Hi christep, still not working... I don't know why.

By the way, if there are no AA metal segments, is it possible to issue DONE4 with AA (perhaps by including a AA code-share flights)? That would be the best as issuing tickets with AA, from what I read on FT, seems to be the cheapest in terms of YQ charge.

Not an issue. AA does not currently enforce the 4 sector requirement, so you would reach Platinum status with AA once you have flown 34,000 miles of the trip


Dave

Thanks Dave. Can I have DONE4 issued by AA when there are actually no AA segments (AA metal)? Or would this become possible if I book one or two segments under AA code-share flight?

The airline flying the 1st segment is forced to issue the ticket (if you request it), while all other airlines may issue the ticket (if they so desire). Most OW airlines require flying one of the 3 long legs on them if they are issuing the ticket voluntarily. So on AA you would need Trans-Atlantic and/or Trans-Pacific. It isn't a firm rule, just a business practice (so it can be modified by the agent, if there is some good reason that they want to incur the expense of issuing the ticket in order to have you as a customer). Alternatively some TAs will arrange this for you (for a fee, typically USD 200) but most will not. Best to book AA TATL and then revise the itin later if necessary.

I am still having problems with Oneworld website (cannot access) and the mileage monkey. Otherwise, these questions I am posting would have been easily answered. So, I apologize in advance.

Would following be valid? I have 16 segments, 4 seg in Asia, 4 in S.A., none in South Pacific (transit in SYD, perhaps a stopover), 4 in Europe/Middle East + 4 intercontinental (BKK to SYD, SYD to EZE, EZE to LHR, and HEL to ICN).

ICN-NRT(x)-DEL(x)-NRT-BKK(x)-SYD(x, may be)-EZE(x)-LIM(x)-CCS(x)-LIM(x)-EZE-LHR(x)-DXB(x)-LHR-GVA(x)-HEL(x)-ICN

My only concern now is that I am transiting in same hubs more than once (NRT, EZE, LIM, LHR) where depending on my schedule, I would require two stopovers. Would this cause problem in the ticket? Here's the detailed schedule I have manually put together by going through each airline's website:

January 1 (JL 950)
ICN-NRT (9:30/11:50)

January 2 (JL 471)
NRT-DEL (11:00/17:50)

January 28 (JL 472)
DEL-NRT (19:50/06:35+1)

January 28 (JL717)
NRT-BKK (10:55/16:00)

February 6 (BA009)
BKK-SYD (17:05/06:10+1)

February 7 (QF17)
SYD-EZE (10:50/11:00)

February 8 (LA2428)
EZE-LIM (21:10/22:55)

February 14 (LA2564)
LIM-CCS (12:45/1715)

February 15 (LA2565)
CCS-LIM (19:50/23:20)

February 21 (LA2427)
LIM-EZE (01:25/08:40)

February 21 (BA246)
EZE-LHR(14:15/07:15+1)

February 25 (BA109)
LHR-DXB (21:35/08:30+1)

March 2 (BA106)
DXB-LHR (02:35/06:20)

March 2 (BA726)
LHR-GVA (08:35/11:15)

March 15 (AY868)
GVA-HEL (08:55/12:55, SAT or 10:50/14:50 M,T,W,T,F,SUN)

March 18 (AY041)
HEL-ICN (17:30/09:20+1, M,W,F,S)

I have booked itineraries with AA ATW desk which have no AA content in them; looking at your itinerary, Im not sure where there would be valid AA codeshares to use

Dave

Possible codeshare flights with JL on ICN-NRT/NRT-DEL/NRT-BKK flights, wouldn't you think so?

I don't think that there are any on those routes and even if there are, I wouldn't have thought that they would be likely to be valid for use without an AA connecting flight number to/from the USA

Dave

Thanks Dave. I think I read something about that in the FT threads. I guess while AA has codeshare with JL on ICN/NRT routes (for pax connecting to ICN from NRT on AA), I won't be able to reserve as a stand alone.

So, based on your experience, even without codeshare AA flights not being part of the itinerary, I would be able to book (cross fingers) with AA? Tax-savings is a big issue as you may know...

If not, what OW carrier (AY, BA, QF, LA, JL should I book the ticket with?).

Only JL and AY fly to ICN, but I think except for LA, other airlines have offices in Seoul.

You can transit hubs any number of times; the only rule is only 2 stopovers allowed in your continent of origin (so NRT would be the 3rd stopover, forcing you to drop BKK for example). No limits on stopovers otherwise (unlike some other fare products). The easy rules are one of the features of OWE (even if it doesn't always seem like the rules are easy). The routing seems fine from a cursory examination. I doubt anyone other than JL would touch this ticket though. No personal experience with JL issued tickets, but CX has been very good in the past (but Korea might be a problem).

My experience is that I have had no issue booking ATWs via the AA ATW desk directly even when there is no AA componant in the itinerary

Dave

Thanks number_6 for your sound explanation. As suggested in my itinerary, my second time @ NRT is purely transit (not a stopover) so I don't think this would count against me and allow me to stop in BKK, no?

Called AA ATW desk and booked the itinerary in less than 10 minutes. I initially called JL to arrange this ticket but the agent in Tokyo did not communicate well in English.

AA agent was really helpful and told me that AA would not have a problem issue this itinerary (though there are no AA segment) for me. So, tomorrow, I send $$$ to AA office in Korea and they will issue the ticket.

I will know the tax amount tomorrow so I am hoping that it won't be too bad. The AA whom arranged this itinerary for me said I should expect taxes and surcharges to be around 600 USD (~900,000 KRW). In worst case, I'd accept upto 1,300,000 KRW since I have many long segments (to maximize miles - but also I am visiting all the places I really need to visit ).

Thanks all for your help with this! You guys have converted me to OW flyer now (used to be very loyal to *A for the last six years or so - never stepped my foot in a OW carrier during this time).

Interesting. I guess AA has finally decided that with e-ticketing it doesn't cost that much to issue a ticket, and the float on holding that ticket revenue for a year is profitable enough to do it even with no revenue from flown segments. Some pluses from the current economic malaise.

It looks like A and D availability will be much better in 2009 than last year. CX just reported 25% drop in J bookings last month (but is also cutting flights trans-pacific).

I've also decided, after weighing the options, reading FT threads, etc., to credit all my miles to AA. While I won't be flying any AA metal, I'd take the chance and hope that AA won't enforce the 4 segment rule. Plus, considering earn and burn rate, after this trip, I'd at least can burn mile on AA's partner award in a premium cabin... where as with QF or BA or other OW airlines, I'd still have to accumulate tons more to get an award that is decent enough (not to mention hefty service fees).

If AA gives me Plat after this trip, I will continue to buy OW products... if not then, I will move back to *A.