL-HKG-PEK-FRA-SAN-SYD-ORD [corrected]
This itinerary is allegedly something like $2400 USD, and thus $3400 total?

3. Intended Circle Pacific:
SAN-SYD-MNL-HKG-PEK-SAN-ORD
I checked the mileage using Great Circle Mapper and it seems to easily fall within 26,000 (five free stopovers) or 29,000 including a 6th one in TPE.


It seems that (2) is the cheapest, however it does not allow changing of the original SYD-MNL flight, and that may change depending on circumstances. I have no idea of the price for (3), but if it's not too much lower, should I just go for a RTW? Seems more flexible too, right? Also, I will take a look at CX's Asiapass too, since that seems like a possible option as well.

Anything I should watch out for, or tips on what routes to avoid/try to get?

You need to spell out each individual flight - some of these require multiple segments (PEK-FRA isn't direct on OW for example). This matters both for the Circle Pac and poentially for the LONE4.

I don't understand 2. A SYD originated LONE4 can't start in ORD!

Circle Pacific stopovers are defined per region not in total - you may need to review the rules here: http://www.hardlink.com/~markdu/OWFiles/OneCirPac.html

Circle Pacific allows 2 free stopoovers per region so only 2 of MNL, HKG, PEK, or TPE would be allowed. Additional stopovers may be added at $75 USD/stopover; up to 2 per region. 29,000 mile itinerary (CIR29SA) must include South America.

A few things that may be worth considering;

If you can get to SYD then you could consider purchasing a Cathay Asia Passport which starts at around US $ 1400.00

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...0021d21c39____

There is also one that commences from the USA as well - if you go to Cathay's website in US it should have something there.

NB - The Australian one allows you to claim miles - the USA AFAIK doesn't.

I would also think, at the prices that you have quoted for a RTW - that you can actually do the trips for cheaper purchasing individual tickets

Eg - Cx - SYD - MNL will usually allow you a free stopover in HK in one direction - so you could then do

SYD - xHKG - MNL - HKG on one ticket and HKG - PEK - HKG on another. Then;

1. Pick up a cheap return to USA from HKG/TPE - which will allow you to come back to Asia within the year. You may also be able to nest HKG-SYD as well.

2. Buy SAN-SYD-SAN from USA and fly SYD-xHKG - MNL - HKG - (seperate ticket HKG-PEK-HKG) SYD

Cheap economy tickets can easily be picked up within Asia - often allowing
extra stopovers - which for a limited RTW route - may be a better option.

Check out CX offers page on each of their individual country sites and also

www.zuji.com and throw in various routes - it will give you a guide to prices- although I usually find that tickets can be picked up locally cheaper than what comes up in their engine.

Might consider a Global Explorer. It would give you the number of stopovers that you need for about the same price as the other products. You're also less constrained on the number of segments and can include JAL, Malev and a few other airlines in the trip if need be.

Does anyone have any experience pricing ACIR22 tickets other than with the OW airlines?

Which OW airline tends to give the best prices for an itinerary starting in North America?

My intended itinerary is: JFK-HKG-DPS-SYD-AKL (maybe)-DEN

I am looking for the cheapest A class, and I think that the Circle Pacific fares are cheaper than any of the other products. Am I right?

Thanks.

Other than possibly fuel surcharges the prices should be identical whichever airline use for ticketing.

No, I believe the pricing is identical to the corresponding xONEx product, the only difference being mileage limited, so price per mile is approx double (as the OWE typically route for twice the mileage). The sole advantage of the Circle fares is that they allow using several airlines which are excluded from the OWE product (for example, JL), thereby including some cities which are otherwise unreachable, and making possible more time-prudent routings. So in general the Circle fares sell convenience, and not a cheaper price.

As number_6 said, in general, xONEx products can earn more miles than milage based products such as xCIRxx and xGLOBxx.

For example, ex-Japan fare are ordered as follows.
(all in JPY)

A/DCIR22 840,000/577,500
A/DONE3,A/DONEWC3 955,500/656,300
A/DCIR26 1,024,000/704,600
A/DONE4,A/DONEWC4,A/DGLOB34 1,072,400/743,200
A/DCIR29 1,092,000/750,800
A/DONE5 1,242,700/852,500
A/DONE6 1,423,900/978,200

LCIR22 315,000
LONE3,LONEWC3 335,000
LONE4,LONEWC4,LGLOB29 369,600
LCIR26 384,300
LCIR29 409,500
LONE5,LGLOB34 433,800
LONE6,LGLOB39 500,000

Interestingly, price orders are not same between First/Business and Economy.
Especially, A/DGLOB34 = A/DONE4, but LGLOB34 = LONE5.
Then, LCIR29 is more expensive than same mileage capped LGLOB29.

Per mile cost, as number_6 pointed out, is better on the xONEx fares. But to answer your question straight away, Yes the Circle Pacific Fares are cheaper than xONEx. Case in point:

I am taking a trip to Asia and Australia next February and was originally considering an AONE4 fare going NA-Asia-SWP-EU-NA. An AONEX would have run $10,400 plus taxes and a lot of fuel surcharges. The ACIR26 ran $8400 plus taxes and a lot of fuel surcharges. Since Europe was only going to be used as a connection back to the US as I had no desire to visit anywhere in Europe in February, nor did the time I have allotted allow it. Now your travel plans must fit well for the Circle Pacific as there is the limit of 2 free stopovers per region and both SWP and Asia regions must have at least 1 stopover of 24+ hours. Since my travel plans just happened to included 2 stopovers in Asia and 2 in OZ it worked out perfectly with a Circle Pacific. I added a weekend in SFO on the way back just for good measure.

Now if you have the time, the xONEx is going to be a much better deal as it will get you more places, more stopovers, and more miles. And for the OP a xONEx will probably be better due to the desired number of stopovers.

I know, I know, many of you will admonish me by saying that I am not a true FTer since I am not maximizing my miles by neglecting to turn my February trip into a mileage run. Please forgive me. :)

2. Buy SAN-SYD-SAN from USA and fly SYD-xHKG - MNL - HKG - (seperate ticket HKG-PEK-HKG) SYD

Thanks for the tips! I think I might eventually go with option 2, but will do some more looking around and evaluation of CX's asia pass...