DONE3 - please critique/validate

This will be booked after JL signs up to oneworld. I'd do more backtracking in the US but alas my parents are joining me in LAX.

BKK
xNRT (JL)
xSIN (JL)
LHR (QF)
DXB (BA)
xLHR (BA)
FCO (BA)
BCN (IB)
AMS (IB)
xLHR (BA)
LAX (BA)
SFO (AA)
SEA (land segment - AS)
LAS (land segment - AS)
xLAX (AA)
JFK (AA)
HKG (CX)
PVG (CX)
xNRT (JL)
BKK (JL)

I'd be QF SG by the time this DONE3 occurs. That means a good chance of upgrades on the CX segments. But if I change the JFK-HKG sector to the AA codeshare for the SG mileage bonus on QF FF, does that automatically erase any chance of an upgrade?

Is there really no way to get to SEA on the AA codeshare on AS as part of the DONE3? Since AA doesn't actually fly there from LAX or SFO and my parents won't understand why we;d have to detour via DFW.

Is it possible to book AA codeshares on AS metal? And if so - any status credits for QF FF?

I think I'm allowed 2 stopovers in the continent of origin. But am I allowed to do that on the return?

Cheers

4 segments per continent allowed except 6 for NA (you have 6 in Europe and 7 in Asia). Can buy 2 extra segments in Europe, though this is generally not cost effective; cannot buy extra segments in continent of origin. The 2 stopovers in continent of origin can be at either start or end of the trip, but you cannot leave the country of origin once you re-enter (with a few exceptions). AS flights cannot be included, OWE must be entirely on OW metal. Op-ups on AA codeshare simply don't happen, AA doesn't oversell (cannot under the terms of their codeshare), so it is only the CX flight code that is oversold and needs opups. Not sure what you want to do to correct the routing, it seems to be a poor fit to your travel desires and the fare rules.

Hmm, oh well I guess the following will do:

BKK
xNRT (JL)
xSIN (JL)
LHR (QF)
DXB (BA)
xLHR (BA)
FCO (BA)
BCN (IB)
AMS (IB)
xLHR (BA)
LAX (BA)
SFO (AA)
SEA (land segment - AS)
LAS (land segment - AS)
xLAX (AA)
JFK (AA)
HKG (CX)
xNRT (CX)
BKK (JL)

How much does it cost to buy 2 extra segments in Europe?

And how well does the CX JFK-HKG A346 flight oversell?

You can only have 20 segments in total. Internal transport in EU is not too expensive (train or aircraft) EU is small compared to OZ

You will save a bundle of $ if you avoid LHR. Very high taxes and airport charges on business class fares. You could go FRA-DFW on AA .

Oneworld Explorer Validator

Are you going to credit to AA or QF frequent flyer program ?

There are 16 segments in my itinerary so I should be alright. But there are 6 segments in Europe, meaning I'd have to buy 2 extra segments. Was wondering what the rate is for buying extras as I can't find it on the ow website.

Crediting to QF. The SCs from that itinerary alone makes WP. About 1440.

I have to visit London. And I think I'd rather pay a bit more tax than give up club world for AA across the atlantic...

Thanks for the link! ^

Cheers for the info.

Looks pretty pricey indeed. Might book 2 of the shorter European segments separately then.

Yes, mostly.

But for my situation (live in Japan),
NRT-HKG-NRT Fisrt class for 1,100 USD/900 EUR
is worthful.
So, I usually add these extra segments to my AONEx.

I wouldn't be assuming that they will be full parties to the OWE fare right away. When SA joined *A it took some time for their routes to be included in the CRWSTAR fares. In addition, I wouldn't assume that pricing will be the same when JL or RJ etc. come on board.

Nope. I feel your pain. Seasonally you can ride QF YVR-SFO and v.v., or of course there's LHR-YVR or LHR-SEA on BA

You can't book OWE segments on AA/AS codeshares, period. As for the QF SCs on AA/AS codeshares I believe the answer is no, but best to look at the QFF T&Cs. You earn QF miles on AS flights with or without the AA codeshare number, though.

An excellent example, and the only such route that isn't restricted on the OWE fare (round-trip transcons are prohibited in US and Australia, DXB etc. long-hauls are restricted out of LHR, etc.). I cannot think of any other route where extra segments are so useful and such a bargain! The other advantage of purchasing extra segments is that they are fully changeable for date/routing, unlike most discount tickets that might be cheaper; but generally buying separate tickets is more cost effective.

Why would JL joining affect the OWE price? JL adds very few new routes and cities (except within Japan and China). More likely are rule changes (such as limiting HKG-NRT flights similarly to how LHR is limited). Oneworld has been coy about exactly when JL joins, but there have been some press releases which imply that JL will fully participate in OW when joining, which could be interpreted to be part of the OWE fare from day 1. We'll see soon enough, I suppose. The one sure thing with OWE fares is that the rules and fares change every year, but I don't see this year having bigger changes than in the past.

I don't know that JL joining will affect the OWE price; however the passage of time almost certainly will. Having JL and RJ in the alliance affects several transoceanic options, which as the bread and butter to the OWE participants might imply some restructuring of the product might take place. As you say, we'll know soon enough.

Such prime routes as DTW-AMM on RJ and YYZ-BUD and JFK-BUD on MA. The real problem is the absurd way that OWE ticket revenue is allocated to the airlines, but fixing that would be transparent to the consumer and not affect the fare rules. But OWE revenue is such a small percentage of airline revenue (I doubt it is 0.01%) that the airlines cannot be bothered to address this. The primary impact is the reluctance of some OW airlines to reissue OWE tickets unless they are flying a prime leg.

Don't forget the NRT-MEX, NRT-GRU, NRT-LHR/CDG/FRA/AMS JL flights will open up a significant range of new flight options. Within Asia, NRT-SIN/DEL/KUL are also welcomed additions.

True, but NRT-GRU already exists (it is NRT-JFK-GRU, so nothing new). CX has HKG-CDG/FRA/AMS/FCO so those are already served from Asia; more interesting would have been NRT-MAD, NRT-BUD, NRT-MXP (I think JL used to serve more cities in Europe but has cut back). Initially I thoiught JL adds a lot of new cities and routes, but it really doesn't. Their Hawaii-Japan services is probably the biggest change (it allows adding Hawaii and not just HNL with onward travel to Japan).

Read from another thread that it's incredibly difficult to obtain D seats for the CX JFK-HKG non-stop. How far ahead should I be booking?

OT but that's very interesting - I've always wondered how revenue from a RTW is distributed? Based on % of distance flown on the itinerary?