xONE3s ex-Africa published
 

xONE3 fares are now published for Africa origins. No screaming bargains, that's for sure.

I took a look at the rules published on EF and - maybe my memory is faulty - but it looks like an enormous amount of additional language has been added to the "transfers" section, much of which at first glance looks repetitive. Can anybody comment?

I have created a diff ofboth for departure on 1 January.

There is a huge amount of guff designed for automated pricing systems, some of which has been tweaked, but all those changes appear to be eliminating the rule that only two transfers are permitted to/from UK to distant countries within Europe. Is this new? I don't remember having to wade through it before.

The underlying oneworld rules do not appear to be affected, only the way they are implemented for the purpose of automated pricing.

2017-Feb-01 New Version of the Rule Sheet
 

From a quick look, the only change I can spot is a curious one to rule 4(f);My emphasis

I think this change can only apply to Nth American countries, for example:
...NRT-JFK-BDA-MIA-BGI-MIA-POS-MIA-SCL-xJFK-LHR...
has five passes through the USA. It makes use of the allowed six flight segments in the continent and also makes use of the allowed second visit to the continent.

Other continents are restricted to four flight segments, so it is not possible to have more than four transits of a country

And anyway why is the restriction in 4(f), which concerns only the continent of origin :confused:??

I have now closely read the new version of the rule sheet

1. The change I noticed in the previous post was actually first published in the Dec-2016 version, but none of us picked it up
   .
2. Another change in the Dec-2016 version also wasn't picked up, namely a change to the wording in rule 5(a):
   From
   Quote:

   ---

   Reservations for the first international flight and all preceding flights must be made prior to departure. Subsequent segments may be open-dated.

   ---

   To
   Quote:

   ---

   Reservations for the first overwater flight and all preceding flights must be made prior to departure. Subsequent segments may be open-dated.

   ---

   I don’t think too many people these days leave segments open-dated, so I expect this change has had little impact.
   .
3. So, the only change in the Feb-2017 rule sheet that I have spotted is in rule 5 and is related to AA’s changing the booking classes it now uses for its domestic two-class (first and coach) flights (they now use business class booking classes for such first class – J,C,D… instead of F,A… - see this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...12-2016-a.html)
   Previous wording:
   
   Quote:

   ---

   Exceptions
   i) for AA services within the USA where no Business Class is offered, Business Class passengers may book and travel in First Class (Booking Code "A"), subject to availability. This provision does not apply on any flight where Business Class exists but is unavailable for booking.
   
   ii) for services within the Middle East, where no Business Class is offered, Business Class passengers may book and travel in A Class on QR, subject to availability. This provision does not apply on any flight where Business Class exists but is unavailable for booking”

   ---

   New wording:
   
   Quote:

   ---

   Exception: for services within the Middle East, where no Business Class is offered, Business Class passengers may book and travel in A Class on QR, subject to availability. This provision does not apply on any flight where Business Class exists but is unavailable for booking”

   ---

That's been expected. I'd been looking for the update over the last week or so waiting to see if they had changed this rule.

I'm in a situation where I think the rule about open dates would be of benefit. I'd like to lock in some flights on my DONE5 now for Christmas and early 2018, while they're available. If I wait another month until the flights I want at the end of January become available, they might not be there.

I thought it had become more or less impossible (in practice if not in theory) to issue open-dated tickets once e-ticketing became compulsory?

Just one of several reasons I always preferred paper tickets when they are/were available.

LHR - ME rule still in force?
 

Just tried to book a xONE3 ex HND with the AA RTW desk which included the following routing -LHR-DXB-LHR-MCT-LHR-, since I was under the impression that the no more than one return flight to the ME ex LHR rule had been dropped in the Dec16 version of the rules.

Wel apparently it hasn't. The tarriff desk came back straight away and said no. The RTW desk agent quoted it to me.

I figured that there isn't much point arguing with the tarriff desk so I'm off to BUD instead of MCT. (BTW the ticket is still on hold)

Just curious if anyone has actually managed to have success with booking 2 ME returns from LHR?

AA RTW desk has been a little slow to adopt new rules. Can you book now and change after you fly the first segment?

Was the following question asked?

What is the specific rule on the sheet that I violated as I would like to better understand how I need to formulate my flight plans?

Happy wandering

Fred

The latest rule sheet is unchanged with regard to those UK - Middle East flights (in other words there is still no restriction on them).
I've also just used ExpertFlyer to check AA's ex-HND DONE3 rules - and there is nothing there restricting those flights.

So I agree with wandering_fred, call again and ask what rule your proposed itinerary is violating

Alternatively, if you are flying those segments merely for earning purposes (and you don't actually want to visit DXB & MCT) then perhaps consider:
LHR-DOH-CDG-DOH-LHR

Thx for the responses.

I'll wait until Mon US time and call the RTW desk back as you suggest.

You're correct pandaperth in assuming that I don't actually want to visit DXB & MCT. I've visited both of those before, and while I would happily visit Muscat again, time does not permit me to on this trip. (I have absolutely no desire to set foot outside DXB airport ever again). Unfortunately the qff earnings on Qatar not good so I am somewhat constrained in my options. (LHR-DOH-CDG-DOH-LHR is 90 SC less than DXB & MCT) But if AA wont accomodate I may take up your suggestion. Thx.

Actually I miscalculated. Its 420 SC less...