surface transportation as a segment?
 

hi, I got confused about the segment-counting things.. hope some of you can answer a quick question which can definitely helps me a lot...

When i was planning the itin, i thought it allowed 4 flight segments and open jaw overland segment was not counted.

SCL-EZE (South American 1)
EZE-AEP (overland)
AEP-FTE (South American 2)
FTE-SCL (overland)
SCL-IPC (South American 3)
IPC-SCL (South American 4)

But I read from ONEWORLD website: "You can fly up to 20 flight segments on your trip. Travel between two points by surface transportation will count as one flight segment."

Does it mean that my above itin actually translates to 6 segments which are not allowed?

Surface segments count against the 20, but not against an individual continent's limits, so your itinerary is okay.

As a related question, does anyone know if 'land segments' in the same city count? If I fly into to London at LHR and leave LGW, is that a segment?

According to the AA RTW desk last week, it is. Obviously it doesn't count against the four intra-regional segments, just the upper-limit 20. Maybe others have had a different experience...

Also, a related question: on an AONE4 issued and started in MRU I am allowed six US segments, plus two more if I pay extra. ALL eight count towards the 20-segment limit.

Am I also allowed a surface segment in the US making a total of 9, all of which will count against the 20 limit?

Yes you're allowed a surface segment in addition to your 8 air segments, as surface segments do not count towards the individual continental limits.

But surface segments are included in the overall 'whole of itinerary' 20 segment limit so yes all 9 segments in the US count towards the 20.