My company allows business class for overseas flights, but insists on the cheapest option among contracted airlines, primarily UA and AA. Since UA routinely comes in way, way under AA, often I am able to stay on AA/OW only by using more-restricted fares such as I-class. To Australia, a DCIR was competitive with a UA D-class, so it was an option. Not any more. With UA offering D to SYD for $5k and a DCIR costing $9k, there will be no question. Is my company unique? Will others stick with OW and pay twice as much? I can't say, but it doesn't look good for me personally.

I've relied on DCIR fares for myself and OW awards for my SO to allow us to vacation in Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong and me to requalify as EXP at a cost that's a stretch but not impossible. Now, it will be flatly impossible. Especially with OW award hold times going from 14 days to 5, making it effectively impossible to book a OW award in D to match a DCIR.

I want to look into the option you mention. What's an xASxx -- a Circle Asia? The other choice is to perhaps do a DONE4 but only every two or three years instead of every year.

Not if you're originating in North America; however you could do a one-time repositioning trip to HKG or some such, buy the DCIR at the local price, and just begin and end the circle there; repeat as needed.

DAS13 and DAS17 (and their L and A counterparts) are Circle Asia Southwest Pacific tickets - like a Circle Pacific but without the U.S. part.

http://www.oneworld.com/ow/air-trave...h-west-pacific

Limited to 13,000 and 17,000 miles.

How do you locate a sales agent in the desired origination country? Probably HKG or Tokyo would be convenient places to originate and terminate the DCIR, since they are easy to get to. Since AA flies to NRT, that's a good choice for AAdvantage members, since one could buy coach and upgrade to business. Are there better places?

Thanks. The OW web site estimates the equivalent of US$4,582 for a DAS13 purchased in HKG or $4,325 for NRT. Adding in the cost (and miles) for the enclosing RT to NRT or HKG, it's probably about what the old DCIR was, although a lot fewer EQP since the US trip is assumed to be booked in coach and upgraded.

How would one go about booking and purchasing one?

That is VA for V australia (as well as Volaire)

Similar to how JQ was (is) also Air Jamaica

Sometimes if in different zones, the airlines can have the same designator

You can easily purchase these tickets through the AA office at NRT. You can find the phone nos. on the AA Japan website - http://www.americanairlines.jp/conte...ctURL&title=en

Here's a list of AA offices and general sales agents in various countries. http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...ckets/main.jsp

Set up the itinerary with the AA RTW desk for pricing and issuance ex-NRT or wherever.

Oops, I should have known that. Thanks for letting me know anyway.

Sorry, but Air Jamaica has always been JM to my knowledge.:confused:

Sorry my confusion. JQ was for Air Jamaica Express

I had no idea I could call the AA RTW desk and have them set up a ticket for ex-NRT issuance, then call the AA NRT office to issue it. Thanks!

Would this work for places AA itself doesn't fly? I notice there is a sales agent listed for HKG in the link you posted; would the RTW desk set up a ticket for them to issue?

Yes absolutely - I am in the process of getting two AONE3s set up by the AA RTW desk for ticketing by their GSA in Manila. The AA RTW desk are a joy to deal with compared to any other airline reservation desk I have ever contacted. And I find that they are now open longer hours than I thought: Mon-Fri 7am-8pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5:30pm Central time.

(And the tickets have no transoceanic on AA, but that isn't an issue either.)

I also just had the very pleasant experience of working with the GSA in JNB for a great AONE6 ... very easy and all transactions done by fax and email. Ticket was e-tix and itinerary visible on aa.com......