Hey guys,

I am about to book OWE4 business class and I wanted to ask you if you have some suggestions what to do before making this booking. Ask yourself what would you do?

My itinerary is: ARN-MAD-EZE-LIM-SCL-AKL-SYD-PEK-NRT-BKK-HKG-DEL-LHR-ARN.

I am starting this trip mid-October, have all dates panned out, and finishing May 2008. I am not a member of any OneWorld Miles&Points reward program. I have Aeroplan card which is of course of no use in this context.

1) Who do I call to purchase this ticket? Can you recommend someone?

2) Which Miles&Points program should I sign up for? I don't think I'll travel One World after this trip since I usually fly Star Alliance - they have better connections to places I go often.

3) I've seen some posts that some people were unable to book seats. Should I expect any similar problems?

4) Anything else?

Thank you so much,
Vladimir

If you plan on doing SCL-AKL between December and March then you need to book asap.

It's a great shame to throw away 7 "free" segments unused. Note also that HKG-DEL is on a fairly crappy regional business class plane. You might prefer to go SYD-PEK-HKG-BKK-NRT-DEL.

Hey,

Thanks for your answers so far. Indeed I plan to do SCL-AKL crossing in December. Maybe on Xmass day there should be a few free seats? I am on a work schedule on this trip so I can not wonder around as much as I would! I'll try to squeeze another two three segments.

Do I have to call an agent in Sweden to book the trip? Any recommendations? Should I bother with miles&points program?

Thanks.

Nope, right now December is D0 throughout, except for a few seats available on Dec 1, 2, 3, 30 and 31. After that is even worse.

Edited to add: Moomba is correct, the 24th also shows some availability, but I see D0 for the 25th.

You might want to get a wriggle on as there is limited availability on the 24th with more on the 25th but other dates around that have no D availability.

If you do a search for Stockholm you should find a few threads with recommendations for ticketing options. Here is one thread to start you off http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ight=stockholm

I would sign up with AA and do a PLATINUM challenge ( see sticky in AA forum for more information ) they have the best earn / burn rates.

In this case a Plat Challenge would do no good at all, because there are no AA flights in the OP's itinerary.

Oops I forgot about that "little" change to the requirements.

GCM comes out to just under 37,000 miles. That's enough to get AAdvantage Plat the 'legit' way (since the 4 AA segment rule is not being enforced currently).

Guys,

Thanks again for informative replies. I found an agent in Stockholm and I am expecting response from him.

How about BA rewards program? I will fly BA from Delhi to London. Do I qualify?

Cheers.

You need 4 flights (only certain fares count) on BA metal to qualify for status. (And one just to join IIRC?) So BA Executive Club not a proposition I would think.

Guys,

I got a response from an agent in Sweden. There was a confusion about a number of sectors allowed for Europe. I change my itinerary to include Helsinki before Madrid. So it was Stockholm-Helsinki-Madrid-.... London-Stockholm and I got a response that this was invalid route since it had more than 2 stopovers in Europe. OneWorld Trip Around The World software did not complain about my itinerary! Agent confirmed itinerary without Helsinki and the price is 47121 SEK. Itinerary needs to be confirmed by Oct 4 which is 7 days before the first leg of the trip.

The agent is right, you are allowed a maximum of two stopovers in your continent of origin. If HEL (or LHR) is a connection, not a stopover, then it is valid.