All,

I'm looking at booking a RTW ticket very soon and as far as I can see have two options:

out of GIB:
GIB-LGW//LHR-HKG-BNE-SYD-AYQ-ADL-SYD-HNL-SFO-BOS-JFK-MAN-LHR//LGW-GIB

or ex CPT:

CPT-JNB-HKG-BNE-SYD-AYQ-ADL-SYD-HNL-SFO-BOS-JFK-MAN-LHR-FCO-LHR-CPT

The ex CPT is cheaper and I get a free trip to Rome, but I need to get to CPT (was hoping to use BAmiles to get there at the end of August but practically nothing available). The ex GIB is arguably more convenient (I'm in the UK at the moment).

Are these valid itineraries?
I've heard Blands is the place to go to for ex GIB, any suggestions for ex CPT?

Any advice really very welcome!

The only problem I can see with the two itineraries is the AYQ-ADL sector - there are no QF flights. According to the QF web site the only flights out of AYQ are to PER, CNS, MEL, SYD and ASP.

Which itinerary is preferable? - well only you can say

IIRC the AA GSA in CPT is Mindpearl - so if you search for that in this forum you should find everything you need.

From what I've read in this forum, the best option for you is set up the trip using the AA RTW desk and then get it ticketed by the local GSA (saves on fuel fines).

I've just had a mail from Blands saying that they do not issue any around the world tickets. Is this anyone else's experience? Where do people go for RTW tickets ex GIB?

Since my last post, I've called Blands and they say that since GB exited GIB they don't issue any round the world tickets anymore. They couldn't recommend anyone else in GIB. Any ideas, anyone? The fare is still a published fare from GIB...

Apparently Blands stopped selling RTW tickets when the company sold its GB Airways brand to easyJet last year.

Presumably one could buy RTWs directly from BA with GIB origins. Don't know if anyone has succeeded at that feat however. Also, of course, IB now flies to GIB and could sell you a ticket (presumably if you took GIB-MAD as your first flight they'd have to. Good luck with that.)

As for your route, you could still get a trip to Rome and not have to do the cross-London shuffle. GIB-LGW-FCO-HKG... or Schiphol - GIB-LGW-AMS-HKG... Then at the end you could save another (non-Europe) segment by going MAN-LGW-GIB instead of switching airports again.

For AYQ-ADL you might need to consider flying into Alice Springs instead of Uluru, and make your way overland.

Thanks for that.

It's looking more likely I'll have to try SA.
I've read that Mindpearl won't issue a ticket without a transatlantic AA sector - JFK-MAN is BA metal but an AA codeshare - would that do? This is harder than I thought...

Also have to get a LHR-CPT cheap flight end of August! Chances....

When are you flying? Reason being, JFK-MAN ends on 24 October. Forever.

Regarding Mindpearl, IMO you'd be better setting up the trip with the AA RTW desk in the USA and then have Mindpearl just do the ticketing. It's not within Mindpearl's remit to pass judgment on what AA will or won't ticket. If AA balks at something like JFK-LHR on BA, remember you can always change carriers on identical routes with no penalty once the ticket is issued, so just get it ticketed showing AA transatlantic, then change it to BA (on the assumption you're looking for BA tier points or other mileage benefits.)

It will probably also be okay if you just use the AA codeshare on the SYD-HNL QF flight; that way you'll be flying on AA codes across the Pacific. AA is trying to get paid for a longhaul segment somehow in issuing out of SA, so help them out.

I just did the same. AA on the SYD-HNL-LAX and BA on the transatlantic. The 'rule' is that AA must serve either the transpacific of transatlantic.

I found Mindpearl very helpful. You just validate your route through MilageMonkey and send it to them. Easy as pie. Of course you can always preselect all the flights using the itinerary planner on OneWorld.com.

After the ticket is issued (paper ticket if there are any open flights) you can always change it to your hearts content. (Not routes, but you knew that)