Looking to purchase an AONE3 ex-ICN. The travel agent I am working with in Seoul has quoted me KRW8,881,400, which translates into a little more than USD7,000 and matches the price shown on ExpertFlyer when displayed in KRW. However, when displayed in USD, ExpertFlyer shows a price of USD6,083. Is this just a mistake in conversion by ExpertFlyer, or is it really cheaper if you pay in USD? Also the travel agent is ballparking taxes at KRW2,000,000. Does this seem right?

That is indeed strange. Sabre must have a bad rate for KRW in their system. I had been looking at the USD values for xONEx products from Korea. They are not as good of a value as I had thought since it appears the conversion isn't being done properly!

In another thread someone posted that the IATA currency rates are loaded into the system once a week. The high of KRW against the US$ was reached on October 28. Expertflyer may still be using this or a similar rate to make the conversion even though the actual exchange rate has slid to KRW1265 to US$1 from 1455 or so. An Aone3 ex-Korea is KRW8,881,400 as you were quoted -- the conversion rate has changed substantially since last week.

If you take the current exchange rate of $1.00 = 1262KRW, then the 8881400 AONE3 fare is a tad over $7,000.00. The $6,083.00 rate on EF is based on the exchange rate of last weeks low for the KRW @ 1460. I don't know who will charge the US$ fare, and if booking through a travel agent in Korea, they'll charge you in KRW.

The taxes seem a bit high, I'd venture it should be closer to 1,000,000KRW.

The FOREX changes daily. To get a better estimate of what the BASE price of the fare is, select the "currency" in KRW South Korea Won then use the interbank rate that your credit card company posts. AMEX uses Oanda:http://corp.americanexpress.com/gcs/.../currency.aspx.

Then just do the math. 8881400(KRW) / 1277krw= $6955 USD.
I do not know how often Expert Flyer updates its exchange rates, however recent volatility in FOREX will effect accurate pricing.
FOREX for the WON had gone up and down the last month: 1100-1450-1280...


KRW 2,000,000 does seem a bit high for taxes, but taxes are dependent on the airport taxes and the airline that issues the ticket and does the calculations. (eg. on a recent ticket tax calculation for the same RTW AONE4 was: CX $1400 in taxes AA was $700). Go figure??
Flying to LHR and HKG is expensive, etc. etc.

Good luck but DO ask your credit card company what FOREX they use and what the transaction fees are and how they calculate the charges and what DATE the charge will post. this WILL affect how much you actually pay for your ticket.

It isn't that simple when dealing with airfares. In cases of forced conversion (ie being sold/ticketed in a different country to the origin), an official exchange rate is used. These are normally updated weekly.

Of course if you are buying from a country that is different from your own, then the daily exchange used by your credit card matters too.

Most true if one purchases in their own country. But to get value many have purchased via CAI, BKK, MRU, JNB or ICN to get best value.

FOREX rates change by the second. A little work saves lots of money.

In the past I would purchase in BKK and saved the credit card fees by paying buy cash transfer and buy Baht when I saw the best rate.

When FOREX rates were in flux I set up a FOREX account and bought Rand for my JNB departures and saved $2000 per ticket. (4)
Check it out: http://fxglobaltransfer.oanda.com/

I believe Bluime is interested in South Korea, I trust his agent is in South Korea.

duplicate post

Yes. I called the CX ticket office at ICN, which hooked me up with a travel agent in Seoul.

Interesting that the CX office directed you to a travel agency - they would normally do it themselves

I have had poor experiences with CX offices overseas. ( the USA and Canada call center is very good. It is in Vancouver BC. Canada)

I might suggest that Blumie call the USA AA office:
Outside the U.S. and Canada, call +1 817-267-1151 and ask for the Around The World Desk.

AA RTW DESK in the USA: 1800 -247 3247

I call the USA desk to make any changes to my ticket regardless where I am.

Here is what some folks on this board do:

Call the AA RTW desk give them the itinerary.

Get a record locater from AA
Call the local office from the country of departure and ask THEM to price it.

Here is the AA office in Korea:
They are the General service agents for AA in Korea.

Seoul

Daejoo Air Agencies Co., Ltd.
9th Floor, Hansung Building, 47-2, Seosomun-Dong,
Chung-Ku, Seoul, Korea, 100-813
Phone: (+82-2) 319 3401 (Reservations)
NO airport ticketing facilities available.


Go FLY!

The current BSR (Bankers' Selling Rate) used by IATA is 1460.07 KRW/1USD; effective 05NOV it will be 1262.95.

I started with AA, who referred me to CX because there was A inventory that I was seeing on ExpertFlyer that AA couldn't see for some reason. CX was able to see it and pull it for me. CX then suggested that I call their ICN office to arrange for ticketing. When I called them, I needed to completely rearrange my itinerary, at which point they referred me to a Seoul-based travel agent, which has been very good. I would go back to dealing with AA, but I will not have time to leave ICN to arrange for ticketing: I fly in and just have a few hours at ICN before I leave.

And in fact the new rate is reflected on expertflyer this morning.

Is the GSA in Seoul open 7 days a week, or just Monday to Friday? I was hoping to fly in later this month early Sunday morning, collect a DONE4, then fly out late afternoon of the same day. But this won't work if they are closed weekends and there is no airport ticketing available.

Blumie, how did that travel agent work out? What sort of fee are they charging on top of the ticket?