Mar 13, 2019, 3:57 am
Last edit by: pandaperth
Chronological Summary of Changes to the Oneworld Explorer Rule Sheet
(click on the dates to go to the relevant posts in this thread)
2023-Oct-05 Changes to the Premium Economy surcharge table
2023-May-01 Rule 4(e) change, regarding second visit to Asia
2022-Aug-31 Comair removed from the list of BA affiliated Airlines
2022-Apr-21 S7 removed from the list of airlines
2021-Jul-01 Minor change
2021-Apr-01 AS joins the alliance
2020-May-01 LATAM (LA & JJ) leaves the alliance
2020-Apr-01 Royal Air Maroc (AT) joins the alliance
2019-Mar-15 Minor change
2019-Feb-11 Rule 4(j) Wording, in part, changed from:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked as a through flight segment between Australia & USA (eg SYD-JFK vv)
To:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked in conjunction with a QF operated and marketed online connection or stopover flight at LAX
Rule 15 Following paragraph removed
When travel originates in a country for which a specific local currency fares is published and the ticket is sold in another country, the fare will be that published for the country of origin converted to the currency of the country of sale at the bank selling rate.
Other, minor, changes
2019-Jan-08 Minor change (to the list of AA-affiliated airlines)
2018-Jun-06 Rule 16 - VOLUNTARY CHANGES / REROUTING / PENALTIES
Highlighted words removed
16(a)2d. If the rerouting results in an increase to the number of continents or extra flight segments previously charged, the ticket shall be recalculated.
2018-Mar-05 Rule 4(j) Words added:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked as a through flight segment between Australia & USA (eg SYD-JFK vv)
2017-Oct-30 Rule 5 Reservations and Ticketing: changed wording
From:
Reservations for the first overwater flight and all preceding flights must be made prior to departure.
To:
Reservations for the first international flight and all preceding flights must be made prior to departure.
Air berlin removed (it has ceased operating)
2017-Sep-05 No change (see the linked post)
2017-Aug-01 Rule 4(e) Major change regarding second visits to certain continents
Old Version:
New Version:
(e) Only one intercontinental departure and one intercontinental arrival permitted in each continent except as follows:
Two permitted in North America.
Two permitted in Asia when one is for travel between the Southwest Pacific and Europe/Middle East.
Two permitted in Europe/Middle East.
If travel is to/from Europe in both directions, itinerary may not include Mauritius/South Africa. AA Premium Economy booking classes added
2017-Feb-01 Rule 4(f) has the following words added:
No more than 4 international transfers from the one country permitted
2016-Dec-01 Rule 0 Removal of these words
3 Continent Fare is only offered for travel originating in Asia, Europe/Middle East and North America
(because southern hemisphere 3- continent itineraries became possible when JJ commenced its GRU-JNB service)
Rule 4(g) addition of these words:
The first crossing between TC areas must be flown, not surfaced
Rule 4(h) Removal of these words:
*not more than 2 of which may be between the UK and ALBANIA, ALGERIA, BULGARIA, CROATIA, CYPRUS, GREECE, MIDDLE EAST, MOROCCO, ROMANIA, RUSSIA west of the Urals, TUNISIA, TURKEY, UKRAINE.
2016-Aug-04 Rule 4(h) Removal of these words:
*segments between Europe and Middle East are not permitted if travel includes Africa and the itinerary utilises the backtracking provisions in Para 4(e) 3.1.3.or 3.2.3.
(So no more complicated rules regarding second visits to Europe/Middle East)
2016-Apr-22 Rule 4(e) Major change to the 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East rule
New wording is:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/membe...iddle-east.png Rule 8Stopovers.
Removal of the highlighted words:
2. Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin.
Rule 15 Sales Restrictions
Removal of the highlighted words:
When travel originates in a country for which a specific local currency fares is published and the ticket is sold in another country, the fare will be that published for the country of origin converted to the currency of the country of sale at the bank selling rate. The resultant fare must not be lower than from the country of sale.
Exception: Not applicable when BOTH travel originates and sales are made within Europe.
2016-Apr-01 Minor change to booking classes
2015-Dec-01 Minor change to list of affiliate airlines and to the cancellation fee
2015-Nov-01 US Airways removed from list of airlines (its merger with AA was complete)
2015-Sep-01Rule 4(k) ATL added to list of east coast cities
Rule 26 Change to group booking codes
2015-Jun-01 Rule 4(k) TPA added to list of east coast cities
2015-Feb-01 Minor change to the list of affiliated carriers
Rule 16 Voluntary Changes
Removal of “Date/Time/Carrier” changes. Phrase now used is “changes to ticketed points”
2014-Nov-01 Rule 4(j) change to the list of affiliated airlines
2014-Oct-01 Rule 5 Highlighted words added
NOTE: For flights where First or Business Class is not offered or available, passengers may travel in a lower Class, in the applicable booking code for that lower Class.
Where the applicable booking class for the lower class is not available,
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class
2014-Aug-01 Minor changes only
2014-Jul-01 IONE3 fares added
Other minor changes
2014-May-01 UL joins Oneworld
2014-Apr-01 JJ and US join Oneworld
2013-Dec-01 Allows DONEn travellers to fly in first class on QR’s Middle East flights
2013-Oct-30 QR joins Oneworld
Complicated new rule for 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East in conjunction with travel to/from/via Africa
2013-Oct-01 LAN Colombia joins Oneworld
2013-Jul-01 Minor changes
Removed the ability to purchase extra intra-continent flight segments
2013-Mar-01 Changes subsequently discovered
Continents transited to be counted
Rule 8. The highlighted words dropped
Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin.
2013-Jan-31 MH joins Oneworld
2012-Nov Rule 0 The highlighted words added
TRAVEL BETWEEN SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AND EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST ON A SINGLE FLIGHT NUMBER/OR BY SURFACE IS CONSIDERED TRAVELLING SWP-ASIA-EUROPE/ MIDDLE EAST THROUGH THREE CONTINENTS
2011-May-02 Rule 4(l) Change to the list of Australian trans-continental flights allowed
2011-Apr-01 Rule 4(e)(3) Tanzania removed from the list of African countries where 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East allowed
2011-Feb-02 QF codeshare flight on JQ allowed
Albania and Turkey added to the list of countries to/from which only two flights allowed from/to UK
2010-Nov-01 Highlighted words added
TRAVEL BETWEEN SWP AND EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST ON A SINGLE FLIGHT NUMBER/ OR BY SURFACE IS CONSIDERED TRAVELLING SWP-ASIA-EUROPE THROUGH THREE CONTINENTS.
Premium Economy supplements increased
2009-Nov-30 Rule 4(l) Change to the list of Australian trans-continental flights allowed
2009-Aug-04 Rule 4(c) Origin-Destination surface segment allowed between Maldives and Sri Lanka/India
Rule 8. Highlighted words added
Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin
(click on the dates to go to the relevant posts in this thread)
2023-Oct-05 Changes to the Premium Economy surcharge table
2023-May-01 Rule 4(e) change, regarding second visit to Asia
2022-Aug-31 Comair removed from the list of BA affiliated Airlines
2022-Apr-21 S7 removed from the list of airlines
2021-Jul-01 Minor change
2021-Apr-01 AS joins the alliance
2020-May-01 LATAM (LA & JJ) leaves the alliance
2020-Apr-01 Royal Air Maroc (AT) joins the alliance
2019-Mar-15 Minor change
2019-Feb-11 Rule 4(j) Wording, in part, changed from:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked as a through flight segment between Australia & USA (eg SYD-JFK vv)
To:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked in conjunction with a QF operated and marketed online connection or stopover flight at LAX
Rule 15 Following paragraph removed
When travel originates in a country for which a specific local currency fares is published and the ticket is sold in another country, the fare will be that published for the country of origin converted to the currency of the country of sale at the bank selling rate.
Other, minor, changes
2019-Jan-08 Minor change (to the list of AA-affiliated airlines)
2018-Jun-06 Rule 16 - VOLUNTARY CHANGES / REROUTING / PENALTIES
Highlighted words removed
16(a)2d. If the rerouting results in an increase to the number of continents or extra flight segments previously charged, the ticket shall be recalculated.
2018-Mar-05 Rule 4(j) Words added:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked as a through flight segment between Australia & USA (eg SYD-JFK vv)
2017-Oct-30 Rule 5 Reservations and Ticketing: changed wording
From:
Reservations for the first overwater flight and all preceding flights must be made prior to departure.
To:
Reservations for the first international flight and all preceding flights must be made prior to departure.
Air berlin removed (it has ceased operating)
2017-Sep-05 No change (see the linked post)
2017-Aug-01 Rule 4(e) Major change regarding second visits to certain continents
Old Version:
New Version:
(e) Only one intercontinental departure and one intercontinental arrival permitted in each continent except as follows:
Two permitted in North America.
Two permitted in Asia when one is for travel between the Southwest Pacific and Europe/Middle East.
Two permitted in Europe/Middle East.
If travel is to/from Europe in both directions, itinerary may not include Mauritius/South Africa. AA Premium Economy booking classes added
2017-Feb-01 Rule 4(f) has the following words added:
No more than 4 international transfers from the one country permitted
2016-Dec-01 Rule 0 Removal of these words
3 Continent Fare is only offered for travel originating in Asia, Europe/Middle East and North America
(because southern hemisphere 3- continent itineraries became possible when JJ commenced its GRU-JNB service)
Rule 4(g) addition of these words:
The first crossing between TC areas must be flown, not surfaced
Rule 4(h) Removal of these words:
*not more than 2 of which may be between the UK and ALBANIA, ALGERIA, BULGARIA, CROATIA, CYPRUS, GREECE, MIDDLE EAST, MOROCCO, ROMANIA, RUSSIA west of the Urals, TUNISIA, TURKEY, UKRAINE.
2016-Aug-04 Rule 4(h) Removal of these words:
*segments between Europe and Middle East are not permitted if travel includes Africa and the itinerary utilises the backtracking provisions in Para 4(e) 3.1.3.or 3.2.3.
(So no more complicated rules regarding second visits to Europe/Middle East)
2016-Apr-22 Rule 4(e) Major change to the 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East rule
New wording is:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/membe...iddle-east.png Rule 8Stopovers.
Removal of the highlighted words:
2. Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin.
Rule 15 Sales Restrictions
Removal of the highlighted words:
When travel originates in a country for which a specific local currency fares is published and the ticket is sold in another country, the fare will be that published for the country of origin converted to the currency of the country of sale at the bank selling rate. The resultant fare must not be lower than from the country of sale.
Exception: Not applicable when BOTH travel originates and sales are made within Europe.
2016-Apr-01 Minor change to booking classes
2015-Dec-01 Minor change to list of affiliate airlines and to the cancellation fee
2015-Nov-01 US Airways removed from list of airlines (its merger with AA was complete)
2015-Sep-01Rule 4(k) ATL added to list of east coast cities
Rule 26 Change to group booking codes
2015-Jun-01 Rule 4(k) TPA added to list of east coast cities
2015-Feb-01 Minor change to the list of affiliated carriers
Rule 16 Voluntary Changes
Removal of “Date/Time/Carrier” changes. Phrase now used is “changes to ticketed points”
2014-Nov-01 Rule 4(j) change to the list of affiliated airlines
2014-Oct-01 Rule 5 Highlighted words added
NOTE: For flights where First or Business Class is not offered or available, passengers may travel in a lower Class, in the applicable booking code for that lower Class.
Where the applicable booking class for the lower class is not available,
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class
2014-Aug-01 Minor changes only
2014-Jul-01 IONE3 fares added
Other minor changes
2014-May-01 UL joins Oneworld
2014-Apr-01 JJ and US join Oneworld
2013-Dec-01 Allows DONEn travellers to fly in first class on QR’s Middle East flights
2013-Oct-30 QR joins Oneworld
Complicated new rule for 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East in conjunction with travel to/from/via Africa
2013-Oct-01 LAN Colombia joins Oneworld
2013-Jul-01 Minor changes
Removed the ability to purchase extra intra-continent flight segments
2013-Mar-01 Changes subsequently discovered
Continents transited to be counted
Rule 8. The highlighted words dropped
Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin.
2013-Jan-31 MH joins Oneworld
2012-Nov Rule 0 The highlighted words added
TRAVEL BETWEEN SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AND EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST ON A SINGLE FLIGHT NUMBER/OR BY SURFACE IS CONSIDERED TRAVELLING SWP-ASIA-EUROPE/ MIDDLE EAST THROUGH THREE CONTINENTS
2011-May-02 Rule 4(l) Change to the list of Australian trans-continental flights allowed
2011-Apr-01 Rule 4(e)(3) Tanzania removed from the list of African countries where 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East allowed
2011-Feb-02 QF codeshare flight on JQ allowed
Albania and Turkey added to the list of countries to/from which only two flights allowed from/to UK
2010-Nov-01 Highlighted words added
TRAVEL BETWEEN SWP AND EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST ON A SINGLE FLIGHT NUMBER/ OR BY SURFACE IS CONSIDERED TRAVELLING SWP-ASIA-EUROPE THROUGH THREE CONTINENTS.
Premium Economy supplements increased
2009-Nov-30 Rule 4(l) Change to the list of Australian trans-continental flights allowed
2009-Aug-04 Rule 4(c) Origin-Destination surface segment allowed between Maldives and Sri Lanka/India
Rule 8. Highlighted words added
Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin
Changes to xONEx Rule Sheet
Nov 1, 2015, 7:04 pm
#316
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
ATL was added in the last change in Aug or Sep.
Nov 1, 2015, 7:29 pm
#317
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
ATL was added in the last change in Aug or Sep.
(problem was - I somehow didn't save a copy of the September rule sheet, so I was comparing the new sheet with my last saved copy, which was from June 2015)
Nov 2, 2015, 5:42 am
#318
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Cayman, San Diego, London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold, AA 4MM Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,054
Nov 2, 2015, 9:16 am
#319
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
The rules sheets for both the oneworld RTW products are linked on the oneworld website at the end of the page in the "Terms and Conditions".
https://www.oneworld.com/flights/rou...world-explorer (xONEx)
https://www.oneworld.com/flights/rou...lobal-explorer (xGLOBnn)
https://www.oneworld.com/flights/rou...world-explorer (xONEx)
https://www.oneworld.com/flights/rou...lobal-explorer (xGLOBnn)
Nov 2, 2015, 11:20 am
#320
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Cayman, San Diego, London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold, AA 4MM Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,054
Dec 4, 2015, 12:01 am
#321
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
New Version - 1-Dec-2015
Only changes I've spotted are:
- inclusion of some AA affliate/wetlease airlines in clauses 4(j) and 15. I think these airlines were inadvertently dropped when US was removed from the rule sheet last month, and so this change is merely adding them back in
- Russians will now be hit with the full 5%/10% cancellation fee instead of a mere RUB1000 - clause 16(b)(1)
- inclusion of some AA affliate/wetlease airlines in clauses 4(j) and 15. I think these airlines were inadvertently dropped when US was removed from the rule sheet last month, and so this change is merely adding them back in
- Russians will now be hit with the full 5%/10% cancellation fee instead of a mere RUB1000 - clause 16(b)(1)
Apr 2, 2016, 2:09 am
#322
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
New Version - 1-April-2016
Only change I can spot is a minor one to Rule 5 (Reservations and Ticketing)
Old wording:
Old wording:
…
Where the applicable booking class for the lower class is not available,
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class
…
New wording:Where the applicable booking class for the lower class is not available,
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class
…
…
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class (except AA) or H class on AA
...
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class (except AA) or H class on AA
...
Apr 17, 2016, 4:42 am
#323
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: LAX/SYD
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, AA EXP, QFF WP, HH D, SPG G, Hertz PC
Posts: 245
Only change I can spot is a minor one to Rule 5 (Reservations and Ticketing)
Old wording:
Old wording:
…
Where the applicable booking class for the lower class is not available,
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class
…
New wording:Where the applicable booking class for the lower class is not available,
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class
…
…
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class (except AA) or H class on AA
...
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class (except AA) or H class on AA
...
Apr 29, 2016, 1:45 pm
#324
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
New version - 22-Apr-2016
There is a major change to the rule regarding a second visit to Europe/Middle East in conjunction with travel to/from Africa.
The new wording is:^This is much simpler to understand than the previous version
^Gone is the restriction on flights between the two zones of the Europe/Middle East continent
Still there is the restriction on including South Africa or Mauritius if you go through the Europe Zone each way
Can no longer stopover on both visits if travelling one way through Europe and the other way through Middle East
I'm going to give myself a big pat on the back for this change - I believe my perserverance with BA last year has resulted in this rule change
(see posts 73 and 91 in this thread - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...cpt-done5.html)
The new wording is:
^Gone is the restriction on flights between the two zones of the Europe/Middle East continent
Still there is the restriction on including South Africa or Mauritius if you go through the Europe Zone each wayCan no longer stopover on both visits if travelling one way through Europe and the other way through Middle EastI'm going to give myself a big pat on the back for this change - I believe my perserverance with BA last year has resulted in this rule change
(see posts 73 and 91 in this thread - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...cpt-done5.html)
Apr 29, 2016, 3:14 pm
#325
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: JAX
Programs: Ex-BA/AA/CP/LY staff, BA Executive Club Blue, IHG Diamond, Marriott Silver, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 3,588
^This is much simpler to understand than the previous version
^Gone is the restriction on flights between the two zones of the Europe/Middle East continent
Still there is the restriction on including South Africa or Mauritius if you go through the Europe Zone each way
Can no longer stopover on both visits if travelling one way through Europe and the other way through Middle East
^Gone is the restriction on flights between the two zones of the Europe/Middle East continent
Still there is the restriction on including South Africa or Mauritius if you go through the Europe Zone each wayCan no longer stopover on both visits if travelling one way through Europe and the other way through Middle EastThe ZA/Mauritius exception makes sense, at least routes to/from Asia/SWP (and soon S.America) are possible.
Apr 29, 2016, 8:39 pm
#326
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
If LATAM opens, and keeps a SA-Africa trans-Altantic flight, that would make a DONE3 around the southern hemisphere possible. Could we expect to see a rule change after these flights start to that affect?
Apr 29, 2016, 8:42 pm
#327
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
The booking I have been working on for ticketing is now no longer valid.
Edited to add - unless the reference to Europe means Europe excluding Middle East (given the other references are "Europe/Middle East" whereas the South Africa/Mauritius reference is only "Europe"). Has anyone checked this?
Another question on the new wording is if originating in South Africa are two visits to Europe (excl Middle East) permitted as long as one of the transfers to/from South Africa are via Middle East?
Apr 30, 2016, 5:32 am
#328
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
Looks like the on-line tool has had the new rules implemented. I am able to price up the following itinerary:Under the previous rules those four Europe-Middle East flights were not allowed.
Edited to add:
But if I change the last flight to be DOH-CPT, then the tool flags the LHR-DOH as invalid - saying:
Go figure
There is definitely no such wording in the new version of the rules, so I presume this is simply poor programming
Will continue to investigate...
Edited to add:
But if I change the last flight to be DOH-CPT, then the tool flags the LHR-DOH as invalid - saying:
2622: Your itinerary cannot include any flown or surface sector between Europe and the Middle East. Choose another route and update your itinerary.
There is definitely no such wording in the new version of the rules, so I presume this is simply poor programmingWill continue to investigate...
Last edited by pandaperth; Apr 30, 2016 at 5:42 am
Apr 30, 2016, 6:23 am
#329
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
This is now more restrictive than previously.
The booking I have been working on for ticketing is now no longer valid.
Edited to add - unless the reference to Europe means Europe excluding Middle East (given the other references are "Europe/Middle East" whereas the South Africa/Mauritius reference is only "Europe"). Has anyone checked this?
The booking I have been working on for ticketing is now no longer valid.
Edited to add - unless the reference to Europe means Europe excluding Middle East (given the other references are "Europe/Middle East" whereas the South Africa/Mauritius reference is only "Europe"). Has anyone checked this?
IMO the new rule is less restrictive, not more.
Another question on the new wording is if originating in South Africa are two visits to Europe (excl Middle East) permitted as long as one of the transfers to/from South Africa are via Middle East?
But, again, if I change MPM to CPT then I get the error message about no flown or surface sectors between zones