another 3 or 4 continent OWE question
 

Just curious... if utilizing JL47/48 and flying with an itin like NRT-GRU-LHR-NRT, would that be considered a 3 or 4 continent fare?

This issue came up about a month or two ago, but I don't think it's been settled yet. The problem, if it is one (and it probably is, IMO), is that NRT-GRU makes a stop in JFK. If we go by the unwritten rule "you touch it, you pay for it", then NA must be paid for.

If rules are applied consistently, then it should be 4 continents. The same thing happens when you fly on QF/BA direct services between Australia and Europe (e.g. QF 9 MEL-LHR with stop in SIN). And in this case Asia is counted as a continent IIRC.

This is true, but in the case you mention there is an explicit rule to cover the Asia transit, whereas there is none for NA transits, so the case could be made that in the absence of a rule against it there is every reason to argue that NRT-GRU does not involve paying for NA. Alas, the airlines are governed more by greed than Viajero logic so I doubt this will fly.

Are there other flights similar to this that has one flight number but makes a stop somewhere in between for refuel?

Yes - lots. But most do not stop on a different continent to both origin and destination.

Only the kangaroo routes and this one.. and since there is no rule to explicitely cover it like the kangeroo ones... its really up in the air..

I guess if you find some inexperienced airline fare desk agent who doesn't know the flight stops in JFK, you might be able to get it ticketed... but would be curious to know if anyone has tried and failed or succeeded....

.................

Hmm, I called the AA RTW and ask about this specific flight and they said that although it is counted as 1 segment (of the 20), you still would have to pay for NA. Perhaps I should talk to BA instead.

Only theoretical possibility, no reality,
if JL changes JL48 to a direct flight from NRT-GRU,
can they refund it (XONE4 to XONE3) ?
The rule says no refund on decreasing the number of continents.
Or, can we change Asia-(NA)-S.A-Europe-Asia XONE4 to
Asia-S.A.-Europe-Africa-Asia XONE4 without increasing the number of continents ?

For SYD-LHR case, the rule explicitly charge for Asian continent for single flight number flight.
So, if BA/QF provide non-stop flight on this route, theoretically no refund is required.

As related topics, there are some threads about AA's ORD-DEL flight.

I don't see the point of the question; no current aircraft is capable of doing NRT-GRU, or LHR-SYD, so what difference does it make whether they would refund anything or not? Besides, the rules applicable to a ticket are those current at the time of first issue; if things change later, for better or worse, you are stuck with those rules and no refund, or increase, is due anyway.

Technically that isn't exactly true. If you have issued the ticket and flown a segment in it, then yes, when they reissue, you will be stuck with the rules applicable when the ticket was issued. However, if you have not flown the first segment yet and ask for it to be reissued, they will have to recalculate your fare and use the rules based on time of reissue. eg. refund then issue a new ticket.

Just an update, I was able to get on JL48 NRT-GRU without counting NA (AA booking through Tal Aviation in Stockholm). I simply argued that there is no explicit rules against it and it's a single flight number with a technical stop of less 24 hours, which means no stopover. Maybe I'm just lucky. :)

Has there been any new experiences with JL48/47 booking on xONEx without North America?

And on the tech stopover in JFK, it is the full cycle with immigration and security? How do they assume whole plane to go through in 2 hours 40 minutes?