This is my first post on flyertalk, so appolgies in advance if I break protocols. I have lurked about for the past few weeks trying to answer my questions and get an idea about what I need to do. I think I have it figured but I have a couple of questions

In relation to a Done4, with reference to the change in segments. I am all set to book asap, however I wish to book for March 09 and onwards, am I correct that I can only book 330 days in advance or is it eleven months ? As I would have to leave open some of the segments post June 1 08 would I then not be able to use 20 segments or would I because I have purchased before June 08 be able to ? I would have used 8 of the segments within the next 11 months, so could it then be re-issued as an e-ticket ?

Also if everybody on here is not bored to death of looking over itn's
Here is mine syd-ayq-per-cns-mel-nrt-del-hkg-dps-nrt-gru-eze-lim-scl-gig-lhr-cai-mad-ist-lhr-syd. If anyone could suggest better use of the segments whilst still covering the above, I would be happy to listen.

Also is there really a skybed surcharge on qantas, surely not ?

This would seem to require a DONE5

South West Pacific
Asia
South America
North America
Europe

You can reserve seats on a flight 330 days in advance; those that are too far in the future you can leave as open and then date them as they become bookable

If you have the ticket issued by the end of this month , then there should be no issue with 20 sectors

Dave

Cabbage85: welome to FT ^

A vailid DONE5 on Mileage Monkey NRT-GRU: intercontinental lands in USA so you need to count NA as a continent. Note sure why MM does not pick up an error.

Cheaper if you book with AA and not QF

You can do the 4 Aust segment before or after the rest or 2 & 2

IPC from SCL is worth the trip

Changing a date is not a re issue and at no cost. However need to be careful about transit becoming stopovers with a risk of more airport - local taxes

With their seemingly be no direct NRT-GRU and needing to go via North America, it would seem that this would create a 21 sector itinerary

Dave

I think JAL flys the route on 1 flight number, but it goes through JFK

Ah yes, JL48

Dave

This itinerary is not a DONE5; it can booked as a DONE4, at least if done through AA.

I would be somewhat leery of locking in an itinerary that forces you to take JL 48 ("forces," in the sense that if you had to break this into two separate flights you'd be over the 21 segment limit). Every time I've looked into this flight (or the GRU-NRT direct JL flight in the other direction), I've seen D0 and A0. Maybe that's a glitch or something, or maybe people have been able to get seats, but I was sufficiently nervous about it, that I ended up finding a different routing.

Thanks for the interest in my little plan yes I too was wondering about how the jf48/47 works and if it includes you going to north america, and thus I would avoid it if it required another segment. I just thought it would be an interesting way to get to south america if it works.

I am going to book it in a couple of weeks so I will let everyone know how it went getting D availability

regards

The 16 segment e ticket limit starts 1 June. It can take several days ~ weeks to sort a ticket out, so don't leave it too long or esle you may be forced to a 16 segment ticket

Now with my DOne4 planning in earnest, I wish to know which of either cathay or Japan airlines would be better as follows

I could either fly hkg-del-nrt-dps-nrt-gru
hkg-del-hkg-dps-nrt-gru

first option has 3 of my asian segments on Jl
second option has 3 of my asian segment on Cathay

would anyone care to enlighten me on which way to go it is essentially the same although status credits wise it is about 20 more for flying JAL as del-nrt is slightly longer and thus falls into a different band. Really it is about which airport would be better to spend time in and which airline would be better inflight etc

also i apoligies if this should have been posted in the JL or cathay forum although since it encompasses both I would expect that it should be fine in the oneworld forum as it is directly related to a oneworld fare

regards

Hi Cabbage85 and welcome to FT and the OW forum!

I usually prefer Cathay over JAL but on those routes either will be using their regional product which is not that great anyway. In terms of lounges, I am also fairly neutral as both the NRT F lounge and The Wing/The Pier are great. In business I prefer the HKG lounges.

I favour CX but the difference is not that great IMHO.

I agree with everything that DownUnderFlyer said. I do try to mix it a bit, though, so if I have several CX flights (my first preference) then I try to throw in a JAL flight somewhere whenever possible.

You really can't go wrong, I don't think.

If you are not stopping over in DEL the visa requirements may differ between HKG-DEL-HKG and HKG-DEL-NRT (latter being transit to 3rd country), but if doing a turnaround the former may be safer because if flight to DEL is late then so will the flight from DEL.

basically put simply, as I can purchase my done4 in new zealand thus greatly reducing my cost of the ticket, would I have to start it in New zealand to qualify for the price or could I start it in Australia, either is fine although starting in Australia would be preferable any assistance greatly appreciated

regards