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
Jun 10, 2019, 6:32 am
#646
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Programs: BA EC Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,237
If, as seems to be the case, this is the beginning on an RTW, then the reason is simply that one of the quirks of the OW tool is that it will not allow a QR flight for the first segment.
Jun 10, 2019, 7:41 am
#647
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: BAEC GFL, GGL, CCR; Marriott PFL, Ambassador; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,076
Oh that is interesting. Did not know that. Rang BA and they said that those flights are allowable so that explains everything. Is there a list of quirks somewhere so I don't have to bother all you lovely people with this kind of stuff?
Thanks
Thanks
Jun 10, 2019, 10:59 am
#649
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: BAEC GFL, GGL, CCR; Marriott PFL, Ambassador; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,076
Sep 4, 2019, 5:11 pm
#650
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
DONEx, must I return (on the final segment) to the city (or country) of origin?
I can't find the rule sheet on oneworld website.
Call RTW desk twice. First CSR said I can end DONEx in any country within the continent of origin. The second one said I can ONLY return to the CITY of origin.
I think I'd better check with fellow FTers. What do the rules say?
Thanks
Call RTW desk twice. First CSR said I can end DONEx in any country within the continent of origin. The second one said I can ONLY return to the CITY of origin.
I think I'd better check with fellow FTers. What do the rules say?
Thanks
Sep 4, 2019, 5:20 pm
#651
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: QF, VA, AC, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 3,783
Refer to 4(c) of the rule sheet.
www.qantas.com/content/dam/qac/oneworld-clue-cards/oneworld-explorer.pdf
(c) Travel may originate at any point for which fares are published and must terminate at the same point, except that origin-destination surface segments are permitted as follows:
a. within the country of origin
b. within the Middle East
c. between the United States and Canada
d. between HKG and China
e. between Malaysia and SIN
f. within Africa
g. between Maldives and Sri Lanka/India
I can't find the rule sheet on oneworld website.
Call RTW desk twice. First CSR said I can end DONEx in any country within the continent of origin. The second one said I can ONLY return to the CITY of origin.
I think I'd better check with fellow FTers. What do the rules say?
Thanks
Call RTW desk twice. First CSR said I can end DONEx in any country within the continent of origin. The second one said I can ONLY return to the CITY of origin.
I think I'd better check with fellow FTers. What do the rules say?
Thanks
www.qantas.com/content/dam/qac/oneworld-clue-cards/oneworld-explorer.pdf
(c) Travel may originate at any point for which fares are published and must terminate at the same point, except that origin-destination surface segments are permitted as follows:
a. within the country of origin
b. within the Middle East
c. between the United States and Canada
d. between HKG and China
e. between Malaysia and SIN
f. within Africa
g. between Maldives and Sri Lanka/India
Sep 4, 2019, 5:21 pm
#652
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
I can't find the rule sheet on oneworld website.
Call RTW desk twice. First CSR said I can end DONEx in any country within the continent of origin. The second one said I can ONLY return to the CITY of origin.
I think I'd better check with fellow FTers. What do the rules say?
Thanks
Call RTW desk twice. First CSR said I can end DONEx in any country within the continent of origin. The second one said I can ONLY return to the CITY of origin.
I think I'd better check with fellow FTers. What do the rules say?
Thanks
4(c) Travel may originate at any point for which fares are published and must terminate at the same point,
except that origin‐destination surface segments are permitted as follows:
a. within the country of origin
b. within the Middle East
c. between the United States and Canada
d. between HKG and China
e. between Malaysia and SIN
f. within Africa
g. between Maldives and Sri Lanka/India
except that origin‐destination surface segments are permitted as follows:
a. within the country of origin
b. within the Middle East
c. between the United States and Canada
d. between HKG and China
e. between Malaysia and SIN
f. within Africa
g. between Maldives and Sri Lanka/India
The rue sheet is found: oneworld.com --> round the world --> FAQs --> How is my fare calculated --> oneworld Explorer
Oct 11, 2019, 4:05 pm
#653
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Flight Application component (H) copy and paste error?
I just noticed that under Flight Application, component (H) seems especially clumsily worded, looking like a copy and paste error to me:
H.A MINIMUM OF 3 AND MAXIMUM OF 16 SEGMENTS
INCLUDING SURFACE SEGMENTS BETWEEN ANY 2
AIRPORTS ARE PERMITTED FOR THE ENTIRE
JOURNEY.
I think the words "between any two airports" are there in error. I think the rules are trying to say "A minimum of three and a maximum of sixteen segments, including surface segments, are permitted for the entire journey." It makes no sense to write "a minimum of three segments ... between any two airports" when obviously the minimum is one segment.
Component (I) reads:
THE SAME CITY PAIRS/SECTORS CANNOT BE FLOWN
MORE THAN ONCE IN THE SAME DIRECTION
H.A MINIMUM OF 3 AND MAXIMUM OF 16 SEGMENTS
INCLUDING SURFACE SEGMENTS BETWEEN ANY 2
AIRPORTS ARE PERMITTED FOR THE ENTIRE
JOURNEY.
I think the words "between any two airports" are there in error. I think the rules are trying to say "A minimum of three and a maximum of sixteen segments, including surface segments, are permitted for the entire journey." It makes no sense to write "a minimum of three segments ... between any two airports" when obviously the minimum is one segment.
Component (I) reads:
THE SAME CITY PAIRS/SECTORS CANNOT BE FLOWN
MORE THAN ONCE IN THE SAME DIRECTION
I'm not sure if this was a recent change. I'm looking at the rules as retrieved by EF.
Oct 11, 2019, 4:16 pm
#654
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Stopovers in continent of origin
My recollection is that there was a restriction that within the continent of origin regarding stopovers, originally it allowed two, only one per direction, later relaxed to only allowing two, regardless of direction. In the version I just accessed via EF, there is no restriction on stopovers in the continent of origin, although the rule wording is a bit confusing:
STOPOVERS: 2 STOPOVERS REQUIRED AND UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS
PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT
UNLIMITED IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
2 IN AREA 3
UNLIMITED AT ANY POINT.
I'm not clear what "2 in area 3" means. Is area 3 the same as TC3, meaning Asia/South West Pacific? Surely one is permitted more than two stopovers within Asia and South West Pacific? I routinely have three stopovers in Australia and one or two in Asia.
STOPOVERS: 2 STOPOVERS REQUIRED AND UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS
PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT
UNLIMITED IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
2 IN AREA 3
UNLIMITED AT ANY POINT.
I'm not clear what "2 in area 3" means. Is area 3 the same as TC3, meaning Asia/South West Pacific? Surely one is permitted more than two stopovers within Asia and South West Pacific? I routinely have three stopovers in Australia and one or two in Asia.
Oct 11, 2019, 7:13 pm
#655
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,813
I just noticed that under Flight Application, component (H) seems especially clumsily worded, looking like a copy and paste error to me:
H.A MINIMUM OF 3 AND MAXIMUM OF 16 SEGMENTS
INCLUDING SURFACE SEGMENTS BETWEEN ANY 2
AIRPORTS ARE PERMITTED FOR THE ENTIRE
JOURNEY.
I think the words "between any two airports" are there in error. I think the rules are trying to say "A minimum of three and a maximum of sixteen segments, including surface segments, are permitted for the entire journey." It makes no sense to write "a minimum of three segments ... between any two airports" when obviously the minimum is one segment.
Component (I) reads:
THE SAME CITY PAIRS/SECTORS CANNOT BE FLOWN
MORE THAN ONCE IN THE SAME DIRECTION
H.A MINIMUM OF 3 AND MAXIMUM OF 16 SEGMENTS
INCLUDING SURFACE SEGMENTS BETWEEN ANY 2
AIRPORTS ARE PERMITTED FOR THE ENTIRE
JOURNEY.
I think the words "between any two airports" are there in error. I think the rules are trying to say "A minimum of three and a maximum of sixteen segments, including surface segments, are permitted for the entire journey." It makes no sense to write "a minimum of three segments ... between any two airports" when obviously the minimum is one segment.
Component (I) reads:
THE SAME CITY PAIRS/SECTORS CANNOT BE FLOWN
MORE THAN ONCE IN THE SAME DIRECTION
I'm not sure if this was a recent change. I'm looking at the rules as retrieved by EF.
- (h) A minimum of 3 and maximum of 16 segments, including surface segments between any 2 airports, are permitted for the entire journey. Free flight segments within each continent are limited as follow
Last edited by jerry a. laska; Oct 11, 2019 at 7:18 pm
Oct 11, 2019, 8:43 pm
#656
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,753
I'm having trouble understanding exactly what your issue is? A surface segment necessarily will exist between two airports, as in, the traveller will make their way between the two airports by some other method than flying by virtue of the xonex ticket. This "surface" segment counts as one of the 16 segments. In any event, my recollection is that this language has been like this for some time, and was inserted when oneworld clarified that coterminals no longer qualified (as in a transfer from NRT to HND was now a segment as opposed to quite some years ago when that was not a segment). This section is also worded this way via the link on one world.com:
Indeed, I just did a quick check and the "2 airports" language has been there since before 2014 (I'm not going to spend any more time searching).
Indeed, I just did a quick check and the "2 airports" language has been there since before 2014 (I'm not going to spend any more time searching).
Oct 13, 2019, 7:36 am
#657
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Oct 13, 2019, 7:38 am
#658
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
I don't know when the language was added, but IMO it is confusing on its face because it is poorly written. 16 segments between any two airports, when taken literally as it is written, means that you identify two airports and you are permitted to fly between them up to 16 times.
Oct 13, 2019, 7:40 am
#659
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Lawyers hate commas. but it makes much more sense if you simply put a couple in:
A MINIMUM OF 3 AND MAXIMUM OF 16 SEGMENTS,
INCLUDING SURFACE SEGMENTS BETWEEN ANY 2
AIRPORTS, ARE PERMITTED FOR THE ENTIRE
JOURNEY.
And as jerry a. laska pointed out, it's there because in the good old days you could ticket coupons with, say, TYO, NYC or LON and the ground transfer between the coterminals wouldn't count. It's one of the many features that were lost in the "enhancement" of e-tickets.
A MINIMUM OF 3 AND MAXIMUM OF 16 SEGMENTS,
INCLUDING SURFACE SEGMENTS BETWEEN ANY 2
AIRPORTS, ARE PERMITTED FOR THE ENTIRE
JOURNEY.
And as jerry a. laska pointed out, it's there because in the good old days you could ticket coupons with, say, TYO, NYC or LON and the ground transfer between the coterminals wouldn't count. It's one of the many features that were lost in the "enhancement" of e-tickets.
Oct 13, 2019, 7:42 am
#660
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Notice that this version includes commas. That's what the rule is supposed to say. The version returned by EF lacks the commas and hence the minimum of three segments applies to travel between any two airports. Punctuation does matter.