Is this a valid DONE4/5 routing and some advice.
May 18, 2008 | 7:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP 0.72MM
Posts: 548
Is this a valid DONE4/5 routing and some advice.
Ok, well i'm still in the very basic planning stages of a DONE trip. My original plan was to do a DONE4 but i also want to maximise the amount of miles that i would accrue during the trip as i will be spacing it out over a year and using it for the majority of my holidays.
I have worked out a routing which i think falls into a DONE5 as it originates in MRU however that is my only place in Africa that i would visit. I'm hoping that due to the creativeness of you seasoned DONE/AONE travelers that you may be able to give advice on how to change or maximize my routing.
It currently is...
MRU-LHR-YVR-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-SYD-PER-NRT-SIN-NRT-LHR-DXB-LHR-MRU.
My first stop in JFK would be a literal 2-4 hour stopover and my second stop in JFK would be used to see the city. I would also probably try and buy a seperate JFK-LHR-JFK flight so that i could break up the trip and go home.
From DFW i would buy a seperate DFW-MIA-DFW ticket so i could spend 3-5 days in Miami.
I would probably also buy a SYD-MEL-SYD seperate ticket to go there too.
I also know that i have two stops in LHR at the start and then with the DXB trip. My preference would be on the first stop to go MRU-LHR-YVR in one go.
When coming back i would probably stop in London when arriving back from Tokyo. Then going on a 5 day DXB trip and then doing a straight DXB-LHR-MRU-LHR with maybe one day in MRU to end the trip.
I am a real novice when it comes to these trips and have worked out that i think that is valid. It works out as i think 64,561 miles as the routing stands. I worked that out with a JFK-LAX-SYD miles as the flight stops in LAX.
Buying this in J will give me around 97,000 Qpoints for my AA account. With the feeder flights and the seperate tickets i will get to EXP fairly comfortably.
I think that with that itin i also maximise time on fairly good airlines products with 5x BA J, 4X AA F, 3X QF J, 3X JL J AND 1X CX J.
The pricing ex MRU excl tax seems to be around 3050 for a DONE4 right now and 3450 for a DONE5 so the difference is fairly minimal so i wouldn't mind paying the little extra to get that big chunk of miles.
Right now i throw it to you guys to tear it apart and send me on a whole other trip! lol
Thanks in advance,
Chris
I have worked out a routing which i think falls into a DONE5 as it originates in MRU however that is my only place in Africa that i would visit. I'm hoping that due to the creativeness of you seasoned DONE/AONE travelers that you may be able to give advice on how to change or maximize my routing.
It currently is...
MRU-LHR-YVR-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-SYD-PER-NRT-SIN-NRT-LHR-DXB-LHR-MRU.
My first stop in JFK would be a literal 2-4 hour stopover and my second stop in JFK would be used to see the city. I would also probably try and buy a seperate JFK-LHR-JFK flight so that i could break up the trip and go home.
From DFW i would buy a seperate DFW-MIA-DFW ticket so i could spend 3-5 days in Miami.
I would probably also buy a SYD-MEL-SYD seperate ticket to go there too.
I also know that i have two stops in LHR at the start and then with the DXB trip. My preference would be on the first stop to go MRU-LHR-YVR in one go.
When coming back i would probably stop in London when arriving back from Tokyo. Then going on a 5 day DXB trip and then doing a straight DXB-LHR-MRU-LHR with maybe one day in MRU to end the trip.
I am a real novice when it comes to these trips and have worked out that i think that is valid. It works out as i think 64,561 miles as the routing stands. I worked that out with a JFK-LAX-SYD miles as the flight stops in LAX.
Buying this in J will give me around 97,000 Qpoints for my AA account. With the feeder flights and the seperate tickets i will get to EXP fairly comfortably.
I think that with that itin i also maximise time on fairly good airlines products with 5x BA J, 4X AA F, 3X QF J, 3X JL J AND 1X CX J.
The pricing ex MRU excl tax seems to be around 3050 for a DONE4 right now and 3450 for a DONE5 so the difference is fairly minimal so i wouldn't mind paying the little extra to get that big chunk of miles.
Right now i throw it to you guys to tear it apart and send me on a whole other trip! lol
Thanks in advance,
Chris
May 18, 2008 | 8:41 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
I don't think you can utilise the 2nd European entry/exit with MRU. Would also need to be transit between other continent and one of the below African countries when utilising this exception.
Would work if you move the DXB trip to the start of the itinerary, and end the itinerary with NRT-xLHR-<a city in aforementioned African countries>.
ONLY ONE INTERCONTINENTAL DEPARTURE AND ONE INTERCONTINENTAL ARRIVAL PERMITTED IN EACH CONTINENT EXCEPT AS FOLLOWS - ...snip... TWO PERMITTED IN EUROPE WHEN ONE IS A TRANSFER WITHOUT STOPOVER BETWEEN GHANA/NIGERIA/KENYA/UGANDA/TANZANIA AND ANOTHER CONTINENT.
Last edited by Keith009; May 18, 2008 at 8:55 am
May 18, 2008 | 8:55 am
#3
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Roses, Costa Brava, Spain
Programs: Seniors Bus Pass, lots of old plastic claiming to be precious metal
Posts: 512
As QF009 has posted, the problem with your itinerary is that you can't have a second entry into Europe unless you're transiting and going to certain African countries only (& MRU isn't one of them).
Your itin. would be valid if you were to just transit LHR on your way from NRT to, say, NBO or DAR, and didn't include the side trip to DXB. (There is no need to return to MRU - any African destination is OK, although only about half a dozen of them are allowed for the purposes of the rule covering the second entry into Europe.)
If you take a look at MileageMonkey http://slfft.allhyper.com/0.95/award...HR-DXB-LHR-MRU you will see the error. Play around with the tool & you can get some excellent info.
The simple solution is to go to DXB (or my preference is for MCT) on the first trip via 'Europe', and finish off in DAR. This becomes http://slfft.allhyper.com/0.95/award...IN-NRT-LHR-DAR which is valid.
Your itin. would be valid if you were to just transit LHR on your way from NRT to, say, NBO or DAR, and didn't include the side trip to DXB. (There is no need to return to MRU - any African destination is OK, although only about half a dozen of them are allowed for the purposes of the rule covering the second entry into Europe.)
If you take a look at MileageMonkey http://slfft.allhyper.com/0.95/award...HR-DXB-LHR-MRU you will see the error. Play around with the tool & you can get some excellent info.
The simple solution is to go to DXB (or my preference is for MCT) on the first trip via 'Europe', and finish off in DAR. This becomes http://slfft.allhyper.com/0.95/award...IN-NRT-LHR-DAR which is valid.
May 18, 2008 | 1:27 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP 0.72MM
Posts: 548
Thanks for the answers so far and opinions.
I've had a rethink and a rejig and come up with the following which is apparently valid according to mileage monkey.
It is now...
MCT-LHR-YVR-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-SYD-PER-NRT-DEL-NRT-SIN-NRT-LHR-MCT.
This is now a DONE4 and not a DONE5 as i'm leaving out MRU. This routing provides me with 59,783 miles which is still good enough to get me the amount of points needed for requalification.
It still lets me see nearly everywhere that i want to see aswell as getting my required amount of miles/points that i need for my EXP.
It does however mean that starting in MCT it will cost me £4300 before taxes for a DONE4. This makes me think that starting in MCT is a waste of time as i'm getting less miles and starting out with spending £850 more than what i would for a DONE5 ex MRU.
The places i really want to see on this trip are...
Somewhere in the middle east. DXB/MCT/BAH/DOH etc.
Vancouver
New York (friends there)
Anchorage
Miami (this is a side trip so irrelevant)
Sydney
Perth
Tokyo
Singapore (friends there)
That is it, i have included Delhi as it's a nice mile earning flight and i wouldn't mind seeing India, even for just a few days or a week.
Can anyone optimise my routing a little bit more?
I would also ideally like to see HKG for a couple of days too, but i figure i can do a quick trip there from SIN if i have to. It's a farily short flight to/from HKG so i don't really want to include it in my 16 segs.
I know i'm sounding very inconcise but i am trying to give as much info as i can.
My goals from the trip are to see the places i've mentioned, get enough qpoints to requalify for EXP and to enjoy the hospitality of the nicer J class cabins of the sky.
Chris
I've had a rethink and a rejig and come up with the following which is apparently valid according to mileage monkey.
It is now...
MCT-LHR-YVR-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-SYD-PER-NRT-DEL-NRT-SIN-NRT-LHR-MCT.
This is now a DONE4 and not a DONE5 as i'm leaving out MRU. This routing provides me with 59,783 miles which is still good enough to get me the amount of points needed for requalification.
It still lets me see nearly everywhere that i want to see aswell as getting my required amount of miles/points that i need for my EXP.
It does however mean that starting in MCT it will cost me £4300 before taxes for a DONE4. This makes me think that starting in MCT is a waste of time as i'm getting less miles and starting out with spending £850 more than what i would for a DONE5 ex MRU.
The places i really want to see on this trip are...
Somewhere in the middle east. DXB/MCT/BAH/DOH etc.
Vancouver
New York (friends there)
Anchorage
Miami (this is a side trip so irrelevant)
Sydney
Perth
Tokyo
Singapore (friends there)
That is it, i have included Delhi as it's a nice mile earning flight and i wouldn't mind seeing India, even for just a few days or a week.
Can anyone optimise my routing a little bit more?
I would also ideally like to see HKG for a couple of days too, but i figure i can do a quick trip there from SIN if i have to. It's a farily short flight to/from HKG so i don't really want to include it in my 16 segs.
I know i'm sounding very inconcise but i am trying to give as much info as i can.
My goals from the trip are to see the places i've mentioned, get enough qpoints to requalify for EXP and to enjoy the hospitality of the nicer J class cabins of the sky.
Chris
May 18, 2008 | 6:25 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Valencia, Spain
Posts: 816
Why not start in Johannesburg which is currently one of the least expensive places to start a OWE?
You could do:
JNB-SYD-PER-NRT-DEL-NRT-SIN-HKG-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-YVR-LHR-MCT-LHR-JNB (or CPT) which I think covers everything you wanted to see, and is 61022 miles.
It's a DONE5 which is 45300 Rand or about 3120
Of course you have to get to/from JNB/CPT before and after, but I don't think that will be any harder than MCT or MRU which you were planning to use before.
Not sure if you are also aware that if you purchase this before June 1st, you can still have 20 segments, so that gives you even more possibilities.
Happy Travels
You could do:
JNB-SYD-PER-NRT-DEL-NRT-SIN-HKG-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-YVR-LHR-MCT-LHR-JNB (or CPT) which I think covers everything you wanted to see, and is 61022 miles.
It's a DONE5 which is 45300 Rand or about 3120
Of course you have to get to/from JNB/CPT before and after, but I don't think that will be any harder than MCT or MRU which you were planning to use before.
Not sure if you are also aware that if you purchase this before June 1st, you can still have 20 segments, so that gives you even more possibilities.
Happy Travels
May 18, 2008 | 10:43 pm
#6
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF LTG / P1 , LH LT SEN / HON, OZ LT Diamond +, Marriott LT PT, HH Diamond,
Posts: 15,149
Why not start in Johannesburg which is currently one of the least expensive places to start a OWE?
You could do:
JNB-SYD-PER-NRT-DEL-NRT-SIN-HKG-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-YVR-LHR-MCT-LHR-JNB (or CPT) which I think covers everything you wanted to see, and is 61022 miles.
It's a DONE5 which is 45300 Rand or about £3120
Of course you have to get to/from JNB/CPT before and after, but I don't think that will be any harder than MCT or MRU which you were planning to use before.
Not sure if you are also aware that if you purchase this before June 1st, you can still have 20 segments, so that gives you even more possibilities.
Happy Travels
You could do:
JNB-SYD-PER-NRT-DEL-NRT-SIN-HKG-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-YVR-LHR-MCT-LHR-JNB (or CPT) which I think covers everything you wanted to see, and is 61022 miles.
It's a DONE5 which is 45300 Rand or about £3120
Of course you have to get to/from JNB/CPT before and after, but I don't think that will be any harder than MCT or MRU which you were planning to use before.
Not sure if you are also aware that if you purchase this before June 1st, you can still have 20 segments, so that gives you even more possibilities.
Happy Travels
To the OP: Purchasing before 1 June doesn't mean to start traveling before 1 June so you can do your travels at a (much) later time.
Edit: I am not sure about you being able to purchase in South Africa without actually being there.
Last edited by DownUnderFlyer; May 18, 2008 at 10:49 pm
May 18, 2008 | 11:20 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
I too would love to stock up on a few pre-June 1 tickets but the problem of course is having to pay $$$ for them before June 1. We'd have that "Going into Debt vs Optimised RTWs" debate another day...
AA's GSA in CPT will happily sell you a ticket without you being there physically but this requires TATL AA metal.
Details here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...03&postcount=4
Details here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...03&postcount=4
Last edited by Keith009; May 18, 2008 at 11:29 pm
May 20, 2008 | 1:21 am
#8
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Roses, Costa Brava, Spain
Programs: Seniors Bus Pass, lots of old plastic claiming to be precious metal
Posts: 512
Why not start in Johannesburg which is currently one of the least expensive places to start a OWE?
You could do:
JNB-SYD-PER-NRT-DEL-NRT-SIN-HKG-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-YVR-LHR-MCT-LHR-JNB (or CPT) which I think covers everything you wanted to see, and is 61022 miles.
It's a DONE5 which is 45300 Rand or about 3120
Of course you have to get to/from JNB/CPT before and after, but I don't think that will be any harder than MCT or MRU which you were planning to use before.
Not sure if you are also aware that if you purchase this before June 1st, you can still have 20 segments, so that gives you even more possibilities.
Happy Travels
You could do:
JNB-SYD-PER-NRT-DEL-NRT-SIN-HKG-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-YVR-LHR-MCT-LHR-JNB (or CPT) which I think covers everything you wanted to see, and is 61022 miles.
It's a DONE5 which is 45300 Rand or about 3120
Of course you have to get to/from JNB/CPT before and after, but I don't think that will be any harder than MCT or MRU which you were planning to use before.
Not sure if you are also aware that if you purchase this before June 1st, you can still have 20 segments, so that gives you even more possibilities.
Happy Travels
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