You will be surprised at the difference!;)

Prepare to be surprised.

All concerns being true, still, for oneworld I'd get the ticket issued from the cheapest airline possible, and if any news should arise, then I'd make some minor change to the itinerary and get it reissued on another carrier's stock at that point.

Historically, as long as a carrier operates -- even if they are in receivership -- their stock has always been honored (at least amongst any carriers of the status of oneworld carriers). The only questions arise if the carrier ceases operations entirely, at which point one could be at the mercy of the other carriers.

But even then, realize that a carrier like BA would probably have liabilities to the failed carrier (segments booked, flown, but not yet paid for in the past XX days), and that they certainly want to pay those liabilities by charging that account for flying you around rather than paying cash.

All in all, it's a good question, but not one I think we need to worry much about at the current time.

Steve

Thanks Steve, that is actually quite a comprehensive response and one that comes close to what I would expect. I already decided I will book with AA without worry (unless the price difference is minimal, but somehow I doubt that now).

Posted wired (PeaBerry2008/1.0 cup /Caffeine 5.2.1/Kona-12.0 VendorID/503)

So henkybaby, any update on AA and BA prices. I know with AA I have always had to call them back in a few hours to get a price quote, they have never called or emailed me with a quote. I don't know about BA's procedures.

I have mailed and called the AA agent in CPT and because my first flight is June 7th 2009 they will book and price the ticket tomorrow.

I called BA in South Africa and they bluntly stated that I would have to just send an email to [email protected] and it would 'eventually' get to them. I have done that 2 days ago and so far I have heard nothing.

I am afraid that AA is going to get the business, since what I do know already is that mindpearl is $270 cheaper on the booking fee alone..

I send an email to BA over a week ago and still no response. So I went ahead with AA. Great service and not at all expensive (tax wise):

1 BA 58 D 07JUN S CPTLHR HK1 815P 650A arr 08JUN
2 BAOPEN D LHRDXB DS1
3 BAOPEN D DXBLHR DS1
4 BAOPEN D LHRBOM DS1
5 CXOPEN D BOMBKK DS1
6 CXOPEN D BKKCMB DS1
7 CXOPEN D CMBSIN DS1
8 QFOPEN D SINPER DS1
9 QFOPEN D PERBNE DS1
10 QFOPEN D BNEAKL DS1
11 QFOPEN D AKLSYD DS1
12 AAOPEN D SYDHNL DS1
13 AAOPEN A HNLLAX DS1
14 AAOPEN A LAXMIA DS1
15 BAOPEN D MIALHR DS1
16 BAOPEN D LHRNBO DS1

Fare and Taxes:

BASE FARE TAXES TOTAL
ZAR45300 7102XT ZAR52402.00

XT 126ZA 120WC 10EV 2496GB
614UB 65AE 45WO 168TS
123SG 24QR 28QR 23WG
84WY 242US 43YC 55XY
39XA 59AY 356AU 28WG
459WY 96IA 156KK 307UB
36XF 1300YQ

Total to be debited: ZAR52 402.00 + ZAR236.00

Still a paper ticket now, but as soon as I have confirmed all my flights (with or without dummy dates) they will change it to an e-ticket free of charge.

Great service by Mindpearl!

If I ever get a quote from BA I will let you know...

Ditto that AA CPT is super!!
 

Just did 4 Aone4's with AA CPT, Fast service. I asked the office to run My AMEX asap and It posted in two days. Great way to surf the exchange rate waves.

As the experts in RTW on this board have stated ( I AM NOT ONE OF THEM):
AA rates the tickets most reasonable.
As a note: the agents at Dedicated AA deck in the USA is the most knowable airline folks in the business. OW should use these folks as a model.

I wish I would have found them 7 RTW trips ago!!!