Booking RTW through Sabre
Jan 3, 2009 | 11:50 am
#16
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
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And alas, we get to this problem: AA7358 HNL-SYD doesn't have availability in L on 9/25. QF 4, on the other hand, does. I doubt the rate desk will be happy about pricing this out if the AA over-the-water is waitlist.
If I really wanted to I'd imagine I could find another date where AA7358 does have L, book that, price and ticket, then change back to QF4 on the date that I want... at this point, probably easier to pick up the phone!
If I really wanted to I'd imagine I could find another date where AA7358 does have L, book that, price and ticket, then change back to QF4 on the date that I want... at this point, probably easier to pick up the phone!
Jan 3, 2009 | 1:31 pm
#17
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Itinerant
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Either of these would work. Or you can open date AA HNL-SYD, which might be the cleanest solution. Once you are ticketed it is often easy to get L inventory released (need approval by yield management but they make a lot on that over-water sector, maybe more than the sold HNL-SYD discounted fares even in L).
Code:
PRICE QUOTE RECORD - DETAILS
FARE NOT GUARANTEED UNTIL TICKETED
PQ 1 SQSD‡TQSD
BASE FARE EQUIV AMT TAXES TOTAL
GBP1551.93 USD2248.00 577.50XT USD2825.50ADT
XT 10.80ZP 40.20US 5.50YC 7.00XY
5.00XA 10.00AY 57.90GB 15.60UB
35.00BM 4.30BL 4.00EN 32.20AU
2.40QR 2.50QR 10.80WG 2.10WG
43.00WY 9.20IA 15.60KK 22.50SW
8.20AE 14.10JO 4.90KJ 21.70IL
175.00YQ 18.00XF
ADT-01 LONE4
LON BA BDA AA X/NYC AA RDU AA X/DFW AA HNL AA SYD //BNE QF
AKL QF MEL QF PER QF TYO CX X/HKG CX DXB Q2.93 RJ X/AMM RJ T
LV BA LON1549.00LONE4 GBP1551.93END ZPJFKRDUDFW XFJFK4.5RDU4‡
.5DFW4.5HNL4.5 ‡
*VALID ON AA/AY/BA/CX/EG/IB/JC/JL/JO/LA/LP/MA/NU/QF/RJ/XL/4M
1) $175 in fuel surcharges. I think I can live with that--or would they be easy to get rid of? Then there's that $2.93 Q charge... I'm willing to let them have that.
2) Base fare is the ex-LON fare that I was expecting. In the remarks they wrote "TICKETING RESTRICTIONS APPLY." I wonder if that means what I think it does (that I'd need to get this ticketed in London).
3) Taxes are a fair bit lower than I was expecting. Going through the tax breakdown, Australia's definitely the worst offender.
Observations are welcome... otherwise I'll call up AA's UK office tomorrow and see if they can ticket for me.
Last edited by BDA shorts; Jan 3, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Jan 3, 2009 | 6:47 pm
#19
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This makes me think that either I was right about this itinerary not needing to be ticketed in England, or someone at the rate desk wasn't paying attention.
I guess the only way to figure that out is to send the rate desk an itinerary out of somewhere else, like ICN.
Jan 3, 2009 | 7:12 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
The rates desks are generally quite spot on with these things IME. I'd trust them over a lot of the new staff at the ATW desk.
My reading of the applicable fare rule ("and/or travel originating in") indicates that you can indeed ticket that itinerary in the US at the UK base fare.
Just noticed that the EU exemption from "higher of 2" pricing has been v slightly modified to an ECAA exemption now. Definition of ECAA here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europea..._Aviation_Area ;nothing much has changed unless anyone was intending to issue the ticket from an EU state that isn't signatory to the ECAA.
My reading of the applicable fare rule ("and/or travel originating in") indicates that you can indeed ticket that itinerary in the US at the UK base fare.
Just noticed that the EU exemption from "higher of 2" pricing has been v slightly modified to an ECAA exemption now. Definition of ECAA here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europea..._Aviation_Area ;nothing much has changed unless anyone was intending to issue the ticket from an EU state that isn't signatory to the ECAA.
Last edited by Keith009; Jan 3, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Jan 4, 2009 | 7:16 am
#21
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
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Programs: QF LTG / P1 , LH LT SEN / HON, OZ LT Diamond +, Marriott LT PT, HH Diamond,
Posts: 15,149
AA offices will still happily price and ticket an agency booking which does not contain an AA overwater segment. I have done this many times.
Jan 4, 2009 | 9:09 am
#22
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Location: Itinerant
Programs: DL FO, AA PLT, BD *G
Posts: 423
In other news: I re-queued my itinerary specifying ticketing in BDA (both because I could easily walk down to the CTO here for ticketing and because BDA tickets tend to have fewer US taxes on them). Rate came back with a Country of Payment Minimum Check! Price was about $2,000 higher.
Odd that COP wouldn't apply for US sale/ticketing but would for a BDA sale/ticketing.
Jan 4, 2009 | 9:50 am
#23
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Update: I put a note to the rate desk in the PNR quoting the fare rules regarding Country of Payment not applying for travel originating in London. They corrected the fare!
Decrease in US taxes wasn't as much as I had hoped for (about $25), but given only three domestic segments I'm not surprised. Will still be worth it to have the ticketing done in BDA.
Decrease in US taxes wasn't as much as I had hoped for (about $25), but given only three domestic segments I'm not surprised. Will still be worth it to have the ticketing done in BDA.
Code:
PQ 1 SBDA‡TBDA
BASE FARE EQUIV AMT TAXES TOTAL
GBP1551.95 BMD2249.00 550.35XT BMD2799.35ADT
XT 32.20US 5.50YC 7.00XY 5.00XA
10.00AY 57.90GB 15.60UB 35.00BM
4.25BL 4.00EN 32.60AU 2.40QR
2.50QR 10.80WG 2.10WG 43.00WY
9.20IA 15.60KK 22.50SW 8.20AE
14.40JO 4.90KJ 21.70IL 4.50XF
175.00YQ 4.50XF
ADT-01 LONE4
LON BA BDA AA X/NYC AA RDU AA X/DFW AA HNL AA SYD //BNE QF
AKL QF MEL QF PER QF TYO CX X/HKG Q2.95 CX DXB RJ X/AMM RJ T
LV BA LON1549.00LONE4 GBP1551.95END XFHNL4.5‡
Jan 4, 2009 | 4:48 pm
#24
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
The one exception to this was a Europe Air Pass which naturally had no AA segments. But it got pass the US rates desk as my flights into and out of Europe (DONE4) were ticketed on AA and had a TATL segment on AA.
Last edited by Keith009; Jan 4, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Jan 12, 2009 | 5:11 pm
#25
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Thank you to everyone for your help and suggestions on this. I took my PNR to the AA office downtown and it was ticketed--of course there were a few hiccups during ticketing but I'm not surprised given the complexity of these things. The nice lady ticketing my itinerary had never seen a RTW before, and I was the talk of her office for the rest of the day.
Here's what I learned from all of this: aside from having to queue your ticket for pricing, RTWs can be just as easily DIY'ed as, say, BDA-BOS-BDA for the weekend. If I didn't want Bermuda ticketing (see above for why I did this) I could've easily ticketed this myself.
Here's what I learned from all of this: aside from having to queue your ticket for pricing, RTWs can be just as easily DIY'ed as, say, BDA-BOS-BDA for the weekend. If I didn't want Bermuda ticketing (see above for why I did this) I could've easily ticketed this myself.
Jan 12, 2009 | 8:57 pm
#26
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
Subject to POS restrictions and any applicable exceptions. You wouldn't be able to ticket the PNR yourself at the ex-LON fare in BDA or the US if your itinerary had started outside Canada and Europe for instance.
Jan 12, 2009 | 9:18 pm
#27
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Although it is that much easier if you're also in a situation where you can ticket it yourself.
Jan 23, 2009 | 8:27 pm
#28
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Another ticket now, purchasing now before the rumored fare increases come in. Has a bunch of open segments on AA, QF, BA because planned flights are >330 days into the future. Priced out with the rate desk, converted to a Phase IV, tried to ticket it myself... Sabre can't do it. Two calls to the Sabre helpdesk and apparently it's because of the open segments. Two calls to the AA rates desk and they can't believe that, but nothing they can do.
So I call the regular reservations number and get the international desk (RTW is closed this late at night and I wanted to get this taken care of). Lady takes the credit card... and says she has to get a paper ticket issued!
No complaints here... but why?
If it helps, itinerary is LHR-BA-CAI-RJ-AMM-RJ-DME//PVG-JL-KIX-JL-HAN//SIN-open-PER-open-AYQ//MEL-open-CNS-open-syd-open-HNL-open-DFW//IAD-open-LHR
So I call the regular reservations number and get the international desk (RTW is closed this late at night and I wanted to get this taken care of). Lady takes the credit card... and says she has to get a paper ticket issued!
No complaints here... but why?
If it helps, itinerary is LHR-BA-CAI-RJ-AMM-RJ-DME//PVG-JL-KIX-JL-HAN//SIN-open-PER-open-AYQ//MEL-open-CNS-open-syd-open-HNL-open-DFW//IAD-open-LHR
Last edited by BDA shorts; Jan 23, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Jan 23, 2009 | 8:45 pm
#29
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I find it easier to book these segments with sequential dates booked well in advance (but obviously not the date you are actually intending to travel) and change later. Save all that hassle.
e.g. Last year in Feb I booked a LONE4 with travel dates USA/EUR in June and Asia/Oz in Nov/Dec.
In July a simple call to AA resulted in the Asian segments being re booked for April and Oz in May.
e.g. Last year in Feb I booked a LONE4 with travel dates USA/EUR in June and Asia/Oz in Nov/Dec.
In July a simple call to AA resulted in the Asian segments being re booked for April and Oz in May.
Last edited by serfty; Jan 23, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Jan 23, 2009 | 8:56 pm
#30
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Sabre can't do it. Two calls to the Sabre helpdesk and apparently it's because of the open segments. Two calls to the AA rates desk and they can't believe that, but nothing they can do.
So I call the regular reservations number and get the international desk (RTW is closed this late at night and I wanted to get this taken care of). Lady takes the credit card... and says she has to get a paper ticket issued!
No complaints here... but why?
So I call the regular reservations number and get the international desk (RTW is closed this late at night and I wanted to get this taken care of). Lady takes the credit card... and says she has to get a paper ticket issued!
No complaints here... but why?
About halfway through my travels, I nailed down specific flights and dates for the remainder, and had it reissued as an e-ticket. It was an interesting, complicated and time-consuming (50 minutes at BOS ticket counter) procedure, but it actually worked just fine. Ticketing supervisor at BOS understood what I was trying to do, but had never done it before and had no idea how to do it. All remaining flight coupons of paper ticket lifted, e-ticket issued, and receipt/itinerary printed.
I completely agree, and that's how I've handled it since then.