AONE4 ex-MRU | so far, so good
May 6, 2008 | 1:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
formerly Sparkster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 180
AONE4 ex-MRU | so far, so good
Just wanted to thank everyone on this board. You continue to make travelling an exciting experience.
And booking my first AONE4 is going well: so far, so good.
I've been to Mauritius a couple of times on holiday, and already have a LHR-MRU trip booked for January 2009. It's a beautiful island with lovely people.
I decided to take advantage of the trip to start a RTW trip there.
I emailed the BA office in Port Louis, Mauritius ([email protected]) just yesterday afternoon.
I asked to book two adult first class Oneworld round-the-world tickets, starting and ending in Maurtius. I also provided the relevant BA Exec Club membership numbers.
I was specific about the dates and times of the first three flights. The other 13 segments remain open.
The booking also appears on MMB on ba.com.
Will keep you posted about what happens next!
(BTW, I would thoroughly recommend staying at La Maison D'été. It's just brilliant for a quiet get-away.
And booking my first AONE4 is going well: so far, so good.
I've been to Mauritius a couple of times on holiday, and already have a LHR-MRU trip booked for January 2009. It's a beautiful island with lovely people.
I decided to take advantage of the trip to start a RTW trip there.
I emailed the BA office in Port Louis, Mauritius ([email protected]) just yesterday afternoon.
I asked to book two adult first class Oneworld round-the-world tickets, starting and ending in Maurtius. I also provided the relevant BA Exec Club membership numbers.
I was specific about the dates and times of the first three flights. The other 13 segments remain open.
1 Mauritius to LHR
BA122 MRU-LHR
dep XX Jan 2009 09:40
arr XX Jan 2009 17:40
2 LHR to Dubai
BA107 LHR-DXB
dep XX Mar 2009 12:35
arr XX Mar 2009 23:20
3 Dubai to LHR
BA106 LHR-DXB
dep XX Mar 2009 02:55
arr XX Mar 2009 06:40
4 LHR to Helsinki (BA)
5 Helsinki to LHR (BA)
6 LHR to Los Angeles (BA)
7 Los Angeles to Denver (AA)
8 Denver to Los Angeles (AA)
9 Los Angeles to New York (AA)
10 New York to Sydney (QF)
11 Sydney to Ayers Rock (QF)
12 Ayers Rock to Perth (QF)
13 Perth to Melbourne (QF)
14 Melbourne to Sydney (QF)
15 Sydney to Johannesburg (QF)
16 Johannesburg to Mauritius (BA)
This afternoon (less than 24 hours after my original email) I received an email confirming the itinerary, along with booking reference and personal note from XXXXXX.BA122 MRU-LHR
dep XX Jan 2009 09:40
arr XX Jan 2009 17:40
2 LHR to Dubai
BA107 LHR-DXB
dep XX Mar 2009 12:35
arr XX Mar 2009 23:20
3 Dubai to LHR
BA106 LHR-DXB
dep XX Mar 2009 02:55
arr XX Mar 2009 06:40
4 LHR to Helsinki (BA)
5 Helsinki to LHR (BA)
6 LHR to Los Angeles (BA)
7 Los Angeles to Denver (AA)
8 Denver to Los Angeles (AA)
9 Los Angeles to New York (AA)
10 New York to Sydney (QF)
11 Sydney to Ayers Rock (QF)
12 Ayers Rock to Perth (QF)
13 Perth to Melbourne (QF)
14 Melbourne to Sydney (QF)
15 Sydney to Johannesburg (QF)
16 Johannesburg to Mauritius (BA)
DEAR *SPARKSTER*
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR EMAIL REGARDING YOUR TWO RTWORLD BOOKINGS
I WILL BE ABLE TO CONFIRM FARE AND TAXES BY NEXT WEEK
KINDLY ALSO NOTE THAT PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD WILL BE ACCEPTED.
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUERY PLEASE KINDLY CONTACT ME
KIND REGARDS
XXXXXX
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR EMAIL REGARDING YOUR TWO RTWORLD BOOKINGS
I WILL BE ABLE TO CONFIRM FARE AND TAXES BY NEXT WEEK
KINDLY ALSO NOTE THAT PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD WILL BE ACCEPTED.
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUERY PLEASE KINDLY CONTACT ME
KIND REGARDS
XXXXXX
Will keep you posted about what happens next!
(BTW, I would thoroughly recommend staying at La Maison D'été. It's just brilliant for a quiet get-away.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; May 13, 2008 at 1:21 pm Reason: employee name removed in accordance with FT rules
May 12, 2008 | 12:57 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,588
Good to hear. XXXXXX helped me with my AONE6 ex-MRU and was very helpful and very responsive.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; May 13, 2008 at 1:21 pm Reason: employee name removed in accordance with FT rules
May 13, 2008 | 8:09 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: UK (LAS)
Programs: AA Ex Plat, ICH Plat RA, Hyatt Diamond, LAN Prem Silver
Posts: 544
I found the MRU office very helpful and was all set to book a RTW in 1st when I realized about half of my flights were in business class so I opted to buy a Biz RTW out of Joburg for about $3,000 less.
I noticed only 6 of your flights are in genuine International First Class.
I noticed only 6 of your flights are in genuine International First Class.
May 14, 2008 | 6:16 am
#4
Original Poster
formerly Sparkster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 180
Here's the price...
I found the MRU office very helpful and was all set to book a RTW in 1st when I realized about half of my flights were in business class so I opted to buy a Biz RTW out of Joburg for about $3,000 less.
I noticed only 6 of your flights are in genuine International First Class.
I noticed only 6 of your flights are in genuine International First Class.
The fare is MUR 188000 (as expected). But there are a further MUR 54063 for taxes and fees, taking it to a total of MUR 242063. That's 4630 which is a little steep.
However, I really want to fly first class long haul (and you're right there are 6 international first class flights: MRU-LHR-DXB-LHR-LAX; JFK-SYD-JNB).
From what I can understand, if you want to go business class, it's a better deal getting the ticket in South Africa. It's interesting to note that business to first in SA is +30% whereas business to first in MRU is +17%.
Last edited by m4rkdy3; May 14, 2008 at 12:28 pm Reason: biz to first vars
May 16, 2008 | 1:38 am
#5
Original Poster
formerly Sparkster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 180
Alerting my credit card company
I phoned my credit card company yesterday (AMEX) to tell them that a rather large charge would be coming their way, rather my way. I did this because I wanted the ticket to go through seamlessly MRU-end.
Confirming my intention to buy with BA office
I phoned the BA office in Port Louis, gave my CC details over the phone. XXXXXX asked me to confirm via email, just giving part of the CC number. Within a matter of minutes, she'd started to book the ticket.
Thing was, there was a slight change in price. I received an email stating that while the fare was still MUR 188000, the taxes/fees had risen to MUR 55442 (they were originally MUR 54063). I don't know why this happened, but gave the go-ahead anyway.
I am now the proud owner of a great RTW ticket in first (and business).
Making changes to open segments
Quick question, though, that I can't easily find on this board: most of my e-ticket is open. Who do call to fix dates/times for open segments? I seem to remember a specific RTW desk being mentioned. Can't I just call the regular BAEC phone number now the ticket has been issued?
Sparkster
I phoned my credit card company yesterday (AMEX) to tell them that a rather large charge would be coming their way, rather my way. I did this because I wanted the ticket to go through seamlessly MRU-end.
Confirming my intention to buy with BA office
I phoned the BA office in Port Louis, gave my CC details over the phone. XXXXXX asked me to confirm via email, just giving part of the CC number. Within a matter of minutes, she'd started to book the ticket.
Thing was, there was a slight change in price. I received an email stating that while the fare was still MUR 188000, the taxes/fees had risen to MUR 55442 (they were originally MUR 54063). I don't know why this happened, but gave the go-ahead anyway.
I am now the proud owner of a great RTW ticket in first (and business).
Making changes to open segments
Quick question, though, that I can't easily find on this board: most of my e-ticket is open. Who do call to fix dates/times for open segments? I seem to remember a specific RTW desk being mentioned. Can't I just call the regular BAEC phone number now the ticket has been issued?
Sparkster
May 16, 2008 | 10:57 am
#6
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 8,179
May 16, 2008 | 11:02 am
#7
Original Poster
formerly Sparkster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 180
I guess so... never done this before. I've got the email and ticket numbers. My booking is sitting happily in MMB on ba.com.
---
THIS DOCUMENT IS AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED.
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS MAIL.
ELECTRONIC TICKET
PASSENGER ITINERARY RECEIPT
BRITISH AIRWAYS MRU DATE : 15 MAY 2008
C/O IRELAND BLYTH LTD AGENT: XXXX
IBL HOUSE - CAUDAN NAME: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
MAURITIUS FQTV: XXXXXXXX
IATA : 524 80142
TELEPHONE: 202 8000
ISSUING AIRLINE : BRITISH AIRWAYS
TICKET NUMBER : ETKT 125 XXXXXXXXXX-XX
BOOKING REF :1A/XXXXXX,BA/NOSYNC
---
---
THIS DOCUMENT IS AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED.
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS MAIL.
ELECTRONIC TICKET
PASSENGER ITINERARY RECEIPT
BRITISH AIRWAYS MRU DATE : 15 MAY 2008
C/O IRELAND BLYTH LTD AGENT: XXXX
IBL HOUSE - CAUDAN NAME: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
MAURITIUS FQTV: XXXXXXXX
IATA : 524 80142
TELEPHONE: 202 8000
ISSUING AIRLINE : BRITISH AIRWAYS
TICKET NUMBER : ETKT 125 XXXXXXXXXX-XX
BOOKING REF :1A/XXXXXX,BA/NOSYNC
---
May 16, 2008 | 12:17 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA 2MM - PLT, BA GGL, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,221
May 16, 2008 | 4:54 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2000
Programs: AA Platinum 1MM, AC SE 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 2,394
At this price, it does not appear that MRU is now the cheapest place to start AONEx... South Africa looks like now the cheapest.
May 17, 2008 | 9:22 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Cayman, San Diego, London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold, AA 4MM Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,073
Yes, this has been the case for a few months due to currency rate fluctuations. I had four AONEs ending in MRU and so "purchased" two one-way MRU-JNBs using BA bonus miles and then had another two AONEs issued ex-JNB, all done in time to beat the June 1 deadline for paper tickets. Phew! No more for some time, at which point the prices will have risen inexorably.