DONE4 Rules, rules, rules: "Free Transit" in Europe?
Mar 16, 2008, 1:55 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA EXP & 1MM, SkyTeam Gold, *A Gold, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold, mother's favorite son
Posts: 333
DONE4 Rules, rules, rules: "Free Transit" in Europe?
Just plotting an A/DONE5 ex south africa and there are 3 questions I can't find answers to. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
1. I understand we’re permitted two entries into europe if one is merely a transit without stopover from ghana, kenya, nigeria, uganda or tanzania. The question is: can I transit europe from one of those countries even if europe is NOT one of my continents? The “must-count-asia-if-transiting-between-SWP-&-Europe” rule would imply that I can’t; but the “may-transit-europe-once-without-couting-it” rule would imply that I can, and I dunno which takes precedence.
2. Are we permitted to change our continents after ticketing? I’d like the flexibility of being able to substitue, say, SWP for SA in 12 months’ time if I so desire... but not if it means canceling and reissuing after possible price hikes. Any idea whether substituting one continent for another is allowed? (I've read sec 16 #2(a) of the rules on this and it seems to me to allow it, but it's not entirely clear.)
3. As long as the itinerary starts in the country of purchase, I assume there’s no problem having surface sectors in the continent of origin? After starting in South Africa, I wanna get to the US using as few continents/sectors as possible. As there are no direct flights, it seems the only way to do this without "wasting" a continent is to fly from somewhere in South Africa to JNB to kick the fare off, then make my own way to DAR/EBB/NBO and use the 2-transit-in-europe rule to fly from there to the US via LHR. Kosher? And if so, does a surface sector count as "one stopover" or "two"?
Thanks guys!
1. I understand we’re permitted two entries into europe if one is merely a transit without stopover from ghana, kenya, nigeria, uganda or tanzania. The question is: can I transit europe from one of those countries even if europe is NOT one of my continents? The “must-count-asia-if-transiting-between-SWP-&-Europe” rule would imply that I can’t; but the “may-transit-europe-once-without-couting-it” rule would imply that I can, and I dunno which takes precedence.
2. Are we permitted to change our continents after ticketing? I’d like the flexibility of being able to substitue, say, SWP for SA in 12 months’ time if I so desire... but not if it means canceling and reissuing after possible price hikes. Any idea whether substituting one continent for another is allowed? (I've read sec 16 #2(a) of the rules on this and it seems to me to allow it, but it's not entirely clear.)
3. As long as the itinerary starts in the country of purchase, I assume there’s no problem having surface sectors in the continent of origin? After starting in South Africa, I wanna get to the US using as few continents/sectors as possible. As there are no direct flights, it seems the only way to do this without "wasting" a continent is to fly from somewhere in South Africa to JNB to kick the fare off, then make my own way to DAR/EBB/NBO and use the 2-transit-in-europe rule to fly from there to the US via LHR. Kosher? And if so, does a surface sector count as "one stopover" or "two"?
Thanks guys!
Last edited by Zeffer; Mar 16, 2008 at 1:57 pm Reason: minor tweak
Mar 16, 2008, 2:22 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Madrid, Spain & Santiago, Chile
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,181
1. Europe must be one of your continents; it is not possible to have an OWE that does not include Europe.
2. Yes
3. The answer to 1 probably makes this irrelevant but a surface segment "normally" counts as one stopover; there have been cases, however, where the airline has insisted that it counts as two stopovers.
2. Yes
3. The answer to 1 probably makes this irrelevant but a surface segment "normally" counts as one stopover; there have been cases, however, where the airline has insisted that it counts as two stopovers.
Mar 16, 2008, 3:55 pm
#3
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF Lifetime SG, LH HON, OZ Lifetime Diamond +, HH Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 14,393
3. As long as the itinerary starts in the country of purchase, I assume there’s no problem having surface sectors in the continent of origin? After starting in South Africa, I wanna get to the US using as few continents/sectors as possible. As there are no direct flights, it seems the only way to do this without "wasting" a continent is to fly from somewhere in South Africa to JNB to kick the fare off, then make my own way to DAR/EBB/NBO and use the 2-transit-in-europe rule to fly from there to the US via LHR. Kosher? And if so, does a surface sector count as "one stopover" or "two"?
Also, if you are on e AONE5 check which F product (if any) is being used on routes from Northern Africa. You will really be able to enjoy the F service from JNB to LHR and not on short routes.
Mar 16, 2008, 10:32 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NL
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 192
2. The fare and rules are locked after your first flight. If you want to change continents before your first flight it will be a reprice. After your first flight there is no reprice, but it will be a reissue, and you might be charged with extra taxes/fuel fines. If you increase the number of continents you will have to pay extra, and if you reduce the number of continents you won't get a refund.