Greetings. We have made five RTWs on Star Alliance and I know those rules inside-out, along with the major longhaul routes of the *A members, etc. I saw a comment today that made me wonder if, since we're in Finland, maybe a OneWorld RTW might be fun for a change, next time. I had a look through your FAQ here and got the general idea -- but of course I haven't the kind of easy familiarity with the details that I have with the *A system. So ... I'm going to ask!

Can I do something like HEL-(xxx)-YYZ-(yyy)-SYD-HBA-MEL-JNB <or> CPT-(zzz)-HEL with most sectors -- at least longhaul -- in A? Is such a routing possible without transitting either LHR (for the terminal nightmare) or the USA (for the terrorism hysteria)?

cheers,

Henry

I am also a *A flyer normally however do know a few things about OW.

I believe that the only way to get from HEL-YYZ is via LHR on BA/AY. You can do YYZ-ANC-HKG-SYD on CX to avoid the US, other wise it would be AA/QF through SFO/LAX. You won't have a problem with sectors within Australia though you may have to go MEL-HBA-SYD to avoid going through SYD twice (on way to JNB). CPT-HEL appears to only be possible through LHR which may be a problem for the backtracking rules.

While this may not be perfect information, someone can correct me and I hope it helps.

These are mutually exclusive requirements for the most part. A has been discontinued by AY and IB (and never offered by MA), so only BA and AA have A flights trans-Atlantic, and 90% of AA flights offering A are ex-LHR (since that is the primary market for First class travel). IB has a dozen TATL flights that avoid the US (half to NA and some to SA, which is an extra continent). Canada is served only by BA and after April 1 by MA. The CX flight YYZ-HKG makes a technical stop in ANC and goes through US inspection of pax, so if you are on the US no-fly list you won't be flying YYZ-HKG. YVR-HKG does avoid the US and has no such inspection. Finally JNB-MAD is well served by IB, so you can avoid LHR there, but only BA flies A to anywhere in Africa.

As number_6 states, you have mutual exclusive requirements. The least objectionable route would be to do HEL-xxx-LHR-YYZ/YVR... and choose a city in Europe that arrives at terminal T4. That is the terminal where the trans-atlantic flights on BA depart.

Wait until 1-Apr and go via BUD and for a really round about route, fly via AMM as RJ has service to YYZ from Jordan. The middle east is part of Europe for the OW explorer fare rules. And that is not back tracking either.

Thanks. I was afraid it might be something like that.

cheers,

Henry