If I want to fly to the US from South Africa and I of course have to go via Europe, if I merely transit in London for a few hours does that count as actually visiting Europe?

I would then fly around the US, down to AUS and then home.

Yes!

If you "touch" a continent, even on a transit, it counts ...

Throws a real wrench in the system here.

If you pass through Europe, it counts

Dave

There is an exception for Africa to some airports (NBO, DAR etc.) whereby if you transit to/from those airports in Europe and do not break your journey it does not count as a "stopover". My RTW itinerary was CPT-JNB-(separate ticket to NBO), NBO-xLHR-MIA-DFW-NRT-DPS-HKG-BOM-DXB-LHR-CPT (separate ticket to from LHR - MIA) and it's been allowed and okayed by AA and experts on FT.

With its present route architecture, it's not possible to do a OW RTW without transiting Europe.

I need to get to AUS and I live in SA and I want to go to the US for a 2 week holiday as well.

I live in Johannesburg and have to be in Melbourne for a few months.

Is there any way I can fly Jnb-Europe-US-AUS-SA and do a triangular ticket or a RTW 3 continent one? I want to reduce the cost as much as possible.

But as Nickvora said can I not go through it without it counting as he said with some african cities it doesn't count.

As per the oneworld rules sheets:

Only one intercontinental departure and one intercontinental arrival permitted in each continent except
as follows:
1. Two permitted in North America when one is a transfer without stopover.
2. Two permitted in Asia when one is a transfer without stopover or on direct single plane service
between the Southwest Pacific and Europe.
3. For travel to/from or via Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania two permitted in Europe
when one is a transfer without stopover between Ghana/Nigeria/Kenya/Uganda/Tanzania and
another continent

There is NO WAY to buy a 3 continent ticket from Africa. On the positive side, compared to the prices you pay a 4 continent is about the same as what we pay for a 3 continent (at least when purchasing in FX).

your itinerary that would be SA-Africa-EUR-US-AUS-SA would be at least 4 continents, I'm concerned it might actually be 5 continents (if they count ASIA because of the "flyover").

Your best bet is to contact, if you're in Capetown, the AA GSA in Cape Town - Mindpearl (Cindy) she's awesome. I urge you to check out www.oneworld.com where they have an itinerary planner that can truly help.

Mileage Monkey is also a fantastic tool.

Good luck.

Sorry, you've misinterpreted that rule.

The rule cited allows a second entry into Europe (to/from certain cities in Africa) provided it's followed immediately (or is preceded immediately) by travel to/from another continent. It does not "exempt" Europe from being counted, just as a flight from LHR to SYD counts Asia even though it's only a fuel stop. If the wheels touch, the continent counts.

The same "two entry" rule applies to second entries into Asia in conjunction with SWP < > Europe and to transits of North America to/from South America to/from a third continent, e.g. Asia. In no case is the touched continent excluded from the continent count.

Previously some people also evidently got away with JL's GRU-xJFK-NRT not resulting in the counting of N. America. This has now been corrected.

Thank you.

I have in the past flown on a DONE4.

JNB-LHR-JFK-BOS-ORD-SFO-LAX-SYD-JNB.

Are you expecting applause at this point or something?

I don't see your point there. That is 4 continents
Africa
Europe
North America
South West Pacific

Dave

Doesn't this answer your original question?
You can't manage an RTW from Africa with a 3 continent fare, as had been mentioned - 4 continents needed.

Yes, this routing is possible and exactly what those tickets were designed for. But it is a 4 continent fare, not a xONE3.

If you want to save money it might make sense to puzzle together some cheap one way fares on various carriers. Cheaper than a RTW sometimes.