DONE4 or AONE4 for EXP Requalification
 

After reading many of the insipiring posts about how to achieve EXP status the quickest, I thought I should take the jump and start traveling on xONExs. So far all of my traveling has been (I feel ashamed to admit), point to point or round-trip and therefore not mileage maximizing or CPM minimizing.

So, I am seeking to requalify for EXP early next year and would like to try to do it on an AONE4. I have seen plenty of posts about how this is easy to do on an xONE4, but I am having a heck of a time figuring out what itinerary works. I had first thought about the following:

MIA-DFW-ANC-DFW-SEA-DFW-LAX-LHR-DXB-LHR-MEL-CNS-PER-ADL-AKL-HKG-DPS-NRT-DEL-ORD

However, I realized two errors in my logic: 1) I cannot have more than two stopovers in my country of origin and I also cannot have more than two stopovers at the end either, and 2) I cannot fly on AS for the ANC portion on a xONEx.

So, I have revised the itinerary above slightly, but still cannot find a way to make it work so that I get 66667 points or more. I can address the first problem by starting in LHR rather than in NA, although cost-wise I would ticket it in the US. I know that there are savings to be had ex-NRT or ex-somewhere else (any other suggestions), but think that the positioning costs might be high.

Another issue I have is that the OW itinerary tool says you can only have one flight to PER; how is that possible, since you can't go anywhere else from PER. I have seen conflicting information on this, as I have also read on the Mileage Monkey tool that you are limited to one PER-MEL/BNE/CNS/SYD, which could be doable.

The best I can come up with (and they are both a little short) are:

MAD-IST-LHR-DXB-LHR-MEL-CNS-PER-ADL-AKL-HKG-NRT-DPS-NRT-HKG-JFK-LAX-ORD-LAX-ORD-MAD

or

MIA-ORD-LAX-LHR-DXB-LHR-IST-LHR-MEL-CNS-PER-ADL-AKL-HKG-NRT-DPS-NRT-HKG-JFK-LAX-ORD

As I said, both are a little short. This isn't a problem, as other travel will allow me to qualify anyway, but it bothers me that I can't piece this itinerary together when I have read in so many posts that getting more than 66667 points on an DONE4 or AONE4 is "easy".

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

A couple of things: I'd say reaching EXP on just an AONE4 is doable but not "easy", and ADL-AKL is no longer an option.

Edited to add: to get extra miles consider LAX-SJO and LAX-SJU, provided, of course, you don't start your AONE in NA.

Qpoints are the same whether you travel in A or D.

DONE4 ex US is USD8,300, AONE4 is USD10,400

DONE4 ex Japan is JPY780,400, AONE4 is JPY1,126,100 (~USD7,200 & USD10,390)

I think this DONE4 itin just makes EXP, starting in Bangladesh ($5900 US ++)

DAC-HKG-LAX-SCL-IPC-SCL-UIO-EZE-ORD-SJU-DFW-JFK-BGI-JFK-LAX-LHR-DXB-LHR-SIN-NRT-SIN

Here's an example with a bit more than 69,000 miles:

lhr-dxb-lhr-lax-sju-dfw-anc-dfw-mia-scl-ccs-scl-gig-scl-dfw-nrt-sin-nrt-sin-nrt-lhr

It shouldn't be too difficult to optimise it a bit further, including finding a cheaper starting point than LHR.

Not possible because OP wants to qualify early next year.

Wasn't Easter Island (IPC) reclassified as South Pacific some time ago, or was that just for AAward purposes? If so, this itinerary doesn't work.

Right...

IPC is South America for OWE purposes.

Substituting PTY or even YVR for ANC in the above itinerary still makes it exceed the magical 66,667 miles and should work year-round...

Thanks.

Not possible for an ex-LHR OWE.

Thanks for the replies. As I understand so far, the options are:

1) Start in Bangladesh - not likely to happen; I would really rather go ex-NA, ex-Europe or ex-Tokyo
2) As was pointed out already, LHR-DXB-LHR is not possible starting in Europe
3) As was also pointed out, ANC is not possible on OW, but YVR and PTY are alternatives
4) The South America alternatives are interesting, but I have flown those routes so many times that I would rather go on other routes; also, I am trying to flying non-AA metal (I think that F and J on QF, JL and CX are better)
5) SIN might be a better base for mileage purposes in Asia than HKG (although I would miss out on the CX cabins)
6) It seems that PER cannot be in any OW itinerary because of the restriction on the one PER leg, unless I purchase more segments in Australia/NZ


Taking all this input, I came up with:

SJU-ORD-LAX-LHR-DXB-LHR-IST-LHR-MEL-AKL-BNE-PER-SIN-NRT-DPS-NRT-HKG-JFK-SJU-LAX-ORD

However, this only gives 64445 miles.

It is not possible starting in the UK, but it is possible starting anywhere else in Europe.

The PER restriction does not mean you cannot include PER, all it means is that it cannot be included in a way that it can earn lots of miles. You can fly to PER from the East Coast of Oz and return via ADL, for example, or via CBR. It just means that what used to be possible with 2 segments now takes 3, but it is indeed possible.

Perhaps NRT is better for distance optimization with Asia.
PER is quite easy to use without buying additional segments. FWIW, I am not sure buying additional segment would get around the one only PER-CNS/BNE/SYD/MEL restriction anyway.

Try this for over 67000 miles:

ORD-LAX-LHR-DXB-LHR-IST-LHR-MEL-AKL-MEL-CNS-PER-NRT-DPS-NRT-DEL-HKG-JFK-SJU-LAX-ORD

I will try it shortly. I just finished another itinerary which yields 66335 miles:
SJU-ORD-LAX-LHR-DXB-LHR-IST-LHR-SYD-PER-DRW-SYD-SIN-NRT-DPS-NRT-HKG-JFK-SJU-LAX-ORD

Which is easily fixed by picking some other point on the itinerary as the starting point, for example:

gig-scl-dfw-nrt-sin-nrt-sin-nrt-lhr-dxb-lhr-lax-sju-dfw-yvr-dfw-mia-scl-ccs-scl-gig

Here is my take for 67,289 miles.

ord-amm-mad-lhr-mct-lhr-mel-akl-bne-per-adl-hkg-dps-nrt-del-hkg-jfk-lax-sjo-lax-ord

This one is a bit controversial, but the general consensus here is that it breaks the one only Oz transcon rule.

serfty thanks for the DEL suggestion - I had forgotten about it. I made a slight change to my prior itinerary and came up with 68122 miles:

SJU-ORD-LAX-LHR-DXB-LHR-IST-LHR-SYD-PER-DRW-SYD-NRT-DPS-NRT-DEL-HKG-JFK-SJU-LAX-ORD

Do you know if anyone has been able to get it ticketed? It seems to be the itinerary that I would be looking to ticket... I will call the RTW desk tomorrow and ask them, Thanks!

Thanks - this is a really interesting itinerary too.

There are one or two reports here that did NOT manage to get it ticketed. None that did, IIRC.

Actually, it seems that this will not work, as there seems to be a rule that you are only allowed one international departure/arrival from the country of origin, so even though LAX-SJO is in the same contrinent for OWE purposes, it's still an international flight.

If it does turn out to be invalid, then you could do the following for 67113:

SJU-ORD-LAX-LHR-DXB-LHR-IST-LHR-SYD-PER-ASP-MEL-NRT-DPS-NRT-DEL-HKG-JFK-SJU-LAX-ORD

Well, from DEN to SJU and back from ORD you can easily make up the difference.
This might be better suited to a DONE4 than a AONE4 as it only has F class on 5 of 20 segments.


How about
Mex-LHR-MCT-LHR-IST-LHR-MEL-AKL-SYD-PER-NRT-DEL-NRT-DPS-NRT-JFK-SJU-LAX-ORD-MIA-MEX

for 66673 - dang! almost on the nose!

The main problem with mine too is that it's mostly business class except the very long hauls, which is not much consolation from PER-NRT and the like. I believe there's more opportunity to max out the F class you are paying for on a AONE5 but that's another can of worms.

Thanks a good point about the availability of F on the flights. There's a really interesting question - can you get 66667 miles on an AON4, where there are enough segments on premium F cabins (3 classes of service)?

You are after QPoints here, not miles, so DONE/AONE are the same.

I agree, but the F cabins are really a lot better than the J cabins, if you can get them. Considering the few F cabins that are on the itinerary, you are right of course, but it would be nice to be able to make the most (points- and cabin-wise) of an AONE.

You want your cake and eat it too, like any decent FTer would. I told ya, it is doable but not "easy". Perhaps if you would reconsider and start a "5" from a cheaper place? A "5" would give you the best of both worlds: easy EXP and a good chunk of true F. Plus, by reaching EXP before the end of the OWE you get the chance of doing this is two parts, with a trip home in between, which opens up some interesting possibilities.

I don't think you can come remotely close and keep it mostly in F. You can do a lot better on AONE5 or try this AONE6 for almost all F :)

MIA-ANC
ANC-DFW
DFW-JFK
JFK-LAX
LAX-SCL
SCL-IPC
IPC-SCL
SCL-LAX (or MEX if you want BA)
LAX-LHR
LHR-MCT
MCT-LHR
LHR-MRU
MRU-JNB
JNB-HKG
HKG-NRT
NRT-DEL
DEL-HKG
HKG-SYD
SYD-JFK

Just retweak the ANC part for the winter season. That one is 76497. (not sure they'll let you transit lax back from scl, mex gives 75100)

I think you will find it very difficult to get your 100K Qpoints with an F only itinerary on an AONE4. AONE5's and AONE6's give a better chance but at a higher cost (USD11,300/USD13,200 ex USA).

It is generally acknowledged on this forum that DONE4's can give the best status/$ of these oneworld products.

Of course!! :D

Yes, that would be a lot easier. What place would have a cheap "5"?

Interesting itinerary - my mouth waters at the possiblities. However, LAX-SCL-IPC is J only (although it seems to be a popular route for miles). Also, NRT-DEL-HKG is J only as well. Overall, though, the itinerary lookd great! ^

Another idea for you if you want to go the AONE5/6 route is to work out a really really long one and straddle it over 2 qualifying years, if you do it from a cheap(er) origin like JNB or MRU you add the positioning flights or another nested A/DONEx. The idea being to lower the cost per EXP qualification.

Just break off at 66667 and pick it up again next year and the remainder goes on next year's tab. Just have to start in March or something so the 'next' year's can be done in January and stay in the 1 year validity of the ticket.

Warning: you can waste hours and hours of your life playing with the routes. I know I have enjoyed wasting those hours immensely. Now I just gotta get off my rear and take the trip! Kathmandu hmm :D

Right you are about getting going on the trip!! :D

That's a great idea about spreading out the price per EXP qualification. I likely wouldn't be leaving until March anyway, so that will work nicely. ^

I do recommend Kathmandu - it's been a few years since I've been, but it is an interesting place full of contradictions (remote location, multiple internet cafes on every corner, backpackers and well-heeled trekkers rubbing shoulders and sharing resources, trade and commerce conducted by men carrying 100kg+ on their backs, wearing flip flops, and having to climb multiple mountain ranges to get their goods to their destination, etc.).

I do thoroughly enjoy spending my time trying to optimize the route. I do think that an A/DONE6 could fit the bill in terms of overall miles and two-year qualification.

I'll get on it to see how many miles I can accumulate! :)

Regarding deciding between AONE* and DONE*, bear in mind that availability of A inventory seems to be far more restricted than D.
I'm currently researching a DONE4 (nrt-hkg-jfk-lax-sjo-lax-ord-sju-jfk-scl-puq//ush-bue-mad-mow-amm-mct-lhr-hkg-del-nrt totals "only" 58344 miles) and while checking availability for some dates next year, there is loads of D inventory on every segment (other than a couple of flights with Y cabin only). However, many of the flights that have F, are showing A0, and I would be struggling to actually book this in A.
Especially if you anticipate date changes as the trip progresses, it could be much harder to get A than D.

Happy Travels.

Just as a note - you can make AA EXP on a DONE3 with quite a few different routings by buying the extra segments up to 20. Yes , it may make it a higher price than a DONE4 but some of the add on segments may be a good value to you if you are mixing business and pleasure.