DONE4 ex SYD. Flights after return to origin
 

Just a quick question. I am planning my next DONE4 for October and just wanted to check, whether the follwing plan is okay:
SYD-SIN-xFRA-xLHR-MIA-xSJU-xORD-LAX-xSYD-ADL-xPER-SYD.

QF is (of course) telling me that you can not book segments within Australia after you returned to your city of origin and refueses to issue the ticket. I want to optimize status credits (QF) but need to be in FRA and ORD at certain dates so there is not much flexibilty.

By my reading of the latest rules:
http://www.oneworld.com/content/libr..._15may2007.pdf
I think you are right and QF may not be right. But in any case, why not fly LAX-MEL x ADL..... and it won't be an issue anyway - since your origin point is SYD.

Others may suggest that you should go through AA to minimise fuel fines.

(PS: don't you hate it in SYD when the sky clears as the weekend is over!)

Could it be you have used "x" to denote a stopover? If so it should be the other way around.

Ditch QF and go with AA. Less fuel fines and they're usually more spot on with the rules. :)

It's always been a oneworld rule that the return to your city of origin is the end of the itinerary. You may only travel in the continent of origin to travel to or from an international gateway.

For example if you lived in CFS, you'd be permitted to fly CFS-SYD etc, and then arrive back in SYD and travel to CFS. I think it's only two segments in continent of origin and only to get to an international gateway.

Therefore QF are right in what they're saying.

The "travel may not be via point of origin" rule does exist for the Global Explorer, however it's been deleted for the Oneworld explorer - the latter of which the OP is trying to book. The only remotely similar restrictions are the limits of 1 departure/arrival for country of origin, or 1 intercontinental arrival/departure per continent (with certain exceptions). Further, you're allowed 2 stopovers in continent of origin and the standard 4 segments for SWP. There are no further restrictions on how these segments are used, apart from the transcon restrictions for SWP.

QF will basically accuse you of trying to exploit the fare rules and scam them for cheap domestic fares if trying to ticket such an itinerary via QF. It doesn't matter what the actual rules are - good luck trying to convince them to ticket the itinerary if they insist on enforcing a non existent rule.

Painless and (relatively) stress-free solution: AA ATW desk.

Incorrect. The rule was changed a couple of years ago.

This is how I read it as well. But I want to come home to Sydney and then many weeks later do the flight to Perth for business so I can not fly LAX-MEL.
Yes, x marks intended stopovers contrary to what other people are using it for.

ClassicLover, rumour has it that OneWorld changed this rule back in 2006. There is no reference in the official rules regarding this anymore.

PS Let's hope for a clear sky next weekend when I actually have time to go out

PPS Edit I think I have the answer. It is called AA. Thanks everyone, especially og and QF009

Well there you go - you learn something new every day - thanks! :)

You may run into problems with airlines if you hand them a proposed itinerary with "x" to mark a stopover. They (the airlines and most everyone else) uses a "x" to show a transfer (ie: <24 hrs).

You can always fly LAX-MEL and then get a $120 red-e MEL-SYD. For that matter, why not book CBR-PER-SYD and another return fare (say SYD-CHC-SYD). That'll fut in the rules and get a trup across the dutch as well.

Only 1 international arrival/departure for country of origin unfortunately. No exceptions to 'international' for Australia-NZ either. ;)

The other people include most of those you are seeking advice from regarding this itinerary. If they misunderstand you the quality of the advice will suffer.

I think SYD-CHC-SYD was proposed as a separate fare.

Oops...:o
But given the OP lives in SYD I thought it was the intention to fit as many SWP segments into the DONEx as possible?

You are quite right (I'm wrong). I'm used to the rules applying to Thailand as the country of purchase.

I promise to use the x correctly in the future.
I promise to use the x correctly in the future.
I promise to use the x correctly in the future.
I promise to use the x correctly in the future.

I could book LAX-MEL and then later CBR-PER-SYD but this would be a so much less convenient way of getting to PER from SYD.

I suggest doing what og & QF009 proposed and go via AA.

You should be able to get your SYD stopover and (as an added bonus) save several hundred dollars in the +++ as well - mainly due to AA not applying fuel fines [levies] to the same exorbitant levels as Qantas.

It is quite possible to the ticket issued. Just need to have a TA that knows the rules and can convince QF to issue it. I am currently undertaking my first stopover in the continent of origin following a return to the city of origin and prior to including 3 subsequent domestic QF sectors. My ticket was issued by my TA on QF stock (paper 081 ticket stock).

The rule change was in November 2004 IIRC. Since my TA brought the rule change to my attention in early 2005, I have routed all my DONE4 fares to include QF domestic segments after returning to my point of origin, and all have been issued through QF by my TA.