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 2, 2013, 2:26 pm
#106
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
No way to do S.A.-SWP-Asia-N.A.-Europe-S.A.?
It's not possible to start in JNB and go to Australia, then Asia, then North America, then Europe, then end back in JNB, because both the JNB-SYD and Asia-U.S. flights would cross the Pacific? I was hoping to find a way to use AA over the water for two flights (Europe and Asia) rather than just one, so I can upgrade. Also, it would allow visiting both South Africa and Australia during their summer, and with a suitably long stop-off in the U.S., visiting Europe in its summer or fall.
Nov 2, 2013, 4:42 pm
#107
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
JNB-SYD flights on QF are permitted. (It crosses the Indian Ocean)
So there should be nothing incorrect about JNB-SYD-HKG-LAX-JFK-LHR-JNB.
Equally JNB-HKG-SYD-LAX-JFK-LHR-JNB should also work.
However you will need to purchase an xONE5 ticket in both cases.
Happy wandering.
Fred
So there should be nothing incorrect about JNB-SYD-HKG-LAX-JFK-LHR-JNB.
Equally JNB-HKG-SYD-LAX-JFK-LHR-JNB should also work.
However you will need to purchase an xONE5 ticket in both cases.
Happy wandering.
Fred
Nov 2, 2013, 5:07 pm
#108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,042
JNB-SYD is over the Indian Ocean, not the Pacific
I have done SWP-EU-SAmerica-NAmerica-Asia-SWP
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Nov 2, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Nov 2, 2013, 9:32 pm
#109
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
Nov 2, 2013, 10:43 pm
#110
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
(a) Travel must be via the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and only one crossing of each ocean is permitted.
(b) Travel must be in a continuous forward direction between TC1 - TC2 - TC3.
(b) Travel must be in a continuous forward direction between TC1 - TC2 - TC3.
I wish I'd realized this before booking our 2013 and 2014 RTWs! (The 2013 is flown, and if we changed the 2014 we'd have to pay the extra $1k fare increase.) Maybe we'll do this for 2015. Especially with the AA 777-300 flight HKG-DFW.
Nov 3, 2013, 12:21 am
#111
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,470
I agree that the rejection itself must have been an error.
There was nothing wrong with your itinerary
As for your 2014 itinerary - after the flying the first flight you can make routing changes; you will have to pay the USD125 change fee but not the fare increase. See rule 11(a)(2)
There was nothing wrong with your itinerary
As for your 2014 itinerary - after the flying the first flight you can make routing changes; you will have to pay the USD125 change fee but not the fare increase. See rule 11(a)(2)
Nov 3, 2013, 12:37 am
#112
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Sure, but since the first flight is JNB-HKG, it doesn't help. (The only way to switch JNB-HKG-SYD-LAX to JNB-SYD-HKG-DFW would be before taking JNB-HKG, which means paying the fare increase.)
Nov 3, 2013, 1:28 am
#113
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,470
But JNB-HKG-SYD-HKG-DFW is valid
One of the visits to Asia has to be a transfer without stopover
This makes use of the second visit to Asia provision - rule 2(e)(2)
Two permitted in Asia when one is a transfer without stopover or on direct single plane service between the Southwest Pacific and Europe.
Presume you're wanting to try AA's soon to be HKG-DFW flight?
Dec 2, 2013, 1:20 pm
#114
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,426
New rules posted Dec 1. The biggest difference I can see:
Looks like my email worked. 
The rule may have changed, but the execution hasn't. Still booking in L in the tool.
Exceptions
i) for 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.
i) for 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.
The rule may have changed, but the execution hasn't. Still booking in L in the tool.
Last edited by skunker; Dec 2, 2013 at 1:49 pm
Dec 2, 2013, 2:06 pm
#115
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: QF, VA, AC, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 3,784
Dec 3, 2013, 5:49 am
#116
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,470
Dec 20, 2013, 5:03 pm
#118
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: WLG
Programs: CX Diamond; OZ Diamond;QF
Posts: 186
[QUOTE=pandaperth;21717669]Yes - looks like you're stuck with either flying JNB-HKG or paying the fare increase
"One of the visits to Asia has to be a transfer without stopover
This makes use of the second visit to Asia provision - rule 2(e)(2)
This rule has sometimes been interpreted as requiring the transfer without stopover to be only between SWP and Europe. BUT the online tool allows other transits and so has the AA RTW desk - for instance earlier this year we transited Asia between YVR and PER and later returned there for stopovers."
So does this mean that you can transit US to Europe via Qatar without it being counted as an Asian stop? Or is Qatar considered to be in Europe?
"One of the visits to Asia has to be a transfer without stopover
This makes use of the second visit to Asia provision - rule 2(e)(2)
This rule has sometimes been interpreted as requiring the transfer without stopover to be only between SWP and Europe. BUT the online tool allows other transits and so has the AA RTW desk - for instance earlier this year we transited Asia between YVR and PER and later returned there for stopovers."
So does this mean that you can transit US to Europe via Qatar without it being counted as an Asian stop? Or is Qatar considered to be in Europe?
Last edited by ieuan1; Dec 20, 2013 at 5:04 pm Reason: Clarifying what is my question
Dec 20, 2013, 6:08 pm
#119
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,628
[QUOTE=ieuan1;22003223]
Qatar is in Middle East/Europe
( Since when were Egypt/Libya/Sudan anywhere near the Middle East )
Originally Posted by OW
The continent of Europe-Middle East consists of 2 zones:
* Europe
(including Algeria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Russia east and west of the Urals. Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)
* Middle East
(including Egypt, Libya and Sudan)
* Europe
(including Algeria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Russia east and west of the Urals. Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)
* Middle East
(including Egypt, Libya and Sudan)
Dec 20, 2013, 7:51 pm
#120
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,470
So does this mean that you can transit US to Europe via Qatar without it being counted as an Asian stop? Or is Qatar considered to be in Europe?
As you said Dave - Qatar is in Middle East/Europe
but to answer ieuan1's question more fully - yes you can fly from US to Qatar and then on to Europe. But it is not considered to be a transit of some other continent. Qatar is part of the continent defined in the ticket rules to be Europe/Middle East and you're just deciding to arrive in that continent at Qatar and then later move on to some other parts of the continent (and by the way you can of course stopover in Qatar, no need for it to be a transit)
( Since when were Egypt/Libya/Sudan anywhere near the Middle East )
However for the purposes of the Oneworld Explorer (and other Oneworld tickets too such as the Global Explorer) they are actually considered to be part of the Middle East.
Which is nice - because you can take advantage of the rule allowing itineraries that commence in a Middle Eastern country to end in any other Middle Eastern country (for example this year we commenced our DONE4 in Sudan and ended it in Dubai)