JABs

Hi, trying to do a RTE DONE with a variety of options but always failing at CHC-YVR. When checking the flights on Expert Flyer is shows D class as available.

Was looking at TYO-BKK-SIN-PER-SYD-AYQ-SYD-CHC-YVR-LHR-MXP-LHR-TYO

The CHC-YVR can either take the CHC(SYD)YVR route on QF or CHC(NAN)YVR on FJ. But it always says dates not available or brings up a really long routing through TYO which takes the itinerary over 34,000 miles. Was looking at 31 July or 3 August or other dates around then on which the flights operate.

Any ideas why this wouldn’t work? I also tried removing the BKK-SIN-PER and starting off with TYO-SYD but no difference there either.

Gardyloo

FJ is not an eligible carrier with the Oneworld Explorer. And there is no 34,000 mile limit with the Oneworld Explorer; that's a limit with the Global Explorer. The online tool is designed for the former, not the latter.

Always try to put in each segment rather than something like CHC-YVR which leaves the connecting point(s) up to the tool. Try CHC-SYD-LAX-YVR, using AA for the SYD-LAX segment. Lack of availability could be either (a) there isn't availability - no "D" seats, or (b) because the tool is choking due to some other rule violation.

JABs

Thanks, I’ll have a play. If I do a separate CHC-SYD I think I’ll have to get rid of the internal journey in Australia (SYD-AYQ) as I’d have too many journeys in Pacific zone. But will see what comes up.

A different itinerary came up with Fiji but must have been on the other pass. And I tried another random routing beginning in ME and it allowed the Qantas flight to YVR on certain dates so lord knows which rules my plan from TYO is breaching.

Mwenenzi

http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=c%3Ablu...=bm&PW=3&DU=mi

For CHC to/from BNE SYD MEL on QF are possible. Do not forget ZQN - Australia on QF. If a DONE flight not suitable/not meeting the rules can be cheap in economy (3:30hr) AU<-->NZ. Cash business fare less value for those B737 flights. Awards are possible.
You have a lot of flights centred on SYD, which Air Sydney (aka Qantas) may like-push but you have other options in Australia - New Zealand.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayers_Rock_Airport

FJ is not an eligible carrier with the Oneworld Explorer *ONE*
FJ is an eligible carrier with the Global Explorer *GLO** (distance based). As are some other non OW airlines
https://www.oneworld.com/world-travel

From wikipedia for YVR very limited OW airlines~routes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancou...tional_Airport

SEA not far away from VVR

JABs

Thanks, I will definitely play around
with those ideas. It’s just a shame it such a clunky tool on the Oneworld website!

JABs

Well I think I found the problem, though I’m not sure why it occurs or what ‘rule’ it breaks.

If my first flight is not on Qantas or Jetstar it won’t let me do the CHC to YVR flight.

If I go from TYO to an Australian airport, I can do the CHC-YVR flight.

If I originate in BKK (instead of TYO) and go to SIN on Jetstar (3K) on my first flight, I can later do the CHC-YVR. However, if I change the BKK-SIN flight to the recently reinstated CX one then the later CHC-YVR has to go via AKL and HKG.

So start on QF (or one of the Jetstars) then all good, anything else then it’s no no no!!

Perhaps this is something that a travel agent could overcome, but don’t think I can.

Mwenenzi

Jetstar is not an eligible carrier with the Oneworld Explorer *ONE*, with a JQ exception as below
If you are looking at Jetstar marketed flights you are booking a Global Explorer *GLO*. Not a *ONE*. They have different rules.
My understanding the (poor) OW booking tool is only for *ONE*.

There is no "CHC to YVR flight". It has to be CHC XXX YVR. Must all include flights.

JABs

I’m not looking at a Jetstar flight, my point is that the Oneworld tool only works if I start with a Jetstar or Qantas flight and want to have the CHC(SYD)YVR flight in there.

So the Oneworld tool is working with Jetstar flights (as you use same tool for Oneworld Explorer and Global Explorer) and is actively pushing me towards so JQ/3K flights at times over other direct Oneworld flights.

The tool is clearly only allowing the CHC(SYD)YVR flight if there is an opening Qantas/Jetstar flight to the OW Explorer/Global Explorer routing.

slhu82

Trying to book my first RTW.
I have a couple questions for xCAI.

I already have some booking when using webTool. I am based on US. Plan to position to CAI this Dec and spend 3 weeks from CAI to LAX and stay in LAX for 3 days, visit LIM and stay at home for another 5 months and visit middle east.

This is what I have so far.

1. xCAI -> xAMM -> xDOHA -> SIN (in Economy RJ/QR) I found D fare from EF but OW only shows availability in OW only
2. SIN - > xHKG -> PEK (CX)
3. PEK- > xHKG -> LAX (CX)
4. LAX -> xMAI -> LIM (AA)
5. LIM -> MAI (AA)
6. MAI -> LAX (AA)
7. LAX -> LON (BA)
8. LON -> AMM (BA)
9. AMM -> CAI (RJ)

1. I have no choice for my first segment CAI -> SIN. If I call CX or AA RTW desk, will they able to book CAI -> xDOH -> SIN? I already read many posts, it indicates fee is going to be pretty high. If so by how much?
2. Webtool does not allow me to end at AMM or DOH, will call AA or CW resolve this issue?

Any recent experience using AA? Will AA's price be similar as webtool?

iwillflytheworld

Looks like game over for ex-CAI:

Attempting different first segments yields similar messages, sometimes with Qatar in place or Air Maroc.

On EF the fare is still alive but on fewer airlines than before - QF in particular is gone. Likely to be pulled completely sooner than later.

slhu82

Called AA. they can still see availability but won’t be able to give me price immmediately. not sure if this is normal to book with AA

danger

I'm not following your abbreviations "CW" and "ET".

If you're only transiting AMM, you're eating up one of your 16 segments by not flying CAI-xDOH. The tool won't allow DOH as the first flight, but phoning to book should be okay.

For question one, if by fee you mean fuel fines, taxes and surcharges, I would expect something in the vicinity of EUR1500, probably more.

For question two, AA will (assuming it's still processing Explorer bookings).

slhu82

Thanks. Just called AA. AA is able to book CAI -xDOH on QR.
I mean CX and ExpertFlyer. Fixed typo.

Do you mean if the first leg is QR, the entire trip surcharge cost will increase by EUR1500? Even I do not take other QR flights? Do you mean the first leg airline will determine rest of surcharges?

danger

My estimate of the taxes and surcharges is based on you having QR and BA flights, which typically charge higher. It's not my understanding that the carrier of the first leg determines the charges; I understand they are based on the overall carriers used. Others here will know more.

dvs7310

This is actually better in one of the other threads and you'd get more help on it there. I'd say likely the pricing thread. This thread is about bugs in the online tool.

Your CW's should be CX for clarification of others looking at it.

You have too many trans-cons in the US (LAX-xMIA-LIM and again MIA-LAX, only 1 is allowed. You'd need the other to transit DFW or ORD. It looks like you're using LAX as stopovers on both, otherwise I'd recommend going PEK-HKG-JFK instead. (or ORD) to avoid the 2nd transcon.

I don't know how inflexible you are with your dates on the first leg to SIN, but no way I'd accept economy on this ticket. Yes, you can do CAI-DOH-SIN without AMM, but the OW tool can't do it. You have to call AA or CX to do have QR on your first segment and CX phone agents aren't the most competent. You need to find someone at CX who can refer it to the specialist team (which I just verified 2 days ago does exist, but they have to call you back, there's no number to reach them like AA).

Yes, you can end in DOH or AMM. The base version of the online tool will allow it, but the AI version ('new version') does not. You currently have plenty of segments remaining, so you can book it as a stopover on the return and just never use the DOH-CAI segment if you want to use the 'new' tool. Dropping AMM out of CAI will give you back one of your Europe / ME segments as well.

Beware the UK APD out of LHR, it's quite high and can be avoided by going from DUB instead on QR. AA flies to DUB from the US as well, I believe it's from PHL and ORD. (though you can still fly into LHR and out of DUB, it uses a surface segment, but you'll have that available. For that matter once you drop AMM from CAI, you could even add LHR to DUB on this ticket but I believe you need to make it a stopover to avoid the long haul APD).

BTW, you currently have a DONE4. If you have any interest in Africa at all, a DONE5 is only about $80 more expensive (plus potentially a bit of YQ)

I haven't found QRs fees to be high, but it may be because of my ticketing carrier. So far I've only had QF and CX ticket these. I know different carriers assign YQ differently when they issue the tickets, but reading some of the ones priced by AA, it also doesn't seem excessive with a lot of QR segments. My understanding (from a discussion a year or so ago from one of the travel agents on the forum) of QR's fees is that they have a flat fee to start, then a small per-segment fee after that, so in an itinerary like mine with a ton of QR segments, it probably ends up far less than using other carriers on long hauls. I know testing it using MH or CX on a long haul jacked it up quite a lot compared to QR.