NRT/GRU - Confused about the new rules
 

Sorry to post this, since I know it has been discussed, but I can't quite make heads-and-tails of the searched posts I've found, and I'm hopeless at deciphering (viz. digesting) the OW xONEx starfile (i.e. the definitive rules in ALL CAPS)...

With respect to the NRT/GRU sector, which usually travels via JFK (IIRC). I remember hearing about a change of rules that says, according to at least Mileage Monkey, direct NRT/GRU is considered to "touch North America".

I'm slightly confused as to what this means. Does this mean that:

1. If you travel NRT-GRU, you cannot go to North America (because you've already "touched" NA and backtracking is not allowed).
2. If you travel NRT-GRU, you can still go to NA, but you need to count NA as a continent travelled through irrespective of whether or not you actually fly "back" to NA as part of a xONEx.

For example, given a trivial xONEx NRT-GRU-SCL-FRA-NRT, does this mean that under the old rules, you could book a xONE3 to achieve this itinerary, but now you must book a xONE4 to do the same itinerary?

I had designs on doing a DONE4 along the lines of NRT-GRU-SCL-IPC-SCL-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-HEL-LHR-MCT-LHR-SIN-HKG-DEL-NRT. In this case, the new rule really should have no effect on booking this itinerary. Correct?

I guess one has a similar dilemma when creating an itinerary with MEL-LHR or SYD-LHR direct (c.f. SYD-SIN-LHR or MEL-BKK-LHR or whatever).

Finally, and this is slightly O/T: Does anyone think trying to get NRT-GRU on a DONE4 is a waste of time? I have heard that D class is extremely difficult to get on this sector (viz. in the same difficulty as SYD-JNB). My other design was to try something like NRT-LAX-SJU-DFW-ANC-DFW-SCL-IPC-SCL-FRA-HEL-LHR-MCT-LHR-SIN-NRT if NRT-GRU would almost certainly have to be flown in L (i.e. Economy).....

Of your options, b applies - you can go back to NA because you have taken advantage of the "second entry to North America where one is simply a transit to S America" rule.

You could never have done an xONE3 to S America with this flight - there wasn't a rule change, just a clarification a couple of months after JL joined OW and someone noticed the possible confusion around this flight.

Your DONE4 looks fine.

No idea on the availabilities to/around S America, sorry.

I checked on short- and longer-term availability on Expert Flyer for NRT-GRU and there were D seats for 4 days from now, but none visible from that point through early December, nor for a month either side of March 15 next year. It sounds like JL only frees D inventory at the last moment, which makes it difficult for RTW planning.

LAX-SJU has been discontinued, and presumably you know that ANC-DFW is seasonal. Your alternative plan may need some re-working.

Good news! LAX-SJU was given a reprieve, returning to the schedule in November; 4x a week with a 757.

I must have missed that, sorry.

It does disappear June 1 as far as I can see, so only compatible with DFW-ANC during May.

Befoer the rules became specific about this it may have been possible to do an xONE4 with (say) SWP-ASIA(NRT)-(GRU)SA-EUR-SWP; this routing would now be an xONE5 by definition.

nrt-gru
 

Previously you could book it nrt-gru and it did not count as touching NA but the problem was always finding D and A class availability ( i had it wait listed but choose a different RTW route and saved myself the worry about gettin D class availability, L seemed easy enough but who really wants to fly via america and for 24 hours in economy. Now it counts as going to NA, which really does not effect that many people as who wants to fly for 24 hours.